by Klaus Rohrich
July 15, 2004
Tuesday noon: Paul Martin and his wife Ontario had another appointment today and talked about their recent reconciliation. I started by asking Ontario how the week had been.
Ontario: "It’s been a good week. Paul has been very respectful, attentive and sensitive to my needs and to the best of my knowledge has had no contact with either Quebec or any of his other women. although I did tell him if he strayed again, that would be it; he’d have to move out."
Paul: "I didn’t realize just how hurt my dearest Ontario would be by my taking her jewelry and giving it as a present to another woman. I want to make it up to her and this time it really will be different. I’ve learned my lesson!"
Ontario: "I didn’t really mind that he gave a pile of my money away to another woman, because, after all, they’re only money and we’re talking about a committed relationship, a marriage. What bothered me was the fact that he gave it to that bitch, Quebec and then lied to me about it."
Paul: "I couldn’t tell you the truth, beloved, because I knew it would hurt you deeply, and the last thing I wanted to do was to cause you pain."
Ontario: "You should have thought of that before you slept with that crepustulous hussy. It wasn’t just that you did it with her, it hurt all the more because you lied to me about it. You betrayed my trust. You hurt me deeply, Martin, and I almost left you because of it. The deepest irony of this whole sordid affair is that in the end Quebec wanted nothing to do with you. She’s now bedding that Bloc!"
Paul: "The important thing, dear is that I’ve learned my lesson and all that is behind us."
Ontario: "I’m still thinking about when we renewed our vows in 1997 and again in 2000. all this time I thought we were the perfect couple. You even swore in 1995 that you were never going to dally with Her again. Remember when you told me that I would never have to worry about Quebec again because you had set her straight when you met at Charlottetown? It seemed like we were the envy of everyone, both of us so suave and urbane, a perfect match in our wonderful new neighbourhood. I thought we established new standards in a relationship. and then I find out that you had been buying her love with my money!" (Starts to sniffle and weep silently)
Paul: "Don’t cry for me, Ontario. Now that we have this dreadful business behind us we can start living for each other. But I’d sure like to get to the bottom of who filled your ears with those awful stories."
Ontario: "You mean who spilled the beans about your dalliances? I’ll tell you. It was several people. First it was that Sheila Fraser from down the street, telling the neighbours that you and Quebec were an item. Then it was those folks from the West End, you know the ones that you call ‘Rednecks’? They spread the rumours about you like wildfire. Even Mary Times’ brother, Scott, who had hung out with those westerners for years, said they were evil. although, to be truthful, I think he spends way too much time looking at your buns. There isn’t anything going on between you and him, is there Martin?"
Paul: "My heavens no! I want to make it very clear that Scott and I do not have a relationship, nor have we planned or talked about a relationship. He’s merely the brother of a very important family member, Mary Times, remember?"
Ontario: "I wish I could forget. Isn’t she the one that keeps taking our empty beer bottles out of the basement to cash them in for the deposit? I also hear that she often panhandles, asking people for spare change. I even heard when Stephen suggested to her that she get a job, she told him to mind his own business. Come to think of it, she’s been hanging around here a lot lately, there isn’t anything going on between you two, too, is there, Martin?"
Paul: "Of course not, dearest, she’s much too unsophisticated and basic to suit my taste. But while we’re on the subject of Stephen, I want to make it perfectly clear to you that you hurt me greatly when you started flirting with him and spending time alone with him. I almost thought I’d lost you!"
Ontario: "Silly Paul, I could never leave you, you know that. We’ve been together for so long that I wouldn’t know how to begin another relationship with someone else. I know that you’ve abused me in the past and I believe you when you say that this time it’s going to be different, that you’re going to stay true to me, no matter what. Besides, another man might treat me worse than you did, so I’m staying."
One p.m.: Paul and Ontario left leaving me to wonder just how long it will last this time. Oh well, I’d better get ready for my session with Stephen and Ralph.