think. She’s nothing to me.” He waved his arms around wildly. Never before did he look like he was trying to deliver a more impassioned sermon. “She’s making this up because she’s crazy.”
Marge ’s body began to shu dder, “You know you don’t mean it. You know you love me. ” A sob escaped her lips. “Katie told people from school. Everyone will know.”
Angela clamped her arms tightly at her sides.
So, Brian isn’t in love?
With his decision to send Rachel away, Angela assumed he was. It seems Marge thought so, too. She should pity the woman for being stupid enough to equate sex with love, but didn’t. She resented them both.
Despite her antagonism towards Brian, a sliver of relief worked its way through her. If Brian wasn’t planning on leaving her, she wouldn’t be on the verge of divorce and needing a backup plan.
Maybe I should rethink Rachel’s schooling.
Angela had long since lost any attachment to her husban d, but she was accustomed to the life they had in the small Litchfield County town. Rachel had grown up in the house and Angela appreciated the small church community. When Rachel was little, Angela enjoyed being able to get her on the bus in the morning and being the first one her daughter saw when she returned home in the afternoon. Even Angela’s mother approved of the way she kept her home immaculate and Rachel well cared for – and that seldom happened.
I have to clean up this mess.
Angela raised her chin, nodding towards the door. “People will know that you and your worthless daughter are deceitful bitches.”
Marge paled. “What?”
“By tomorrow, everyone will learn how you came to our home, after we so lovingly welcomed you into our church family, and threatened to blackmail us with this sickening accusation unless we paid you off.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Brian cut in.
Ignoring her husband, Angela continued to address Marge . Her words came ou t cool and steady to ensure Marge understood.
“Because of our firm commitment in the Lord, we will ask the community to pray for your sins and to not judge you too harshly.”
“You wouldn’t .” Streaks of black mascara ran down her cheeks. Marge looked more used up than usual.
Angela glanced at her husband. His posture slumped in defeat .
Brian met her stare and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
You’re sorry you were caught.
Turning her back on him, she headed for the stairs. “Get your whore out of my house.”
13
BRIAN
Thursday 9:10 PM
Brian stepped onto the porch. Scanning the darkness, he watched for signs of an audience . Marge needed to pull herself together. The neighbors didn’t miss much. If the two were witnessed in an emotional state, rumors would never die down.
“You let her talk to me like that,” she whimpered. Burrowing her face into his shoulder, h e could feel the moisture from her nose and eyes seep through the linen fabric of his shirt . He hated when women did that.
“Keep your voice down.” Brian tugged her fingers from their clasp on his sleeve. “We don’t want to cause a scene.” Voices carried at night. He needed her to get a grip.
Marge ’s face crumpled .
“You let her call me a whore.” As another sob racked her thin frame, Marge fumbled for the smooth railing. Brian grabbed her elbow – steadying her.
“What did you expect?” he whispered. “That I could just end my marriage because you thought the time was fitting ?”
Shaking him off her arm, she glared, “Marriage? That’s what you call your relationship to that bitch?” With her eyes wide, Marge stared at the front door, weary that Angela could come rushing out.
He rubbed his temples.
Damn, she’s exasperating.
“You don’t understand. With my position in town, I can’t just leave my wife.” He stepped closer, wan ting to placate
Marge ’s body began to shu dder, “You know you don’t mean it. You know you love me. ” A sob escaped her lips. “Katie told people from school. Everyone will know.”
Angela clamped her arms tightly at her sides.
So, Brian isn’t in love?
With his decision to send Rachel away, Angela assumed he was. It seems Marge thought so, too. She should pity the woman for being stupid enough to equate sex with love, but didn’t. She resented them both.
Despite her antagonism towards Brian, a sliver of relief worked its way through her. If Brian wasn’t planning on leaving her, she wouldn’t be on the verge of divorce and needing a backup plan.
Maybe I should rethink Rachel’s schooling.
Angela had long since lost any attachment to her husban d, but she was accustomed to the life they had in the small Litchfield County town. Rachel had grown up in the house and Angela appreciated the small church community. When Rachel was little, Angela enjoyed being able to get her on the bus in the morning and being the first one her daughter saw when she returned home in the afternoon. Even Angela’s mother approved of the way she kept her home immaculate and Rachel well cared for – and that seldom happened.
I have to clean up this mess.
Angela raised her chin, nodding towards the door. “People will know that you and your worthless daughter are deceitful bitches.”
Marge paled. “What?”
“By tomorrow, everyone will learn how you came to our home, after we so lovingly welcomed you into our church family, and threatened to blackmail us with this sickening accusation unless we paid you off.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Brian cut in.
Ignoring her husband, Angela continued to address Marge . Her words came ou t cool and steady to ensure Marge understood.
“Because of our firm commitment in the Lord, we will ask the community to pray for your sins and to not judge you too harshly.”
“You wouldn’t .” Streaks of black mascara ran down her cheeks. Marge looked more used up than usual.
Angela glanced at her husband. His posture slumped in defeat .
Brian met her stare and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
You’re sorry you were caught.
Turning her back on him, she headed for the stairs. “Get your whore out of my house.”
13
BRIAN
Thursday 9:10 PM
Brian stepped onto the porch. Scanning the darkness, he watched for signs of an audience . Marge needed to pull herself together. The neighbors didn’t miss much. If the two were witnessed in an emotional state, rumors would never die down.
“You let her talk to me like that,” she whimpered. Burrowing her face into his shoulder, h e could feel the moisture from her nose and eyes seep through the linen fabric of his shirt . He hated when women did that.
“Keep your voice down.” Brian tugged her fingers from their clasp on his sleeve. “We don’t want to cause a scene.” Voices carried at night. He needed her to get a grip.
Marge ’s face crumpled .
“You let her call me a whore.” As another sob racked her thin frame, Marge fumbled for the smooth railing. Brian grabbed her elbow – steadying her.
“What did you expect?” he whispered. “That I could just end my marriage because you thought the time was fitting ?”
Shaking him off her arm, she glared, “Marriage? That’s what you call your relationship to that bitch?” With her eyes wide, Marge stared at the front door, weary that Angela could come rushing out.
He rubbed his temples.
Damn, she’s exasperating.
“You don’t understand. With my position in town, I can’t just leave my wife.” He stepped closer, wan ting to placate
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