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Happily Ever After Series First Novel
When rich meets middle class love ensues. But will it be enough to keep newly married Jan Nichols from creatively financing her high maintenance lifestyle?
On the return flight home from her honeymoon, Jan Nichols snuggled closer to her husband in their luxurious, first-class seats. Enjoying his arm around her waist, she laid her head on his shoulder and sighed, happily ever after.
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The next morning, Jan awoke when she felt her husband trying to maneuver his right arm out from under her shoulders.
“Mmmm, where are you going?” She sighed as she stretched under the comforter.
“Nowhere.” Rob stopped trying to pull away and drew Jan closer, pressing his lips on her soft hair. “I want to stay here forever.”
She grinned. “So, what are we going to do today?” She leaned on her elbow, propping her head with her hand to look at Rob, enjoying the sensation of feeling him next to her.
“Well, I know what we’re gonna do for starters.” Rob pressed against Jan, and she let him take control.
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Jan smiled as she closed her silk robe and tied the belt that emphasized her slim waist. “Breakfast?”
“I don’t think you can top what we just had,” Rob said as he pulled on a pair of jeans. He walked over to Jan and slipped his arms around her. She sensed he wanted to tell her something, but the words weren’t coming. “Why don’t you pour us some coffee, and I’ll be right down.”
In the kitchen, Jan clutched the coffee mug with both hands, sipping, enjoying the aroma. Remembering it was Sunday, she went to get the newspaper from the front porch. At the breakfast nook table, she spread the large newsprint and studied the headlines as she waited for her husband to join her.
“What’s in this thing?” Rob asked as he came into the kitchen carrying Jan’s purse. He looked at her curiously as he walked to the table and set it down with a thud.
“What’s going on? Why did you bring that?” Jan’s tone was defensive, and when she realized it, she gave a nonchalant shrug. “You can look in it. There’s nothing in there that will hurt you.”
“No, that’s not why I brought it here. I was hoping we could go through our wallets and remove any unnecessary credit cards.” Rob sat down and leaned forward with his elbows on the table, clutching the shoulder strap of Jan’s purse as if it were a leash. “You know, now that we’re married, we need to manage our finances together.”
Jan solicitously stared at her purse. “I guess,” she hesitated, “that sounds okay.” She gradually slid her left hand across the table, crawling like a spider until she grasped the corner with her thumb and forefinger. Slowly, she dragged it closer to her until Rob let go of the strap. She sensed his impatience with her delaying his request.
“How ‘bout I go first? You don’t seem too sure of this.” Rob stood up and reached with his right hand into his back pocket. He removed his wallet and threw it on the table before sitting down. “I don’t carry credit cards with me.” He opened the brown leather, tattered bifold, exposing a driver’s license and a card in five different slots. “This one is for medical insurance, and this one’s for roadside service.”
“What is that one for?” Jan pointed to a worn, black plastic card.
Rob removed it from the slot and presented it to her. “This is my hardware store loyalty card.”
“A loyalty card? Not a credit card?”
“Uh-huh.” Rob returned the card to its location.
“And that one?” A frayed paper card stuck out.
“That’s for the sandwich truck.” Rob pulled it out, exposing the punches. “I get a free sandwich after buying ten.” He placed it back. “Not a bad deal, but it’s still cheaper to take a lunch. And this reminds me of another subject I want to talk about after we’re done with this.”
“And that last one?”
Rob pulled out a picture. It was Jan after they had dated a couple of times. She saw him smile when she melted at the romantic gesture.
“This one is worth all the money in the world.”
“That’s so sweet.” Jan reached for the picture and looked at it closer. “I didn’t know you were carrying this around with you.” She handed it back to Rob, and he affectionately tucked it back in its place.
“Other than that.” He opened the billfold compartment revealing five one-hundred-dollar bills.
“Nice.” Jan grinned at the sight. She sprang forward and reached for the cash.
Rob slammed the wallet shut just as her fingertips braised the leather.
“Why five hundred dollars in your wallet? Why not five twenties or tens? You know, save more money.” Jan pumped her fist in a mocking cheer.
Rob glared at her before answering. “Because five hundred is my allowance for the week,” he spoke wearily. “And, I usually have money left over. So, that’s less I have to take out for the next week, and I move the difference from my checking to my savings account.” His glare turned into a grin. “I know you’re impressed by all of this. Your turn.”
