by Bella Juarez
Mr. Thompson—or how did he answer the phone earlier?—Major Thompson had made his expectations very clear. Major Thompson’s wife, however, was all over the map. Victoria stepped into the shower and let the hot water run over her. It relaxed her and she was starting to feel a little sleepy. Tomorrow would be an interesting day.
Chapter Two
“What the hell?” Reese asked.
Reese had just hit a speed bump in the kitchen. He was looking down at his watch as he rounded the corner to the garage door. Since he hadn’t run last night, he got up early and decided to do it this morning. He had just finished a glass of water when he ran into the new housekeeper. What the hell is she doing up so early?
“Excuse me, sir. I heard something,” Victoria said.
“It was me. Go back to bed,” Reese said as he walked past her.
Reese started his six-mile run. Despite Maggie’s best efforts to screw with him, he had been able to get a decent night’s sleep and was feeling pretty good. She had come into his room about ten the night before and wanted to play. Which meant he would have to do all the work while Maggie lay on her back, waiting for him hit the right spot inside her pussy. He was tired, and for the first time since he had known her, the idea of fucking his wife just didn’t appeal to him. She had thrown a tantrum, gotten angry, and pouted. What is new? One hundred twenty days to Iraq couldn’t go by fast enough. Correction, one hundred nineteen days and counting.
Reese mapped out his day as the miles went by. There were lots of things he needed to do. It would take every bit of four months to get everything ready for his remote tour. He still needed to break it to Maggie and to the new housekeeper. He wondered if Victoria would quit before the end of the week. He figured he would give Victoria a chance to settle in and see if she would last before he told her anything. He made the decision to tell Maggie this morning.
When Reese walked into the house after his run, Victoria had made coffee and he could smell something baking. Victoria was already on the ball. He appreciated that sort of efficiency. He went to his room and took a shower. When he passed Maggie’s room on the way, he noticed it was empty. He assumed Maggie was in the bathroom. He walked into his room and found her lying in his bed. He stopped and looked at her as she knelt in the middle of his bed and held her arms out to him.
“Reese, darling, come to me,” Maggie said
Reese was sweaty and kind of grungy after his run, and there was no way in hell Maggie was going to fuck him in that state. He looked her over. No, I’m still not in the mood. Now she seemed cartoonish and he couldn’t bring himself to fuck her. Instead, he walked to her and took her in his arms. He pulled her up and held her as close as he could. She immediately fought to get away from him.
“Darling! Don’t you think you should take a shower?” Maggie asked, pushing him away.
“Why? I’ll just need another one after we’re done,” Reese said, pulling her close again.
“Reese, I’m not letting you make love to me like that,” Maggie scolded.
“Have it your way, Maggie,” Reese said as he dropped Maggie onto the bed and walked away.
Reese read the stunned expression on Maggie’s face with a certain satisfaction. Never, in the all the time Maggie had known him, had he ever walked away from sex with her. Most of the time, he had to take what he could get when he could get it. No more. In his mind, it didn’t matter how horny he had gotten over the last six or so months. He decided it was time she did a little work and some begging. She had screwed with him a little too much and strung him along for too long. She was losing her grip. He was no longer interested. He turned back to her stunned silence.
“By the way, I’m leaving for Iraq in four months on an eighteen-month remote,” Reese said, closing the bathroom door.
When Reese finished his shower and walked back into his bedroom, Maggie was gone. Thank God! He breathed a silent prayer. She was becoming silly and comical to him. There comes a time when enough is enough. She and all her crap had finally found his limit. He started to dress and reached for his watch and his wedding band. He took a long, hard look at his ring for a minute. Why the hell should I wear it? I haven’t been a husband in a very long time. I’ve been a caretaker. Fuck that, I quit! He put the ring back on the dresser and walked out of his room.
