by Ewing, A. B.
“Caleb, you’re hurting me,” she cried, trying to yank her hands away but his grip was like handcuffs.
“I go out of my way to throw you this party, dress you in the finest clothes and jewelry, introduce you to some of the most influential people in this town and all that matters to you is that I was talking to an old friend. You didn’t even stop to think how your behavior could affect my family’s reputation.” He let her go then, pushing her hard enough that she stumbled backward.
“You really are a selfish bitch.” He jerked at his tie, loosening it around his neck as he walked away. “I’ll sleep in one of the spare room tonight.” he ended the conversation exiting the room.
****
Chapter 7
The morning after their fight, Caleb stood behind his wife as she pulled the comb through her hair. Wrapped only in a towel, Neela paid no heed to the man staring at her in the mirror. They hadn’t said one word to each other since Caleb’s eruption last night.
He knew his behavior last night was inexcusable and he also knew he needed to fix this. Stepping closer he placed his hands on her upper arms with every intention of drawing her back against him but she cried out, yanking herself out of his grip. Her hand went up to rub the spot he had just touched and it was only then he saw the ghastly patches of blue skin.
“Neela…” He stepped forward but she shrunk away. Last night he had been so angry, he hadn’t given one thought about the possibility that he may have physically hurt her, but in the light of day, seeing the ugly bruises that had resulted because of his loss of temper, made him sick.
“God, baby…I’m sorry. God, what did I do?” When he put out a hand to touch her, she turned and sped off to the sanctuary of the bathroom, locking him out.
She didn’t speak to him for four days and Caleb felt like every kind of fool possible. He bought her flowers but found them in the trash the next morning. Dinner time was a silent affair and by the end of the fourth night, Caleb was ready to grovel for her forgiveness.
After dinner they stood side by side doing the dishes, the deafening silence a strain on Caleb’s senses. Unable to stand it anymore, he threw the kitchen towel down and reached for her, turning her to face him.
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t look at him. Instead her gaze settled somewhere on his shirt button.
“Neela, please baby, look at me.” When she didn’t, he reached for her hands that hung loosely at her side, turning them over to examine the fading bruises on her wrist. He groaned in agony when he saw how large they were. Bringing them up one at a time, he placed gentle kisses along the discolored patches of skin.
Lowering his head he attempted to see her face but she just turned away.
“Neela, I’m sorry for hurting you. Can you please forgive me? I hate this silence between us.” After what felt like eternity without a response, he tried again. “Sweetheart, I know you’re angry with me and I don’t blame you. I lost my temper and I am sorry. I should not have reacted the way I did. I should have tried to understand how you must have felt when you saw Lori and me. I love you babe and I wish I could take back the things I said and did that night but I can’t. Just please forgive me and I promise I won’t ever hurt you like this again. Please” She sniffled and when a teardrop landed on his hand Caleb felt as he had just been dealt a physical blow to his chest.
“Oh God, baby, please don’t cry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. God, please don’t cry.” Releasing her hands, he pulled her into his embrace. When her crying finally subsided, he raised her face to his. Kissing away the remnants of tears that lingered there; he then kissed her cheeks, her nose, and her lips. She finally relaxed and leaned into him opening her mouth to allow his kiss.
“Mmmm, God, I love you so much,” he breathed into her mouth and then she surrendered to his touch.
****
Every function, party or benefit that followed this one, ended in a fight. Neela never tried hard enough to fit in. She would whine about how tired she was and always complained about not feeling well.
Lori continued to be an issue between the two of them. He and Lori remained friends and Neela made no attempt to hide her dislike of the other woman. She demanded that he stop seeing Lori and he refused. No woman was going to tell him what to do. Lori was his friend and Neela would have to accept that. They would argue for hours after and then not speak for days. Their sexual chemistry would always overrule and they always ended having fantastic makeup sex but the underlying issue always remained. Neela never tried hard enough.
Caleb became frustrated and snapped at everything. After every fight he would find himself searching out Lori. She was a woman; she would understand why Neela was reacting this way. She would listen patiently as he carried on about his marital problems and never once blamed or criticized him. Lori really was a good friend. He couldn’t understand why Neela saw her as a threat. If she trusted him a little more, things would be much simpler.
Four months into their marriage Caleb wanted to host a private dinner party for a client. They were getting ready for bed when he broached the subject. Neela had been awfully quiet for the past couple of days. Her excuse was the usual - she wasn’t feeling well.
“Neela, I have a client flying in from Spain next Wednesday. I invited him to dinner to discuss business. I would appreciate if you handled the arrangements.”
She stopped in the middle of making the bed and glared at his back, where he was standing at the mirror drying off.
“You offered to host a party before you even asked me. Caleb, I’m sorry but I can’t,” she continued fluffing the pillows.
The towel stilled in his arms and he turned to face her.
“What do you mean you can’t? Maybe you didn’t understand me. I wasn’t asking you, I’m telling you. You are my wife and it’s expected that you host this dinner.”
“Maybe you didn’t understand me. I am not your maid and I do not appreciate you making arrangements and then telling me about them. I said I can’t host your dinner and I mean I can’t.” She didn’t look up from what she was doing.
