Preface

PREFACE1

Fate sometimes takes strange turns. Sometimes to our advantage, other times to our determent. On this particular night, it played into the hands of Dr. Nick Swain and Erica Bellamy in a way they would never have imagined. They sat on the bed, still flushed and naked from their recent lovemaking. They shared a cigarette; one would speak while the other would puff.2

“If she would just admit she’s fed up and file for divorce,” Erica said as she took the cigarette from Nick. He almost choked.3

“Are you crazy? She's not getting half of all I’ve worked for over the last 23 years, no way in hell."4

Then they began the game they played every time they met; ways to kill Nadine and walk away. Erica seemed to be getting more serious each time and Nick was a bit more reticent than usual wondering if there could be a way. As he squashed the cigarette in the ashtray Erica stood beside the bed looked him square in the eye, determined to make her point. She was as stubborn as she was beautiful, but he couldn’t bring himself to agree to actually committing murder for her. 5

“This is it, Nick. I won't replay this scene again. You can't just screw me, wait for me to dress, walk me to my car and blow kisses to each other as we drive home in different directions.”6

He knew she was unrelenting when she decided that she had really found the answer. That held true on and off her job. It was why she was so good at that job. As Director of Nursing she could make or break a nurse’s career with few words.7

He knew he should take his chances and stop this affair. She might start gossip but it would be her word against his, and he was an acclaimed Neurosurgeon with an international reputation. He had read his papers all around the world and written for all the journals on a regular basis. Everyone would think she was just trying to get some money out of him.8

He looked through the partially opened door of the bathroom where Erica washed up and touched up her makeup and hair. God, she was beautiful. Exquisite, perfect, and able to make him feel a stirring in his groin again. Just looking at that perfect body made him realize he would do anything to keep it at his disposal. Nadine was beautiful and willing to accommodate him in sex. She wasn’t timid and she liked new things. But there was something about Erica that made him forget anything but making sure she kept coming back to him. She was like a cancer and he knew it. He didn’t care. 9

Her voice brought him back to the moment. Had he fallen asleep? Or was it only one of those times when he would get so absorbed in his own thoughts he couldn’t judge time or space?10

“What? I’m sorry honey. Mind was wondering.” he asked as he got up to take his turn in the bathroom.11

Sarcasm was all but dripping from her chin as she repeated, “Don’t expect to see me again until you show me some divorce papers or a death certificate.” Smiling, but rather than the smile of a satisfied lover, it was the smile of control. Women hold the cards most of the time and Erica was no exception. As she was brushing her hair she watched Nick in the mirror. He was wavering. Obviously, she was not letting him see the fear in her heart. She had been admired and catered to by more than her share of men. But this was different. Yeah, Nick had the money to give her the luxuries she yearned to enjoy but more than that, he was animalistic in bed, always in control of it all. That was a first for Erica; letting anyone have control of anything. While she continuously bugged him about making a way for them to be married, she knew in her gut it would happen. She didn’t know when, but she would make sure it happened no matter what it took.12

All things completed for their imminent departure, they had one last cup of coffee and the silence was overbearing, neither knew what else to say. They had said all there was and now one or the other, if not both, had to back up their stands.13

Just as Erica had predicted, they walked outside holding hands, kissed once more got in their cars and drove in opposite directions. But something bothered her today. What was it? “Oh Crap!” she said out loud. “ I was the only one blowing those sweet bye-bye lovers' kisses today.” Had she gone too far? Did she push too hard? She would see him at the hospital but they wouldn’t be together again for three days. She would have to be on guard yet remind him, whenever they had a chance meeting, of what she had and how he loved it. Yeah, she had confidence in her ability.14

While she thought of these things, Nick was fighting guilt. Not too hard, but still fighting. He decided to call Nadine. She would be in the workout room upstairs but she carried her cell phone with her everywhere. He hit #2 in his memory numbers and waited to hear her breathless hello. 15

When he finally heard it, it sent his mind to not just how she sounded but how she would look: hair pulled back into a ponytail, face and chest flushed, sweat glistening on her body with her chest heaving from the exertion of her workout. He felt that stirring again, he should have been at home. Then he could be the reason she looked that way.16

