Excerpt from Tears Of Betrayal Chapter Eleven Amber sat on the queen-sized bed, pulling on her sheer stockings. She had taken to staying in the spare bedroom since the news of Jeff’s death, not being able to sleep by herself in the room she was so accustomed to being alone in. Though she had slept alone in that bed more than she had shared it with Jeff, it was still their bedroom. The last few days were a blur. Julie had taken the news of her father’s death fairly well. Jeff’s being away so much had actually severed what little father-daughter relationship they’d had, and any feelings Julie had for her father was simply because he was her father, nothing more. After an initial breakdown of uncontrollable sobs, she seemed nearly back to her bubbly self, especially since Dianna was doing such a great job of keeping her niece occupied. They had all somehow managed to get through Sunday’s visitation. Jeff didn’t have many friends in town and what few friends he had on the job were making the drive today for the actual funeral. She was glad Jeff’s parents had decided to stay at the motel. Amber knew his mother hated her too much to have considered spending the night in the house. Amber was, however, grateful that Dianna had chosen to stay with her. It helped having someone near. Robin had stayed the first night, but at Amber’s insistence had gone home to spend some time with Jack, who had returned the night after the accident. Amber went to the closet and took out a black dress, a dress that she had never had the chance to wear. She shuddered at the sight of it. Tears welled in her already red-rimmed eyes. When she bought the dress months ago, she had pictured herself wearing it to a nice cozy dinner with Jeff, not to his funeral. She took it off the hanger, lowered the zipper and sighed as she slipped it over her head. There was a knock on her bedroom door. “Come in,” she said, still struggling with the zipper. “Hey. Are you ready?” Robin asked softly as she entered the room. Amber’s arms were twisted behind her back, her shaky fingers fumbling with the black metal tab. “I would be if I could get this damn zipper up.” She dropped her arms with an exaggerated sigh and turned her back to her friend. “When did you get here?” Robin smoothly slid the tab up and tucked it into place. “Just a minute ago. Dianna and Julie just left. They’re going to do lunch before heading over the funeral home. Jack and the kids are going to meet us there. Jack said to tell you hi, and to let him know if you need anything. How are you holding up?” Amber took one last look in the mirror. Her face looked drawn and pale. Her eyes, normally her best trait, had bags with dark circles and were red from days of crying. She looked as though she had aged ten years in the last few days. She grimly applied more powder. “There ought to be a law against going out in public looking like this.” Robin placed a hand on Amber’s shoulder. “Hey, under the circumstances you look great.” Amber turned to face her friend, they embraced, each gaining comfort and strength in the other’s friendship. The sound of the doorbell interrupted them. “I’ll get it.” Robin said, heading for the door. “Go lay down.” Robin gestured to Clancy, who was already at the door barking. He backed off a bit, but stayed close and continued to growl. When Robin opened the door, she stared at the face of a short, balding, heavyset man, suffering from a very bad comb over. “Mrs. Wilson?” “No, she’s busy, can I help you?” Robin said, eyeing the man suspiciously. “No,” he said curtly. “I need to see Mrs. Wilson.” “I’m sorry, that will not be possible, her husband was just killed in an auto accident and she is not seeing anyone,” Robin said firmly. The strange little man looked as though he had been slapped. He looked wide-eyed at Robin then down at the large envelope he was holding in his hand. “But I… I was supposed to give her this.” “Would you like me to give it to her?” Robin asked curtly. “No, no. I need to give it to her myself. I think. This is quite unprecedented.” He looked confused. “I don’t know if I need to now…” “Listen,” Robin snapped, “I don’t know what you’re selling, but we are not in the buying mood.” She attempted to close the door. The man put out his arm to stop her. For such a small man, he had amazing strength. “Hey!” Robin yelled. As she struggled with the wretched little man, Clancy joined in, baring his teeth and growling a profound warning. Robin was barely able to grab the dog’s collar as he lunged at the man. “What on earth is going on in here?” Amber asked, running down the hall towards them. She helped hold Clancy, who had decided he was not willing to tolerate this man’s intrusion any longer. “Mrs. Wilson?” the man asked, gripping the door. Amber thought it was as much to keep it open so he could see her, as it was to keep it from opening any further, thus leaving him at the mercy of the crazy drooling dog, which appeared to want to have him for lunch. She had never seen Clancy in such a state, and if he did not trust this man, she knew she would do well to keep her distance from him. “Yes?” she asked warily. “My name is Stanley Davis. I was supposed to give you this today, but under the circumstances, I am not sure whether I should or not,” he said hesitantly. “Give it to you, that is.” “What is it?” Amber asked, gazing at the envelope he held in his free hand. “Like I said, under the circumstances, I’m not sure if I should…” “That’s enough,” she said to Clancy, who was still struggling to get at the man who continued to grip the door. “Listen Stanley,” Robin warned, “I don’t know how much longer we can hold this dog, so either you give her the damn thing or not, but either way be done with it and get the hell out of here!” She narrowed her eyes at the vexing little man. A determined look swept across his face. He ran his hand through the wisps of hair that straddled his balding scalp, and then he delivered his well-practiced speech. “Mrs. Wilson, my name is Stanley Davis. Your husband,” he paused clearing his throat, “has filed for divorce, consider yourself served.”
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 22:50:18 +0000
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