Steve jerked the door open and demanded, “Janet, what the hell are you doing?”
“I’m coming in there to send this slut back where she belongs. How dare you make love to her!”
Steve frowned. “Janet, what’s the matter with you? Amanda’s my wife.”
“No she’s not,” Janet screamed. “I’m your wife, your only wife.”
“You’re not my wife anymore. You’re married to Warner.”
“No, I’m not. I just married him because I thought you were dead. Now you’re home, we’re married again. That slut has no right to sleep with my husband.” She lunged toward Amanda.
“Janet, get hold of yourself.” Steve grabbed her. He turned toward Amanda. “Honey, get my cell phone, will you?”
“How dare you call her honey!” Janet turned toward him. “Don’t you remember you said you’d always be my husband? You said that when we got married. I trusted you to keep your word. Now you’re making love to another woman. How could you?”
“You’re not making any sense, Janet. You’ve got to calm down.”
“No I don’t! I’ve had about all I can take. I watched you make love to her last night. You did things with her you’ve never done with me. Why won’t you make love to me like that, Steve? I’m your wife. I need that kind of loving from you.”
“Here, Steve.” Amanda handed him his cell phone as she stared at Janet.
If she’d been outside the window, she could have seen in because they’d made love by candlelight.
Did the woman really watch us last night?
“Just wait until I get away from him. I’ll pull that white hair of yours out of your head. You have no right to be with my husband.”
Amanda knew the woman was beyond reason. She didn’t say anything.
Into the phone Steve said, “Warner, Janet showed up at my house and she’s acting strange... Yes, I understand... Please... Thanks Warner.” Steve handed the phone back to Amanda and said to Janet, “Warner is on his way to pick you up. Now, try to calm down.”
“Why did you call him? It’s none of his business. I don’t want him here. I want to be with you.” Her mood changed and she smiled. “I know what. He can take the slut away, then we can be alone. I want you to make love to me like you did to her. I don’t mind sleeping in the same bed she was in. Maybe it’d help you remember to do all those special little things you did for her.”
“What in the world are you talking about?”
“Oh, Steve I watched you last night. I couldn’t see anything the night before because it was dark. Last night you had candles burning and I could see everything. I watched the way you held her, the way you kissed her and the way you touched her. I promise when we make love, I’ll touch you the way she did. I know I wasn’t good about doing that before, but now I know how you like it done. It’ll be so good for us.” She laughed. “Why, I almost had an orgasm when she did last night.”
Steve looked at Amanda and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she whispered.
Janet’s mood changed again. She tried to pull away from Steve’s arms. “Don’t you dare talk to my husband! You have no right.”
“Janet, Amanda’s my wife now. You have to accept that.”
“I decided I didn’t have to accept anything I didn’t want to when I saw you start to make love to her again this morning. I’m not going to allow that to happen again. You’ve had all of that woman you’re ever going to have. It’s me and me alone from now on. That bastard Dave doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Let’s leave Dave out of this.”
“How can I? He told me you didn’t love me and that you’d fallen for this tramp.” She smiled a sinister smile. “Of course I know that’s a lie. You wouldn’t love another woman. I’m the only one for you. Isn’t that right?”
“No, Janet. I don’t love you. I love Amanda and I’m going to spend the rest of my life with her.”
“I’ll kill her before I allow that. You’re never going to be with another woman. I’m the only one.” She wiggled and tried to pull away from him. “Let’s do it now. We can kill her together and then we’ll always be with each other. I have a gun in my purse.”
There was the sound of a car in the driveway.
“That’ll be Warner. Would you let him in, Amanda?”
“Yes, let him in, Amanda,” Janet slurred her name. “Then you can go to the car with him and the two of you can leave together so my husband and I can be alone.”
Amanda went to the front door. “Come in,” she said to the weary-looking man on the other side of the threshold.
“I’m sorry about this. I’ve been looking for Janet since daybreak. When I woke up she was gone, but I never dreamed she’d come here. She usually goes to the graveyard or to the old house.”
“Steve has her in the living room.”
“Warner, darling. I’m so glad you found me,” Janet said as Steve relaxed his hold and she jerked away. She ran to Warner. “Steve and this woman kidnapped me and wouldn’t let me come home to you.”
“I understand, Janet.” He held her in his arms. “We’ll go home now.”
“Yes, darling. I’m ready. I guess I’ll have to kill her another day.”
“Let’s go, Janet.” He looked back at Steve. “I’ll call you later.”
Steve nodded as he walked over to Amanda and put his arms around her. Together they followed Warner and Janet to the front door. Nothing else was said and Steve closed the door behind them.
He looked down at Amanda. “I’m sorry this happened.”
“You couldn’t help it.” She put her arms around his waist. “I never knew Janet was in this sad condition. I hope it wasn’t always like this when you were married.”
“It wasn’t this bad, but it was headed in this direction.” He kissed the top of her head. “Do you think we can put it behind us?”
“Of course we can. We’ve seen worse things.” She turned her face to him and kissed his cheek. “Now why don’t you go take your shower and I’ll make us some breakfast? I told Dave and Claudia we’d be there by mid-morning. I promised to help her get everything ready for my family. They’ll be here around lunch time for our Fourth of July celebration.”
