Love of a Lifetime (8 page)

“Our anniversary.”

Bill looked at her as though she had gone mad.  “What?  What about our anniversary?”

“Today, Bill.  Today is our anniversary.  That is why I’m here, that is why I went to all this trouble making your favorite meal. Not that it really means anything to you, I suppose, since it seems as important to you as my birthday!”

When Bill didn’t respond, Carla transferred the tortillas to a plate.  “I should leave.”

“Wait.”  He grabbed her arm to stay her.  “Don’t leave.  I’m sorry I forgot.  It’s not that it is unimportant, I just have a lot going on right now.”

“Well, I’ll just leave you to it then.”  Carla pulled out of his hold and walked towards the door.

“Please, Carla, stay and eat with me.  It smells wonderful and I know you put a lot of work into it so you should at least enjoy it.”

“That’s alright.  I’ll pick something up on the way back to Abby’s.”

“Carla, please, I don’t want to eat alone.”

The grief in his voice made her pause.  How could she walk out and leave him like this?  Turning to look at him, Carla saw the sheen of tears in his eyes.  Maybe she was being too hard on him.  After all, didn’t most men forget their anniversaries?

“Alright, Bill, alright.  I’ll stay and eat, but no more talk about me moving back in tonight okay?”

Relieved, Bill agreed. “Okay.”

The meal had been consumed mostly in silence.  He knew he had screwed up again and had no way of making it right.  After Carla had left for the night, Bill retired to his bedroom to take a shower and get some much needed sleep.

When he entered the room, he noticed the giftwrapped box sitting on the bed.  Walking over to it, he sat down on the bed and buried his face in his hands.  He was so tired. 
Tired of all the stress from his career, from his troubled marriage.

He has never been one to give up when things got tough, but right now the thought of throwing in the towel was very appealing.  To just climb in bed and pull the covers over his head and stay there until things righted themselves sounded wonderful.

Well maybe not, he thought as he looked at the perfectly made bed.  It would be very lonely there underneath the covers without Carla there to keep him company.  After the disaster of tonight, he didn’t think she would welcome the idea any time soon.

Chapter Six

“So you really aren’t going to attend?”  Atayla swished back and forth before turning to see the back of the dress in the mirror.  “How does this one look?”

“Amazing!
  I like that one the best. 
It’s
cut is perfect for your frame.” 

“You mean it was designed specifically for fat chicks.”

“You’re not fat, you’re curvy.  There is a difference.”  Carla admonished.

“So why aren’t you going?  I know Bill asked you.”  Atayla decided to quickly end the age old battle between her and friends about her weight.

“No, I’m not.”  Carla sighed.  “I’m tired of being disappointed in him.  Just when I think things are on the mend he goes and screws up again.  I don’t think I can take anymore right now.”

“Hey, you know I love you both and I have tried to stay out of this, but I’m going to step in this one time and express my opinion.”  When Carla didn’t object she continued.  “Now before I say anything that makes you angry or hurts your feelings, let me just say that I understand your position and how he has wronged you.  However, I think you are being entirely too hard on Bill.”

When Carla opened her mouth to protest, Atayla lifted her hand and interrupted her.

“I know he screwed up big time, neglecting you and your needs, but these last few months he has devoted himself to you and proving to you how much he loves you.”

Atayla lifted her brow and dared Carla to dispute her words.

“He forgot your anniversary.  I can see how that would hurt your feelings, but instead of seeing it as an oversight that occurs frequently with the male species you use it as ammunition to throw his past mistakes in his face.”

Looking down at her hands, Carla had to admit she might be right.  It’s not like it was really that big of a deal, in fact she had been ready to dismiss it when she first realized he had forgot.  Her reaction had been to his persistence in her moving back in when she wasn’t ready yet, and then his anger when she didn’t relent. 

“Perhaps things did get blown out of proportion.”  She admitted.  “I’m just not over it yet I guess.  I get so defensive when he pushes me and I react to it.”

“He pushes you because he loves you.  He wants you home where you belong.  Frankly, I agree with him.  You have been gone long enough.  You cling to these wrongs and use them as
an excuse
as to why you hold back from him, but sweetie, he is your husband and you have no right to hold back from him.”

Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes.  “I’m afraid to go home because if I get my hopes up and we don’t work things out, separating from him a second time will destroy me.”

“Well then, I guess you need to stay on your toes and make sure things work out.”  Atayla winked at her.  “Sex is always the answer to any man’s problems.  If he gives you grief, seduce him and he will forget all about it.”

Carla laughed.  “He will just remember later and torture me with it.”

“Probably.”
 

“What about this dress?”  Atayla held up a beautiful lavender mock wrap.

“No.  The last one you tried on was perfect.”

“I found out some interesting information while I was digging around on Patricia Wilson.”

Carla cringed when she heard the name.  “Oh?  And why would I care anything about that horrid woman?”

“Because she is using your and Bill’s separation for her own advantage.”

“And just how would she benefit from our separation?”

Atayla went on to tell her how Patricia and Bill will both be representing in the
State vs. Weinstein
case.  If she lost the case she could request a mistrial, claiming that Bill had gained access to sensitive materials during their personal encounters.

Though it wouldn’t look good for her in the fact that she had been irresponsible enough to allow Bill access to the case file, adultery was a common extracurricular activity amongst the legal giants and politicians in Salem, Nevada.

