Kindle Edition
C. E. Todd Books
Category:
Romance
Publisher: C. E. Todd Books
Copyright: November 26, 2013
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Christina works through her relationship with her husband, and with Tom.
Christine Metcalf's quiet life as a doctor's wife is not so quiet lately. Since her husband threw himself into his career, after learning he couldn't father children, Christine has been left alone, to find comfort in the arms of Tom, her much younger neighbor.
Tom comes home from college, his parents discover his affair with Christine. What's worse is that Christine's husband also finds out, with tragic consequences. Will she and Tom survive?
Excerpt
I stared at Glen as he stood in the entryway to our home, glaring at me, his jaw throbbing. “I was out … at the hotel. There was a trio there I wanted to hear,” I lied. The air was too thick to think of anything but self-preservation.
“I know. Kathy told me.”
The words hung in the air for a moment. Kathy had told Glen about Tom and I. I felt suddenly hollow, this new reality feeling so foreign. What does this mean? My musings were cut short by a sudden sting on my cheek, as his hand landed hard, jerking my face sideways.
“No!” I shouted. I touched my hand to my cheek, as if my hand had some magical healing powers.
“How could you?”
A sudden lump welled up inside, and tears began to stream down my cheeks. I wouldn’t let him see me this vulnerable. The stairs. I bolted, ducking past Glen as he grabbed for me. I scurried up the stairs, into my bedroom … our bedroom. I slammed the door shut and flicked the light on, then lunged against the door, pressing it shut. I felt the doorknob jiggle, and Glen press against the door.
“Dammit! I deserve an explanation!” He lunged against the door harder this time, pushing me back. I no sooner fell onto the bed than Glen grabbed my forearm, and pulled me up, so I stood in front of him, his chest heaving. My heart lurched for my throat as I could think of no good explanation. “Answer me!” he thundered.
“Glen … I ….” His hand cracked against my cheek again, and I fell back onto the bed.
“What the hell is wrong with you? I give you all this, and this is how you repay me? Do you think I’m some sort of fool?”
“Glen … no … I ….” Suddenly, a door slammed. Glen and I both looked toward the bedroom door. Heavy footsteps bound through the living room, and up the stairway. Glen walked toward the bedroom door as it burst open.
Glen backed away slightly, apparently startled. Tom’s eyes were on fire as he reared back and landed a respectable right hook to Glen’s jaw. Glen twisted, and crumpled to the floor as Tom quickly grabbed my forearm, and whispered, “We’re going. Now.”
I had little choice but to follow Tom as he pulled me down the stairs, and out the front door. I trotted behind him as he walked over the lawn. I’d lost my shoes somehow, but the grass somehow felt cool and soothing on my feet. Tom handed me a helmet, and donned his own.
“Get on. We’re getting out of here.” What choice did I have, really?
As Tom sped off out of his driveway, I finally took a breath. I wrapped my arms around his torso, and leaned my head on his shoulder, my heart finally slowing. I don’t think I deserve this.
Tom was silent as he drove. He drove for about an hour, but I didn’t mind. This was as close to quiet time as I was going to get tonight. As I began to recognize the campus area, Tom pulled into a hotel; probably one of those places for parents to stay when they visit their kids. I wondered if they would have a room for a parent that was sleeping with a student. I felt a bit odd as I traipsed into the lobby with no shoes. The clerk looked up at Tom, then at me, and his eyes widened.
“I’d like a room,” Tom spoke, authoritatively.
Pursing his lips, the clerk produced a key, as Tom slid a card over to him. The clerk glanced at me repeatedly, as if he were afraid I’d scream or something.
Tom held my hand as we walked down the hallway to the room. He opened the door quietly, and flipped on the light. He turned to me.
“That’s not looking so good.” He ran his hand lightly over my right cheek. He turned me around, so that I could see myself in the mirror. My right eye was swollen, and a pronounced bruise was rising below it. I looked like every picture I’d ever seen of a battered spouse, but it was me, this time. My heart sank. “Stay here. I’ll get some ice.”
Tom was out the door before I could say anything. I leaned over, staring at my mark. I flinched as I touched it. How would I ever cover this up? Maybe the time for covering things up had passed.
Tom came back in, and wrapped the ice in a small towel, sitting me down on the bed, and tenderly placing the ice pack on my cheek. I took it from him.
“I should have seen this coming,” Tom mused.
“I think I did, but I ignored it.”
Tom sighed, and sat down on the bed next to me. He took my hand. “This problem is over. You’re safe, now.”
I swallowed hard. My throat contracted, and felt like it was on fire as the tears welled up, and suddenly gushed from my eyes. I cried silently, not knowing what else to do. Tom dabbed my cheeks with his thumb.
“Let it out. You’re safe now.”
I fell onto him, burying my face in his chest. He enveloped me, his chin nuzzling my head. No words were spoken as I sobbed softly.
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