Learning to Forgive (11 page)

“I’m
quite a catch, Molly.”

“You’ve
got diabetes, and you’ve just had an angina attack. You’re hard work,” she
said, taking her suitcase, thanking the driver, and then moving toward the
house.

“She
was jealous, Sir,” the driver said. David thanked him then began moving his
suitcase through the path toward the house. Molly had her arms folded over her
chest.

Before
he opened the door, he moved closer to her.

“Baby,
I like the fact you still get jealous,” he said. David rubbed her arms.
“Because I know when I see another man put his hands on you, I can’t stand it.”

“What?”

“You
heard me. I saw Malcolm hug you, and I wanted to hurt him.”

“Malcolm
is your friend,” she said.

“Exactly, Molly.
But
you’re my woman. I don’t want anyone touching you. You’re mine.”

“You
were always so possessive of me,” she said.

“That’s
because I know what men are thinking when they look at you, and I don’t like
it.”

Molly
smiled. Her cheeks were flushed. “Let's go inside. I need some coffee,” she
said.

“I
follow, my
lady.”She
chuckled then took the key off
him. He heard her turn the key in the lock.

This
was a momentous occasion for him. He’d spent a couple of years trying to get
this place perfect for her. From the look of the garden, it still needed some
tender loving care.

The
door opened as the driver pulled away. David waved at their ride then followed
his wife inside the cottage. The air was lovely and fresh. The light shining in
the window illuminated everything perfectly.

“Do
you have any idea how many times I thought about this place?” Molly asked. She
left her suitcase then began walking through the room. David followed her, his
hands inside his pants pockets to stop himself from reaching out and pulling
her close. He wanted her so much.

“Everywhere
is furnished,” she said.

“Yes,
I took the time to make sure it would be perfect.”

“I
can’t believe you kept this a secret from me. I bet you’re feeling rather silly
over it.” She put her hand out waiting for him to take it. He stared at her
palm then placed his hand inside her own. She walked from room to room. Her
excitement hadn’t diminished once.

When
she walked into the kitchen, he knew he’d gotten the layout right. There was an
island in the centre of the room that had a stove inside. Behind Molly was a
porcelain sink with a cooker at eye level.

“You
did listen,” she said.

“Every
time you talked, I listened.”

He
went to the rear door, opening the catch and flicking the lock. The door opened
out into a huge back garden.

“This
would be perfect for the grandchildren,” she said, resting her head on his
shoulder.

“I’d
do anything for you.”

Chapter Eleven

The
days passed without any argument. Molly was surprised, as they usually spent a
great deal of time arguing about anything they could find. She baked in the
mornings, and then they took long walks in the evening. David never once left
her side all the time they were there.

“I
think these would look good,” he said, picking out a pattern for a rug. He
spent most of his time trying to get her to spend money. She refused. They got
regular calls from all of their boys. She was very happy with Erica and Chris.
They were together and planning to marry very soon. The news had been a joy to
hear. Blaze and Chris were happily settled down with the women they loved. All
she was waiting for was Trent, Luke, and John, and her world would be complete.

“I
don’t like that colour. Besides, we don’t need a rug. I like everything the way
it is. I don’t need you to change anything for me,” she said.

David
sat next to her when the phone rang. They’d given out the number for them to be
reached. She picked up the receiver and placed it against her ear.

“Hello?”
she said.

“Hi,
Mom, it’s me, Trent.”

She
smiled. He’d always called her “Mom”. Nothing she said stopped him.

“I’m
going to make a cup of tea,” David said.

“Okay.”

“Who
was that?” Trent asked.

“Your father.”

“How
is life in the country?”

“Agreeable, Trent.
I love
it here. Do you remember me booking a vacation and then your father had work
commitments and couldn’t go?”

“Yeah,
I remember a lot of that. You cried for most of the afternoon because of it.
Are you still divorcing him?” Trent asked.

Molly
went silent at the harsh reminder. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

“You
need to. I know you love my father, but he’s not been the best person to you.”

She
shook her head not wanting to listen to his words.

“I
want what is best for you, Mom, and Dad is not it.”

“How
can you say this?” Molly asked, feeling the tears fill her eyes. She thought
they had a real chance of mending all the pain.

“Because you forgive too easily.
I know my father. Once the divorce is no longer an issue, he’ll revert back to
his old ways. I don’t want you to be hurt, and I know you will be.”

“I
think I’d better go now, Trent,” she said, putting the phone down. David walked
through to the sitting room carrying two mugs of tea.

“What’s
the matter, Molly?”

“Nothing.”
She
shook her head looking down at the patterns on her lap. Was Trent right?

“I
need to go and get some air. Is that okay?” she asked.

“I’ll
come with you,” he said, standing up ready to join her.

“No,
I want to go alone. I need some time to think.”

He
nodded his head. Molly grabbed her jacket from the back of the door then walked
outside. The first part of the garden had their soft fruit. They’d been working
on a fruit and vegetable garden. She loved working with her hands, and plants
were a dream to work with.

Molly
made her way out of the back garden gate through to the open field that had the
start of a steep hill. She took several deep breaths as she walked up through
the long grass. Trent had really shocked her with his demands. She didn’t
understand why he would want so badly for her to leave his father.

Their
time together hadn’t been the best, but it surely hadn’t been a living
nightmare. David never made her fear him in any way. She was free to make her
own choices. What was wrong with wanting to stay together?

