☁ ☁ ☁
Everything she looked at was the same, yet they had changed since seeing Jacob that Tuesday early afternoon, mid September. She hid his card under the carpet in the master bedroom closet, where there was a place for hiding things. They had never used it because of the fear that the children would find out about it and out of curiosity they might lift the carpet and the board and go inside the hole to play hide and seek! It was easy to lift up the carpet and even the board. She thought Steve would never find it!
Two weeks passed. He did not call! A great chasm had formed between now and two weeks ago when Jacob had seen her crying inside and outside of her car! Before then, everything seemed simple, natural, yet full of misery and sadness. She was alone in the darkness. Now everything was complicated, still lonely, and yet frightening! Seeing Jacob had not helped her at all. It had given her a false hope, yet it made her life even more miserable!
She had education, she had money, she had adorable children; but she had nothing! She needed a companion, a friend, a true man, who really loved her, for so many years; in fact for all her life; but this companion or friend had always turned out to be an evil man, from her father, to Roger, To Steve! She had gone to school under a very difficult circumstances and got her education; but she was not even allowed to teach, something that truly was her life's dream! She had gone to college, while being horrified that someone from past could know her and try to bribe her! Everything was stolen from her.
The same sound that awakened her from her nightmares, bullying its way into her solitary dreams, was telling her either to run away or to call Jacob! Why did he tell her that he could not live without her and he would definitely call her; and now after two weeks, nothing had happened!
Now it was the last day of September. It was Tuesday, exactly two weeks from the time they had seen each other in front of their children's school! Steve was not home. she was just back from taking Elizabeth to school. She was bathing Chris. They had a plan to go out shopping for some winter clothes. Suddenly the door bell rang. She removed the plug from the bottom of the bath so water would drain. She kissed Chris's head and told him: "mommy would be right back."
She opened the door. Shockingly she saw Jacob behind the door with all his fancy business suit, starched white shirt, blue tie, blue handkerchief and shinny patten shoes. She froze seeing him there. All she could think about was what if a neighbor saw him!
"Come inside! Hurry!" She said and took his hand and pulled him inside the house.
He sat in the living room while Helen finished dressing Chris. She ran to the neighbor's house. On the way she asked Chris:
"Hey, sweet heart, do you want to play or go shopping?"
"Play, play, ..." Chris said.
She returned as quickly as she could. Jacob was investigating the family pictures on the wall and fireplace mantle. He thought to himself that Steve was a very handsome man!
Helen entered the room!!
To Be Continued
No comments:
Post a Comment