He was in front her in few strides, twisting the pillow out of her grasp, flinging it across the bed.
“Neela, I am not going to argue about this. This dinner is important. I need to sign Mr. Salvaro if I am to take Wilder Inc. international.” It was a difficult task to control the anger that was boiling inside. He was so sick of her excuses.
She moved past him to stand at the foot of the bed.
“I understand Caleb, but I haven’t been feeling well….” she explained.
“Damn it, Neela, I’m not going to buy that excuse again this time. Every time we have an event to attend, you’re always ‘not feeling well.’ I’m sorry, but this is one time I really don’t care if you are sick. You are going to do this and it’s not up for discussion.” his voice erupted across the room. Recognizing his anger for what it was Neela stepped back a little.
For a fraction of a moment, he thought she was going to continue to argue but she answered in a defeated voice, “Fine Caleb, I’ll host your dinner,”
Caleb was the one to break the deadly silence which engulfed the room, by walking away.
He stood in the bathroom staring at his reflection in the mirror for a long time. Was his mother right? Had he made a mistake in marrying Neela? He loved her to death, but maybe love wasn’t enough. What if she couldn’t adapt to his way of life? Maybe he would have been better off marrying someone like Lori.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. God, Caleb what are you thinking? You love your wife. She just needs some time. You can’t give up on her. Go out there, talk to her, and find out why she is acting this way.
He went back out to do just that, but she wasn’t there. Her pillow was gone from the bed. She had gone to sleep in the spare room.
He barely saw her over the next week. She was still asleep when he left for work and she would be in bed by the time he got in at nights. Sleeping in separate rooms didn�
�t make things any easier. One thing he was sure of now, was that she needed time and he would give it to her.
After the Salvaro deal he would take some time off and spend it with her. Their marriage was no different from any other marriage They had problems that needed to be worked out and Caleb had every intentions of saving his marriage.
The night of the dinner with Mr. Salvaro found Caleb nervous, which was a first for him. Mr. and Mrs. Salvaro arrived promptly at eight p.m.
The dinner was proceeding well, except for the fact that Neela kept excusing herself. She would disappear for minutes at a time and then return looking flushed.
“Are you okay, my dear?” Mrs. Salvaro asked, a look of concern etched on her aged face.
“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little tired,” she offered but Caleb could see she was trying very hard to appear normal.
They were nearing the end of the dinner when Caleb noticed that Neela looked extremely pale. He wanted to ask her if she was okay but Mr. Salvaro was speaking to him.
“Well, Caleb, I like your proposition and I don’t see any reason why Salvaro International and Wilder Inc. cannot do business together.”
“I assure you, Mr. Salvaro, you won’t regret this decision.”
Both men were on their feet, hands clasped over the table when Caleb heard Neela groan. He looked down from his standing position to see her cover her mouth with her hand. She stood suddenly and Caleb watched in total horror as she emptied the entire contents of her stomach on Mrs. Salvaro.
The blood drained from her face and she looked as if she was going to faint. She grabbed a napkin and started dabbing at the mess she had just made.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” She was on her knees before Mrs. Salvaro wiping vigorously at the elderly lady’s skirt.
Mr. Salvaro was at his wife’s side trying to calm her.
“Marybele honey, are you alright?”
Caleb just stood there in shock looking at the scene playing out in front of him. This could not be happening. Neela did not just throw up on his client’s wife.
“Leave it, child.” Mrs. Salvaro spoke to her in a low voice. Neela hands stilled and she looked up at the old lady. She then burst into tears and ran out of the room.
Caleb’s brain started to function again.
“Mrs. Salvaro, I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. Please…”
Mr. Salvaro cut him off, the elderly man’s voice stern. “Go handle your issues. We will see ourselves out. I will talk to you tomorrow.” His words were final. Caleb looked on in silence as the biggest deal of his life walked out his front door.
He swiped his hand across the table, scattering dishes across the floor. This was all Neela’s fault and there was going to be hell to pay.
He took the stairs two at a time bringing him closer to the object of his anger. He crashed through the bedroom door and she bolted upright from the bed.
She was crying but that didn’t matter. He was livid.
“Caleb, I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I…” she pleaded.
“What did you do? What did you do? God, Neela you just blew a multi-million dollar deal. How could you embarrass me like that?” He paced the length of the room. He wouldn’t go near her, fearful of doing something he would regret.
“I’m sorry...”
“Is that all you can say? You’re sorry. Damn you, Neela. Damn you! I’ve tried to be understanding of your whining and childish behavior for the last four months but this is it. You’ve gone too far this time.” He stopped in the middle of his pacing to look at her. “Maybe my mother was right. Maybe I should have never married you. You don’t fit in.” His voice laced with bitterness, his eyes speared her.
“Caleb, you don’t mean that.” She clutched at her heart, sounding hurt but he was beyond reasoning.
“What we had back in Trinidad, maybe it was meant to end there.”
Neela flinched as if he had physically struck her and for a brief moment he felt regret.
Something flashed in her eyes and her expression changed from hurt to anger.