Married
life hadn’t been perfect, but who had a perfect marriage? Blaze had grown to
hate his first wife even though she’d given him a son. Malcolm adored
Tilly
, and she knew they argued throughout their years
together. Age and time didn’t make a happy marriage. Being open with each other
was the key. She saw the rise of the hill. Molly made her way up. Every few
steps she needed to stop to gain her breath. Living in the country didn’t give
her instant fitness.

Molly
thought about David and the few times they’d been happy. She forced herself to
block out all of the bad memories and only focus on the ones that were good in
her life. There were several moments she recalled.

****

They
were at the beach house. It had been a horrid summer. The heat kept getting
harder to handle. Molly had to cover everyone in
sunblock
.
The heat had gotten so bad that David came to stay with them at the beach
house. She liked the beach house. He may have owned it with his first wife, but
the easy access to the beach was what held all the appeal.

She
sat on the beach in a full bathing suit with a sarong wrapped around her waist.
Her legs had gotten thicker over the ten years of her marriage. No matter how
much walking or running she did, the thickness stayed the same. The boys were
paddling along the beach. They’d been banned from going any farther out to sea.
She finished coating John up then sat back watching all five boys.

David
placed a blanket down next to her, startling her.

“You
look a little lonely, Miss. Do you mind if I sit here for a while and have the
pleasure of your company?” he asked.

“I
don’t mind. My husband might. Last time I checked he was being silent in the
house.”

He
had argued about going down to the beach.

“He
doesn’t sound nice, this husband of yours,” David said.

She
laughed. There were times she wondered who the real man was, the teasing,
happy-go-lucky guy next to her or the grumpy man who married her for
propriety's sake.

“He’s
fine.
Most of the time, I think.
Misunderstood,
maybe.
I don’t know. The boys
were hating
the
heat. Look at them now, laughing.”

“Have
you ever thought your husband gets a little jealous?” David asked.

“Cut
the crap, David,” she said, bored with the game he was playing.

He
crossed the small distance between them, tackling her to the ground. She
squealed, laughing as he moved over her, trapping her underneath. David
straddled her waist, and he locked her hands above her head. “You have to
listen to me now,” he said.

David
leaned down, kissing her neck and making her shiver. She moaned, biting her lip
to try to contain the sound. “Let it go, baby. I want to hear you moan.”

He
continued to nibble on her neck, biting down on the tender flesh of her
collarbone. She went numb all over from the pleasure he gave. “You taste so
sweet,” he said.

She
lay underneath him without fighting his hold. Her breasts were tender, the
nipples tight. Molly felt the heat of his breath along her neck. Her pussy was
dripping wet. David always had the ability to undo her. The beach was crowded.
No one paid any attention to them. She stared into his eyes as he looked back.

“Do
you ever think that I may be jealous?” he asked.

“Of what?”

“My own sons.”

“I
don’t understand.”

“They
get you all the time, Molly. I’ve never had that privilege.” He slammed his
lips down on hers stopping her from arguing a point. David set her whole world
on fire with a hot, demanding kiss. All thought left as she plunged her tongue
into his mouth, tasting him.

“
Ew
, Daddy is kissing Molly,” Chris said.

David
pulled back. “What do you say we dump Molly in the ocean and see if she comes
back a mermaid?”

All
boys shouted and screamed.

“Remember,
you’re not allowed out into the ocean, boys.”

He
picked her up in his arms and carried her out to the water. She screamed,
fighting and laughing. Molly watched all five boys as they followed them to the
water's edge then stopped. David kept going until they were surrounded by
water. He pulled her close then pressed a hand between her thighs.

She
gasped, and her fighting stopped. David pressed his fingers against her swollen
clit, rubbing the nub as he nibbled her ear.

“I
sometimes get jealous of my own sons. They spend all the time with you. All I
want to do is make love to you, Molly. I want to wake up in the morning and not
worry about them running into our room. I dream of fucking you in every room of
the house without any worry whatsoever.”

He
teased her clit, plunging his fingers inside her. Molly cried out, the sound
muffled by the waves.

“I’m
desperate for you, Molly. I always am.”

She
came apart in his arms while he stroked her clit. The touch was hot, and
knowing he’d gotten her out to the ocean to touch her meant a great deal to
her.

When
he was done and her heart was under control she turned toward him. “Why did you
do that?” she asked.

“So
that every time you look out across the ocean, you’ll remember that I made you
orgasm. There will be no ocean in the world where you’re not thinking about
me,” he said, dropping a kiss to her lips then paddling back to shore and
holding her hand.

****

David
took her out to dinner on a Friday night. They’d been married fifteen years.
Blaze and Chris were working, and Trent was in college. Luke and John were at a
friend's. Molly hadn’t expected the special treatment. David came home from
work carrying a box. Inside was a dress he’d wanted her to wear. It was a deep
blue cocktail dress with matching shoes. The bodice had the wiring for her
breasts. He’d demanded she wear no panties. There was no way for her to wear panties
in the dress. The lines of the fabric would show.

The
meal was wonderful. David kept her entertained with some work stories. They
talked about everything, movies, books, and even the children. The evening felt
like a date even though they’d been married for so long. She still loved him
with her whole heart. At times she wished she didn’t because then his caring
wouldn’t hurt so much.