Eric starting to comprehend what Tina needed: “Oh my god Tina, yes, I have always dreamed of doing it in the kitchen” as he started to hastily wriggle out of his pants. He practically tore it off, not worrying about its price, and flung it in the corner.

Tina [somewhat taken aback]; “Eric!” She went to pick his pants up and started to clean the stain on it as Eric looked on expectedly.

Tina [turns around busy with the food stain on his pants]: “Just look at this big stain—and you were going to wear it to work!”

Eric finally comprehends that Tina was asking for his pants to clean the stain and was quite disappointed. “Tina, when are you going to stop using your clean freak nature as a way to avoid the real issues? When are you going to stop being my mother and be my wife?”

Tina bristled. “What real issues Eric? When are you going to stop being a child and finally act like a husband?”

Eric [jokingly, putting his arms around Tina]: “Well, we cannot have children of our own, so it is kind of convenient, no?”

Tina [growing more impatient and hurting]: “Yes of course Eric, how inconvenient. I cannot conceive for the both of us so you can act like a child to make up for it?” She swallowed the lump rising in her throat and held back the tears threatening to break free.

Tina wanted children of her own—she believed or wanted to believe that a child would have made her less lonely, or filled the void in her relationship with Eric, but alas, they just could not conceive a baby. Months later, their gynecologist had told both Eric and Tina that the couple suffered from idiopathic infertility. Tina and Eric had just about given up making rounds to health clinics and seeking medical advice, second or third opinions—nothing had worked. This had frustrated Eric and emotionally scarred Tina. The couple had considered in-vitro or surrogate mothers but Tina just didn’t feel comfortable with the idea. Now the couple was looking at adoption possibly.

Tina [ironing the pants dry]: “Anyway, here’s your pants. Now go get ready. You are getting late for work while I am getting late for school.”

Eric : “Thank you Tina. You know we have a party tonight right? Our company handling the PR for the latest electronic gizmo that Apple has launched and it is a huge media event. What time will you be home so I can pick you up?”

Tina: “Eric please. You know I hate these parties and media events. Just go on your own. Besides I have papers to grade and I also might need to escort some children home given the Blackbeast scare at my school.”

Eric [hurt by the rejection but plays it down]: Alright Tina. Well, call me if you change your mind. He got ready, grabbed breakfast and gulped down the coffee, gave her a quick kiss while she ate and dashed off to play CEO of his PR company.

Tina sat there deep in thought, not really paying attention to their daily routine. Was a child really the answer to their mutual incompatibility? She thought. Eric was lively, outgoing and a social party animal whereas she just preferred a quite evening at home. She really hoped they could make it.

She thought about Bette…Even after such time, she remembered the stranger that had helped her decide on this route in her life. Not decide, but really pushed her towards this destiny. Was there something better out there? Tina had never stopped to think–she had lived by Bette’s words and tried to make the best of their marriage. Eric and her got along—he really loved her while she did love him, but maybe not as much as she could. Not the kind of love that Tina still dreamed about, saw in bad movies and good books, maybe it was dead indeed.

Or just out there, a bit gloomy, sulky and challenged …

Tina finished her breakfast, grabbed her black coat, scarf and gloves, and headed to school via the Subway.