Nadine said hello the second time before Nick answered her. He finally caught his breath from his mind’s images and said,17

“Good Morning my beautiful wife.” She could hear the huskiness in his voice and knew it was because he was thinking of her.18

“And a wonderful morning to you my love who works too hard and too many hours. I miss you.”19

He felt like a heel. He actually loved his wife. Why oh why had he let this thing start with Erica? 20

“Do you have lunch plans?” he heard himself asking. 21

“As a matter of fact I do, sweetie. I’m meeting my Dr. Love if he’ll tell me where and what time.”22

He chuckled as his mind tried to think of a special place. He had a lot to make up to her, even if she didn’t know it.23

“How about the CrescentI & Oyster Bar? You know what they say about oysters…and I’ve been missing you a lot,” she saved him the trouble of deciding.24

“Sounds wonderful. 1 o’clock be ok for you?” he said, trying to not let his emotions and guilty feelings come through in his voice.25

“I’ll make it ok. See you then,” Nadine said.26

“See you,” Nick answered.27

“Nick?”28

“Yes darling?”29

“I love you,”30

“And I return that twice as much.”31

She hung up the phone with a strange uneasiness. He was always the one to say it first. He said it was his job never to let her forget how precious she was to him. But this was only one of several times in the past few weeks when she had to say ‘I love you’ first. Maybe he needed a vacation. He had been working a lot of extra hours and it was catching up with him. She’d talk to him about a long weekend at lunch today.32

Nick was running a few minutes late so Nadine sat at the bar and waited. She had two Bloody Marys during her long 10-minute wait. 33

“Better be careful”, she told herself. She was a social drinker but never had more than two. Trying to make sure all the men in the place knew she was waiting for someone, she kept looking at the clock and at her watch and tapping her beautifully tapered nails on the bar.34

When Nick arrived, she beamed as she walked to meet him. They embraced but only for a short time. Proprieties played a large role in public appearances. It was enough to drive a woman crazy. But she had time to whisper in his ear,35

“We’ll finish this tonight. Don’t have dessert here”. He laughed with that rolling sound she loved to hear. She just loved him. Anything, everything no matter what else happened, that love was there to stay.36

It seemed they both had an important agenda for this meeting. You would think they were in some sort of business venture as they tiptoed around discussing all kinds of things except what they were thinking. After all mundane things had been said and lunch ordered a silence fell. Not one of those comfortable ones where you just enjoy being together; this was not comfortable at all. Suddenly, they both decided to open their mouths and hearts at the same time. All of a sudden it felt more like the way it did when they were first lovers. They were even holding hands across the table.37

“You go first, I can see you’re uptight about something.”38

“Ok, usually I’d do the no, you go; no YOU go. But today is different. I have rehearsed all kinds of speeches about how to ask you this and now I don’t remember any of them. I guess it’s better just to say it...39

Let’s go away together, if just for a weekend. I need to reclaim my love as well as make sure my man doesn’t let my brand on his booty loose it’s meaning.”40

He began to laugh and she was almost in tears. How could he make fun of a proposition like that from a loving devoted wife? It was only a short laugh but it seemed like a lot longer to Nadine.41

“What in the world was so funny about that?”42

“The fact that I had the very same question to ask you. It sounds like heaven to be with you with no interruptions, phones, or emergencies to attend.” 43

They weren’t laughing any more. They were both too touched by the other’s needs as they stared at each other in a comfortable silence until their food came.44

The rest of the time was spent deciding on 3 destinations where they might go for a few days. Nadine was going to stop on her way home and talk to a travel agent about times and availability of the places they had decided would be perfect.45

They took as much time as possible but Nick really had to get back. He left the money plus a generous tip for the waiter and they started to the door. Nadine felt a sudden need to kiss him. Nick kissed back then heard a noise that brought him back to the place they were and smiled at Nadine in that special kind of ‘known’ meaning. He walked her to her car and then to claim his own. She drove past him and he blew her a kiss, little did he know what tragedy lie ahead.46