Choked (Devoured #3) (6 page)

Kirk put his hands on his knees and panted at the
freshly tarred driveway for a second. He straightened up and headed for the front
door, putting his hands on his head in an effort to slow his breath and his
heart rate. When he got inside, he kicked his shoes off.

“Honey, is that you?” Madeline called from the
kitchen.

“Who else would it be?” Kirk said. He walked in his
sweaty socks towards the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe.

Madeline was stirring something sweet smelling on
the stove. She wore a white apron with little flowers on it. Her hair was
pinned up but little pieces had sprung free all over. Kirk didn’t know if it
was deliberate, but he did think it was beautiful.

For a moment, he felt like he must’ve walked into
the wrong house. Surely he didn’t deserve to have such a pretty wife, such a
fragrant meal, such a lovely home. He didn’t dare pinch himself.

“How was your run?” Madeline asked, looking over her
shoulder at him.

“Good, yeah.”

“Well gimme a kiss, sweaty.”

“I’m all gross.”

“I said gimme a kiss,” she said. “I didn’t say shove
your pits in my face.”

Kirk smiled and crossed the kitchen.

Madeline turned her head so she could give him a
peck on the cheek.

“What’s for dinner?”

“Sweet potato and carrot soup.”

Kirk craned his neck dramatically and peeked into
the bowl.

“Don’t you worry though,” she said. “I put some
shredded chicken in there so my little athlete gets his protein.”

“Who are you referring to?”

“You silly.”

Kirk opened the fridge and stuck his head into the
cool air.

“But I guess there’s a chance little Kirk junior
might grow up to be sporty, too.”

Kirk backed out of the fridge. “Little Kirk junior?”
He put the milk on the counter.

“The baby.”

“Why not little Maddy junior?” he asked, grabbing a
glass from the cupboard.

Madeline smirked into the pot and kept stirring.

“Do you know something I don’t?”

“Mayyyyybeeee…”

Kirk put his glass down next to the milk and was beside
her again in an instant.

“Oh hello,” she said, the stupid grin still stuck on
her face.

“Spill it, Madeline.”

“Spill what? I don’t know what you’re talking
about?”

“Bull. You’re a terrible liar. You found out didn’t
you?”

She kept stirring.

“Tell me!” Kirk tried to get in her line of sight.

She pursed her lips.

“You asked, didn’t you?! I knew you would cave!”

She turned to look at him. Her eyes were shiny and
moist.

“Well did you?!”

She nodded.

“And?”

“It’s a boy,” she said, glowing.

“Ahhh!” Kirk hugged her to his sweaty clothes and
danced her around the butcher block. “I can’t believe it! We’re going to have a
little boy!”

Madeline broke from his grip and leaned against the
counter, winded and slightly dizzy.

“How long have you known?”

“About six hours.”

“And you’re sure?” Kirk pulled the hair at the back
of his head. “I mean, did you see a little penis and everything?!”

Madeline laughed. “Yes, I saw it. But I feel
terrible that I asked when you weren’t there.”

Kirk hugged her again. “It’s okay, honey.”  

“I just couldn’t stand not knowing anymore.”

“I knew you wouldn’t be able to hold out.” He squished
his smile against the top of her head.

Madeline leaned her neck back to look up at him.
“And I knew you’d be so happy you were right that you wouldn’t mind that I
asked without you there.”

“You know me so well.” He returned to the milk and
poured himself a glass with his shaky hand. “God, I’m so excited! Did you tell
anyone else?”

“No,” she said. “I wasn’t even sure I was going to
tell you.”

“I’m so glad you did.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking though. There was
no way I was going to be able to keep that big a secret from you.”

Kirk downed half his glass of milk. “I can’t blame
you. I wouldn’t be able to keep that a secret either. I’m even thinking of
going door to door and telling all the neighbors right now.”

Madeline rolled her eyes. “I hope this isn’t going
to distract you from your big speech?”

“Not at all. That news is just what I needed to give
me some perspective.”

“Good, honey. I’m glad.” She turned off the stove
and covered the pot.

Kirk put his empty milk glass in the sink. “You know
what I was thinking on my run?”

“What?”

“I know this is going to sound crazy, but I was
thinking maybe we should move farther North, maybe give the East Coast a try.”

Madeline’s face twisted. “What are you talking
about?”