“Oh, okay.” Jan opened her purse and shuffled things around for a minute before removing her wallet.
Rob sat back in his chair and sipped his coffee, smiling, waiting.
“Okay, for starters, this is my department store credit card . . .” She tugged at it, then digging her right index finger behind the card to grip it, she pulled it partially out.
“What do you need that for?” Rob leaned forward and stared into her face. “Do you carry a balance on it?”
“No, I don’t think so. But I’d have to ask Jeff to know for sure.”
“Why do you have to ask some guy named Jeff if you have a balance on your credit card?”
>Wary of the response she was about to give him, she proceeded anyway. “Jeff is mom and dad’s accountant, and he manages my finances as well.”
Rob choked and slammed the cup down, causing coffee to splash out onto the table. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “Your parents are still managing your finances?”
“I don’t see what the big deal is.” Jan shifted to the left side of her chair, crossing her legs and arms. “Rob, why are you berating me about my money?” Her muscles were tense throughout her body. All she could think about was how she wanted to escape this awful discussion.
“The big deal is that you and I are married, and we’re tied to each other financially now.”
“Well then, we can have Jeff manage both our finances.” Jan jumped as Rob quickly stood up, catching the back of the chair before it fell to the floor.
Pacing in short distances within the kitchen confines, Rob rubbed his forehead with his right hand while his left hand stayed gripped to his waist. Finally, he sat back down and leaned in toward Jan. “Our parents are not going to manage our finances for us. Not yours. Not mine. And, sure as hell, not some guy named Jeff or Jack or whatever his name is. Okay?” Rob looked intently at Jan. She cowered back into her chair, bringing her legs up, crossing her ankles, and wrapping her arms around her knees.
“Okaaay,” she bemoaned.
“What’s next?”
“Why don’t I just take all the cards out of my wallet—no, wait, better yet, I’ll take everything out of my wallet,” Jan said as she pulled card after card out of their pockets, throwing them on the table. “How ‘bout I just won’t carry a wallet. No money. No cards. Just my ID.” She sneered as she threw the wallet across the table at Rob.
He caught it and, without saying anything, extended his arm across the table and set it next to Jan.
Jan wanted the conversation over with since it seemed to her that money was Rob’s primary interest, even more so than his wife. The long, awkward silence was agonizing as they sat at the table fixated on the pile of plastic. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to live up to her husband’s financial expectations. But how she was going to get around them was to be determined.
Rob picked up his coffee and stared at the inside of it. “I think we should take all your credit cards and cut them up,” he said emotionlessly as he focused on his finger circling the rim of the ceramic mug.
“But Rob, you can’t be serious. I make a lot of money, and I need to present myself in a professional manner.”
“You do make a lot of money.” He looked up at Jan’s eyes. “But, when you spend twice as much as you make, you’re going further into debt.”
“I don’t spend twice as much as I make,” Jan said defensively.
“How do you know? You just said you don’t manage your own money.”
Jan was quiet as she mulled over Rob’s comments. She didn’t want to admit he was right. The truth was she didn’t know where she stood financially. Until now, it was never an issue for her.
“Listen, all I’m saying is let’s just give a budget a try. Can we do that?” Rob softened his tone as he reached across the table for Jan’s hand.
“I suppose, but what about my credit cards?” Fearful of the answer, Jan sent a pleading look to Rob. She sensed he was strategically preparing to do battle.
Rob drew in a deep breath as he laid out his plan. “Now, hear me out.” He laid his hand with his fingers spread wide on the plastic heap and slowly drew them in. “Let’s get rid of these credit cards . . .”
Jan’s jaw dropped. “But—”
“Then,” Rob held up a finger to stop the interruption, “then, down the road, when we need a credit card, we’ll apply for joint accounts. Okay?” He reached across with his other arm and, holding both of Jan’s hands in his, gave a gentle but firm squeeze. “We’ll each get five hundred dollars a week—”
“Oh, not bad.” Jan’s shoulders relaxed as she placed her feet onto the floor.
“Let me finish,” Rob warned. “That needs to include everything we need to live on. Gas. Groceries. Electricity.”
“Clothes. Jewelry. Shoes.” Jan happily continued.
“Water. Taxes. Phone service.” Rob grinned.
Jan knew he was relieved to have her on board with his plan. She was thankful to have the discussion over with and ready to talk with her husband about something other than money. Not feeling certain if this approach would work for her, she would have to keep her concerns to herself for now.