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+---- Thread: [Complete] [CW] Best to let sleeping dogs lie? [Streets, Yards, and Homes] (/showthread.php?tid=733)
Best to let sleeping dogs lie? [Streets, Yards, and Homes] - Andrew Willaby - 05-14-2022
Andrew felt guilty as all hell. He'd been with another woman. There was shame creeping up the back of his neck. How was he going to deal with this? Firstly, he had a flat to give up because he stupidly offered it in the heat of the moment, and now he was going to have to explain why he had hired a woman to help him at the shop. Then he started feeling less guilty as he remembered that she would not lay with him sometimes. Hmph, it was her fault, right? No, no, even Andrew couldn't think that way. Disgust ate at him as he opened the door to the cheerful yellow house he bought for his new wife.
He wasn't going to touch Rose tonight. And he decided maybe he wouldn't touch her at all if she wanted to be the way she was. Annnnnnd then he felt guilty again.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 05-14-2022
Rose had really done her best today. Her meatpies were only slightly too brown and hard on the top. The vegetables were cooked only slightly too soft. The potatoes were cooked perfect, and the gravy... okay, the gravy was tasteless and too thin, and she had forgotten to add salt to the potatoes, so they would find out about that oversight pretty soon, but for now Rose was very proud of her work and she hoped Andrew would be too.
He had seemed grumpy again this morning. Over the past few days, she had felt the tension grow. Or maybe it had begun to grow before that. Perhaps it was because for the past few nights, she hadn't given him what he wanted, stating that she wasn't feeling so well. And it wasn't the first time. Before he'd start thinking she was neglecting her wifely duties, Rose intended to make amends.
The house was scrubbed. The food was ready on the table. Rose had even found time to redo her hair. She waited at the door.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 05-18-2022
He saw her when he opened the door. Things gleamed with cleanliness. Guilt nagged at him when he saw that she was trying to be a good wife. God damn it, he thought. He sighed and simply nodded at her, his eyes dropping to the floor. He couldn't tell her. He fucked up and he couldn't tell her! But he would have to tell her about Ruth being in the flat though. "I thought ye should know that I am lettin' a woman and her children take the flat above the bakery... She'll be workin' fer her rent, but she won't be down in the bakery wit' me, just doin' her cookin' upstairs to help me. Once her son is old enough, I'll be havin' him as me apprentice in the shop itself."
His voice was gruff as he spoke more, "I need ta take time away from the bakery ta spend wit' ye and it'd take that chore off yer shoulders as well." Lying piece of horse shit, he thought to himself.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 05-21-2022
Rose rushed over to take her husband's hat. She tiptoed, failed to plant a kiss on his cheek, and planted it on his shoulder instead. But her face and mood dropped when she saw Andrew's expression. "What's...?"
He already told her what was going on. It didn't help lift the mood. Why would Andrew not discuss something like that with her first? A woman living in that place, possibly working in the bakery? She knew she should trust her husband, but she... well, of course she trusted him! Yes. But... There was an uncomfortable feeling just below her stomach.
"Oh..." she said. She turned away to put the hat on the stand and not have to show her face to him. Then when she managed to look more neutral, she turned back to him. "I... I wish you would..." Was it wrong of her to ask him to discuss it with her first? It wasn't her flat. She had barely brought anything into the marriage at all. And she knew she shouldn't make her husband feel like... well, she shouldn't seem to demanding. "I wish you'd tell me in advance..." she decided instead. "She... she won't work in the bakery with ye, will she? I'm really fine around here." God forbid that he would work less to take over the housework she failed at. Could anything be more humiliating than that?
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 05-21-2022
"She'll be upstairs," he said honestly. That didn't stop Ruth from being a temptation. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know, and I am sorry." He reached over to try for some affection, not that he was going to try to do anything with her. He said, "I just want ta spend more time wit' me wife is all," he managed a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. God, the guilt...
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 05-22-2022
Rose didn't answer his attempted affection. She stood very still as the idea still sank in and awoke many uncomfortable thoughts. The intention, she supposed, was sweet, but she did not like it one bit.
Then suddenly, she found the solution. She put her hands on his upper arms, looked up at him, and - did he still feel sad? Had she made him feel guilty over not discussing it in advance? Would he hold that against her? Her attempted smile faltered a little. Yet she pursued. "I could come help you in the bakery, if you'd like us to spend more time together. I can handle customers while you do the baking and refilling!"
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 05-29-2022
"Rose... Nay, lass. I want ta spend time wit' ye here..." And then he was earnest, "I want a child. I want ta start a family. Ye don't know how much I long fer a bairn o' me own." He looked into her eyes. At least he was being honest there.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 06-05-2022
"You...?" she looked up into his eyes. Then she cast her own down to avoid him seeing too much in hers. She blushed. She had been actively trying to avoid getting pregnant. She had just wanted to put it off a bit. But perhaps this was what had made Andrew seem so grumpy earlier. Perhaps if she did finally give him a child, he would discuss things like letting a woman live in the flat beforehand.
Anyway, if he was going to be home more to make a baby, it would be harder to make excuses not to sleep with him.
Perhaps it was time.
