No More Secrets

Fandango

B146DD40-1000-4519-AEA1-FC1EE5831545“I thought we agreed no more secrets,” Max said to his wife.

“I’m sorry I was late,” Ruth said as she walked into their home at nearly 11:30 at night. “I’m working on that big presentation for the board tomorrow and I lost track of the time.”

“You always come up with good excuses, Ruth,” Max said. “But there is no excuse this time. How about a little honesty for a change?”

“Max, I am not making up excuses and I am being honest with you. And as to secrets, well, Max, we all have secrets,” Ruth said. “I know there are things about you that you haven’t told me, things you think that you don’t share with me, feelings that you don’t express.”

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about, Ruth,” Max said. “I’m talking about your late nights at the firm, your meals at expensive restaurants, your out-of-town trips. No more secrets, remember?”

“I’m not keeping any secrets from you, Max. You know I have a high pressure, very demanding job,” Ruth said. “And it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for you, Max. I’m the one who makes enough money at the firm so that you can stay home and work on your novel and interact with all of your little blogging friends.”

“Yes, that’s true. You are the breadwinner,” Max admitted. “But that doesn’t give you carte blanche to run around on me.”

“What are you talking about, Max?” Ruth asked. “Are you accusing me of having an affair? How dare you?”

Max pulled out his smartphone and shoved it toward his wife. “No secrets, huh?” He said. “Then how do explain all of these photos the private detective I hired texted me tonight?”

“Max, I’m no fool,” Ruth said after scrolling through the pictures on Max’s smartphone. “I knew you were having me tailed and so I had all of these photos staged in order to give you fodder for your sexy adult novel.” Ruth gave Max a coquettish smile. “It’s my gift to you.”

“Oh I’m so sorry, Ruth, but I have been keeping a little secret from you, too,” Max said.

“You mean in addition to the one that you hired a private detective to spy on me?” Ruth asked. “What other secret, Max?”

“I decided to shift gears with my book and to write a murder mystery. I was looking for a good motive for the perpetrator, and these photos really help,” Max said, a smug smile on his face. “By the way, Ruth, I fixed you your favorite cocktail before you got home tonight. Drink up, my dear.”

Written for Rachel Poli’s Time To Write: Sentence Starter prompt, where the sentence is “I thought we agreed no more secrets.” And for the Three Things Challenge from The Haunted Wordsmith, where the three things are “sorry,” “late,” and “no excuse.”

20 thoughts on “No More Secrets”

  1. Ramyani Bhattacharya February 2, 2019 / 2:54 am

    Omg. This is great. Till the last line, i was into constant guess work. Amazingly written, this is an intellectual marvel. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Fandango February 2, 2019 / 7:40 am

      Oh wow. Thanks so much for that high praise.

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  2. Sadje February 2, 2019 / 2:55 am

    Hmm, a very devious guy, this Max of yours. Planning a murder but I bet he is going to get caught. It’s the husband they suspect !

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. drtanya@saltedcaramel February 2, 2019 / 7:14 am

    But if Mac told her he was going to write a murder mystery and then told her he had fixed her a cocktail why would she drink it?
    Wouldn’t she be suspicious?
    My little brain is confused.

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    • Fandango February 2, 2019 / 8:46 am

      Maybe it was a warning and he was just trying to freak her out. Perhaps he has another secret up his sleeve.

      Liked by 1 person

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        • Fandango February 2, 2019 / 1:04 pm

          So, write a post and finish the story. I’d love to know what happens next, too!

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          • drtanya@saltedcaramel February 2, 2019 / 10:15 pm

            Although I am honoured by your offer to finish your story I don’t feel I will be able to keep the suspense as well.
            I am not very good at fiction.
            Theresa or Kristian or Sadje could do it really well.

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