* * * *
Major Thompson was taking a coffee cup out of the cupboard when Victoria walked into the kitchen. She took in the tan camouflaged uniform before turning away. Reese Thompson was so damn overpoweringly handsome in uniform. She had to turn away to keep from staring at him. She had to keep reminding herself Major Thompson was her boss and he was married. She had been upstairs taking Mrs. Thompson’s order for breakfast. Of course, Maggie Thompson didn’t want what she had just prepared. Major Thompson looked at her as she entered the kitchen. She smiled and greeted him respectfully. He returned the greeting formally.
“Is there anything you prefer for supper, sir?” Victoria asked
“No, I have no preference,” Major Thompson said.
Major Thompson reached for a huge blueberry muffin and helped himself to the fruit salad she had prepared. As he sat and ate, she started preparing Mrs. Thompson’s breakfast. Major Thompson got up and took his plate to the sink.
“Victoria, what are you doing?” Major Thompson asked as he poured himself a second cup of coffee.
“Making Mrs. Thompson’s breakfast.”
“Did you tell her you had already made breakfast?”
“Yes, sir. She said she wanted something else and told me what to prepare.”
“Stop what you’re doing,” Major Thompson ordered.
Major Thompson set his cup down and walked out of the room.
* * * *
Reese was beyond angry as he hustled up the stairs knowing damn good and well he was starting off his day with a fight. Screwing with me was one thing! Screwing with someone who is helping us is another matter entirely! He couldn’t stand the injustice of the actions he was witnessing. He had seen it last night and now today. Maggie was already starting to take advantage of Victoria, and there was no way in hell he was letting it slide. He charged into Maggie’s room.
“If you want something to eat, get your ass downstairs, sit at the table, and eat what’s there, Maggie,” Reese said through clenched teeth.
“I’ve got to go, Mom,” Maggie said as she hung up the phone.
Maggie turned around and glared at Reese.
“Victoria made a very good breakfast. If you want to eat, get your ass down downstairs, right now!” Reese ordered.
“Don’t you dare talk to me in that tone of voice!” Maggie screeched.
“Maggie, my patience has come to an end with you and your crap. You will not abuse that woman. She’s here to help you and give me some much-needed slack. She’s not here for you to play games with,” Reese said in a low, menacing voice.
“I’m gluten intolerant. I can’t eat muffins!” Maggie whined.
“The hell you are! You ate pasta last night, remember? There ain’t shit wrong with you! If you don’t want muffins there’s fruit, and you will not be eating in this fucking room! Do you understand?” Reese said, his voice getting harder and steadily louder.
Reese’s inner Marine had come out and he was talking to Maggie like she was a disobedient newbie and needed a new asshole torn.
“I am not one of your troops! Don’t you dare talk to me in that tone!” Maggie shouted as she broke down in tears.
“You will eat what’s there, and you will eat it downstairs in the kitchen at the table. I am going to give Victoria instructions that she is not to prepare your own special meal because you feel like yanking someone’s chain. If I find out she disobeys anything I tell her, I will fire her. Is that clear, Maggie?” Reese told Maggie as she threw herself onto the pillows.
“You can’t do that!” Maggie exclaimed as tears started to fill her eyes.
“The hell I can’t, I’m the one paying her, remember?�
� Reese countered loudly.
“What have I done to deserve this? You don’t love me anymore!” Maggie cried as she buried her head in the pillows.
Reese was unmoved.
“Stop it, Maggie, it’s getting old,” Reese said as he walked out of the room.
Reese went back downstairs and had a conversation with Victoria. He told Victoria exactly what he had just told Maggie.
“You take your orders from me. If I find out that you do any different, I will fire you. Do you understand?” Reese asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“I want a steak done medium rare, with a baked potato, a salad, and some vegetables for tonight,” Reese said as he grabbed the tumbler of coffee waiting next to his keys.
