Tempest Torn

by Nicole Andrews Moore

  Tears sprung to her eyes. “How can you ask me that? I’m not Finn. I don’t go whoring around. I…” she stopped what she was saying as her body was racked with sobs. It was clear he had hurt her. Again. He was about to speak, about to back down, hell he might have even thrown out an apology for ever doubting her, but he’d never know. Finally Marti found her words. “Just get out.” She spoke so quietly he could barely make out the words.

  “You want me to leave the room.” For all he knew, she wanted him to vacate the premises altogether. If he had to pack, he needed to know.

  “Get out!” she shrieked. Then without watching to see if he left, she collapsed on the bed, shaking and sniffling.

  All he wanted to do was stay and comfort her, but she seemed hell bent on his departure. Exiting the room, he quietly closed the door behind him. Glancing about, he was glad to discover Brantley was nowhere to be seen. With a sigh of relief, he grabbed his keys and wallet out of the pants he had thrown in the hamper. Joey had no idea where he was going to go. All he knew was she didn’t want him here and he wanted her to be happy. This couldn’t be good for the baby. His baby. Hadn’t she all but acknowledged he was the father?

  His heart was heavy as he unlocked the truck door and slid into the seat. For a moment, he stared at the house, searching for a sign she wanted him to stay. Seeing nothing, he pulled out of the driveway and drove toward town. He had no idea where to go. Smiling sadly, he realized he always thought that and then he ended up in the same place. Pulling into the parking lot at Hope House, he dropped to the ground, hit the lock, and climbed the steps by twos. Opening the storm door, he was about to knock on the front door when Keely opened it to him.

  “What’s up, doll baby?” she asked in concern.

  Sadly, he just raised his arms up, unsure of what to say. When Keely opened her arms to him, he walked in and hugged her hard. She was the mother he hadn’t had since he was a teen.

  “Come sit,” she murmured after pulling from his grasp. She walked him through the dining room and into the kitchen. “I’ve already eaten,” she noted, “but I always have room for dessert. How about you?”

  Shrugging, Joey was still trying to figure out what to tell her. He couldn’t divulge Marti was pregnant. She’d kill him. It was her secret to share.

  Keely walked to the fridge and opened the door. “So, I have your favorites. Would you rather have the French Silk Pie or New York Style Cheesecake?” She turned with one in each hand. Clearly he was supposed to say something, but he couldn’t. He was afraid to even open his mouth. “A slice of both then.” Setting them down on the big stainless steel prep table, she chatted pleasantly while she prepared their plates. “Are you okay?”

  Carefully, he nodded. “Yeah,” he murmured weakly.

  “Okay. And is Marti okay?” She looked at him over the top of her reading glasses while she cut into the cheesecake. Then she seemed to suddenly remember she was wearing them. “Glasses! Geesh.” Setting the knife down, she pulled the glasses off and tucked them in the pocket of her apron.

  “Um.” Joey had no idea what to say. “Mostly.” He started getting agitated as he tried to dodge the question.

  “Okay. Calm down. I won’t push. What do you need? Besides my amazing hugs and awesome desserts?” Keely smiled at him in her pleasant easy way.

  “Any vacancies? Just for tonight?” There was a pleading look in his eyes.

  Throwing her hands up to block her face, Keely moaned. “Not those eyes, Joe.” Gradually she dropped her hands. “I would if I could. Unfortunately, it’s just days before the Winter Festival. You must have noticed the parking lot. I have no vacancies.” She sighed sadly. “This isn’t me trying to teach you a lesson or test your resolve. You know that, right?” She looked saddened to turn him away.

  His shoulders hunched further. He felt completely broken tonight. It was all too much. Joey just wanted to go back home, hold Marti, and let her know it would be all right. He wasn’t going to leave her. He would be by her side very minute. Staying at Hope House would have been the next best thing.

