(aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2092 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad
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“You are going to give Trish her computer back, aren’t you?” Simon asked as he sat on the bed to pull his trousers off.
“I might consider it at Christmas, why?”
“Oh c’mon, Cathy, this is Trish we’re talking about, brain the size of a planet...”
“I know, parking cars.”
“Quite, so what about it?”
“I might let her take them to Scotland with you.”
“With me, don’t you mean us?”
“Er–no, I’m not going.”
“But you’ve got to go.”
“I don’t see any imperative.”
“You’re their mother.”
“Yeah, so they deserve a break from me.”
“You’re my wife.”
“You remembered.”
“Remembered? I don’t get it.” He looked completely confused.
“Yes, I’m your wife and mistress of your household.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So why am I treated like one of your staff or one of your kids?”
“You’re not.”
“So you consult me on everything?”
“To do with home and family, of course–in fact I’d suggest you were the leader there.”
“That’s not the impression I get.” I wasn’t angry, I was cold. I wasn’t going to lose my temper, nor was I going to concede.
“What d’you mean?”
“Who did you intend to go to Scotland?”
“You and me, Trish, Livvie, Danny, Meems, Cate, and Cindy.”
“You didn’t intend to invite Stella and her two?”
“God god, no. She’s free to go there any time but she hates the place–always had. My fault really, I dropped a spider on her face when she was sleeping, she’d eaten half of it before she woke up. It was really funny–or I thought so then.”
“How old were you then?”
“Twenty four, why?”
“Twenty four?” I shrieked.
“Joking, babes, I was about ten and she was eight.”
“What about little Lizzie?”
“She wasn’t born then.”
Some days I wonder if I’ve wandered onto a set for Monty Python. “I know that,” I felt my anger rising, he so deserved a slap. “What about her when you go away?”
“She could stay with Stella.”
“It wasn’t Stella who offered to look after her.”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it does. I offered to care for her until Neal was well again.”
“How’s he doing?”
“He’s coming on.”
“Good, so when can he have her back.”
“In three or four months if we’re lucky.”
“You’re joking?”
“Would I joke about something like that?”
“No.”
“So, oh masterful one, what do we do with Lizzie?”
“Take her with us?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Why not, if she were ours we’d have no choice would we?”
“Wouldn’t we? I have a choice and I just exercised it.”
“What was that?”
“You don’t listen Simon.”
“I’m listening now.”
“Okay, I’ll say this in simple language. I am not going to Scotland.”
He looked at me and shook his head. “That’s funny, I could have sworn you said you weren’t coming on holiday.”
“It is funny, because I could have sworn that’s what I said, too.”
“But you are coming, though aren’t you?”
“No I’m not.”
“Oh that’s alright then–hang on, you said no.”
“I know I did, Simon.”
“But you can’t, you’re lady of the manor.”
“I might resign, give it to Trish, she likes castles more than I do.”
“She is not the laird’s wife.”
“Never mind, I’m sure if you showed her the law she’d find a way round it.”
“I don’t want her as my lady, I married you. I want you.”
“Perhaps you should have thought about that before you announced the holiday.”
“What was wrong with that?”
“Nothing was wrong with the announcement; except perhaps you hadn’t asked me first.”
He looked confused. “I don’t have to ask you before I go to my family seat.”
“No you don’t.”
“So what the bloody hell are you going on about?”
“You didn’t ask me if I wanted to go.”
“Oh so that’s what this is all about–I should have known. Sometimes you take this feminista stuff too far.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Well this emancipation stuff–you’re my wife, you’re supposed to support me in decision making.”
“Oh am I now?”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps if you’d have asked me, I might have done. But you didn’t, so I’m not.” I pulled my nightdress on and nipped in to the bathroom.
“You can’t hide in there,” he said loudly as I was cleaning my teeth and I swallowed the toothpaste and nearly choked.
“I’m not hiding, I’m cleaning my teeth.” I emerged from the bathroom and he went in. When he came out he continued his insistence.
“Look, I made an announcement, I can’t go back on it, the kids will be so upset.”
“Tough. I made an announcement too.”
“Which was?”
“I am not going.”
“Oh that’s right spoil it for everyone else, how little girlish of you.”
“Even little girls like to be consulted by little boys before they try to throw their weight about and fail miserably.”
“You are my wife, I insist you come.”
“I promised to love you, not to obey you.”
“If you loved me, you’d come?”
“Logic never was your strong point, was it?”
“Just what is that supposed to mean?”
“What you just said was a nonsensical statement, it implies that I don’t love you because I refused to comply with your overbearing bombast.”
“What?”
“Simon, your command of the English language is just as good as mine, you understood it perfectly.”
“Well if you loved me, you would come.”
“I could equally well say, if you loved me, you’d have consulted with me first before making a complete tit of yourself in front of the children.”
“Okay, I must have forgotten, I’m sorry. Now will you come?”
“No, I’m not taking a baby up there.”
“Why not, I’ll get in some help for you, a nursemaid or whatever you call them.”
“No, it’s too late. You took me for granted.”
