The Preacher’s Son

by B. D. Anderson

  “You know, as long as you are like this, you are letting him win.” She grabbed her by the chin, and Max’s eyes locked with hers. “As long as you are like this, it’s the same thing as you being tied up to that bed. He still has you imprisoned. Don’t you want to be free, Maxine? Don’t you want to live?”

  “Yes, Dr. Nelson,” she said, with tears falling. “I do… I just don’t know how.”

  Dr. Nelson released her and walked back to her desk. “Then do as I have requested. Make that first move. Start small… call your Dad and spend some time talking to him. Make that first step.”

  Max looked at Dr. Nelson and knew that she was right. The only difference this time was that she was leaving her office determined to make a change.

  CHAPTER 29

  OLIVIA HUNT LAYS DOWN THE LAW

  Max came home and found Eric sitting in the kitchen with some papers and a calculator.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. She noticed that he was sitting at the table without a shirt on, and the apartment was extremely warm.

  “Just figuring out a few things. I am trying to stretch this money we got from Uncle David as far as I can. I have to buy two car seats as well as a lot of other stuff,” he said, not looking up.

  “Do you mind putting a shirt on?” Max said, trying not to sound irritated. “Why is it so hot in here anyway?”

  “The air-conditioning is broke,” Eric replied. “I’ve already called the rental office.”

  He slipped on a sleeveless T-shirt and returned to what he was doing. Max felt that the shirt didn’t cover him up enough. She knew that her thinking was unreasonable, and she tried to calm the nervousness she felt.

  Max tried to be quiet. She looked at his muscular arms and his hairy chest. How in the world could her sister deal with that? She bit her lip and looked away.

  “Are you going with us to see the babies?” Eric asked, getting up and going to the refrigerator.

  He was wearing a pair of shorts, and she could see the top of his boxers. The nervousness in her stomach increased. He raised his arm over his head and stretched, revealing a large amount of underarm hair.

  The room grew even warmer, and she suddenly felt sick. When she didn’t respond to his question, Eric turned to her. He took one look at her and came over to her. “Are you all right?”

  All she could see was his maleness, his hairy chest, and the slight stubble on his face. The slight smell of his cologne or his deodorant, she wasn’t sure which, invaded her nostrils. She began hyperventilating. He was so close, and the sight of his hairy chest and the smell of him made her queasy. She stumbled back, trying to sit down. Without thinking, Eric tried to grab her, and she screamed.

  Nadine came rushing out of the bedroom. “What in the world is going on?” She looked at Max sitting in the chair and Eric standing over her looking confused.

  “I don’t know,” Eric said, backing off. “She didn’t look well, and I thought she was going to fall… she just starting screaming.” He looked at Nadine helplessly.

  Nadine pushed Eric out of the way. Max avoided her gaze. “I-I’m fine. He just startled me, that’s all.” She lowered her voice. “Can you make him put some clothes on? All that hair is… disgusting.”

  Nadine looked at Eric and knew that he had heard what Max said. His eyes flashed in anger.

  “Maybe I’ll just go out for a while,” he said, grabbing his keys.

  Nadine followed him to the door. “Eric, I’ll talk to her—”

  “Look, Nadine, I can appreciate what Max has been through, but it’s not my fault. She looked at me like I’m gum under somebody’s shoe, like I’m some sort of pervert. I don’t know if this move is such a great idea. I can’t walk around here in a turtleneck and long pants all the time just so that she can feel comfortable around me. I don’t want to live on pins and needles, afraid that if I make a sudden move she’ll fall apart.”

  “Let me talk to her,” Nadine said soothingly. She pulled him to her, hugging him tightly. His face softened. He leaned down and kissed her. He saw Max frown at them out of the corner of his eye.

  “I’ll be back later.”

  Nadine stared at the door a moment before turning back to Max.

  Max would not meet her gaze.

  “I’m sorry, Nadine. I guess I overreacted,” she said, knowing that Nadine was upset.

