The Couple

Ruby Lu

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CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 1

CHAPTER 1 2

CHAPTER2 7

CHAPTER3 9

CHAPTER4 11

CHAPTER5 14

CHAPTER6 17

CHAPTER7 19

CHAPTER8 22

CHAPTER9 23

CHAPTER10 25

CHAPTER11 27

About the author

“The secret of a good writing is to say a new thing in an old way

and to say an old thing in a new way”. There was a girl who found

this quotation while reading a book and she had made up her mind

to create a good novel like what she read. Few years past, the

quotation still has been haunting in her mind, and she always

remembers the dream. Now, the girl has grown up, guess who the

girl is? The girl is me.

I am Ruby and I was born in October so I sometimes tell people

that I am “the girl of autumn.” Many people say that I am

sentiment; I think I should say yes and this is why I like writing

and daydreaming.

There are so many uncertainties in the world and we can’t

predict anything. However, there is one thing I am exactly sure

about is that you are going to read this story. Lying on the grass

and close your eyes in the breeze. Listen to Ruby telling the story

which happened to the Flemyngs.

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Chapter 1

Wade Flemyng is my husband who I had been married with

for twenty-five years and we had a daughter, Kate, and a

son, Bryan. I met him during my sophomore year in university

while he majored in Advertising of his senior year. I

remembered the sky was clear and I was sitting on the grass

with my friend, Lisa, discussing the poet which our instructor

had just explained. “Lady, may you be my heroine of my

advertisement?” said Wade. I raised my head and I saw him.

The man in front my eyes was tall and thin with a minicam

hung on his neck. “You want me to be a character in your

advertisement?” I asked him confusedly. “Yes, this is my

graduated creation which must been turned in the end of the

semester. Could you help me with it?” he said in a sincere

tone that made me nod to show my agreement. We fell in

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love during the shot and he asked me, “Allison, may you be

my wife forever?” after I finished my studies in university. He

was true and he looked into my eyes as well as that time

when he asked me to be the heroine in his advertisement, so I

nodded to accept his propose.

He was positioned to be the manager of the advertising

agency in the fifth year of being in the agency. I could feel

the warmness from his hug till now which he gave to me while

announcing this good news. My daughter, Kate, and son,

Bryan were rushing to their father and been lifting up high

with childish giggle. We were happy for his promotion.

Wade was always recognized when walking on streets

because he had been presented in a commercial and I

always stood silently and smiled when people asked to take

a picture with him or sign. Every one who knew him all

thought he was a well husband and a good father. He was,

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but only for the first ten years of the marriage, and then he

lost passion on me and had less talk with children, even me.

The first thing he did after retuning home from work was

putting on the slippers which delivered by me and asking me

to hang on his coat and brewing the oolong tea. I usually sit

opposite him and waited for him to finish the tea so I could

wash it right away. However, he didn’t realize the mode of

life would become a hint of my leave.

I was an ordinary housekeeper and my routine for

everyday was cleaning the house and cooking three meals

for my husband and children. I never complained about the

tenuous life which had last for years because I thought this

was the obligatory work for a good wife and a nice mother.

For once, I had a thought to look for a job, but Wade thought

this was unnecessary because he considered that making

ends meet of the family was his responsibility. So I quit this

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idea, kept staying at home and repeating the daily work.

Kate had work as a secretary in the same company as her

father for three years since she graduated from a university

in the town. Actually, she got the job by Wade’s

recommending because she didn’t know where to go and

what to do after graduating. So she asked her dad who

definitely promised to help. I was unhappy about this matter

because I thought she shall be independent and must have

taken every responsibility for herself. “You aren’t a little girl

anymore so why don’t you plan your future by yourself?

Don’t depend on your father. He won’t be your supporter

forever!” I said calmly. She frowned and retorted angrily,

“Mom, it’s not a big deal! My friend is also doing this. Why

do you care about this so much?” Suddenly, I realized that

she was not my little girl who used to sit and talk with me

when I washed clothes. I sighed and looked her turn around.

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She disappeared and left me in sadness.

Bryan was still in his junior year at Chen-Kung University.

Wade had asked him whether he wanted to work in his

agency or not, but Bryan refused. He hoped he could run a

restaurant in the future and invite me to be the manager. I

was very gratified by what he said. Many people were

envious of what my family was, and always asked Wade this

question when he was interviewed. We were cheating on

people and trying to maintain the surface peace.

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Chapter 2

One day, after Wade was on his way home, a young

woman approached him and said, “Hi, Mr. Fleymyng!