“I think it would be nice to raise a kid somewhere
with four seasons. I was thinking about how great it is to have snow days and
go sledding, you know?”

“Are you being serious right now?”

“Yeah.”

“But you know I hate the cold and wanted to live
near my parents.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. And we’ve done that for a while
and it’s been great.” Kirk placed his hands on the butcher block and stretched
his calves out behind him. “But I don’t think we should get too settled before
we try a few places to see what we like best.”

Madeline crossed her arms. “What about your job?
What about the grant?”

“Well, that’s the thing, see. If I get the funding,
we could go anywhere. I could probably even get a job at an Ivy League school
with that kind of credential.”

“You’ve never even mentioned wanting to work at an
Ivy League school.”

“That’s because I knew it was a long shot, and I
didn’t want to get our hopes up. But now that I might have a chance, it’s all I
can think about.”

“It’s all you can think about?” Madeline untied her
apron and took it off. “I thought you liked it here just fine?”

“I do. It’s great, but do you ever think we might
like it somewhere else even better?”

“No, Kirk. I don’t. Is this why you’ve been acting
so weird lately? Cause you want to move?”

“I haven’t been acting weird.”

“We just painted the nursery for crying out loud.”

“Will you think about it?”

“Do you want me to lie to you and tell you I will?”
Madeline balled up the apron and held it in front of her. “Cause I have no
intention of moving anytime soon, Kirk, and I think it’s a ridiculous idea.”

“Really? I think it would be a great adventure!”

“I don’t. I think I’m a few months away from giving
birth to the adventure of a lifetime, and I don’t need to overcomplicate things
by moving away from my friends and my family and my husband’s job.”

Kirk swallowed. He ran through the checklist in his
mind. Snow days? Check. Career opportunities? Check. Adventure? Check. He was
out of his best arguments, and she hadn’t done anything except look
increasingly angry since he’d mentioned it. He wished he could just say “Baby I
messed up and I need to start over with you in a new place and everything will
be okay,” but that would never work. At least he had planted the seed. Maybe
she would consider it.

Kirk walked over, took the apron from her crossed arms,
and put it on the counter. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He
brushed some hair off her red forehead and attempted his best puppy dog face.

“Don’t scare me like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Go get a shower. I’m starving.”

“Do you want to eat now and I’ll shower after?”

“No. You’ll sleep better if you shower first, and I
want you to get an early night so you’re ready for your presentation tomorrow.
I’ll wait.”

“Okay,” he said. “Ten minutes max.”

“Sure.”

Kirk kissed Madeline on the forehead and walked out
of the kitchen.

As he climbed the stairs to the bedroom, he thought
about the horrible inkling that had been plaguing him for days. It was this
feeling that he had to take her away from here, and it was growing inside him.
Like a tumor.

Julianna took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

A petite blond woman with just the hint of a rounded
tummy showing through her oversized t-shirt opened the door.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Madeline opened the door wider when she saw it
was a young woman. “Can I help you?”

“Madeline?”

“Yes.”

Julianna stuck her hand out. “My name is Julianna
Foster.”

Madeline shook her hand. “Okay.”

“I’m a former student of your husbands’.”

Madeline leaned against the side of the door. “He’s
not here right now.”

“Oh.” Julianna adjusted her purse strap on her
shoulder. “That’s okay. I was actually hoping that I might get a chance to talk
to you.”

“To me?”

“Yeah.” Julianna stood with her legs straight and
her feet facing forward. She was wearing less makeup than usual and was doing
her best to seem unintimidating. “Do you mind if I come in?”

“Oh, of course.” Madeline backed up to make room in
the doorway. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Julianna smiled and stepped in the house. “Thank
you.” She noticed the shoes lined up beside the welcome mat and slipped off her
flats before looking around the large entry way. “Nice place.”

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’d love a tea,” Julianna said. “Any kind is fine.”

Madeline pointed to an adjacent room. “Have a seat
in the front room there and I’ll be right in.”

Julianna walked across the cool wood floor in her
bare feet and looked around. It was even cozier on the inside than she had
expected. She sat down on the beige sofa and wondered if Kirk had ever fucked
his wife there.

Madeline came around the corner with a steaming tea and
put it down on the coffee table before occupying the opposite end of the couch.
She kept her eyes on Julianna as she reached behind her back to turn on the table
lamp.