“That sounds good to me. I’m looking forward to seeing them.” He kissed her on the lips. “Please don’t take anything Janet said seriously. You know I love you with all my heart, don’t you?”
“Yes, Steve. I have no doubts about your love for me.”
“Good. Now you’ve got fifteen minutes to cook breakfast. That’s how long it’ll probably take me to shower and shave.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be ready. Instant oatmeal doesn’t take that long.”
Chapter 25
Twenty Months Earlier
The position of the sun told them it was noon when they saw Mr. X come out of his hut. He was stretching and yawning. He glanced toward the group gathered on the beach and headed toward them. “What’s for lunch?” He growled when he was within a few feet of them.
Nobody said anything, but Wilma and Joanna slid apart so he could lean over to look at the food on the fuselage table without touching either of them. He was busy deciding on fish or fruit and didn’t notice all the men had moved and circled behind him. When he heard shuffling, he whirled around.
“What’s going on?” he demanded.
“That’s what we want to know,” Ray said. “Why were you gawking at our women yesterday?”
“Hell, man, I just happened to go by and all five of them were swimming around stark naked. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t look if you had the chance.”
“I would never terrorize them the way you did.”
“Damn it, I didn’t terrorize them. They liked it. You should have seen how they smiled and pretended to hide themselves in the water. I could’ve had every one of them right there on the rocks if I’d wanted to.” He turned toward Curtis. “Your wife was the worst. She would’ve been the first in l
ine.”
Before anyone could stop him, Curtis landed a left hook on Mr. X’s chin.
Mr. X fell to his knees, but instead of staying down, he tried to get up. As he did, he looked at Steve. “Your so-called bride looked needy, too. You probably haven’t been satisfying her. I bet she’d like to have a younger man.”
Steve was the next to hit him.
“Please, guys,” Wilma said. “Don’t kill him.”
“We’re not going to kill him,” Tony said. “But the man needs to be taught a lesson.”
He reached down and pulled Mr. X to his feet. “I suggest we each give him one good lick.” He then popped him on the side of the head with his fist. Ray and Gene also got in their blows. They chose to hit his abdomen.
Mr. X crumpled to the ground, moaning.
“Check him, Gene,” Debbie said. “Make sure nothing’s seriously wrong with him.”
Gene turned the man’s face to him and checked his eyes. Mr. X stared back at him with hatred on his face and muttering profanity under his breath. Gene ignored him and felt his pulse. “He’s going to be sore, but he’s fine.”
“Let’s get him away from the women,” Curtis suggested.
They carried him back to his hut and put him inside, none too gently.
When they came back to the women, Amanda said, “There was a group of natives in the edge of the jungle watching everything you guys did. When you carried him to his hut, they circled together and talked and when you came back here they disappeared into the jungle.”
“I’m sorry they saw us being violent. I want them to know we’re peaceful.” Ray shook his head. “I don’t want to ever get into a fight with them.”
“I kind of thought they approved of what you were doing.”
“Well, I guess if anyone knows what they’re thinking, it’s you, Amanda,” Curtis said.
The rest of the day went without incident. Amanda decided to go fishing with Steve. He let her use the spear the natives had given him. As they stood in the rocky area where the fish were always plentiful, he looked at her. She was intent on the fishes swimming by.
He smiled. “Waiting for a big one, honey?”
“Yep. I want to give the little ones time to grow up. I like my fish fillets thick.”
He chuckled. “Amanda, I love you.”
She glanced up at him. “I’m so glad you do, otherwise we wouldn’t be married.” Before he could respond, she jabbed in the water and came out with a three-pound fish. “Now that ought to fillet up to some good eating.” She poked it toward him. “That’s your job, you know.”
Steve took the fish off the spear. “I know. When are you going to learn to clean them?”
“Never,” she said and poked the water again. This one wasn’t quite as big, but he was a nice fish.
At the end of their fishing excursion they had six good-sized fish. Steve cleaned and filleted them and they were walking back toward the area where Tony had a fire going. Amanda hooked her arm in her husband’s and whispered, “By the way, I love you, too.”
“If I didn’t have my hands full of fish, I’d take you in my arms and kiss you breathless right here in front of everybody.”
“You’d better watch yourself. Remember I’m carrying your spear.”
“Amanda, Amanda. I never dreamed life could be so good with a woman.”
“Maybe you just never had the right woman.” As soon as she said it, she wished she hadn’t. She didn’t want him to think she was jealous of Janet.
He didn’t seem to notice because he said, “You got that right, Baby.”
The fish cooked up great and everyone was complimenting Amanda on her fishing skills. They also complimented Steve on his preparation after he said, “Hey, how about me? I cleaned and filleted the darn things.”
At dusk they retired to their huts. Because Mr. X hadn’t been seen since the confrontation, Wilma insisted on taking him food. They put it on a banana leaf and Ray carried it to his hut.
Steve and Amanda were still standing outside talking with Joanna when Ray came back. “He wasn’t there, but I left it inside.”
