Rain part 8.
Anne felt her husband’s soft kisses had become more demanding, fueled by a sudden desire. Then she knew who the other woman was; Cynthia Garaway.
“ I wish them the best,“ she said between her husband’s kisses.
Anne was pregnant with their third child, when she found out about her husban’s philandering way. She had thrown a fit bigger than the devil who found himself woken up in heaven. Immediately packing her and the kids’ clothes, ready to drive away from her marriage. Then her mother- in-law, calmly confronted her : what will the divorce do to her children and the unborn child? What will the divorce do to her wonderful parents, who adore Tom as if he were their own? What the divorce will do to her? The older Mrs. Sutton listed all about the disadvantage of divorcing a Sutton. Well, she knew it first- hand, didn't she? After all, Thomas Sutton, was only following in his predecessor’s footsteps. Nothing more, nothing less. The male Suttons’ legacy, making more money than their father had, and sleeping with more woman than their father ever did.
“ You are, the wife. The other women? Just a playthings.” Katherine Sutton, said it, lived it, and enjoyed it. After a few weeks separation, in the end, Anne decided to take her mother- in- law advise. And to his credit, Thomas had welcomed her back, like nothing had ever happened and treated her as he always had, Anne was his wife, the only woman that mattered in his life. The other women? Just play things. Until…..
*******
“ What is that about?” Jack had asked her, on that first night they had met. They had finished their meals and the conversation of wet weather outside had run dry. ‘That’ was the ring of pale skin around her left ring finger.
“ A new model came along, and the husband traded in the old ride.” Anne heard herself say. Where did the words came from? Why did she say such thing? Hanging your dirty laundry out in public had never been her style. Heck, she never liked to hang her laundry in public, dirty or clean, period. Then why did she say such a thing to this stranger she only met tonight?
The restaurant was packed to the brim when she arrived. Many future patrons loitered the parking lot. No doubt they were the out-of -towner, like herself, who were forced to take the detour from the closed highway. Jack had offered her to share his table. The waiting list was an hour long. Anne was too tired and hungry to refuse. Besides what harm could it do to share a meal with a stranger in this crowded place?
“ New model, huh? Domestic or foreign?” Jack asked with the casual attitude of someone talking about cars. No word of sympathy.
“ Foreign,” Anne answered, while asking herself why did she was having this conversation with this man, a total stranger.
“ European or Asian?”
“ European. Donald Trump has one. My husband wanted to have one, too.” Jack was in his forties, with hazel eyes, light brown hair and his large hands seemed rough enough to sand the wood on their own.
“ Competitive man. “ Jack commented with a smile.
“ He is,“ she agreed. Jack also had a beautiful smile.
“ Good for him. Good for you. “ Jack winged and raised his glass filled halfway with Pepsi, as if making a toast. Anne raised her tea cup in answer to the toast. They both laughed. Anne still couldn't figure out why she told Jack about the state of her married life. But she also couldn't deny, how good she felt for sharing it with Jack.
Miss Natalie Something was in her mid twenties. Thomas had run into her during the holiday party festivities the year before and begin the affair with her shortly after. When Donald Trump announced his engagement to the Slovenian model in April, Thomas Sutton, publicly showed off his own prize by taking Natalie everywhere he went. The Suttons’ impending divorce was the topic in the media. Like always, Anne stayed mum to the whole ordeal, but took off her wedding ring, her quiet way of making a statement that her husband was free to do whatever he wishes. They were separated, now leave her alone. Her parents were very upset. She was on her way to assure them that even though she and Thomas were no longer married, both of them were happy so were their children. But hurricane Charley forced her to take the detour from the highway. Then she ended up sharing a dinner table with Jack Rivers, a carpenter who worked his way up to become a majority-holder of one of the largest construction company in the country. Jack and his crew were on their way to offer their assistance to the hurricane victims.
*******
Thomas kisses had become deeper. His hands slid from Anne’s waist to the inside of her thin sweater.
“ Come on, Tom. “ Anne gently stopping the advancing hands in their tracks. “ The Morgan’s are waiting, “ she said while returning her husband’s kiss and pulling herself slowly away.
“ Let them wait.”her husband said.
Anne smiled and shook her head, then moved to the door. “Let me take Moose out, then we go. Okay?”
Thomas shook then nodded his head. Giving her that crestfallen look of a man being rejected. He was charming when he did it. Anne laughed, waved her hands in the air then walked away, looking for Moose, their dog. Actually he was Jack’s dog who Thomas adopted, when Jack died. What is the best way to punish your cheating wife, but kill her lover then keep his dog, ensuring that the dog would remind her of her loss everyday? Anne knew the game. But, her husband had forgotten, if one can play the game, so can two. And today is the day she will have her turn in the game.
…………to be continue next week or later……..