“Well, maybe you should have married Lori. I’m quite sure your family would have loved that.” she flung at him.
“Maybe I should have. At least she knows what is expected in a wife.” He stepped forward, unable to curb his need to hurt her, verbally lashing out in anger. That shut her up.
She stared at him for a long while, her body shaking with anger or was it hurt? It was difficult to tell because her face had become an unreadable mask.
Struggling to bring his seething anger under control, he said in a steely tone, “I’m going out, don’t wait up for me,” Not waiting for a reply he left the same way he came.
Chapter 8
Caleb abused the door with his balled fist. It wasn’t long before she answered.
“Caleb, what are you doing here?” Lori was surprised at his unexpected visit. After all it was almost midnight.
He walked past her into the apartment.
“Caleb, are you alright?” She queried in a worried tone. It felt good to have someone to talk to. Someone who could actually understand his side of the issues he faced with his wife.
“No, Lori, Neela and I just had a huge fight. I said some things I shouldn’t have. I just needed to talk to someone.” He didn’t know why he showed up at Lori’s door but now that he was here he had the oddest feeling he was making a mistake.
“It’s okay Caleb, why don’t you have a seat? Let me get you something to drink,” she offered.
She shoved a glass of vodka in his hand and he downed it in one swing wincing as it sliced his throat. She refilled his glass, coming to sit next to him on the couch.
“What happened, Caleb? Why are you so upset?” she asked. This was one of the things he loved about Lori. It was almost midnight but she didn’t hesitate in taking him and listening to his problems.
The vodka had started to sink in, loosening his tongue allowing him to tell her everything.
“Oh God Caleb, she didn’t. What was her excuse?” Lori was hanging on to his every word.
“She didn’t have any. She just kept saying she was sorry. If I didn’t know better I would think she did it on purpose.” Why did he feel as if he was trying to convince himself of that?
“How are you so sure she didn’t?” Lori implied. Caleb didn’t answer. Could it be possible? Had Neela done it as a way at getting back at him for forcing her to host this dinner? No, Neela would not do that.
“Why don’t you lean back Caleb?” Lori suggested as she rose from her sitting position. From behind him, Caleb felt her hand on his shoulder as she slowly began to rub his protesting muscles.
“Relax Caleb, you’re so tense.”
Resting his head back, he welcomed the gentle massage, allowing it to sink in. Slowly he felt the tension of the evening drain away.
Lori’s hand slid down his chest and she continued to massage gently. Slowly he felt himself slipping into a vortex of sleep. He woke to the feel of soft lips against his chest and it felt good.
Neela hadn’t allowed him close to her in two weeks so it didn’t take very long with the alcohol in his system for him to be fully aroused. Lori looked up from where she was kneeling between his legs and her eyes were clouded with heat.
Screw it! Neela didn’t give a damn about him so why the hell should he refuse what Lori was offering?
Leaning forward he took her lips in his and gave himself up to the desire which was burning inside him.
****
The sound of a phone ringing had Caleb scrambling out of a fitful sleep. He reached out to where the noise was coming from and silenced the offending sound. He turned to the sound of soft breathing and froze when he saw the sleeping woman next to him. Lori.
Caleb shot up to a sitting position to take in his surroundings. He was in Lori’s bedroom, in her bed. Jerking the coverlet forward, he peeped under it and groaned. He was naked and from the bare skin of Lori’s shoulder peeping out from
under the crumpled sheet, he was quite sure she was naked too.
‘Oh God, please don’t tell me that I had sex with Lori.’ But he knew the answer to that. What had he done? He looked at the time on his watch. He had a meeting with Mr. Salvaro in two hours.
Carefully climbing out of the bed, he scrambled around the room for his scattered clothes. Dressing quickly, he took one quick look at Lori before he left. He would talk to her later.
****
Caleb sat at his desk, his face buried in his hands. What had he done? He knew he and Neela had problems but he was sure they could work them out. He didn’t mean any of the things he had said the previous night. Anger had driven him to be intentionally mean and now he had totally screwed up. If Neela found out about what happened with him and Lori, she would leave. His heart almost stopped at that thought. The idea of living without Neela was almost unbearable.
The previous night he had been so angry at Neela he didn’t think twice about sleeping with Lori. His mind reeled back to that night’s events causing his head to hurt. He couldn’t face Neela this morning; instead he drove straight to the office showering and changing there.
He looked up when a brisk knock sounded on his office door.
“Come in!” he answered. He needed to get this meeting with Mr. Salvaro over and go home to his wife. This account didn’t matter to him anymore. All that mattered was Neela.
Caleb stood to greet Mr. Salvaro as he entered the room.
“Good morning, Caleb. No, please don’t get up.” He waved Caleb’s hand away.
Taking a seat opposite Caleb, he looked him straight in the face.
“How is your wife?” Caleb was thrown. He didn’t expect Mr. Salvaro to ask about Neela.
“She’s fine. Look, I’m really sorry about last night. I don’t know…”
“It’s okay, my boy. My Marybele was the same way when she was expecting; couldn’t keep a thing down,” the silver-haired man said as he offered a sympathetic smile. What was he talking about? Expecting? Who was expecting what?
