Free I am HER... by Sarah Ann Walker Page A

________________________________
      His ‘ concern and affections’ ?  He doesn't even know me!  I don't even know me anymore .  Oh, but at least I’ve disappointed him.  One whole day without someone’s disappointment might have actually given me a false sense of security or something.  Thank god! I’m back on track today.
    ______________________ __________
    From:  Z. Zinfandel
    Subject:  It’s a date
    Thursday, May 26
    6:00pm

Sweetheart,
I do hope that you’ve settled down some.
I’m going to call you this evening at 10:00pm sharp.
I suggest you have your phone with you and find a private location. I will be speaking to you rather bluntly, so I strongly suggest you find some privacy.
    Please do not think it would be wise to ignore my call; I have ways of forcing your attention, even if you do not desire my attention.
I look forward to speaking with you this evening.
Yours,
    Z
    ________________________________
     
      10:00?  10:00?   Marcus will be here.  It's not like I could go anywhere else.  I never go out through the week.  What am I going to do?  What will I do?  This is INSANITY!  I'm married.  I have a husband who’ll be home while I'm talking to another man?  Who does that?   Not me. I'm not answering.  What can he actually do?  It's not like he’ll show up at my home.  Does he even know where I live?  Ahh… probably.   Oh god.   I have to email him back.
 
    ______________________ __________
    Reply
    Subject:  It’s a date
    Thursday, May 26
    6:34pm

Z,
Please don't call me.  My husband will be home by 10:00 and I have nowhere to talk with privacy.
I am feeling very stressed out by you and your demands.
Please, leave me alone.
I have to finish work, and I can't with all these emotional distractions.
I'm begging you to stop harassing me.
I can't handle much more.
Please...
________________________________

  There.  I sounded a little pathetic but maybe that'll work.  I can't do anything else but beg.  Hopefully he’ll take pity on me, and leave me alone.
     
                                     ==========
      Returning to my spreadsheets, I once again begin calculating expenses.  This is the easy part; it’s mindless.  Number crunching is easy.  I've already researched all the approvals, and categorized the approved and unapproved expenses for each Accounts Manager.  Now I just need to formulate grand totals.  I may even have this completed by mid afternoon tomorrow, in which case I could email off the summary reports to Mr. Shields before Monday.  Maybe if I'm early, I won't look so incompetent this week.
  At 7:35, the lasagna is out of the oven.  Running to my bedroom I have a quick rinse-off shower and finally get dressed.  Black capris and black cami top with cardigan.  There, I feel much better.  Returning to the sunroom, I work a little more while I wait for Marcus to come home.  I feel like I actually accomplished something today.
 
      By 9:30, I'm scared.  Marcus isn't home.  I have no additional emails from Z, but I'm scared to death he's going to call me anyway.  Where the hell is Marcus?  Why hasn't he called to say he’d be late?  Marcus always calls if he isn't going to be home by 7:30, except on Mondays.
      Walking to the kitchen, I look at the dried out, hours old lasagna I spent all day slaving over.  Huh.  I feel a giggle bubble up at the thought.  I haven't had one of those for a while.  Trying to suppress my laughter, I call Marcus from the kitchen phone.
  "Hi.  What can I do for you?" He quips.
  "Ah, hi honey... When are you coming home?  I told you I would prepare a proper dinner for you this evening."
      “Oh.  You’ve been so tired lately, I assumed you had forgotten to cook again,” he sneers.
      Wow.  He really is pissed at me.  Maybe I should just apologize for questioning his sexual ability.  Maybe I should just tell him it's my fault.
  "Marcus, I'm