And Then There Were Three (4 page)

“I am sorry about that,” Mark said
interrupting my thoughts as he joined me under the water. He
wrapped his arms around my waist as he pressed his face against my
bareback. I placed my hands over his hands giving them a squeeze. I
wasn’t angry with him. How could I be angry with him? I was feeling
what he was feeling only had come to terms with the emotions. Well
sort of! I had a head start on this and my husband was playing
catch up.

“I don’t know what came over me?” Mark’s
voice was sad and it hurt me to hear him so conflicted. I tried to
be the voice of reason and to show him that I wasn’t angry and
understood the rush of sexual emotions. “I do. It was Nicole. She
has that effect on people.”

“Eva, do you really think that I am
interested in her enough to ruin my marriage. I am not you,” he
said huffily exiting the shower. I was at a loss.

“Mark, stop it. We both know that she has had
some kind of effect on us. Denying it will only lead to an
unnecessary argument,” I retaliated to his retreating wet back.

“I do not want that woman. I watched as my
wife became undone and if anything what happened in the garage was
me trying to stake my claim on what rightfully belongs to me.” Mark
was seething with anger as I stepped out of the shower. Deciding
not to dry off I walked over to him pushing the bathroom door
closed as he opened it. “Don’t do this Mark. I was honest with you
about how I was feeling because we have enough years, love, and
understanding under our belts.”

“Eva this whole situation is too fucked up to
discuss right now. I just want to go to sleep,” he informed as he
opened the door.

After drying off I inspected my naked body in
the full-length bathroom mirror. I fought the tears as I remembered
the first time I was with Mark how he marveled at the size of my
breasts. My mother passed on her genetic gift to me but skipped my
sister. However I was always jealous because my sister Elaina’s
breasts were a perfect size. I had to endure years of teasing from
boys because I developed so early. My mind kept comparing my body
to Nicole’s near perfect form. She had zero ounce of body fat
whereas I had given birth to three children via the conventional
method. I wasn’t over weight but I harbored a pooch I could never
rid myself of no matter how much I worked out. Mark insisted that I
still looked as beautiful naked as the first day but I knew he was
just being a sweetheart. Nicole I am sure was lean as a board but
without looking like she spent time in a concentration camp. My
legs were long and muscular but lead to my nemesis fleshy thighs.
Her legs were lean and strong but without the obvious muscle
detail. I was pretty sure her thighs were an extension of her legs
and not the fleshy bastards I carried around. In the hip department
I was doing okay not too much and not too little. I could obviously
bare children without any medical assistance. I fought to tear my
gaze away from my naked frame not because of my conceit but because
I was feeling overwhelmed.

Our warm bed was a welcomed respite from the
day’s events. I slipped happily beneath the warm comforter drifting
off to a restful sleep in spite of my unease. Eventually Mark found
his way to my side of the bed and I gladly snuggled into his
embrace. Some time during the night I felt his body cover me as he
whispered softly in my ear. “I love you Eva.”

“I love you too Mark, always and forever,” I
replied back without hesitation. Mark covered me in tender kisses
as he pulled the gown over my head. I ran my hands the length of
his chest as he slipped out of his pajama bottoms. My husband made
slow beautiful love to me for the next half hour. Throughout he
murmured declarations of love and moaned my name repeatedly. It was
a sign of our faith and commitment to one another that left me
wonderfully content. No matter what happened this previous night my
husband assured me as best he could that I would always and forever
be number one.

*****

The next few weeks rolled by seemingly
business as usual, with one notable exception. My husband and I
were in absolute bliss. We could barely keep our hands off one
another. It was wonderful as we plied each other with fond
affection daily. This was never lacking in our relationship
previously it was now just on hyper speed. I was able to see Nicole
without feeling any lingering effects. A few times Mark dropped
Sabrina off to her dance class without being overtly affected by
Nicole’s presence. I wasn’t sure but it seemed her unknowing
interference in our marriage at the time was a godsend. We learned
to never take what we had for granted in the little time her
influence came into our lives. I was appreciative that my husband
and I could sort of renew our vows to one another without the crazy
ceremony. This reaffirmation was done almost every day.