  “Come on. Eat up. Get your bearings then go back to Marti’s. There’s nothing you two can’t fix if you want to. Remember that.” Pushing a plate towards him, she passed out forks and immediately took a big healthy bite with hers. “This will help. Trust me.”

  Keely was right. By the time they had eaten until they were about to split wide open, he felt much better. Once again, he was filled with hope. Stretching, he glanced at the clock. He had been gone for several hours. It was getting close to bedtime. “I hate to eat and run,” Joey began apologetically.

  “It’s late,” Keely admitted. “Ready to face her?”

  Nodding shyly he sighed. “I’m going to do this. Everything is going to work out just perfectly.”

  “That’s the right mindset,” she cheered as she walked him back out to the door. “Go fix things. Sleep well, doll baby.”

  Skipping down the steps, Joey felt lighter, despite the heaviness in his gut. Hopping in his truck, he drove home with a smile on his face. As he pulled into the driveway and threw the transmission into park, he noticed Marti was sitting on the couch with her back to the window. Maybe she was waiting up for him. Turning off the ignition, he smiled while he reached for the door handle.

  Then when she shifted out of view, he noticed Brantley was sitting on the couch with her. Instantly, he froze. They seemed to be engrossed in conversation. Joey decided to wait a minute to see what was going to happen. If Brantley would just go to bed, he could go inside and talk to Marti. So he sat in the cold truck. Twenty minutes passed. His eyelids were growing heavy, but not nearly as much as his heart. Finally, he gave up. He would sleep here. If Marti ever looked out tonight, she’d see him. Worse case scenario, in the morning, she’d find him. Either way, she’d know he hadn’t gone and done something stupid. Grabbing a sweatshirt from the back seat, he wadded it up against the window and settled in to fall asleep.

 

  Sitting there waiting for him to come home was sheer agony. Marti was actually experiencing a genuine physical pain as she listened for Joey’s truck. Her throat hurt from holding back sobs. Her face was pink and felt raw from the tears she had shed earlier. She jumped at every sound. Again and again her heart had been disappointed. Sadly, she knew she had no one to blame but herself. After all, she was the one who kicked him out. It was completely irrational. Marti had no idea why she had even done it, snapped so easily, and over what?

  Soon after he had left, she stopped crying. When she realized his absence extended beyond the outdoors, the yard, and even his house, the fear had crept in. Where was he? Had he run straight to Finn? Had she pushed him into that viper’s arms for good? Horrible thoughts tormented her.

  There was a creak on the stairs. When she looked up, she saw Brantley sneaking down the stairs. “I’m sorry,” he murmured even as he continued to make his way down to the first floor. “You seemed lost in thought and I didn’t want to bother you, but I thought I’d grab a snack before bed. You make the best brownies I’ve ever eaten.” He smiled warmly at her.

  “It’s just a mix,” Marti responded quietly. Curled up in the corner of the sofa, she pretended to be watching the television, but if pressed, she wouldn’t even be able to tell Brantley what was on. God. Please don’t ask. I don’t want to talk right now. She hoped he’d sense it and leave her alone. Apparently, it didn’t occur to him she might be enjoying the quiet. He was coming straight towards her, instead of the kitchen as he had suggested.

  “Really, just a mix? Maybe it’s just that my ex-girlfriend couldn’t bake to save her life.” Brantley chuckled, but it was a mirthless laugh. “It wasn’t really her style.” Shaking his head, he seemed to be remembering his past.

  “Oh.” She had no idea what to say to that. At the moment, the last thing she wanted was to be drawn into a conversation about broken relationships. After all, she was currently in two. While she had discovered Blaine wasn’t much of a
loss, getting over Joey was going to be much more challenging, especially since he was living with her.