The argument Reese had with Maggie did wonders for his day. It seemed as if years of pent-up frustration had come out in that short argument. That morning, he was able to accomplish more at work than he had in a long time. His team really seemed to gel and get a lot done. He found himself more focused. The team started to come together on the future mission to Iraq. It was a good morning.
At three thirty, he took a call from Victoria. She was taking Maggie back to the hospital after her follow-up visit with the doctor. Let the games begin!
Reese hung up with Victoria and dove back into work and achieved even more than he had expected that day. He was more productive knowing that someone else was there to deal with all of Maggie’s bullshit and it did wonders for his morale. He decided he could even indulge himself with a workout at the gym. He knew Victoria would not be home to cook until late as she had taken Maggie to the hospital. Yup, I know the drill. He sent up another silent prayer for having Victoria’s help.
Victoria called around seven to tell Reese she was on her way home and would have supper ready as soon she as she could. He had been in the middle of working out when she called and he had deliberately left his cell phone in his locker. He called her as soon as he got her message and told her he wouldn’t be home for a while because he was checking in on Maggie. He asked Victoria to make something light. He took a deep breath and prayed for a rational conversation with Maggie. He knew he was asking for a miracle when he got into his truck. Maggie’s hospital stay had one advantage. At least she wouldn’t bother him tonight.
Reese felt like he was taking a thirty-minute Bataan Death Drive to the hospital. He really didn’t want to do it this, but he had to. He walked into her room to see her happily chatting on the phone with her mother. She hung up as soon as she laid eyes on Reese and immediately snapped at him.
“See what you did! Because you’ve mistreated me the last couple of days, I’ll be here for a while. You know I can’t get upset because it exacerbates by condition,” Maggie said, sulking.
Give me a fucking break…there ain’t a damn thing wrong with you! You’re faking because you can’t have your way.
“What did you say? You think I’m faking this!” Maggie shrieked.
Oh shit! Had he said that out loud?
“Maggie, I’m tired. You’ve yanked my chain too many times. If this continues I don’t know how long I’ll last. You are sick, Maggie, and you do need help,” Reese said.
“Are you threatening to leave me?” Maggie asked incredulously.
“It’s not a threat, Maggie. We’ve got to do something. Maybe this remote to Iraq will give us both a chance to decide what we want,” Reese said.
“You can’t leave me! You need me!” Maggie exclaimed.
Now Reese was really angry. I need her? For what? I’m not getting laid. Someone else is cooking and cleaning…Maggie isn’t bringing in a paycheck. What the fuck do I need her for? Reese took a mental step backward. What he needed was to get himself under control because he was ready to wring Maggie’s scrawny neck. Reese knew any minute now someone was going to get wise to all the screaming going on here and come in, so he retreated.
“You’re right, Maggie. I’m sorry,” Reese said.
Maggie wasn’t convinced. Reese knew his wife and knew what she wanted. She would not be satisfied until he was on his knees groveling for her forgiveness. He just couldn’t do it this time. He was done.
“Reese…Are you seeing another woman?” Maggie asked quietly.
“No,” Reese said simply. I wish I were. Getting fucked on a regular basis without strings would make all this hell worth it.
“You’ve been acting different these last few days, almost like you don’t love me anymore. I know there’s someone else.” Maggie cried softly into her hands.
Reese fought himself to stay right where he was. Instinctually, he wanted to turn around, walk out, and never come back. He was wishing there was another woman. Hell, the one at the house doing everything but fucking me would do just fine. Maggie’s crap was getting so old. But he only had a short time left at home before his remote. He knew he had to make peace with her, because more than likely she would be coming home tomorrow, much to her disappointment. He reminded himself that he just need to get through the next one hundred nineteen days.
“Maggie, we need to do something. I can’t live like this anymore,” Reese said, looking directly at her.
Maggie buried her head and cried. “I know it’s hard for you to put up with such a weak, sick person. You’ve been a saint with me, Reese. You’re a good husband and I love you.”
