I've got to change my tv viewing habits and quit snooping: too many forensics, crime log updates and murderous plots have left me with troubled dreams. I hope you've enjoyed them. I get a kick out of putting them on paper. Maybe I'll write romance....; )
Bittersweet
The morning sun covered them in a blanket of drowsiness. She’d been up most of the night again—writing.
“Have to get to the lab. I need to finish that sample report.” Erynne yawned. She kissed David’s shoulder and slipped from the cozy sheets.
He stretched lazily and watched her head for the bathroom. As the pipes thumped and whined with water, he dressed and wandered out to the kitchen. She’d made his coffee already. He smiled and reached for his phone.
He’d call Aimee soon. He’d heard her ring tone in the night. She needed to be reminded of what “low profile” meant. He texted his mistress; “ Cant wait 2 c u”. They had schemed a “business trip” to St. Kitts later that day. Every once in a while he thought of feeling bad for cheating on Erynne. He even had tinges of guilt for the money he’d conned out of her for the trip. But it was annoying, like a mosquito so he washed it away with a big slug of coffee.
He’d often come close to getting caught, but Erynne was so head over heels in love with him, it only took a few soothing words and a smidgen of self-doubt that she would coo and cuddle up: all questions and suspicions forgotten and dismissed.
Aimee grew impatient with being second on the list, but he’d done a good job of making vague promises to be together. He met her at one of Erynne’s boring work functions. He thought they worked together. It didn’t matter, really. He simply enjoyed having them both. If one should get upset and move on, so what? He’d have the other. He couldn’t lose. He didn’t have to make a choice.
He chuffed smugly and noticed Erynne’s notebook lying open on the counter. He began to flip through it.
“…is SO very handsome! He makes me feel like I’m the most beautiful woman in the room. How could someone so wonderful be interested in me…?”
David grinned as he read Erynne’s giddy words from when they first began. He sat down and took another slurp of joe. Erynne detailed their first dates and their first time.
“I shook like a leaf. When he touches me, I can’t think. His skin is so soft and warm. I can’t stop wanting him. I love the way his body feels against me; strong and eager. I’ve never felt so good, so hungry for someone.”
He grinned, remembering how they made love then and how it had changed over these three short years. It wasn’t bad, but it was too comfortable and routine. Nothing about Aimee was routine. She was spontaneous and passionate. Being with her was exciting and powerful. He licked his lips as thoughts of Aimee filled his head and warmed his body. He continued to thumb through Erynne’s memories.
He laughed at the silly sentimental things she’d written; a typical woman. She’d adored a quick trip to New York to see a show. He’d bought the tickets simply so she would have sex in the limo on the way there. She’d fondly reminisced about Christmases; listing gifts. He bought her simple jewelry (not cheap but no diamonds…because they are forever.) and a few careless gift certificates. She’d over thought his efforts and he was relieved that she’d put so much emotion into them for him.
As he read on, he noticed Erynne had picked up on his affair. He doubted that she knew it was Aimee but he’d not been as careful as he thought. Staying late, guarded phone calls, extra charges on the card she’d loaned him for emergencies had all raised suspicions. But being charming had its benefits and he could schmooze his way out of any sort of trouble with some romantic words and a quickie. Still, she had begun to do some digging and had discovered he’d forged some checks. She’d checked his phone and seen another woman’s number. He moved quickly forward and found last night’s entry:
“Spoke with her myself. She called his phone. Confirmed my worst fear.”
David’s armpits were sticky. His mouth was dry. He read on:
“I don’t know what to do. I adored this man. Gave him everything and forgave even more. I am stunned by this betrayal. I can’t believe the man I love would do this. I want to scream, cry, kill him…”
David drained his coffee mug. He’d lost Erynne. But he could move forward and focus on Aimee. He’d tell her during their vacation. He was proud of his resourcefulness. It would look prearranged and everyone would be happy. Almost everyone.
Erynne cleared her throat, startling him.
“Hey.” He said weakly.
She rubbed her wet hair with a towel. “Like what you read?”
“Not really.”
“I didn’t like writing it.” Erynne confessed sadly.
David broke out into a sweat.
“You alright?” she asked.
“I’m sorry Baby.” He tried.
“The damage is done. I believed in you. I loved you. You’ve laughed at me—my feelings. This was all a game to you; a joke.”
“No…I care…”he reached for her.
“Stop. It’s too late.” She winced as if he were covered rotting garbage.
David’s stomach lurched. He felt dizzy. Salt began to tingle in his lower jaw.
“Are you alright?” She asked again.
“I feel bad.” He grimaced.
“You should.”
“I do and I do. Er, I feel sick.”
Erynne smiled. “I know.”
He closed his eyes in horror as she explained:
“That lab sample I brought home is dangerous. It works better than succinyl choline; much faster and it is metabolized completely; no trace, no need to inject, undetectable. You will start getting tired here in a moment. I must confess it was the most satisfying cup of coffee I’ve never drunk.”
His jaw began to tighten as his bowels quivered. His lungs grew hot and seemed to twist in his chest. His head throbbed. He smacked at his phone to call Aimee. As he tried to dial, the numbers shifted, the kitchen lights began twinkling. Black flooded into his head. The floor seemed to tilt and he crumpled to the ground. His eyes sprung open, darting around as he clutched to the last minutes of life. The door to the laundry room was ajar. He recognized Aimee’s painted toenails lagging in the hall. She’d tried to run. He gasped and tried to scream. There wasn't enough air left.
Erynne knelt down stroking his hair. “I’m glad you got to see her. She so wanted to be with you last night. All those dirty texts she sends you! I never knew phone sex was your thing.” She kissed his forehead and clucked sympathetically. “Hmmm. They are SO right. Revenge IS bittersweet.”
His eyes stared blankly, nonjudgmental as Erynne rummaged in his pockets to find the remaining ticket to St. Kitts. Pouring water into her mug, she dunked her teabag, sighed, and sauntered off to the bedroom to finish packing. She was going to enjoy the gift she'd bought herself.
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