  “Look, Max, maybe it was a bad idea for us to move in here,” she said, sitting down. “You’re not ready to be around men, and it’s not fair to put Eric through this.”

  “I said I’m sorry. I guess seeing all that hair freaked me out. How can you stand it? It’s gross. It’s hot in here, and I could smell him… it made me sick.”

  Nadine stared at her a moment and did not respond. She wanted to help Max, but she didn’t want to go through this every day. She was all ready to lay down the law, so to speak, when Max came home, and now she wasn’t so sure. She felt sorry for her and protective of her, and yet this could not go on!

  “I went to see Dr. Nelson,” Max said when Nadine didn’t reply right away.

  Nadine breathed a sigh of relief. At least now she did not have to give Max that ultimatum.

  “Look, Max. I love Eric. You may not understand that, and I’m sorry. I love every hairy inch of him. I don’t think he smells bad, and I don’t think his body hair is gross.” She pulled her chair close to Max’s. She took her hand. “Look at me, Max.”

  Max looked at her and saw that Nadine was serious. Nadine rubbed her thumb over Max’s hands as she held them. How could she make her understand that she really loved Eric and that what she saw between them was normal?

  “I love you. You’re my big sister, and I want you to get well, I really do. Please don’t make me have to choose between you and Eric. He’s my husband, and I am going to be with him either here with you or somewhere else.” She paused a moment, trying to choose her words. “Now you may not understand it, but I love making love with my husband. I love his hands on me, and I love the feel of him inside me.” She watched as Max’s eyes grew big at her confession.

  “I know you may think this is too much detailed information for you to handle right now, but I need you to understand because I am not having this conversation with you ever again. It’s a normal thing to want that kind of contact. I crave it, Max. I crave his touch, and he craves mine. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. If that disturbs you, then I think it would be best for all of us if we plan to move out as soon as possible.”

  Max looked down at her hands, which her sister was still holding. “I don’t want you to go,” she whispered. “That’s why I went to see Dr. Nelson. I don’t want to be this way.” She looked at Nadine, her eyes pleading. “I want to get better. I’m going to talk to Dad. I don’t hate Eric. I don’t know… I guess he thinks I’m crazy.”

  “He knows, Max,” she said, touching her sister’s forehead with her own. “He knows, and he’s not mad. You’ll see when he comes back home.”

  A tear fell from Max’s eyes. “Nadine . . .”

  “Yeah, Max.”

  “Tell me the truth… don’t lie to me… is there any hope for me? I see you and Eric, and I do want to be better… I don’t want to be alone the rest of my life.”

  Nadine looked into her eyes, their foreheads still touching. “Yes, Max. I believe with all my heart that there is hope because you want to get better. That’s the key.”

  Max closed her eyes. “Love you, Deanny.” Deanny was the name Max used to call her when she was little.

  “Love you too, Maxie,” she responded, smiling.

  Aura looked up and saw Olivia waving at her as she walked into Macy’s.

  “Aura!” she said. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”

  Aura walked over to the dresses. “Well, here we are. Let’s see what we can find.”

  Olivia pic
ked out several dresses, and Aura picked out the black dress with the pale-gold bodice that she had seen the last time she visited the store. It also came in white, so she picked a white one too.

  She tried on the black one and loved it. She was definitely going for the black. That was easy! She walked over to Olivia, who was trying on her second dress.

  “What do you think?” she said, spinning around.

  “They are all nice, Olivia. What’s your husband’s favorite color?”

  Olivia paused a moment. “I’m not sure. We don’t go out much, and he doesn’t give compliments like talking about it.”

  Aura studied her a moment. “The sea-foam green is pretty, and it looks good on you.”

  “I like that too,” Olivia said. “I wish I had a bust like yours. I’m virtually flat-chested.”

  “Having a small chest has its advantages,” Aura said. “There are so many styles you can pull off. Plus, this dress has the back out. Now that’s sexy.”

  Olivia looked at her reflection in the mirror. “Not that Emerson would notice.”