Maggie took a quick glance to check his reaction. Reese wanted to roll his eyes. Is she serious? Why does she fuck with me like this! This was a fake, again. Grow the hell up! he wanted to shout. He shook his head and looked away. He was too tired to fight anymore. It never went anywhere. It was a vicious circle that was wearing him down. He knew he had to get out of there before he really exploded.
“We’ll talk about this when you get home,” Reese said.
Midnight would be one hundred eighteen days and counting and it couldn’t get here fast enough.
* * * *
Victoria finished up the chef salad and tucked it away in the refrigerator. Major Thompson was still not home. The house was clean. It had been a mess and had taken her two hours just to dust. Maggie Thompson had appeared around two thirty in the afternoon to tell Victoria she needed to go to the hospital. Victoria had just finished cleaning. Mrs. Thompson’s timing had been perfect.
Victoria understood right away what was happening here. Mrs. Thompson had been on and off the phone all day with her mother and her friends talking about the fight she and Major Thompson had this morning. She was very good at twisting things to suit her and had been working herself into a frenzy all day. She had been fine talking to her buddies today, and now all of a sudden she was in dire straits. She had to know her husband’s schedule and how precise he was about it. Victoria had picked up on his fastidious habit the first day. If they left for the hospital now, there would be no getting back in time to cook the major’s dinner.
One more straw in the basket on the camel’s back. Victoria wondered how long it would take to break that camel. Mrs. Thompson was spoiled and selfish. Moreover, she was mean, a trait Victoria despised. Victoria had been angry as she drove her to the hospital.
There was no way in hell she would quit now. Major Thompson needed someone on his side. Victoria could tell he was a nice guy and did not deserve what his wife was doing to him. Even though it was simply cleaning the house, taking his clothes to the cleaners, and making his meals, it was her contribution to making his life a little easier.
She was drawn out of her thoughts when she heard the garage door open. Major Thompson was home. She stopped the lecture she was watching. She wasn’t concentrating anyway. Major Thompson was deep in thought as he walked past Victoria, not noticing her, as she stepped into the kitchen.
“Señor?” Victoria called out.
“I’m here,” Major Thompson said.
“Would you like your supper, sir?” Victoria asked.
“I’ll be down in a minute,” Major Thompson said as he walked up the steps.
Victoria didn’t hear Major Thomp
son return. She did, however, hear him digging in the refrigerator.
“Your food, sir?”
“The salad?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I found it. I’m fine, you can go back to whatever you were doing.” Major Thompson took his food to the table.
“Mrs. Thompson?” Victoria asked.
“Mrs. Thompson is fine. She’ll probably be home tomorrow,” Major Thompson said as sat down at the table with his salad. Victoria turned to leave. “Victoria, I need to speak to you for a moment.”
“Sir?”
“I am leaving for a about a year and a half in four months. If you decide to stay, I need you to stay until I get back because it will be very difficult to find someone to care for Mrs. Thompson,” Major Thompson said.
Victoria sat and listened. What is he saying? She would have to stay with this horrible woman until her husband got back in a year and a half?
“I don’t understand, sir,” Victoria said.
“I’m a Marine and I’m being sent to Iraq for a year and a half. I should be back, God willing. I need to know if you can stay and keep up the responsibilities that will be required. If you can’t, I need to find someone else who can stay for that long and still do what needs to be done,” Major Thompson said.
“I have to think about it, sir.”
“I understand, please let me know as soon as possible,” Major Thompson said.
Victoria cleaned up the dishes after Major Thompson went upstairs. Her earlier resolve was beginning to weaken. How could she help him if he was leaving? There was a lot she had to think about. She slowly made her way back to her room thinking about her decision.
There was no way Victoria could stay. She could not tolerate the behavior she was seeing here. She had the feeling that once the major left, Mrs. Thompson would only get worse. Victoria would need to start looking around for a new job and get her old place back. It would be a long night wrestling with how she would tell Major Thompson she would be leaving.