Congratulations!” “Congratulations for what? And who are

you?” said Wade with a look of puzzle. “I am Nicole and I

am in charge of your daughter’s wedding.”, she said and

handed over her card and bowed. He put it into his pocket

and said good-bye to her.

He didn’t know that his little girl was going to marry and

the worst thing was that he didn’t even know who was going

to marry Kate. “Katie, why didn’t you tell us? Who are you

going to marry?” Wade was mad. He had never been so

angry with Kate. “Dad, I’ve been with Shawn for two years.

We both think it’s time to marry”, Kate said and lowered her

head. “You mean the Shawn who belongs to my

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department?” Wade said wonderingly. Kate nodded. There

was a long silence, and I was very nervous what Wade

would say. Finally, he looked at Kate and said, “I am going

to cancel the wedding.” He grabbed his suitcase and

slammed the door. I stroked her shoulder but she swept away

my hands and told me to go away. That night, in my

bedroom I listened to my daughter crying.

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Chapter 3

It was ten o’clock. I had been sinking in sofa staring at the

TV and waiting for a long time for Wade to come home. At

eleven o’clock, the door opened, Wade finally arrived home.

I didn’t ask him where he went, and he just went in our

bedroom and took a bath. When I was hanging his coat, I

heard a ring from his mobile phone, so I took it out. It was a

message. In fact, I wondered what the content was, but I

hesitated. By my instincts it was from a woman, so I decided

to read it. “It was good to be with you tonight. I hope we can

go out next time. Nicole.” I pretended that I had seen nothing

when Wade came out from the bathroom. I walked out to the

living room and roughed up everything, scattering the

magazines and throwing the vegetables on the floor with

sorrow. I cried as quiet as I could because I didn’t want

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Wade to know. And I acted like a woman with mental

problem and I kept chopping the pork into small pieces.

Finally, I fell asleep with tears on the messy floor.

The next morning, Wade woke up earlier than me. He had

seen me lying in a mess but he didn’t know what was wrong.

Surely he didn’t know I had seen the secret message from

Nicole.

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Chapter 4

Wade and Kate were sitting in the living room after

dinner. “Katie, I hope you can understand why I don’t want

you to marry” said Wade. “Dad, I really want to have a

blissful marriage like you and mom. This is my dream. I know

Shawn doesn’t have much money, but I don’t care. We can

make efforts together. You also had nothing in the beginning,

Dad. You were once Shawn.” Wade realized that he had no

right to interfere in their decision, so he agreed their

marriage. Kate embraced her dad showing her

appreciation.

During the preparation of wedding, Shawn’s mother came

to visit us from a remote village. Unfortunately, her heart

disease 1suddenly relapsed while we were happily talking.

Bryan quickly sent her to the hospital by car. When I arrived

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at the hospital, I saw my son talking with a nurse as if they

were friends. “Bryan, who were you talking to at the

information desk?” He had been muted for a while and said

that she was his girlfriend. Furthermore, she had one

daughter. I felt dizzy after hearing what he had said.

I decided to go to the nurse. I couldn’t stand my son being

with a woman who was older than my son and I didn’t want

him to marry a woman with a child. “Miss, I know a few

about you and my son” I said politely and waiting for her to

respond. “We love each other for sure. So what do you want

to say?” the nurse said firmly. “You know Bryan is still young

and he should love a girl who is the same age as him, not

like…” I paused because I didn’t want her to feel hurt. “Like

me? I know I am older than him, but there’s no rule to tell

people not to fall in love with someone who is older. We

treat each other honestly. I have to confess that my love for

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him has been growing.” I looked at her astonishingly and

went away.

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Chapter 5

I felt I was betrayed by my husband and son, these two

loved men in my life. So there was no need for me to endure.

It was six o’clock, and I was cooking dinner as usual. I knew

something was brewing in the boiler and was also in my mind.

After we all finished dinner, Kate and Bryan went back to

their rooms. “Wade, tell me everything.” I said to my

husband. He raised his head from the newspaper and said,

“What are talking about?” “Stop lying! Why don’t you just

confess to me?” I wanted to yell at him, but I didn’t, whereas I

tried my best to calm down. And I didn’t want to be out of

control because I had to be well sophisticated, not like other

women who reacted in drastic way. Wade looked guilty and

he held both his hands tight. And then I noticed the white

trace on his ring finger. He had taken of the ring which we

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exchanged on our wedding day “I’m sorry, Allison. I met

Nicole who resembles you very much. When I am with her, I

feel comfortable and it makes me think of the beginning of

our love”, my husband said repentantly. Miraculously, I felt a

relief, not sadness. Wade told me everything honestly. It was

what I wanted to hear, so I didn’t ask him who Nicole was. It

was time for me to be honest with myself and Wade. I

walked out from the sofa and sat next to him. “Wade, I feel

lonely in the family. Every morning, I wake up and I open my

eyes, dress myself well and put on my apron which I have

had for almost twenty-five years. My biggest achievement is

to see you, Katie and Bryan eat meals I make and clean this

house as tidy as I can. I think if I arrange everything well and

do the housework myself, you can concentrate on your work.