I know I speak very little of my kids in this
narrative and its not that we were neglectful or they weren’t
important. They have and will always be our most precious gift to
this world. I leave out most of their daily ministrations during
this time because in this narrative I do not want to make them the
object of focus. My kids do not need me to generate their words
during this time for them. Perhaps someday they will give their
account of what happened until such time I choose to protect them
by leaving them out whenever possible. If it is necessary to
mention them to move the story then I will include them. With that
being said the kids could tell something was happening or had
happened. The public display of affection on steroids with my
husband had them all cringing and rejoicing at the same time. It
solidified our marriage in their eyes while still remaining gross
to see your parents making out in the kitchen.

I was feeling so confident in my home life
that I jumpstarted my social life. I ventured out with the seven
women I had once belonged to an unofficial sorority with in
college. With all of our busy lives getting together was not an
easy task. It was their contrasting personalities that inspired me
to write my book series. Shantell, the pediatrician, was the
official best friend. We have known each other since middle school
when we both crushed on Terrance Harper. Amy, a public accountant,
was my partner in crime during our prankster days in college. Amy
was courted by every sorority but always managed to upset them by
refusing to join. They just didn’t see why a pretty blond haired
blue-eyed girl with an affluent upbringing would want to hang
around a bunch of minorities. Amber, a middle school Spanish
teacher, was our resident chica with her fiery Latino personality.
Every few months in college like clockwork she would go through a
public breakup with a boyfriend. We would have to intervene as she
spat, Spanish curse words for all to hear. It was absolutely much
more entertaining with her around. Cordelia, a lawyer, had panache
for the finer things in life and a passion for women. Surprisingly
she never developed a crush on any of us. We weren’t sure if we
should be hurt or relieved, we didn’t want anything impeding our
friendship.

Monica our resident drama queen worked as a
manager of a popular upscale restaurant. At one time her friendship
had been in question when she developed a huge crush on Mark. It
took some time for me to trust her around him, as her flair for the
dramatic could be downright irritating. Eventually she realized
that nothing she could do would sway Mark and sought love
elsewhere. Thankfully she was happily married with two children of
her own. Stacey was our computer expert and pretty much personal
Geek Squad. She could build a computer out of the same equipment
used by MacGyver. What she did for a living was still a mystery to
us. She had top-secret government clearance. We could only
postulate that she stopped terrorist by building supercomputers for
the government that spied on our everyday lives, or something along
those lines.

Last but certainly not least was Uwimana,
pronounced oo-wee-mah-nah. Having arrived in the US as a political
refugee from the war stricken country of Rwanda in 1994, she was
saved by an uncle. Uwimana was hidden for weeks until her uncle
secured passage for her to Zaire and then to the US, in the early
days of the conflicts before the thousands of refugees would later
follow suit. Her parents had been slaughtered and she was left to
fend for herself. Thankfully, her uncle had served as ambassador to
Rwanda and was safely within the US borders when the fighting
reached its crescendo. Uwimana operated a non-profit foundation
that helped survivors of the Rwandan conflict now living within the
US. My husband and I contributed heavily and regularly to her
cause.

These seven women were not just my friends
but sisters. Our lives would take us all over the country and back
again we always found a way to keep our connection strong.
Generally we conversed in some fashion on a daily basis utilizing
technology to keep a direct link to one another. When that failed
we had to call in a Seventh Wonder, which was an emergency meeting.
It usually involved a weekend spending lots of time at a spa, lots
of food, lots of drinking, lots of talking, and lots of money, lots
of dancing, and lots of fun. After one of these events you needed a
day or two to recover.

