Eggs for Breakfast

Tamsin watched him out of the corner of her eye, the irritation rising despite her best intentions. Craig was standing at the kitchen counter, breaking eggs into a bowl to make an omelette for breakfast. He had insisted on doing it himself rather than just leaving it to her as usual. After last night, he was making an effort, but this wasn’t what she had been trying to convey.

They had been living together for nearly a year. At first, it had been exciting and new, but as time went on, the man she had fallen in love with had gradually faded into the background. Only to reappear briefly, sometimes, when they were out with friends. Particularly when there were pretty young things present, she thought grimly.

Even the sex had become routine, a far cry from the passionate excitement of their first few months. She wondered if it could be her fault. Maybe I’ve become boring and unadventurous. He looked up at her and smiled.

“Hungry?” he asked brightly.

“Yes” she smiled back, trying not to think of last night. She knew he was making an effort. He hadn’t been so calm then. She didn’t know how he had found out, but last night in bed, after another dismal attempt at intimacy, he had blurted it out.

“Are you going to leave me?” he asked, his voice tight with tension. He lay with his back turned to her. “I know about your boyfriend”.

“You’re my boyfriend,” she said.

“Oh, please, Tamsin. Just stop. Stop lying.”

She had tried to protest, but he had clammed up and wouldn’t speak. She had known then what was coming next.

“Do you want cheese?” he interrupted her thoughts.

“No thanks,” she didn’t want fucking cheese, she wanted to go back to the way it had been. She just wanted to be loved again. Why didn’t he understand? She touched her cheek below her left eye. It was tender; she would have to put foundation on it before leaving for work.

He whisked the eggs with a fork, then poured them into the hot pan on the stove. They both watched as he stirred the mixture with a spatula. Then, when it was ready, he folded the omelette in half, cut it down the middle with the spatula, and scooped the two pieces onto plates. He carried them to the table, and they both sat. Now they had to look at each other again.

“Good”, she commented after the first mouthful.

“That’s two eggs each”, he said. “Protein, that’s what you need in the morning.” He started to speak but stopped and looked away.

They finished eating and drank their coffee in silence.

“Oh well, better make a move,” he said as he put the dishes in the dishwasher. He shrugged on his suit jacket, kissed her on the cheek, and walked out to his car parked in the driveway.

She sat in silence, gazing out the window into the garden, until the sound of the car faded. Then the tears came.