The Major's Wife (Jubilant Falls series Book 2) by Debra Gaskill

to myself."
    Our tenuous bridge caught fire, and the embers fell glowing into the chasm between us.
    "I miss you Kay. I miss what we had."
    "You should have thought about that a long time ago." I lifted my face to the ceiling to keep the tears from spilling down my cheeks. Marcus walked back into the living room and sat down, the wing chair groaning loudly.
    "I wish I could fix things between you and me, make it the way it used to be again." Paul's confidence was gone, replaced with the pleading that marked all of our final days together before he left for his second tour at Osan. "I can't live my life knowing that some little—"
    "Paul, please."
    "You, of all people should understand that," Anger rose in his voice. "You, Miss Gonna Save The World—"
    Static swelled and rolled between us again, drowning his words. That was okay. I had heard them before. I knew what he would say. There was an electronic buzz and, abruptly, the conversation was severed.
    I hung up and lay my head down on the receiver. It was too much, too much for one night. I wanted to cry, to pound my fists, to let the rage and anger explode. But not now, not with Marcus here.
    His footsteps stopped in front of me, and wearily I lifted my head.
    "Things are a little tough between you and Joe Fighter Pilot, aren't they?"
    "That would be awfully convenient for you, wouldn't it?"
    "Kay, I didn't come here to argue with you. I want to help." He sat down beside me and tried to pull me close.
    "Bullshit!" I exploded. "You want me all for yourself and if my marriage is in trouble, that's all the more ammunition for you, isn't it? Since you think it's so damn important, I'll tell you. He had an affair the last time we were stationed in Korea, before we came back to Virginia. She had a little boy. Happy now?"
    Marcus was silent for a moment. "So he's back in Korea with his little geisha?"
    "No—and geisha's are Japanese. He's back in Korea to find his son. She put him in an orphanage and disappeared. He wants to bring him back here."
    "And live in this house?" Marcus was incredulous.
    "Gee. That's exactly what my reaction was," I answered caustically.
    Marcus sighed. "I'm sorry he hurt you like this, Kay."
    "You're sorry he hurt me? You're sorry? What kind of crap is that?"
    "I would never do that to you."
    The wall around my heart broke and I fell into his warm embrace. Sobs broke over me in waves; all the pain of the last few years came rushing out, as I buried my head in his shoulder, and he held me close.
    "I know. I know. I know," I sobbed.
    "It's okay," I heard him whisper. "I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere."
     
     

 
     
    Chapter 3 Marian
     
    The voices came more frequently these last few years. I controlled them for so long, but now they were beginning to control me, just like I could no longer control Kay and this silliness she was pursuing. The voices flew out at the most inopportune time, before I could get to my bedroom and the little bottle of comforting capsules.
    This morning during breakfast, it was the crash of breaking glass in the kitchen and Novella's soft cluck-clucking that set them off.
    Hold still, honey.
    Hold still, honey. This won't hurt.
    Don't scream. Someone will hear you. It'll be over soon.
    Don't scream, or I'll hit you again.
    Don't scream.
    I bit into my napkin. I won't scream, I promised the voices. I can't.
    "I'm sorry, Mrs. James." Novella’s voice was calm and placating behind me.
    I snapped to attention.
    Novella sat my grapefruit half down in front of me, placing the pointed grapefruit spoon precisely on my right. "I turned around and knocked that old Pyrex measuring cup right on the floor. I hope I didn't scare you."
    I grabbed her big black hand.
    "Your nails are dirty."
    "It's just coffee grounds."
    I pushed it away. "Well, wash them. When you're done, bring me my muffin."
    Novella nodded, threw back her shoulders, her face a wall of black stone, and walked silently back to the kitchen. I hated it when she did