investigation. She was desperate enough to hold on to the slim hope that might happen.
PART TWO
Road Trip
Six
ELVIS AND THE BEAST
J ohn didn’t want Julia to go. He didn’t want the responsibility of the house, five kids, and all their pets. He said he needed time for himself.
That did it.
“It’s only for a week or two, and you owe me this,” Julia warned. “For sixteen years, I’ve gladly been here for you and the kids every day without fail. But now my best friend needs me. She’s always been there for me, especially after my mother’s death, without my ever even having to ask. It’s the first time she’s ever asked for my help. Ever. I won’t say no. Besides, you still get time apart from me, which is what you wanted. You can bail on me, but sorry, you don’t get time off from being a parent,” Julia admonished.
“I know you’re unhappy. News flash—I don’t always find folding underwear and fixing dinner fulfilling. There have been plenty of days I’d have liked to be spared a mountain of laundry, the incessant needs of our children, and malfunctioning appliances. But I’m here, and I do what needs to be done. You’ve been checked out for a while. You have to quit hiding out or escaping to wherever it is you go. I can’t do this alone. I won’t do this alone. Marriage takes two people. I admit that I have some problems. I’m willing to address them to save our marriage. So while I’m gone, you decide if you want the same thing,” Julia said.
She couldn’t believe that she had spoken to him like that. She had never done that in all their years of marriage, but she liked how she felt now that she’d done it.
John was also surprised by her vehemence. “We’ll deal with everything when you get back. Take as much time as you need. I’ll take care of everything on this end while you’re gone,” he promised.
Julia had the nightmare about her mother that night. She wasn’t surprised. Stress made them more prevalent. Afraid to go back to sleep, she sat in a chair by the window waiting for the morning light to chase the nocturnal demons away.
Sonya went to the office to meet with a couple of clients and brief her assistant, Terry Dupree, on what to do during her absence. She wasn’t worried about leaving Terry in charge. Terry was a proficient employee, and Sonya had every confidence that she would do a fine job in her absence. She needed to start delegating instead of trying to do everything herself. Besides, she had been thinking about promoting Terry. She knew the ambitious woman was ready for more responsibility, and if she didn’t give it to her, she might lose a great employee. Now might be a good time to start delegating. If she did have a serious illness, she would have to rely heavily on Terry. So, she called Terry into her office and told her about the promotion. Her assistant was thrilled to hear the news. She enthusiastically promised that she wouldn’t let Sonya down.
When Sonya called her doctor to find out if her test results were ready yet, she learned that she was out of town for a few days on a family emergency.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ellis, we can’t give you the results of your lab work. Dr. Hooper has to go over that with you when she gets back. She’s arranged for a doctor to be on call in case of emergencies. Would you like to leave a message for him?
No, she did not want to possibly learn that she had the big “C” from a total stranger. If she had to get the news, she wanted it to come from her doctor, whom she had known and trusted for many years.
Now she wouldn’t know anything until after the trip. Maybe that was just as well. If it was cancer, she wanted this time with her friends before she had to face it. She arrived home to an empty house.
What about Mike?
Did she dare confront him about the other day? She wanted to, but knew that she would not, at least not tonight. The only reason he would have lied is because he didn’t want her to know.
PART TWO
Road Trip
Six
ELVIS AND THE BEAST
J ohn didn’t want Julia to go. He didn’t want the responsibility of the house, five kids, and all their pets. He said he needed time for himself.
That did it.
“It’s only for a week or two, and you owe me this,” Julia warned. “For sixteen years, I’ve gladly been here for you and the kids every day without fail. But now my best friend needs me. She’s always been there for me, especially after my mother’s death, without my ever even having to ask. It’s the first time she’s ever asked for my help. Ever. I won’t say no. Besides, you still get time apart from me, which is what you wanted. You can bail on me, but sorry, you don’t get time off from being a parent,” Julia admonished.
“I know you’re unhappy. News flash—I don’t always find folding underwear and fixing dinner fulfilling. There have been plenty of days I’d have liked to be spared a mountain of laundry, the incessant needs of our children, and malfunctioning appliances. But I’m here, and I do what needs to be done. You’ve been checked out for a while. You have to quit hiding out or escaping to wherever it is you go. I can’t do this alone. I won’t do this alone. Marriage takes two people. I admit that I have some problems. I’m willing to address them to save our marriage. So while I’m gone, you decide if you want the same thing,” Julia said.
She couldn’t believe that she had spoken to him like that. She had never done that in all their years of marriage, but she liked how she felt now that she’d done it.
John was also surprised by her vehemence. “We’ll deal with everything when you get back. Take as much time as you need. I’ll take care of everything on this end while you’re gone,” he promised.
Julia had the nightmare about her mother that night. She wasn’t surprised. Stress made them more prevalent. Afraid to go back to sleep, she sat in a chair by the window waiting for the morning light to chase the nocturnal demons away.
Sonya went to the office to meet with a couple of clients and brief her assistant, Terry Dupree, on what to do during her absence. She wasn’t worried about leaving Terry in charge. Terry was a proficient employee, and Sonya had every confidence that she would do a fine job in her absence. She needed to start delegating instead of trying to do everything herself. Besides, she had been thinking about promoting Terry. She knew the ambitious woman was ready for more responsibility, and if she didn’t give it to her, she might lose a great employee. Now might be a good time to start delegating. If she did have a serious illness, she would have to rely heavily on Terry. So, she called Terry into her office and told her about the promotion. Her assistant was thrilled to hear the news. She enthusiastically promised that she wouldn’t let Sonya down.
When Sonya called her doctor to find out if her test results were ready yet, she learned that she was out of town for a few days on a family emergency.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ellis, we can’t give you the results of your lab work. Dr. Hooper has to go over that with you when she gets back. She’s arranged for a doctor to be on call in case of emergencies. Would you like to leave a message for him?
No, she did not want to possibly learn that she had the big “C” from a total stranger. If she had to get the news, she wanted it to come from her doctor, whom she had known and trusted for many years.
Now she wouldn’t know anything until after the trip. Maybe that was just as well. If it was cancer, she wanted this time with her friends before she had to face it. She arrived home to an empty house.
What about Mike?
Did she dare confront him about the other day? She wanted to, but knew that she would not, at least not tonight. The only reason he would have lied is because he didn’t want her to know.
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