It would be a slap on the hand for her, but for Bill it would mean the end of his career.  The question was, did she really dislike Bill so much to set him up or is there another motive for vicious scheme?  It was a question Carla was determined to find an answer to.

“Will Patricia Wilson be at this Fundraiser?”  Carla asked.

“Yeah, all the big shots will be there.  It is the big event for those who are up for election this fall.  It’s a way to campaign and impress the community with rich donations to the highly sought after women’s shelter.  This shelter is the most pressing issue at the moment so they all want to be regarded as a supporter.”

Carla grunted.  “Perhaps it’s best if I don’t go.  I doubt I can be civil with her if we come face to face.  Not to mention all the others who would look upon us as entertainment for the night.  I hate to be seen as weak and that’s how they will see me.”

“All the more reason for you to go.
  Don’t you see?  You would be making a stand against her and her claims.”  Atayla conspired.  “By showing up on your husband’s arm you’ll be making a statement.”

“Yeah?
  And what would that be?  That I am a doormat that will allow my husband to walk all over me?”

“No!  By making this appearance you will be informing them all that you stand by your husband and believe in him, that this torrid affair that Patricia is claiming is nothing more than hogwash.”

Carla scoffed.  “Yeah, I just bet that’s what they will be thinking.”

“They will if you appear as a united front.  Prove to them that your marriage has prevailed, that the bond between you is strong enough to withstand life’s hurdles.  It will work, but you have to believe in it too.  Do you believe in Bill’s love for you?  Do you believe in Bill?”

“Of course I believe.”  Carla thought about her answer and then said with more conviction.  “I absolutely believe in Bill!”

“Then stop sitting on the sidelines and take back your marriage!  Are you going to step up and take action or are you going to sit back and allow that bitch to ruin Bill?”

Carla smiled.  “I guess I better start trying on dresses, huh?”

Atayla laughed. 
“Atta girl!
  Start with that green number over there.”  She pointed towards the corner of the dress shop.  “I saw it on my first pass and thought it would look stunning on you!”

Bill knocked on the door at seven sharp.  He waited impatiently, tapping his fingers against his thighs.  He sighed and cursed himself inwardly.  Why was he so nervous?  He hadn’t felt this jittery since he had picked Carla up for their first date.

That wasn’t true though.  He was even more nervous as he waited at the head of the chapel for her to march down the aisle and bond her life to his.  That was the greatest, if not scariest, day of his life.

If he could withstand the pressure of that then he would make it through this night.  He knew that others would whisper the rumors and secretly gawk at them, knowing that their marriage was on rocky ground.  It was his intentions to prove to them, to leave them no doubt, that he was entirely devoted to his wife.

Bill looked at his watch then knocked again.  What in the world was taking the woman so long?  She knew he would be here at seven to pick her up.  He had confirmed with her last night when she insisted on leaving the comfort of their bed to return to Abby’s house.

That in
itself
irked him beyond description.  There was no reason for her to leave their home.  Home is where she belonged and it was high time she realized that.  He was at a loss as how to make her see reason.  He has already done everything within reason to convince her that their marriage was just as strong as ever.

Frowning, he moved to knock a third time when the door swung open and the most beautiful of goddesses greeted him.  Stunning…no that was too weak a word.  The vision before him literally stole the breath from his lungs.

Her red hair was set in large curls and swept up in what he was sure was a fashionable style among the women.  All he cared about was that it showed off the elegant curve of her jaw and sleek line of her neck.

Her dress was the color of emeralds and plunged into a deep V neck line, showing off way more cleavage than was appropriate.  He didn’t care. Let her show off her assets.  She was his, they both knew it, and soon everyone else would know it without a doubt as well.

At the base of the V, beads and sequence were sewn about in an elegant floral pattern that spanned her waist.  The skirt clung to her form and pooled in satiny waves at her feet.  The entire ensemble was sexy and classy and begged a man to imagine the bounty underneath it.

Bill knew what bounty was underneath all that satin and his hands itched to sweep that sassy skirt up to her waist so he could drown himself in her honey.  His mouth watered for a taste and it took all his strength not to give in to his urges and ravish her right here where they stand.

Carla gasped at the possessiveness her husband fixed on her.  Eyes alight with
fire,
the look he gave her singed her wherever his gaze landed.  His slow perusal was torture and left her feeling overly warm and slightly breathless.

No man had ever made her feel as beautiful and sensual as her husband.  There simply was no competition.  She had turned to putty in his hands on their first date and she
knew
he would be the only man for her.

As if he knew her thoughts, a smug grin spread across his face.  Carla couldn’t stop the girlish sigh that passed her lips.  He was so handsome and he just kept getting more so with age.  Long gone was the young kid she fell in love with in college and in his place was the man she had pledged to love and honor for the rest of her life.

“You keep undressing me with your eyes like that and I will hold you personally responsible for our absence tonight.”

Carla laughed.  “I believe it was you who was sexing me up visually.”

“I’ll sex you up.”  He growled in response.  “As gorgeous as you look all dolled up I can’t help but think about how much better you look in just your skin.”

Bill watched as Carla’s eyes darkened with arousal.  He could swear he smelled her pussy dampen as his words slid over her.  There was nothing more satisfying as her body’s natural respond to him.  Every touch, every reaction was genuine.

His smile was pure sin now.  Yes, he was a lucky man indeed.