She looked up at him and smiled lightly - tried to put the thought that woman in the bakery aside for now. "Care if we eat first?" she teased.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 06-06-2022
He would never touch Ruth again, he swore to himself, nor any other who wasn't Rose. He hated himself a lot in that moment, giving a smile even still. "Aye," he said, "And a long hot bath on my part... Or ye could join me in the bath if ye'd like later?" He offered. But the offer churned his stomach. This was wrong, this was all kinds of wrong! Andrew was going to have to bed his wife though to keep her from asking questions. It was rather distasteful, sleeping with two women on the same day.
He forced himself to the present and said, "It smells good in here..." at least he wasn't lying about that. But he knew it might not taste as good as it smelled.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 06-06-2022
Rose grinned and gave him a little push. "I might as well..." But her grin didn't reflect in her eyes. There was something about his face or the energy in the room that made it feel like something was off. Was there more to it than Andrew had said? She barely dared to think about it. It was probably wrong of her to think such a thing of her husband in the first place.
"C'mon then," she led him to his chair and put food on his plate, before sitting down on the other side and helping herself. Suddenly she didn't know what to say. She was afraid to ask him about his day.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 06-09-2022
"Thank ye," he said when it came to the food after he sat down. He looked suddenly weary, older than his years. He had an affliction and he just didn't know how to say it. It was probably for the best. He ate his food in silence and looked down at his plate.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 06-12-2022
Rose ate in silence as well. It was hard to eat. Her stomach seemed to have tied into a knot, making all food and drink seem repulsive. Occasionally she glanced up at Andrew, but he seemed determined not to look back. She wanted to ask him what was going on. And she didn't want to ask him.
Was this her fault for having refused him too often?
Perhaps she could pretend she didn't notice anything and then it would all go away. Just so long as she didn't ask and he didn't say anything.
"Oh... sorry... I botched the potatoes and gravy..." she muttered when she tasted them. Her voice sounded hollow.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 06-13-2022
Andrew gave a grunt, then said, "Tis fine gravy." It was a lie.
He looked her in the eye finally and said, "Kin I ask ye a question?" He paused, gave her enough time to respond. The outcome either way was the question, whether she gave permission or not. "Are ye truly ready ta have a bairn, lass? I feel like I'm pushin ye into things fast and maybe I am bein' too hard on ye."
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 06-19-2022
Rose looked up startled. Was that it? Had he found out what she had been trying to do and was he disappointed over it?
"We're... married, aren't we?" she evaded. "It's what married people do." She pressed her lips together and looked down at the tasteless food. "I just felt..." she began in a somewhat higher pitch. She looked up imploringly. "I just felt I wouldn't mind it if I didn't get pregnant right away. We... I liked our time together, just the two of us, and..." she blushed slightly, "all of it." She turned her eyes down again. "I'm sorry."
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 06-19-2022
He sighed softly and he got up from the table, walking to the nearby window and watching out solemnly. He couldn't eat. It seemed they both had a habit of not communicating things to each other, only his was still way worse and he felt like scum for it. But she should have been honest too, he realized. He couldn't be angry at her.
"Aye Rose, I suppose if ye need some time, t'won't hurt ta give it to ye," he said with a lump in his throat. He needed to go punch some dough for his shitty behavior. Maybe that would make it so he didn't do something else wrong.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 06-22-2022
Anxiously, she watched as he got up and walked away from her. Had she spoiled everything? Was he angry with her?
But he gave her the time she requested instead. It made her feel relieved for only a few seconds. She didn't want that time anymore; she wanted things to be right between them. "I've had that time," she said quickly. She got up and approached, her steps quick at first, and then then last few more hesitant. She took his hand and looked up at his face nervously. "Are ye angry with me?"
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 06-27-2022
"Nay, lass. I am not angry with ye at all. I..." and then he sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm just weary is all." He took her hand and squeezed it before he took himself away from her to go to the bedroom where he slipped out of all of his clothes but for his underwear and he'd lie down on his side on the bed they shared.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 07-03-2022
Rose watched him go, her mouth hanging slightly open, as he once again removed himself from her. A tight band had formed around her chest, making it hard to breathe deeply. The house was still and lonely after the door closed behind him. She turned her eyes back on the unfinished dinner. The tasteless potatoes and half finished pies still lay on their plates. Andrew's chair stood pushed back from the table where he had left it. She bit her tongue and fought back the tears that were already stinging her eyes. Then she walked over, moved the chair back under the table and quietly began to clean up. The quiet ting of cutlery on plates and the ticking of the clock on the mantlepiece were the only noises disturbing the domestic peace.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Andrew Willaby - 07-18-2022
He couldn't sleep. Andrew punched his pillow, tossed and turned, and then he simply gave up. He got dressed then and left the bedroom. He contemplated going to the flat above the bakery and just staying the night there where he didn't have to hear his wife tinkering about and adding to his guilt. She'd all but offered herself to him and his manhood just... wouldn't. Not after what happened. It wasn't that he was unattracted to her at all, it was that the guilt was eating at him. He didn't look at her as he entered her domain, but he did murmur, "I am sorry, lass. I... just feel tired today." It wasn't a lie.
RE: Best to let sleeping dogs lie? - Rose Willaby - 07-25-2022
Rose's hands stopped when he entered. She looked up, timid but hopeful. But he didn't look at her. She turned her eyes down again and continued her work, biting her tongue so as to fight back the tears. "Aye, go to bed then," she dismissed him. She lifted the pile of dishes and cutlery just a little too forcefully, causing the forks and knives to clatter on the plates.