  Staring at the screen, she hoped Brantley would take a hint, just get his damn brownie and go back to bed. Every time she turned around all day, Brantley was there, following her like a little puppy. She had seen in Joey’s face he was bothered by it, even if he hadn’t said anything to her about it. She had hoped he’d realize she hadn’t been encouraging the guy. Still, with Joey she had already learned to imagine the worst because so often, that was precisely what he did. All she wanted was a moment’s peace to think about everything, figure out what to do. Who knew it could prove so difficult in her own house?

  Mart had a fleeting moment of hope when he walked to the kitchen, cut a brownie, and headed back toward the stairs. Then, suddenly, he diverted and joined her on the couch without even asking if she minded. It sucked because she really did mind. Of course in all honesty, had he asked, she probably would have lied and told him it was fine for him to sit there. He was paying to stay there. She owed it to him to at least be polite. So she would do her best to tolerate his presence yet again today. She still had a shot at some quiet, since he was eating. Seconds later, that hope was quickly dashed.

  “Yeah, I have no idea how Suzette and I lasted as long as we did. She had lofty aspirations. I wasn’t earning enough as quickly as she would like.” He sighed sadly and took a bite of brownie, but at the name, Marti had perked up.

  “Suzette?” she questioned, trying not to appear overly interested, but it was difficult to play it cool. This could be just the distraction she needed to hold it together while she waited for Joey. Still, this could be a really short conversation. What were the chances his ex-girlfriend would be Blaine’s Suzette?

  “We had been together for five years. Our relationship survived law school when so many others were breaking up. Of course during that time, she had already graduated and taken a job as the office manager for a plastic surgeon in Burlington.” Brantley shoved the last bite of brownie into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.

  Sucking in her breath, Marti could scarcely conceal her shock. Apparently the chances of them sharing a Suzette were pretty good. It seemed her husband and his mistress had broken up more than one relationship. Dammit. Now, when she really wanted to push him away and keep him at arm’s length, she discovered they were kindred souls. Should she tell him, or just listen? Was keeping it to herself making her a liar? Suddenly she wasn’t worrying over where Joey was anymore.

  Swallowing hard, he continued. “We were supposed to get married, have a family, live in the country. It’s not like I can even put a finger on where things went wrong. There was no big falling out. Things just changed over time, little bit by little bit, then very suddenly.” Brantley looked at her before adding, “Was it like that for you, with your husband?”

  Though she wanted to answer, Marti couldn’t think past the Suzette he had described. Kids? Living in the country? That didn’t sound like the harlot she knew at all. The woman she knew would never want kids and would prefer to live in the city, someplace hip and modern. Actually, it was more likely Brantley had never known Suzette either, that he had simply hoped she’d become a part of the life he dreamed of.

  Brantley scowled. Without even waiting for her to answer, he just started talking again. “Sure, part of it was the surgeon offered a free procedure a year as their bonus. By the time I finished law school, I barely recognized her. Suzette had new cheekbones, breast implants, and a nose job.”

  Marti closed her eyes as she tried to remember what the woman had once looked like. Even now, all she saw when she thought of her was the smug smile, which so often graced her lips. “What did she look like?” Marti murmured to herself while she struggled to remember.

  “Oh. Good thing I didn’t get undressed yet.” Lifting his backside off the couch, he pulled his wallet out of his pants pocket. Pulling two pictures out of it, he held them out for her inspection.

  When she felt the pictures touch her hand, her eyes shot open. Holding them, she lifted the portraits up for inspection. “Yup, that’s Suzette.” She tsked as she passed the photos back.

  “Wait. It sounds like you know her. How’s that even possible?” Brantley wore a confused look on his face as he sat across from her.

  Inhaling, Marti realized the decision had been made. She had no choice. “My soon to be ex-husband, Blaine, is the plastic surgeon you’ve been talking about.”

  For the next few hours they purged, comparing stories about the shared time period. They waded through lies and weighed the destruction the pair had caused. Brantley seemed to be suffering far more than she was. If they were ever going to get to bed, she needed to comfort him, help him move past this relationship. “In the end, I think I’ve come to realize as painful as it was for him to do what he did, I’m better off.”

