Free Dangerous Authority by M Jet Page B

Someone had spotted her with Dominique in the truck stop, and in true Elwood style, had already informed her mother.
    "What, Mom?  What's the problem?" Mary Jane asked, trying to keep the irritation from her voice.
    Marsha put down the knife she was using to slice an onion and turned to face her daughter.  "Mary Jane, your husband just died."
    A lump formed in her throat.  "Yes, Mom, I'm aware of that," she choked.
    Her mom glared angrily at her and she had to look away from the scrutiny.
    "Was this going on before Zander died?" Marsha asked.
    Mary Jane gasped and her cheeks reddened.  "No Mother!  Of course not!"  She struggled against the tears that pricked her eyes.
    "So what then, is Officer Flame some sort of feel better remedy for you?"
    "Mom!  No!  I love Dominique."
    Her mother groaned.  "You love him, but you were not having an affair with him?"
    The tears spilled and she could not stop them.  She didn't want to feel ashamed of this thing she'd wait for so long.  "I've known him since I was eighteen, Mom.  But there was never anything between us until now." 
    She wilted under her mother's lengthy glare.  "You know, Mary Jane, your father and I weren't necessarily huge fans of Zander's all the time…  But his memory deserves a little better than this."
    Without makeup, Mary Jane knew the remnant of her last encounter with her husband was still faintly visible on her face.  She stood up and turned that side of her face to her mom and pointed at it.  "Do you see this, Mom?  I know that you do.  I know you saw it when it was fresh too.  This is what my life with Zander had boiled down to.  We were on the way to the end.  I'm devastated that my children lost their father, but as far as our marriage…  It was as good as over."
    After forcing out her explanation, she doubled over in retching sobs.
    Marsha pulled Mary Jane into her arms and stroked her hair and back.  "OK, baby.  OK.  I'm sorry.  I'll support you.  Shhhh.  I'm sorry, baby girl.  Don't cry."
    ***
    Dominique and Mary Jane spent as much time as possible together without letting their children know about the relationship.  They fully intended to tell the kids and let them meet one another, but both agreed Mary Jane's children should have more time to grieve and adjust before introducing Dominique.
    Their arrangement left little private time and they became creative about lovemaking escapades.  Sometimes it was early in the morning before a work shift.  Sometimes it was in the bathroom of the diner.  Incredibly fast.  Quiet. And erotic.  She often teased him that they did things together that he would arrest other people for.  When she said that, he never answered with anything but a slight smile.
    By the time three months had passed since Zander's death, and fall had decidedly set in, Mary Jane's finances had become exceedingly tight.  She sat at the table late one night going over bills and crunching numbers.  Sighing, she massaged her temples and closed her eyes.  Her house was simply too expensive.  She wasn't going to make it.  She would have to downsize.  She contemplated getting a small apartment, or asking her parents if she and the kids could stay with them for a while to get on her feet.
    Her phone rang and snapped her out of her worries.
    "Hey," she said on answer.
    "Hey, love," Dominique said.  "Thought I'd call and tell you goodnight.  I just got the boys down, I'm going to hit the hey."
    "Alright, baby.  Goodnight."
    "Hey, you.  What's wrong?"
    She'd thought she'd effectively disguised any worry in her voice.  However, he seemed to have an open line of communication straight to her soul.  "Nothing, baby.  Don't worry about me."
    "Stop.  Don't lie to me, Mary Jane.  Tell me what's the matter."
    "Honestly, it's not that big a deal.  Just doing bills and such, money's tight."
    There was a pause before he spoke.  "Zander didn't have life insurance?"
    Mary Jane almost chuckled.  "Um, no.  He was