“You take me for granted as well–we’re married for god’s sake–it’s what married couples do.”
“Do they? I like to think I ask you first.”
“You’re a girl, they do things differently.”
“So it’s fine for a man to ride roughshod over his wife is it, because he’s a man and they do things differently?”
“Yes–er, no. Now you’re twisting things.”
“Simon, I might be guilty of many things,” [the bastard nodded] “but taking you for granted is not one of them. In fact, most days I can’t believe that I married my Mr Darcy or my Rochester.”
“You think I look like Colin Firth?”
“No, of course not.”
“Oh,” he looked quite downcast–the idiot.
“It’s not about that, it’s about the fact that I never take you for granted but you do so to me all the time.”
“The kids do, I’ve told them off several times.”
“Them, I can cope with. It’s you with who I take issue.”
“Oh that’s right, favour the kids again.”
“Stop acting like a child, Simon.”
“If I was one you wouldn’t be giving me this ear ache would you?”
“No, because you wouldn’t be my husband would you?”
“I could have married young.”
“Simon, that would be illegal.”
“So, at least you’d love me.”
“Stop acting like a six year old.”
“You’d love me if I were one.”
“Not necessarily.”
“You can be so hurtful.”
“Yes, I’m a nasty mummy.”
“I’m going downstairs.” With that he walked out of the room and I sat on the bed and felt like bursting into tears. I’m glad I didn’t because he returned two minutes later. “Forgot my book,” he said and walked out again. I shut the door, got into bed and cried myself to sleep in the dark.
Comments
Oh stop crying Cathy
... sometimes it takes some cold hard will to stand your ground and you being that 'emotional female' just falls into that stereotype Simon would love to bandy about. And if he changed his mind because of your emotional demonstration it will always be in his mind that he 'weakened' because he could not stand seeing a woman cried.
In short, cry if you must but if you need to get your point across don't weaken and compromise if it is sufficiently important else he will never get the point and you will just have to refight the same battle over and over again.
Kim
Pissing contest!
Why does she turn everything into a pissing contest? You'd think she'd be elated that her wonderful, adorable husband has made arraangements for the whole family (and friends) to go off to visit a real live castle in the wilds of Scotland. She'd be pampered and cared for. The kids would have a time to remember. Everything would be so great!
If she'd only remember, she had them cut off ... quite deliberately.
Kiss hubby. Tell him how wonderful he is. Let him bask in his glory and satisfy his ego every once in a while, rather than destroy your entire marriage.
Red MacDonald
Dear Red
Remember, the last time they went up there, many, many bad people tried to kill them, and some were killded, as well as Cathy had to kill several. She may also have a point about it being out in the "wilds" and they do have several small kids to drag around.
exactly
and if i remember the kids did get kind of bored? but i think it has more to do with love and honor your wife, not love and demand. simon can be a bit thick at times, and tends to slip into these fits of forgetfulness. she has almost left him how many times, and he "see's" the light, only to go blind again over time.
Terri
Teresa L.
I was married to one like that.
Everything had to be about her ego. It is understandable with all the hell she went through as a child. She just never realized that I was not one of the enemy. So, I finally got mine cut off. In my opinion, I am ten times the woman my X will ever be.
Gwendolyn
I was surprised.
Cathy had the choice to clearly tell Si why she was reticent to go up there. It is difficult to imagine that he would not remember the battle himself.
Typical avoidance behavior
Cathy is due to go to Scotland to have her marriage blessed. That was agreed to it at the time of the original nuptials. She is in avoidance. She needs to get off her ego and realize there is no reason not to go. The last time was a fluke and would not be repeated. She is violating her word to the girls now. She is unreasonable and stubborn.
I like the story but think Cathy is becoming self absorbed.
Hugs,
Trish Ann
~There is no reality, only perception~
i MUST disagree...IMHO
This *petty* refusal to go to Scotland is not petty.
And it is not only the logistics of the infants nor her horrid memories of the last time that she is objecting.
BTW Simon doesn't really like the castle either as it is cold, damp and well, a dammed old castle... all mod cons... NO WAY!
BUT Cathy's reasons are more recent, I suspect.
Trish has been acting up very badly of late and is may have something to do with her bragging to friends HER family is so wealthy and important they have a castle.
She is an odd child, way advanced in many ways in her intellectual capacity but a bit backward socially. And emotionally she is her age. So she may be reverting to a common pastime along kids -- an many adults -- who feel left out, bragging about how important they and their families are in order to bolster their own feelings of self worth.
Going to the Castle and allowing her to bring a few*Friends* may be seen by Cathy as rewarding bad behavior on Trish's part.
And WHY must she be all happy her hubby *planned* this vacation completely without her input?
She ALSO has a career in addition to family. He is giving THAT no consideration.
The filming is going on and she may be needed soon.
Neal is a basket case and I susppect it will be more like a few years rather than months before he is functional.
This vacation is too spontaneous and frankly at a bad time.
Then we have the son and his friend who castrated himself largely due to the joint rapes they suffered in France.
