papa was a rolling stone

November 2023 - Benjamin and Viola Long are 32, Clara Long is 5, Elizabeth Ng is 26.

Now that their daughter Clara is in kindergarten, Benjamin and Viola have been talking about having another child. They always thought they'd have more than one, but for some reason having a baby just doesn't feel right. Maybe it's the long hours he works at the hospital, or the fact that they just bought their first house. Even though neither of them can put their finger on the reason, they both agree that now isn't the time to have another baby.

With Clara in school during the day, both of her parents have more free time on their hands than they know what to do with.

That's how Benjamin finds himself home alone one afternoon. His daughter is in school and his wife is working at the restaurant, and he ends up inviting Elizabeth Ng to come over for a visit. He and Elizabeth both work at the hospital, and at first they confine themselves to swapping medical stories.

It's their first time alone together outside of the hospital, and they can't ignore the attraction anymore.

He knows he shouldn't, but somehow it doesn't feel like a mistake.

Of course Viola feels differently when she comes home from work.

"How could you do this to me?" she demands. "Doesn't our family mean anything to you?"

"I'm sorry..."

"Sorry that you cheated or sorry that you got caught?"

Poor Clara is too young to understand what's going on. "Why isn't Daddy having dinner with us?" she asks.

"Mommy and Daddy are having a fight," Viola explains.

"Are you going to make up soon?"

Viola sighs. "I don't know, sweetie. We'll see what happens."

For now, at least, Benjamin will be sleeping on the couch.

*****

Elizabeth is quite the homewrecker! I didn't let her break up the Centowskis' marriage, but I don't think the Longs' marriage will survive. Elizabeth and Benjamin have higher chemistry than Benjamin and Viola, plus they don't seem like a very good couple. After the fight Benjamin rolled a want to fall in love with Viola, which I interpreted as guilt, plus some wants for Elizabeth, but Viola just had wants for Clara. Plus they really were going back and forth on the baby issue, rolling both baby wants and baby fears. So I think this is the end of the Longs' six year marriage; Elizabeth finally got the guy this time!