However, I realized that I am wrong. And I have done too

much for you three. You care less about our children and me.

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There’s more, Katie doesn’t dare to turn on the gas burners.

And she doesn’t know where the broom is. You know what?

She fried an egg last night and it burnt. It was too

unendurable! Katie is just like a spoonfed girl who is too

dependent on her parents. I haven’t walked out of the door

and seen what the world is like because I have to please

your requirement. Wade, I want us to separate after Katie’s

wedding…I need to broaden my horizons. And I don’t want

to be reserved and conservative. None of that!” I said

ceaselessly to Wade. He seemed to understand and I saw

his mouth open. I thought he would say something. But he

didn’t. He just stood slowly and said, “I am really sorry. I

promise I will let you go and won’t tie you, Allison.” Deep

depression cast over us after speaking frankly.

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Chapter 6

“This restaurant is fancy! Thank you, Shawn!” Kate gave

Shawn a kiss. “Actually, I have something to tell you.” “Sure,

tell me!” she seemed expected something. “I think we should

move to my hometown after we marry. What do you think?”

Kate put down the glass and felt angry, “What? Didn’t you

say we could buy an apartment downtown and why should I

take care of a sick mother in the suburbs? I don’t want to

spend my whole life being a bird in a cage like my mom!”

Katie said and angrily stood up. Shawn kept persuading her

to think about it, but Kate didn’t listen to her and argued

with him. Now, she had to face reality herself.

She clicked her high-heeled shoes to go to Nicole for help.

Nicole was so surprised to see her crying. She dragged a

chair to let Kate sit down. It was raining outside and the

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tears on Kate’s face were like the somber weather. She told

Nicole everything and asked her to give her advice. Nicole

stood up and looked ashamed, “Sorry, I can’t help you”, she

said and turned around. “Why not? You’ve been a planner

for years, and you probably have seen different marriage

problems. Why can’t you suggest me?” Kate wondered.

“Kate, I am dating Mr. Flemyng. I’m the breaker of your

parents.” Kate was surprised and rushed home. She shouted

at her dad as soon as she opened the door,“ Why are you

having an extra-marital affair? Why aren’t you loyal to

mom?” Kate went mad and kept crying. I slapped her and

stared at her, “Don’t say that to your father! You’re too

unresonable! Although he makes mistakes, he is always your

father who has raised you” Katie slammed the door and ran

out of the house. Wade didn’t say anything.

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Chapter 7

One evening, when Bryan came home from school, he

announced that he was going to marry Zera, the nurse, who

was going to leave for Japan. I couldn’t permit it so I went

out in order to talk to Zera. As I past a police station, I saw

her standing at the gate. I approached her and said, “Zera,

could you give up, please?” “Mrs. Flemyng, don’t you know I

am quitting loving your son? I’m leaving for Japan to have a

new life, but Bryan’s unhappy about this. He doesn’t want me

to go. I promise I will leave him.” said Zera blubbering.

“What happened? Is anything wrong?” “My girl, Abbie is

lost with her bike” she said in a hurry. I was also a mother so I

could feel how she felt now. I was looking for her daughter

along the street calling her name. Suddenly, I saw a little girl

riding on a little bike in the park, so I asked her name. She

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was Abbie, Zera’s daughter. I brought her home and taught

her how to ride on a bike. She didn’t talk to me until she

arrived my house, so I asked her why she left her home. She

blinked her naïve eyes and said,“ I wanna ride my bike to

find brother Bryan to tell him not to quarrel with my mommy.”

At that moment, I was touched by what she said. She was just

a child but she knew how to make people get alongl.

Therefore, I decided not to interfere into the lives of Bryan

and Zera.

At the same time, I saw my daughter, Kate, standing across

the street and smiling at me. “I’ve thought a lot about

everything you said, mom” coming to me and hugging me

with her hands round my neck. “I am too selfish to be

thoughtful of people. I love Shawn; therefore, I should love

his mother as maximum as I love him. Mom, I’ve made up my

mind to be his bride” Katie was smiling at me like an angel.