HOW can that freindship heal if they remain estranged? Bringing the tormented child along might heal her, as her friend sees the poor kid is becoming more feminine, but will it really help? It could do her harm assuming that is what his freind tre[uley wants in her PTSD and physically traumatized mind and body.
This trip might be good but is more likely to be a disaster in making.
Sorry I see Simon as being the jerk here, not Cathy.
He must by now know what *pushes her buttons * and he is pushing all the wrong ones at the moment.
Cathy is not acting completely rational but why must SHE beheld to a higher standard.
She must be perfect when all/many around her are being jerks?
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
They're both being jerks.
The kids really want to go. Cathy doesn't, and I can see her never going there ever again unless she is convinced, coerced, or makes a decision to be nice to the kids by taking them.
Perhaps Simon isn't all that hepped up on going, but he is doing it for the kids. Cathy really needs to decide whether she wants to go for the kids, or tell them that they can't go because she doesn't like going.
As far as taking her for granted... well, she didn't complain when he took her to see the TDF. Is it about him setting things up without consulting her, or about him taking the family to a place that she doesn't care for.
As for the bad memories -- time to hop back on the horse that threw you off.
Even if Simon is an oaf, he set up the vacation out of love and kindness. He needs credit for that. If Cathy is really too busy with college and that film to go, she needs to kindly and politely thank him for his thoughtfulness, but explain that she can't make it.
(But that wouldn't be like Cathy at all. Maybe in a couple decades, after she matures a bit.)
Actually...
If you look back, Cathy did complain about the trip to TdF - until he told her about that part... She doesn't seem to like not being consulted...
As to bad memories of a place... Different issue completely, and one Simon and Cathy SHOULD talk about and whether it's worth doing something about. Had I been in such a fire fight, I might also not want to return to such a place!
Is Cathy, perhaps, overreacting? Maybe a bit... But, she and Simon both have a long history of this. He should also know by now that him "springing" a trip on her is not a way to get her to agree. Every time I can think of in the past, she's planted her feet in the ground and fought when surprised. He should be able to remember this. But, he seems to never recall this. Could Cathy learn to not auto-fight? perhaps. She's gotten a bit better in other areas. But, it takes two to make a relationship.
Once they were arguing, I think you can agree that Simon dug his pit deeper and deeper.
Do the kids want to go? That's obviously yes. But one parent deciding and laying down the law is not a good way to make this happen.
My opinion, this time "most" of the problem is on Simon's head (but there IS some for Cathy).
Annette
*sighs*
He really doesn't get it.
Some times he can be wonderful, understanding, helpful and the like... Then he pulls one of these things. They've been married quite while now. You'd think he'd have begun to understand (or at least recognize) the lady he married and her preferences. Some (like my mother-in-law) are not good when surprises are "sprung" on them - specially when it might conflict with plans she might already have. (Her son's even worse!) Others have no difficulty with surprises.
Simon should have recalled her reaction at previous "surprise" trips. *sighs*
Then, for him to try to walk all over Cathy and "if you loved me you'd go" kind of thing.
I can understand Cathy's disappointment in his actions... And her need for tears.
*sighs*
Annette
They need to understand each other.
They need to learn each other's preferences, but they shouldn't have to walk on eggshells.
No reason...
No reason to walk on eggshells... And, egg shells are not what's needed. Cathy's been asked and ended up doing quite a number of things she didn't want to do... And turned down some as well... Mostly without explosions.
I don't think I suggested walking on eggshells, but a bit of "un" common courtesy in at least talking about important issues that impact the family before springing them on each other would be a nice start...
These two fight far more than any couple I've known. So fighting like this is NOT something I'm familiar with. Personally, I have to question how much they really care about each other if they both find so many ways to cause the other to end up hurt. Oh, I know they "love" each other, but neither seems willing to try and get to understand where the other's coming from or to take the other into consideration. Cathy's to likely to take things as an attack, but Simon's too likely to assume all others want what he wants. Some major growing up is needed!
Annette
Of course
Simon is stubborn, After all their time together Cathy really should have realised how things were going to work out as regards Scotland, Simon wants to go Cathy doesn't or rather she would have liked to have been asked first..
So lets assume Cathy refuse's point blank to go to Scotland, Will she really allow Simon to take the children up to the castle, Like any mother she will worry about their safety, And given that their well being is in Simons hands maybe she might be right, Simon will as always do things without much in the way of forethoughtand an old castle is a place fraught with danger.
Given those thoughts will Cathy change her mind? ... Only time will tell.
Kirri
I suspect...
I suspect that had Simon approached things differently, the trip might well have happened.
At this point, how can Cathy STOP him from taking the kids? Can she go to court to stop it? I don't think so. Could (or would) she kidnap the kids? Would she try to "guilt" them into not going?
As to changing her mind, she has before. But, the way Simon's taken to try to get her to change it has never shown any effectiveness at getting her to change before? (She doesn't take well to that "lord and master" stuff... Can't imagine why...) But, there ARE ways he could facilitate the change, as could the kids. (If only saying they're going anyway, and if she's worried why, she needs to go along to protect them.)
My 3 cents... (If it's worth that much.)
Annette