  Clearly the guy was still heartbroken. Shaking his head, Brantley asked, “How can you say that?”

  “Simple,” Marti replied. “We didn’t want the same things. Instead of trapping me in a miserable relationship for the rest of my life, since I took those vows seriously, he released me so I can move on and find someone I’m more compatible with, someone who wants the same things I do.” She shrugged. “In the long run, I’m better off. There will be some pain in between, but I like to think of it as growing pain.”

  Sitting back quietly, Brantley admitted, “I never thought of it that way. I’ve gone through several stages of grief. The bargains I would have made to get her back.” He shook his head.

  Looking stricken, Marti reminded him, “You don’t want her. You deserve someone who will treat you right, with respect and love.” She saw a look in his eyes as he stared at her. Unless she was mistaken, he was working on several bad ideas at the moment. She held her hands up in between them so he wouldn’t even consider breaching her personal space. “Nope. I’m not for you. I’m not the revenge sex type. Plus, I have feelings for someone else.” She frowned and then crossed her arms over her chest to indicate the finality of it all. If this didn’t do the trick, she’d have to dig deep in the vault and let him know she was also pregnant with the same guy’s baby. It was taking a while for him to weigh her words.

  Staring at her quietly for a moment, Brantley finally stood. “Thank you for listening. At least I feel like I have a friend.”

  “You’re welcome. Anytime.” Marti mostly meant it. When he finally walked over to the stairs and headed back to his room, she finally exhaled. Now she had even more to think about. At least she didn’t feel as out of sorts where Joey was concerned. Staring at the clock, she realized it was closing in on midnight. As much as she wanted to, Marti didn’t have the energy to sit up all night. She had a baby to think about and a doctor’s appointment to go to in the morning.

  Standing up, she grabbed the remote and turned off the television. After walking around the house to double check the doors were locked, she slowly walked back to her bedroom. It only took her a moment to strip down to her panties and drop her dirty clothes in the hamper. Then she climbed in between the cool sheets and drew the comforter up under her chin. Curling into a ball, Marti finally found a comfortable position to fall asleep.

  Sun streaming through the curtains woke her up just after seven in the morning. Hesitating for a moment, Marti considered what to do next. After the way things were left between them the night before, she was hoping she could talk to Joey privately. As quickly as she fell asleep, she never heard him come in. Throwing back the covers, she ran to her closet and grabbed her bathrobe. It was teal, old and ratty. She’d probably never get rid of it. Smiling, Marti considered how ridiculous it was to be sneaking around her own home, but the last thing she wanted was for Brantley to interrupt them. Slowly she opened her bedroom door, praying it wouldn’t squeak. Ever so quietly, she tiptoed out to the living room. When she reached the middle of the room, she froze. Apparently the reason she didn’t hear Joey come in was because he didn’t.

  In tha
t moment, all her worst fears were realized. Her stomach was churning as she imagined him at this very moment, sleeping with Finn. Closing her eyes, she remembered the scent of him, clean and fresh like his Old Spice Swagger soap. Even though they hadn’t been together for long, the way his skin felt, so soft and smooth with a ripple of muscle underneath, was imprinted forever in her mind. Then there was the way he held her, spooned her, and fit just right inside her.

  Turning on her heels, Marti walked briskly back to her bedroom and shut the door behind her, careful to lock it before she dropped her robe. Desperate to clear her head, Marti moved on autopilot until she reached the bathroom. It took her a moment, but she soon adjusted the water temperature and stepped into the shower. Standing in the stream for as long as she dared, she shampooed, conditioned, bathed, and shaved. It was no good. Still her head hurt. She couldn’t even comment on the condition of her heart which was completely, irreparably broken. Apparently it was time to plan a future without Joey in it. Marti decided she was ready to write him off after the fight the day before. There was nothing he could say or do to fix this.