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My daughter finally had grown up, and I was very glad. “So,

let’s tell your dad this good news!’ I hold her hand tightly.

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Chapter 8

Kate happily announced this news to Wade and Bryan

when they got home and they both felt happy for her. “Mom,

Zera wants me to thank you.” Bryan looked worriedly at me.

“No worries! Why don’t you invite her to come to your sister’s

wedding?” I said giving him a smile. Bryan was so excited

that he was bouncing around the living room. Wade and I

looked at each other and winked. “Listen, your mom and I

also have something to tell you” Wade said sighing. I told

them we were going to divorce after Kate’s wedding. No

one spoke. I was overwhelmed by the silence.

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Chapter 9

Kate was in a long white bridal-dress. I still couldn’t

believe my daughter was going to marry and learn how to

be a good wife. Oh, it was time for Wade to go to the stage

to speak.“ This is the beginning of their life which is full of

bliss. Of course, one of them will die first. Sorry, I am saying

something inappropriate. I only hope that they can feel

happy having each other before one closes the eyes. Many

unexpected accidents exist in the world; we can’t know what

will happen in the next second. So what we can do is to love

and treasure our loved ones more and more. Every couple

wants to be remembered by each other because they have

met in the world and have gone through many difficulties

and happiness. I want to tell people how my wife supports

me, helps me and endures me; I will remember every

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moment that I have been with her.” Every guest clapped. My

tears were dropping along my face. Wade had never said

this to me since we were married.

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Chapter 10

Wade and I were walking toward the county office to

deal with our divorced documents. Our ticket number was

No.35, and 20 appeared on the flash bulletin. I asked him to

go to a Sticker-Machine while we were waiting, because

having a photo of us had always been my dream. We went

into the booth and smiled at the screen. “Allison, you

complete me. I know no matter what I say, you’re leaving

anyway. Thank you for being my wife for these twenty-five

years, and I appreciate you deeply. And I know the only

thing I can do to show my love is to let you go. ” We looked

into each other with tears in our eyes and he took out the

paper. “We are bonded together by a paper, and we’re

going to separate from now on by it, too.”

We left the booth for the office, and saw each other

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signing on the document. “Allison!” Wade called me when I

was walking out. “Yes?” “Allison, I…I…If you need any help,

please come to me. I’m always here.” I nodded with a smile

and left him in the first snow of thewinter.

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Chapter 11

I rented a small flat far from downtown. My new life

didn’t go as smoothly as I had expected, and I realized I

had been disconnected from society for such a long time.

There were many women who were in the similar age of me,

and many of them had both job and family. Actually, I was

envious, so I had made up my mind to look for a job. I have

sent applications to a small company for a secretary, a

kindergarten as an assistant and a flower shop as a clerk.

They usually refused me after reading my curriculum vitae. I

couldn’t blame anybody because I knew I was not young

anymore. Who would hire an old woman? I tried to absorb

as much information as I could, because I wanted to get

certificates by test. It made me sad.

One evening, when I was having dinner on my way home

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from looking for a job, I saw Wade on the TV screen. He was

interviewed by a famous anchorperson. I was sitting on the

floor and watching TV. I was eating alone and staring at the

TV in my cramped flat.

The next evening, I didn’t go anywhere but Wade’s

company. I was standing across his company with an

umbrella waiting for him. Wade came out with a suitcase as

usual, and he saw me. “Allison? How are you?” he asked

surprisingly. “I’m good. Wade, I am trying so hard to have a

new life, but things doesn’t seem so easy for me” I said

shrugging my shoulders. He smiled. I felt so accustomed to

this smile. “How are Katie and Bryan?” “Do you believe that

Kate is satisfied with her life in the suburbs? She called me

last night and told me she and Shawn are planning to have a

baby!” Wade was glorious when he was talking. “Wow,

really? I am so glad to hear this. How about Bryan?” I was so

28

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eager to know more about them. “He’s going to own a

restaurant with Zera after graduating. Oh, and sometimes

Zera comes to visit me with little Abbie.” I felt relieved and

said, “Thank you for telling me so many things. I just came

here to see if you are well. I gotta go.” “Hey, Allie, wait!” I

looked back as he called me. He always called me Allie

before we married. I was so surprised to hear Allie again.

He took out a sheet of paper from his pocket and said,“ I

have already signed. You don’t need to reply right away,

just think about it yourself. I’m not gonna persuade you.” I

accepted the paper and we smiled at each other. I turned

around and walked toward my flat.