The Divorce (The Dating Game)

Episode 1

It was just beginning to dawn when Susan Cooper got up to prepare breakfast. It was Saturday, and that night they would be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Twenty-five years married to a wonderful man. Because David Cooper was wonderful – attentive, affectionate, a good father. Susan looked out the window and saw the first rays of sun shining on her flowers. She was the luckiest woman in the world.

"Good morning, darling," David Cooper said, pulling his wife out of her thoughts.

"Good morning. I thought you would sleep a little longer. I'll serve you coffee," she replied.

"I have to review some contracts at the company, but I'll be back in three hours. What time will they come to set up the furniture in the garden?"

"Around eleven," Susan said, while serving breakfast to her husband.

"What time will the girls arrive?" David asked.

"In the afternoon. Remember that Ava will bring her boyfriend, Mark, and they'll bring Amelie along."

"I suppose you told her that the young man will sleep in a separate room?"

"Of course, dear. I talked to Ava, and I already arranged for your parents to be transferred and set up a room for them to stay. Tomorrow after lunch, I'll take them to the nursing home," Susan responded.

"That's fine. Don't forget to take my suits to the dry cleaners."

"I already did it yesterday. I'll pick them up in a little while."

David smiled. Susan was a good, devoted, and obedient wife. Life with her was easy and predictable. They had been married for twenty-five years and had two wonderful daughters. Ava, at 23, was working for an international company in Los Angeles, creating training content. Amelie, at 19, was attending the University of California, Berkeley.

After so many years of marriage, David Cooper considered himself fortunate. They got along well, and at 45, Susan still looked beautiful. At 52, he himself remained a handsome man capable of arousing great passion. That night, they would celebrate their anniversary with a big party with over fifty guests.

"I'll see you later," he said, kissing his wife on the cheek.

David Cooper got into his new sports car and drove off to the office. Meanwhile, Susan finished her breakfast and checked the long to-do list. It was better to start moving soon, or she wouldn't be back by eleven when the catering service arrived, which would make David furious.

She went up to her bedroom and chose a comfortable pair of shoes, linen pants, and a matching blouse. Twenty minutes later, she was behind the wheel, driving first to the dry cleaners to pick up David's suits and then to the store to collect her dress, specifically bought for the occasion.

Determined to make a change, she entered the hair salon. Her long blonde hair reached her waist, and she usually tied it up, but this time she wanted a change and decided to cut it above her shoulder.

Meanwhile, David Cooper was in his office, carefully reading the document he had had prepared.

"I thought you wouldn't work today. Don't you have an anniversary to celebrate?" Steve, David's friend and partner, said.

"Technically, I'm not working. I just came for a document Marcus prepared for me."

"Is everything in order? You seem somewhat worried," Steve commented.

"I was just thinking," David said, handing the folder to Steve for him to read.

Steve was surprised; he couldn't understand the decision David had made.

"Are you sure? I thought you had given up and that you would put an end to all this. Why did you let it continue?"

"I was going to let it go, and in fact, I even sent her away, but it still haunted me. I just couldn't, so this week I made up my mind. I even found a place already. Don't look at me like that; I did my best. I thought you would understand," David replied.

"I'm not judging you. You're my friend, and you have my support. But I care about her; I've known her for 27 years. Understand, I care about her, and she's a great woman. If you had already made a decision, you should have canceled the party. When will you talk to her?" Steve asked.

"I'll wait for the girls to leave. I suppose tomorrow night. Please make sure everything is in order, I need to return home."

David returned home at ten-thirty in the morning and, upon entering the garage, noticed Susan's car was not there. He headed towards the kitchen.

"Where is the lady?" he asked.

"She went to the dry cleaners and to pick up the wine, sir. She hasn't returned yet, replied Doris, the housemaid."

David Cooper sighed, unable to believe that Susan had forgotten she had to oversee everything. He headed towards the living room and was dialing her number when he saw the car pull up in the driveway. He hung up the phone, and a minute later, Susan entered the kitchen.

"I'm here now, Doris. Bring everything in from the car, she ordered. I'm sorry, David, I didn't mean to be delayed at the hair salon."

"You got your hair cut," he said surprised, it looks great on you.

She smiled at him. _ Thank you. I'll take care of setting up the garden.

From his bedroom window, David Cooper watched his wife organize the whole garden: the dance floor, the tables, the stage for the band, everything carefully chosen.

He picked up his phone and read the message he had received, unable to resist smiling.

"I would have loved to debut it with you"

...****************...

It was three in the afternoon when the girls finally arrived, accompanied by Mark.

Susan rushed to the door to welcome her daughters.

"Hi, Mom. This is Mark, my boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cooper. I'm glad to finally meet you," Mark said.

"Welcome, dear. You're at home, and call me Susan."

"Hey, Mom, you look great with that haircut," Amelie said, hugging her mother. Unlike Ava, Amelie was more attached to her mother, while Ava was more attached to her father.