The lamp was a dated turquoise color, and Julianna couldn’t
help but think it was exactly the kind of eyesore that would appeal to Sam.

Madeline picked up the remote and muted the cooking
show she was watching.

Julianna nodded towards Madeline’s belly. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. When did you say you were a student of my
husband’s?”

“I was in his class twice, actually. Once as an
undergrad and once during my graduate program.”

“I don’t know if you heard. He’s being honored
tonight by some colleagues for a study he did recently.”

“I read it when it was published, actually. Really
interesting stuff.” Julianna clasped her hands over her lap. “You must be very
proud of him.”

“Yeah.” Madeline smiled. “I am, of course.”

Julianna picked up her tea but it was still too hot
to drink so she put it back down.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?”

Julianna swallowed. “Oh well, um. I’m pregnant,
too.”

“Congratulations. You look fantastic. I had no
idea.”

Julianna smiled without showing her teeth.

“Sorry. Did you tell me what you wanted to talk to
me about?”

“I guess I should just spit it out.”

Madeline nodded.

“Last fall, I had an affair with your husband.”

Madeline’s body tensed up. “What did you say?”

“It kind of started before you were married, but we
didn’t actually sleep together until last fall.”

Madeline stared at her.

“I’m really sorry. I never meant to cause any
problems for you but one thing lead to another.” Julianna squeezed her knees
together. “We ended things pretty quickly, but when I found out I was pregnant,
I thought he had a right to know.”

Madeline’s eyes were wide and the whites showed all
the way around her pupils. “You’ve seen him recently?”

“Just a few times.” Julianna pulled the ends of her
hair between her fingers. “He wanted me to get an abortion. He was going to pay
me five thousand dollars to get lost basically… But I’m a Christian. I told him
I wouldn’t even consider killing my own baby.”

“That’s impossible.”

“So I told him he needed to tell you. I told him you
had a right to know.”

Madeline appeared to grow heavier against the couch
cushions.

“And I’m the one who sent you the red silk dress
with the cum stain on it.”

“What?” Madeline squeezed her knees with white
knuckles.

“Kirk said you would never believe me and that I
couldn’t prove we had the affair. He gave me the nightdress as a present and
that was him on it. I only sent it to you because I thought it would encourage
him to tell you the truth.”

Madeline scooted to the edge of the couch and faced
forward with her head in her hands.

“I still feel really bad that he didn’t. I know you
would rather have heard this from him. And it never should have happened, but
he was my teacher, and I thought if I didn’t give him what he wanted… I’m so so
sorry.” Julianna reached over and placed a hand on Madeline’s back to comfort
her.

Madeline swiped her hand away with catlike reflexes.
“Don’t touch me.” She glared at Julianna through watery eyes.

“I was just trying to help.”

Madeline pointed towards the door. “Get out of my
house.”

“Don’t you think we should talk about this?”

“Out!”

Julianna leaned back against the couch pillows.

“Get. Out. Of. My. House.”

Julianna crossed her arms. “I’m not leaving until
you talk to me about this. I’m really hurting, too. You’re not the only victim
here.”

“If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police.”

Julianna dared her with her eyes.

Madeline snatched her phone off the coffee table but
as soon as her fingers pressed the screen, Julianna threw her scalding tea over
Madeline’s hands.

The phone dropped to the floor.

“You crazy bitch!” Madeline stared at her stunned
fingers for a moment and then reached down to pick up her phone.

Julianna grabbed her hair and yanked her back up on
the couch before pinning her against the armrest with her forearm. Madeline
tried to get away, but Julianna climbed on top of her and wrapped her hands
around her neck.

Julianna held her down and listened to the sound of
her gasping breath, gurgling like the last water gulping down a bathtub drain.

When Madeline’s arms suddenly broke free, she tried to
push Julianna off of her, but once Julianna saw Madeline’s face changing color,
she was determined to finish what she’d started.

She strengthened her grip around Madeline’s scrawny
neck until her eyes were bulging out of her head. It wasn’t long before the
force of Madeline’s thrashing body grew weaker beneath her and for a second
Julianna felt an indescribable high, as if fucking Madeline was more satisfying
than fucking Kirk ever was.

And she was close. So close.

And then the lights went out.