Chapter Two
R iley got home from work and set her purse and keys unsteadily on the counter. After what Gloria told her, it felt like her life was falling apart, and she didn’t know what to do. Did she ask him about the affair or let it go until she had more proof? God, she never thought this would happen to her. Besides Gloria telling her about seeing them and then taking a picture when Riley didn’t believe her, she’d had two other people message her about seeing them.
The picture of Rick and a blonde woman sitting very close together, their heads practically touching and holding hands, was enough to destroy her world.
Gloria told her the woman she saw with Rick was the opposite of her, which seemed to make it worse. Tall, thin, blonde, and with a natural grace that women envied and men liked to watch. All things she wasn’t. Had he grown sick of her? Maybe he needed more excitement than she’d given him. Was there something she could do to get him back? Did she even want him back?
God, she never imagined a life without him. She still couldn’t, but like Gloria said, if she didn’t do anything to correct it, he’d just keep doing it, and that would slowly eat at her until she was a shell of herself.
Where did he even meet the woman? Gloria said she looked vaguely familiar and would ask questions around town to see what she could find out. She had made Gloria promise not to tell anyone about this. She didn’t want to see the pity on people’s faces.
Riley jumped when she heard the garage door open. Her husband was home, and she couldn’t face him yet. She needed to get herself under control first.
She raced up the stairs and into their bathroom. She turned on the shower and quickly stripped her clothes off. She didn’t even think of pulling her hair up like she usually did. She started soaping her hair and then jerked when he came into the bathroom.
“Hi, Sweetheart. How was your day?” he asked.
She could see him through the frosted glass, pulling his suit jacket and tie off. “Not great.”
He pulled the shower door open and then scowled. “What happened?”
“The kids were crazy today, and I think I’m getting sick.”
“What kind of sick?” he asked.
God, how was she expected to come up with quick answers? “I’m not sure.”
“Do you have a fever?”
“No. I feel lethargic, and my stomach hurts.” That was the truth.
“I’ll get the bed turned down unless you want to rest on the sofa in the family room?”
“No, up here, please. I think if I go to sleep, I might feel better in the morning.”
“I don’t want you to push it if you don’t feel well tomorrow,” he said.
She turned off the water, and he held a towel out to her. She held it tightly against her chest because she was afraid Rick would compare her to his mistress.
“Damn, you do look like you’re ready to fall over.” He held out his hand. “Come on, I’ll help you with your hair.”
She shook her head and used another towel to squeeze as much water out of it as possible. “No. I’ve got this. I’m sorry I didn’t have dinner waiting.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t care about dinner. I’m perfectly able to make soup and sandwiches for us.”
“Oh, not me. I don’t think I could eat anything,” she told him. She kept her eyes lowered because she was afraid if she looked at him, she’d burst into tears.
He didn’t give her a break. He lifted her onto the counter and pulled out the blow-dryer. He pulled a comb from a drawer and got her hair tangle-free before starting the dryer. It seemed to take forever.
She almost lost it when he turned the dryer off and then tilted her head up so he could see her face. She tried to think of anything besides the tearing pain in her chest.
“How about I get you some juice and aspirin?”
She nodded and tried to smile. “I’d like that.”
He helped her to the bed and got her tucked in. He leaned over and kissed her temple. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Riley closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep when he came back. She noticed how careful he was to keep quiet. A day ago, she would have thought it incredibly sweet. Now, she just wanted him gone from the room so she could let her tears fall. She needed to cry because the searing band of pain in her gut grew tighter every minute.
He finally turned off the lights and left the door cracked open a few inches because she knew he’d want to be able to hear her if she needed him. God, he was the best husband a woman could ask for. Except for the other woman.
She waited until she heard the TV turn on in the family room before she buried her face in the pillow and sobbed harder than she ever had. At one point, she grew concerned when she couldn’t seem to catch her breath and her chest felt so tight, but she concentrated hard and finally calmed down.
She got out of bed and put a cold, wet compress on her face to reduce the swelling and redness. When she was satisfied it was good enough, she crawled back into bed, turned the pillow over to the dry side, and thankfully fell asleep.
She woke up the next morning to Rick’s voice and was confused until she realized he was standing in the hallway talking on the phone.
“No, let’s meet another time. My wife is sick, and I don’t want to leave her.” There was a pause. “I’ll call you when I get some time. We’ll meet then. Okay, bye.”
She snapped her eyes closed. She almost gasped when she felt his hand on her forehead. “Can you wake up for me for a bit, Sweetheart?”
She took a moment and then opened her eyes.
His scowl darkened. “You look worse today. How do you feel?”
“Worse.” She tried to smile but knew she had failed.
He studied her for a long time. “Are you sure you’re just sick?”
“What do you mean?” Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her skin.
“You looked like this after your mom died.”
Oh, God. She remembered how hollow she’d felt and how the pain seemed to grow inside her every day after her mom passed. It actually felt a lot like that and even kind of worse.
“Yes. I have a headache, and my stomach is still upset.”
She tried her hardest to keep her eyes on his.
“I brought up some fresh juice. Let’s get the aspirin in you.”
He pulled her up to a sitting position and braced her before handing her the glass and then the pills. She took them, drank the juice, and handed him the glass.
She glanced at the clock and gasped. “I have to call the school...”
“I already did. They have your class covered. I don’t want you to worry about anything but resting,” he said.
She relaxed. “Thank you.”
“I’ll always be here to take care of you.”
Riley nodded. “I know. And you know I’m here for anything you need, right?”
He scowled again. “Of course. Where is this coming from?”
“I just wanted you to know that if you got sick, I’d take care of you.”
“You’ve done that a few times in the years we’ve been together,” he said with a small smile. “And I know I’m an awful patient.”
She smiled and then yawned. “Is it okay if I go back to sleep?”
“Yes. Do you want to stay up here or be down with me?”
She nodded. “You know you can go to work. I’m not that sick.”
He smoothed the hair from her face. “You are more important than anything. Everything can wait.”
“Thank you.”
He bent forward and kissed her sweetly on the lips.
She put her hand out to try to push him away.
“What’s the problem?” he asked in a perplexed tone of voice.
Oh, hell, now he looked upset. “I don’t want you to get sick. I’m not sure if this is contagious or not.”
“I don’t give a fuck if it is.”
She hated the confused, suspicious look on his face. “I’m sorry.”
His hand was wrapped around her cheek. “I know. Get some rest.”
“I will. You’ll see. I’ll feel better soon.”