  “Oh, I think he’d notice this,” Aura said. The back of the dress was extremely low. It really did look nice on Olivia. “He would be a blind man not to.”

  “You are probably right,” Olivia said. She took the dress off and quickly put her own clothes back on.

  “Have you thought about what Emerson could be afraid of?” Aura asked, taking her dress to the register.

  “I’m still thinking about it,” Olivia said. “Look, I’m going to show Emerson the dress. He doesn’t like surprises. Thanks for all your help, Aura. I will call you and let you know how he likes this dress.”

  “All right, Olivia. I look forward to it,” Aura said.

  Aura watched Olivia hurry out of the store, and she hoped that Emerson would be happy with the dress.

  Olivia hurried to Chaz and quickly changed back into the dress. Emerson would surely like it! Maybe he would truly notice her in this dress.

  She approached his secretary and noticed that she was nervous. “Hi, Anna. Is Emerson in? It’s after six. What are you still doing here?”

  “He has an appointment,” she said. “I am trying to finish up some things. I came in late today.”

  Olivia looked at her and then at her watch. “An appointment?” She knew that Emerson never took appointments after four o’clock.

  “Who’s in there?” Olivia asked, looking at the door.

  Anna looked at her helplessly. “Uh, Mrs. Hunt. I can’t say . . .”

  “I see,” Olivia said, her eyes narrowing.

  She walked past Anna and pushed opened the doors. She saw a brunette leaning on the desk in front of Emerson. She had on a very short dress, and Emerson had his hand on her leg. She could hear her soft giggle from across the room.

  Olivia was filled with rage and walked over to the desk.

  “Olivia, what are you doing here?” Emerson asked, looking guilty.

  “Who the hell is this?” she asked, eying the woman. She looked at Emerson and glanced down at the obvious bulge in his pants. She looked back at the woman “Get out!”

  The woman appeared surprised at the interruption. “Who are you?”

  “I’m the asshole’s wife!” Olivia snapped. The woman gasped and backed away from the desk. Olivia then turned from her and glared at Emerson.

  He stood up facing her. “Olivia! You can’t come barging in here—”

  She slapped his face before she could think. How dare he do this to her!

  The woman walked quickly to the door, and Olivia watched her leave.

  “I want a divorce, Emerson,” she spat. “I need a husband, and you don’t fit the bill.”

  “You’re my wife. I won’t give you a divorce,” he countered.

  “Your wife?” she said. “When was the last time you were a husband to me? That bulge in your pants isn’t for me, is it, Emerson? You don’t love me!”

  “You don’t love me either!” he said, jumping up. “I know you only married me for security.”

  “Security? I was doing just fine until you came along! I love you whether you believe it or not. Do you think that I want your money? To hell with your money! I was happier living in the shack where I was raised with my six brothers and sisters than I am in the hellhole you call a home.”

  “You love me? You love me? Don’t make me laugh,” Emerson responded in disbelief. “I know what people say about me. I know that I’m nothing much to look at! I’ve always known. There’s no way a beautiful woman like you would ever marry a man like me if it wasn’t for the money! The only love I’ve ever had was the love I can buy. I’m a realist, Olivia. I know I’m no pretty boy, but I make up for it in other ways. I’m not going to believe for a minute that you actually are in love with me. I can’t afford to believe that you have more than fond feelings for me. You like the material things I can offer you. We are a partnership, of sorts. There’s no need for emotional attachment!”

  Olivia stared at him in disbelief, and then she started laughing. She continued to laugh and sat down in the chair across from his desk. Tears began to run down her face, and Emerson thought that she had gone over the deep end. She’d stop laughing and then look at him and burst out laughing again.

  “My God, for a brilliant business man, you are incredibly dense, Emerson,” she said between giggles. “Not only are you a damn fool, you’re the biggest coward I’ve ever met! You are actually afraid of someone loving you just for you. I can see that now. You’re afraid to love me! You married me, for God knows what reason, you chased after me for months, and now that you have me, you’re afraid!”