With the new book, while not receiving rave
reviews from critics, did something none of my books had done in
the past. The fifth book in my series made several very popular
national best sellers lists. The now increasingly popular e-book
format gave my previous four books a rebirth in the literary world.
Mark and the children were very proud of my accomplishments as my
pen name made some minor headlines. Mark Jr. was off to a summer
football camp for four weeks. Celeste was enjoying her time at a
sports day camp while Sabrina gave Nicole’s six week intensified
dance camp a try. I was feeling on top of the world considering the
previous weekend was our Seventh Wonder, when I dropped Sabrina off
to dance lessons. Talking to Nicole felt like second nature and I
blamed my jovial mood on my weekend of fun with my best friends. I
accepted an invitation for lunch and shopping from her without a
second thought.

Looking back I can see how that was what
truly brought this whole thing to the forefront. Accepting this
date and telling Mark, who reacted with a lackadaisical response, I
see how naïve we both were. The lunch and shopping was great fun as
we fought off potential suitors, choosing to enjoy one another’s
company. With my best friends settled back into everyday life it
was nice to have a physical every day friend. Nicole became the
eighth unofficial member of my posse without me even realizing
it.

One day while window-shopping a very
attractive man did his best to get Nicole’s attention. After she
politely refused his advance, to which he would not take no for an
answer, she indicated that we were an item. I was floored by her
admission, however false it was. The strangest and craziest thing
happened as I pretended to be her nonchalant girlfriend. Those
feelings I had pushed into the deep recesses of my mind came
flooding back with a vengeance. I was externally flushed and
internally confused as hell. I thought that part of this weird
story was over. Mark and I were still enjoying this renewed
honeymoon period. It would make no sense to ruin that by revisiting
this forbidden zone of emotions. After this encounter I tried to
keep my interactions to a minimal. I allowed fake work obligations
to give me an excuse to cancel. This worked no doubt but it took
its toll on my once happy disposition.

“What’s the matter baby?” Mark questioned one
day as I stood aimlessly looking out the window. I loved the feel
of his muscular arms wrapped around me. I tried to dismiss any
worry but I did a piss poor job of convincing him.

“It’s nothing babe just feeling a little
tired that’s all,” I retorted with a soft smile.

“Why don’t you just call her and have lunch?
Whatever you two disagreed on I’m sure you will figure it out.”
Mark was under the impression that Nicole and I had some sort of
falling out.

“Oh we didn’t have an argument I just needed
to get back to work. My books won’t write themselves.” I tried a
half-hearted attempt to make a joke. It didn’t work, Mark saw right
through me.

“It’s happening again isn’t it?” He released
his protective hold on me as I dropped my head. I didn’t know what
else to say. I had already stretched the truth enough and outright
lying to my husband never went over well.

“What are we going to do Eva? Do we need to
go to counseling? Or do you just want to give up on us?” He was
near tears as his voice rose dangerously loud.

“I would never give up on us Mark, never! I
am not sure what we should do but I don’t think counseling will be
of much help in this situation.”

“Fine do whatever the hell you want with
her,” he said throwing his hands in the air. “For the record Eva
just because it’s a woman you’re pining after, doesn’t make it any
less hurtful.”

“Mark, I do not know what to do. I will not
sacrifice our marriage for this stupid crush. Tell me what to do
and I will do it.” I wrapped my arms around myself missing his
protective embrace. Mark stood defeated and hurt both of which I
caused.

“I do not have an answer nor will I come up
with an answer. You are in control of your own emotions make your
own decision,” he said defiantly. I watched my husband walk away to
our home gym. Whatever piece of equipment he chose was in for the
beating of its life. It was time I laid all cards on the table or
risk losing my precious marriage.

“I do not understand Eva, I thought we were
friends,” Nicole said softly.

“We are, I mean we were friends Nicole but we
can’t be any more,” I explained in her small dance studio office.
Nicole looked up at me with tear stained eyes and I knew that she
felt it too. Now was not the time to mince words so I removed my
mouth filter.