Free White Diamonds by K. Lyn Page B

for me.”
    “I know.  Is he still here?”
    “He’s downstairs and he has made me an interesting offer.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Three days at home with you and two at the office in the city.  He plans to do the same, opposite my days, and when we need to discuss matters of business we can do it out here in private.  The time has arrived for our fine firm to leap into the technological age.”
    Vicki put Dante into his crib and wrapped her arms around her husband.  Wilson ran his hands along Vicki’s back and said, “You may be seeing me a lot when I’m at home.”
    Vicki kissed him, pressing her naked chest against him.  “Is that a dare?”
    “It might be.”
    “I’ll take that dare,” she said as she pulled on a shirt.
    “You can’t wear see-through shirts while I’m here or I’ll never get anything done.”
    Vicki left the door open and went down the stairs with Wilson following her.  She stared out at the woods and when she saw the garage, she stated firmly, “That will be demolished.”
    Wilson wrapped his arms around her from behind.  “Whatever you want, you shall have.”
    “Who will run the inn?”
    “I thought we would hold off on that for a while.”
    Vicki nodded.  Although they were not looking at each other, they could read each other’s body language.  “I’ve been keeping a secret from you, Wilson.”
    Her tone was serious and Wilson tried to turn her around to face him but she stood firm.  “Sounds serious.”
    “There is something you need to see.”
    “Okay.”
    Vicki didn’t make eye contact as she left the room to get her purse.  She pulled out the fragile document and handed it to him.
    “What’s this?”
    “I found it when I was painting.  It was the day you found me on the bed.  It made me sick to read it.”
    Wilson sat down at the kitchen table and read the faded parchment word for word while Vicki looked out at the garage.  The yellow police lines were still around the structure and she wanted to tear the building down herself, board by board.  It was because of her that the Adlers had died and Wilson had been forced to leave his house.  She was his bad omen.  She didn’t hear him call her name and he turned around and pulled her down onto his lap.  “What do you plan to do with me now that you own me?”
    Vicki broke away from him and turned to face him.  “It’s not funny, Wilson.  It’s not how it’s supposed to be…people owning people.”  She bit her lip to keep the tears inside of her.
    “Vicki, you didn’t buy anyone.  Are you supposed to pay for the sins of your father, and if you are, for how long?  When will enough time have passed before you have paid the debt?”
    “Don’t you see?  I’m a bad omen.  I cost you your house and I caused the death of two very good people, and I could have caused the death of our son.”
    Wilson forced his hand inside of Vicki’s sweats and pressed it against her gut.  “I watched my son grow inside of you, right here, and no one was happier than I was.  You have given me everything a man could want.  You’re a loving mother, a sensual lover, and you have never denied me anything.  Is that a bad omen?  No Vicki, it’s not.”
    Vicki sighed.  “But what if I can’t give you another child?”
    “Is that what this is all about?  You’re not some factory for making babies.  You are my wife and I love you.  If it weren’t for you, I would have nothing.”
    Vicki’s guilt began to fade somewhat but she doubted it would ever be gone completely.
    “Come here, Vicki.”
    Wilson led her to the fireplace in the cozy sitting room of the inn and tossed the document into the flames.  They watched as the old parchment turned to ashes and all but disappeared.  “How shall we celebrate?”  Wilson grabbed her and smoothly ran his hand into her loose fitting pants.  “I do believe you would run naked in the woods if you could.”
    “Undergarments restrict movement,” she