36. Prospective Replacement

Troy's behaviour had been unacceptable at his parents’, and he couldn’t figure out what had possessed him to choke his pregnant wife. He had been angrier with Eve before and had always restrained himself.

He deserved to feel the pain of seeing her happy with another man even if it was platonic. He felt even more awkward when the small group noticed him and went silent. It seemed like everyone was guilty, even if not for the same reason. 

Eve was the first person to greet him. She remained seated and invited to make himself a sandwich and join them for a picnic by the pool.

Troy had been amazed at the beauty of the house. It was everything he had asked the realtor to find in a house and more when they had originally been house hunting. 

The boys shouted greetings to him, and Reginald shook his hand stiffly. Troy was glad that Eve was still his wife, or he would have probably been a lot more jealous of Reginald.