Free Wait for Me by Diana Persaud

from her and she stood on her own. Her dress slid down as if nothing had happened between them. He took her hand and kissed her palm.
    “Let’s go to bed. I need to recover before round two.”
    Her brow rose.
    “Round two?”
    He grinned mischievously.
    “Round one, dress on. Round two, dress off .”
    He glanced down.
    “But you might want to keep your heels on.”

Chapter Nine
     
    Janice sat stiffly in the limousine, staring out the tinted window, ignoring her husband.
    “Baby, what’s wrong?” Andy asked, gently touching her arm.
    She pulled her arm away from him, repulsed by his touch. Andy sat quietly beside her, wondering what had caused the sudden shift in her mood.
    At last, the limo eased to a stop in front of a large modern Victorian style house. She tried not to smile as her eyes caressed the ornate trim of her new house. It had been so easy to persuade him to buy this house. A few hints about my dream home then ‘accidentally’ driving by it one day. She bit her lip to keep from chuckling.
    A nd now to drop a few hints so I can get what I really want, Tommy.
    With concerted effort, she kept her face almost neutral. She let him see a hint of her simmering anger when he opened her door and extended his hand. The long, heavy skirt of her dress made it impossible to get out of the limo without his help. Pressing her lips together, she slipped her hand into his and stepped out gracefully. Head held high, she walked slowly up the walkway. Once inside, she lifted her heavy skirts and stomped slowly up to their bedroom, slamming the heavy wooden door behind her.
    Knock. Knock. Knock.
    So timid, she almost missed it. She rolled her eyes.
    He can’t even knock like a man. I bet Tommy would be pounding on this door .
    Her nipples hardened.
    Slowly the door opened. He entered his bedroom cautiously.
    “Janice? I thought you’d be happy. Everything went according to your plans.”
    “Happy? Happy?” she shrieked. “How could I be happy when my husband spent most of the evening ogling another woman!”
    Guilt made his face flush and his eyes darted away from her.
    “You couldn’t keep your eyes off that…cow!”
    She glanced down and saw evidence of his arousal.
    “Even now you’re thinking of her.”
    First Tommy, now Andy. What do they see in her?
    He shifted, hoping to ease the pressure on his groin.
    “This is the worst day of my life,” she cried.
    She ran into their bathroom and slammed the door, locking it to keep him out. She let down her hair and appraised herself in the ornate mirror. Her milky white skin was unblemished.
    Unlike that freckled bitch .
    She sniffled loudly when she heard Andy’ heavy breathing on the other side of the thin door.
    “Baby, I’m sorry. That dress was so…vibrant. I kept imagining you in it.”
    She rolled her eyes.
    “I’m sure everyone noticed,” she sobbed. “I’ll be the laughingstock of the town!” she wailed.
    Quietly, she opened the drawer and removed a small container of Vicks. She dabbed a little on her pinkie and rubbed it on each eye. The mild sting made her eyes water and she let the tears flow down her cheek. Black streaks of mascara stained her cheeks.
    You look pathetic .
    “I’m sure no one noticed.”
    He sound unconvinced. She grinned at her reflection.
    Drama club is finally paying off.
    She covered her face and sobbed loudly against the door.
    Now to set the bait.
    “Your best man has ruined my wedding day,” she wailed. “He brought that…harlot to my wedding.” Her voice had the perfect amount of strain and despair designed to make Andy wince.
    “You’re right, Baby. It’s all his fault. He should never have brought that temptress to our wedding. He’s been against this marriage from the beginning. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was his plan all along, to create discord between us.”
    She bit her hand to keep from snickering.
    Hooked. And now for the grand finale.
    She opened the door so he could see her tear streaked