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“That’s not for you to decide,” Tony growls, and I know it’s time to shut up and end the conversation.
“It was good talking to you, Tony.”
“Yeah, yeah, you, too, Dec. Get back to work. And if you change your mind about retirement, you know who to call. We could always use an extra set of hands around here.”
“Bye, Tony.”
I end the call. I don’t want to encourage the man. No matter how long we’ve known each other or how many times I’ve carried out a favor, I’m done with that part of my life. The sooner I sever those connections, the better. To make a clean break, it’s necessary.
Tucking the phone away, I set my attention on the matter at hand. Brenda and Glenn have returned inside, but they’ve left the door open with only the flimsy screen to keep the bugs out while allowing the air in.
It isn’t quite evening yet, but the sun is getting lower in the sky, and the air is starting to cool again. I’m considering what to do now, whether I should wait until nightfall and sneak inside to smother Glenn with a pillow or wait it out until a better opportunity presents itself when the screen door squeals its protest as the two walk out onto the porch together.
Brenda has a black strap around her shoulder that wraps around her waist at a diagonal, ending with a purple pouch that holds a water bottle. Glenn carries a similar one, only in turquoise.
They are in the same clothes they’ve been in all day, and they step down to the ground as one, in perfect synch, and set off toward the hiking trail that I explored last night.
Opportunity just knocked, and I pop open my car door and set off after them, prepared to answer.
Eighteen
~Faith~
I’m on another high, but my nerves are making me shaky. This is it, the perfect time to kill Glenn, and I’m nervous. It won’t be easy, and it will likely leave internal, invisible scars on my psyche, but it has to be done. Now that it’s finally here and I know how I want to do it, I feel a bubbling anticipation that rivals anything else I’ve ever experienced in my life.
This is better than an orgasm, and the feeling will last far longer.
Dusk is coming soon and coupled with the cool breeze afforded us by the thick canopy of trees, it is the perfect evening for a stroll.
Despite the attempt at being a happy couple, using this mini vacation as a means to come closer and reconnect with one another, neither Glenn nor I attempt any form of physical contact besides the occasional brush of a shoulder as we walk the barely visible trails side by side.
Not that I’m complaining. The less contact, the better, as far as I’m concerned.
But I know I’ll have to make a better effort soon. It will be easier to get in close and make my move if it seems natural. If I come out of left field, Glenn might suspect something and have a chance to waylay me.
I reach out and take his hand.
For a passing moment, Glenn glances over at me in surprise, and then his fingers give mine a little squeeze of acceptance. There, I’ve done it. I made the first move. Everything else from here on out will be exponentially easier.
“It’s gorgeous out here,” I comment as a southerly breeze catches my hair and moves it about my shoulders just enough to inspire goose bumps. “I can’t believe it’s been this long since we’ve done this.”
“We’re definitely overdue for it. I’m glad you decided to join me.”
I laugh. “As if you would have come out here without me.” When his silence is his only answer, I look up at him in offence. “You would have left me at home?”
He shrugs, and just like that, our hands drop free of one another, making that distance that has grown between us over the years yawn open once again, shining a bright spotlight on how we’ve reached this point in our marriage. “It’s not like we’ve been all that close lately.”
“Still,” I argue. “That you would have just up and left if I’d said no is pretty hurtful, Glenn. What kind of husband does that?”
“A husband that isn’t happy.” He stops in the middle of the path and turns to face me.
It strikes me at that moment that this is as real a moment as we’ve had between us in forever.
“Neither of us have been happy in a long, long time, Faith. I think we both know that. Hell, anyone who takes a passing look at us can see it.”
I grimace, hoping that isn’t true. If it is, it will make killing him and getting away with it so much harder.
“Then what is the point of us coming here this weekend, if we’re so deep in the hole that we can’t see out of it?”