They said good night and each couple went to their respective hut. It was almost dawn when there was shuffling outside. Nobody came inside, so they decided it was someone going to the latrine.
The next morning, with the exception of Mr. X, each man found a propped beside his door.
* * * *
July 4—2:00 PM
Wendover, GA
“Boy those were some good ribs,” Sam said as he sat back and put his feet up on the deck lounge chair.
Dave handed him a beer. “We’re glad you liked them. Dad and I have always been rivals on the grill. Each of us claims to be the better cook.”
“You did a great job today, son,” Steve said.
“I’m sorry Callie made you run out on him, Steve, but my wife was determined to see the house her sister was going to call home. She was very impressed, by the way.”
“I didn’t mind showing it off. I’m proud of the way the old place has turned out.” Steve took the beer Dave offered. “We still have to buy furniture, but we’re not in a rush. Amanda wants to take her time.”
“My mother-in-law still has a hard time spending money, doesn’t she?” Noah sipped the beer he held.
“It’s taking some adjusting for us to realize we can buy most anything we want.” Steve shrugged. “We just don’t want a lot of things. We’re happy to be together and to have our family around us as often as possible.”
“And look at that family,” Dave said glancing toward the backyard swimming pool.
The kids were all in the water. Amanda and Callie were sitting on lawn chairs under a maple tree at the end of the pool. Diane and Claudia were sitting on the side of the pool with their feet dangling in the water. They were deep in conversation.
Steve smiled. “I’m glad everyone gets along so well. And I know Amanda is too. A man couldn’t ask for more than that.”
Noah chuckled. “I don’t know if she ever told you, but Amanda and I didn’t get along very well when Diane and I were first married.”
“She told me, Noah. I’m pleased you worked everything out.” Steve looked at him. “By the way, what ever happened to your neighbor? I know you’d arranged for Amanda to have their house.”
“Everything worked out there, too. There was an uprising where they were supposed to go and they had to cancel their plans. They’re still in the house.”
“Good. Amanda worried that she may have knocked them out of a sale.”
The telephone rang. Dave picked up the portable phone on the table. After answering, he turned to Steve. “It’s for you, Dad. It’s Warner.”
* * * *
Steve took the phone, excused himself and walked to the other end of the porch. When he was out of earshot he said into the receiver, “Yes, Warner.”
“Steve, I’m sorry to bother you, but I knew you’d want to know what happened.”
“It’s okay, Warner and yes, I want to know.”
“I couldn’t get Janet calmed down so I called Wayne Barstow. He came over and gave her a shot. We had a long talk and he suggested I put her in Green Haven for a rest.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. She needs to be where she can be looked after. I’m afraid she’s gone off the deep end this time.”
“I’m sure they’ll be able to help her, Warner.”
“I hope so, Steve. I really do.” He sighed. “You wouldn’t believe the things she was saying about you and Dave. I can’t believe she really meant them.”
“She told me some of those things, Warner, but I think some of it was her illness talking. Janet has always had some problems and I guess some of them are now beginning to come out.”
“I just wanted to apologize to you for my marrying her. If I’d known you were going to come home—”
“Warner, you don’t need to apologize to me. I would have divorced Janet when I came home even if she had
n’t married you. Our marriage ended a long time before I ever took that trip. I’m just sorry about what’s happening for you now.”
“But Janet said you wanted her back and she felt obligated to come back to you because you’d promised to dump Amanda.”
“That was a figment of Janet’s imagination. I’ve never loved a woman as much as I love Amanda. The only way I’ll ever give her up is if one of us dies. I think Janet was just mixed up about her own feelings.”
“Are you sure, Steve?”
“I’m positive.” Steve took a deep breath. “Until I met Amanda, I didn’t know what love was. I married Janet out of obligation and I would’ve probably died without ever knowing love if I hadn’t been on that airplane.”
“This is all news to me, Steve. I thought you and Janet were in love the way Marilyn and I were.”
“No, we weren’t. We both played a good game, but...” Steve took a deep breath again. “Warner, why don’t we get together and talk one day? It’s kind of hard to go into everything on the telephone.”
“That’d be good. Thanks for telling me as much as you have. It kind of clears up things.” He paused then went on, “Do you want me to tell Dave I’ve taken his mother to Green Haven?”
“I’ll tell him for you, if you like.”
“Thanks, Steve. It’d probably be better coming from you anyway.”
“Amanda’s folks are here from Charlotte, but as soon as I can, I’ll give you a call. We’ll go have a beer or something and talk.”
“That sounds good and please tell Dave I’ll keep him posted on his mother’s progress.”
Steve hung up the phone and came back to the group. “Sorry about that, guys.”
“No problem,” Sam said. “We all have to take calls now and then.”
“Okay folks.” Dave stood and called out to everyone. “It’s time to cut the watermelon. Who’s ready for it?”
Several cries of “me” came from the swimming pool.
“Dad if you’ll help me get the watermelons on the table, we’ll see if we can get those kids fed again.”
They moved to the patio table and Dave bent over to slice watermelon. “Okay, Dad. What did Warner want?”
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