  She wiped her eyes and looked at him. He continued to stare at her, as if he was wondering what she was talking about.

  “I declare my love for you, and you run. I offer you love, and you’re scared to death. How pathetic!” She stood up and walked around the desk into his personal space. “I came up here to show you the dress I picked out for the party. She took off the jacket to the dress and turned her back to him. She then turned back around and tossed the jacket in his face.

  “You know what? I need a man. I need a man who will explore every inch of the flesh that I just showed you. I need a man, Emerson, not a scared little boy who is afraid of love. I need a man who will take my love and give me his. I want a marriage, not a partnership! This isn’t a business deal! I want a husband, a man who embraces his feelings, who shares himself with me both physically and spiritually. Since you can’t be that man, I want a divorce, and I’ll get it after what I witnessed here this evening! I don’t want any alimony; I just want to leave here with my dignity.”

  She stepped back and turned to leave. Immediately, Emerson began to panic. She was leaving him, and she didn’t want any money. Could she possibly have loved him? Had he misjudged her? The jacket she’d removed fell from his hands to the floor, and he stared hungrily at her bare back as she headed towards the door.

  Emerson jumped up, following her across the room. “You’re my wife! Mine!”

  He grabbed her by the arm, stopping her before she could get to the door. It had taken a whole year to win her, and now he wasn’t about to lose her. There had to be something that he could offer her that would get him a second chance.

  “Oh really?” she responded, turning toward him. “Prove it. Are you a man or a boy? What happened to that man I had on my wedding night? Where is that man that was so full of passion back then? Where is he, Emerson? Why have you replaced him with this scared little boy I see before me now?”

  Emerson had never seen Olivia like this. She was furious and breathing hard, barely able to control her rage. She was taller than he was, which normally bothered him, but now his meek Olivia had turned into a raging hellcat, and he had to admit that it turned him on somewhat despite the fact that she was now towering over him.

  She
slapped him again before he could respond to her outburst, stunning him further.

  “What’s wrong, Emerson? Have you given so much of yourself away that you don’t have anything left for your wife? You’ve given what was promised to me to some woman while I sit at home alone and neglected?”

  “I haven’t given anything away—”

  “Liar!” she spat. She started to smack him again, and he grabbed her arm before it came in contact with his face.

  “I thought about it countless times, but I didn’t… I haven’t . . .” His voice trailed off, and he couldn’t look at her. He knew that she had every right to be furious. What could he do now to make her stay?

  “Well then, what was that I just walked in on?” she asked, yanking her arm from his grasp.

  “I’ve got to have something… I don’t like condoms, and since it’s not safe without them… it’s just oral . . .” His voice trailed off again, suddenly embarrassed by his own confession. There was no way she wouldn’t leave him now, and he felt his heart constrict in his chest.

  “Do you do her too?” Olivia asked angrily.

  “No,” he replied, not looking at her.

  Olivia looked at him, not knowing whether to slap him again or rip his clothes off. Damn him! She still wanted his ass! What the hell was his problem? Didn’t he realize that she didn’t give a damn about his money? Couldn’t he see that she was horny as hell and that his behavior and neglect was driving her crazy?

  Her eyes roamed over him as she tried to control her outrage. Emerson was her everything! She liked his looks—didn’t he know that? Yes, his nose was a little big, but those eyes! He had seductive bedroom eyes, which was the first thing she noticed when she met him. His teeth were perfectly straight, which was another plus, and to top it all off, his hands… how she loved those large hands of his and how they felt on her body!

  Emerson was several inches shorter than she was, but she didn’t give a damn about that. She needed a man who would take control of his woman, a man that would kick ass and take numbers… a demanding man full of passion. She’d seen it with his interaction with Chaz. He had a passion with this business, and she wanted some of that passion in her own marriage. He’d shown her some on her wedding night but quickly pulled back after that, and she was tired of his running! How dare he awake her sleeping libido to then turn and neglect her? How dare he bring her unbelievable pleasure in lovemaking and then desert her?