"How long have you lived in this house,
Marcie?"
"How… how long?"
"How long?"
"I, uh, I don't remember specifically." She picked up the sack of food and headed for the kitchen.
"That's bull." He yanked the sack out of her hand and returned it to the table. Gripping her by both shoulders, his fingers dug into her.
"You remember everything, Marcie. You've got a photographic memory. You were the only kid in Miss Hodges's history class who could remember all the state capitals and the presidents in order." His voice increased in volume and intensity. He shook her slightly.
"When did you buy this house?"
"Last summer."
"Why?"
"Because I like it."
"Why?"
"Because I like it."
"Who owned it before you bought it?"
"Chase," she said plaintively, almost inaudibly.
He, on the other hand, roared, "Who did you buy it from, Marcie?"
She struggled with tears. She wet her lips.
She was in obvious distress. Her lips were so rubbery she could barely form the words.
"From you."
"Jesus!" Turning, he slammed his fist into the nearest wall. Then he leaned into the wall and banged his fist against it several times.
He kept his head averted.
Extending her hand imploringly, she touched his shoulder. "Chase, please let me explain."
He flinched at her touch, but whirled around to confront her. His features were congested with outrage.
"What's to explain? I get the picture. This is Tanya's house."
"It's my house," she protested. "I bought it—"
"From me. Because you think of me/as some freaking charity case."
"That's not true. I bought it because I
wanted to make a home for you here. This is where you were supposed to live."
"With another wife," he shouted. "The wife
I loved. Doesn't that matter to you? Don't you have any more pride than to settle for second place? Are you so willing to settle for second place that you'd resort to tricks?"
"I never tricked you."
"Oh, really? Then why didn't you ever mention that this was the house Tanya was so crazy about? The house that you and she looked at right before she was killed. The house that she wanted me to see with her."
Her gaze fell beneath his accusing stare. He raised her head so that she had to look into his face. "Never mind answering. I know why.
Because you knew I'd feel just this way about it."
"Maybe I went about it the wrong way. But
I only wanted to make you happy."
"Happy?" he cried. "Happy? I've been balling you in Tanya's house!"
"And liking it very much!" she shouted back.
They glared at each other for the span of several seconds. Then, muttering a litany of vulgarities. Chase started upstairs. By the time
Marcie caught up with him, his suitcase was lying open on the bed and he was pitching articles of clothing into it.
"Chase," she cried, her voice tearing, "where are you going?"
"Houston." He didn't deign to look at her, but stamped into the bathroom and began tossing his toiletries into a suede kit.
"Why?"
"I was scheduled to leave tomorrow anyway."
He gave her a fulminating glare. "I
believe I'll go tonight instead."
"When will you be back?"
Brushing past her where she stood in the connecting door, he placed the kit in the suitcase and slammed it closed, latching it with an angry thrust of his fingers against the metal locks.
"I don't know."
"Chase, wait!"
He stormed downstairs. She clambered after him. At the front door she intercepted him and tenaciously hung on to his sleeve.
"Please don't go."
"I've got to. It's business."
"Don't go like this. Not when you're so angry.
Give me a chance to explain. Wait until morning."
"Why? So you can give me another night of sex to dull my memories of Tanya?"
Her whole body went rigid with affront.
"How dare you talk to me like that. I'm your wife."
He merely snorted, an uncomplimentary sound. "On paper, Marcie. Only on paper.
But never where it really counts."
He yanked his jacket off the coat tree and within seconds was gone.
"Lucky? It's Marcie."
"Hey, my favorite sister-in-law! How are you?"
"I'm fine," she lied.
Chase had been gone for three days. She hadn't heard a word from him. She didn't know where he was staying in Houston or why exactly he had made the trip, so there was no way she could track him there.
Unable to bear it any longer, she had swallowed her pride and called his brother to fish for information.
"What's up? Getting lonesome for that brother of mine?"
"A little."
A lot. Loneliness ate at her like a vicious rat. It's sharp, pointed teeth gnawed at her.
When awake, she replayed the horrid departure scene in her mind, willing it to be only a nightmare. In her sleep, she yearned for him, reached for him, and awoke startled and bereft when she realized he wasn't lying beside her and that he might never again.
"Devon and I discussed taking you out to dinner one night while Chase is gone," Lucky was saying, "but she hasn't been feeling very well."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Has she told her o.b.?"
"Yes, and he tells her to stay off her feet, rest more, and try to be patient for another seven or eight weeks."
"If there's anything I can do…"
"Give her a call. It might improve her disposition.
She's a regular bitch these days."
Marcie laughed, as she knew she was expected to. Lucky's criticism of his wife wasn't intended to be taken seriously. "I'll call her later this evening."
"I would appreciate that."
The conversation lagged. He was waiting for her to get to the point of her call. "Uh, Lucky, have you spoken with Chase today?"
"Sure. He called right after the interview."
"The interview?"
"With the oil company execs. That's why he went, you know."
"Yes, I know. I just didn't realize the interview was today." She hoped that her bluff sounded convincing.
"Yeah, they interviewed the three finalists, so to speak. Chase wants that contract so damn bad, Marcie.
It's more than the money. It's a pride thing with him. I guess because you, well, you know, you bailed us out. He wants to prove to you and to himself that you didn't make a bad investment."
"Did using my money shatter his pride?"
"No," Lucky said, obviously pondering the response even as he gave it. "But he needs to feel as if he's in charge again."
"He is."
"We know that. I'm not sure he's convinced of it."
"Well, if you speak to him—"
"I'm sure he'll call you. He's probably just been busy. He had another appointment this afternoon."
Probably with a divorce lawyer, she thought miserably. "Yes, he'll probably call me tonight.
Unless he's already on his way home." she suggested tentatively.
"I wouldn't look for him this soon. He said he wouldn't come home until they announced their decision and awarded the contract."
"Yes, that's what he told me before he left."
Since when had she become a liar?
"Course if he gets so hot for your bod he can't stand it, he might hop in his pickup and make the trip in record time," he teased.
Unfortunately, she couldn't tease back. Lamely she said, "Well, give Devon and Laurie my love when you get home. I'll try to call Devon tonight. Have patience with her."
"I'll grin and bear it till the baby gets here.
Bye-bye."
Marcie hung up. Without interest she padded into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of milk. Ever since Chase left, she had had very little appetite. She would certainly never want Chinese food again.
Hours later, while lying in bed reviewing the latest property tax laws, the telephone on the nightstand rang. She stared at it suspiciously and decided at first not to answer.
But what if it was Chase?
"Hello?"
"I'm coming to you," the whispery voice said. "I want you to see how hard I am for you.
Disobeying all the rules of common sense, she asked, "Who is this? Why don't you stop calling me?"
"I want you to touch me where I'm hard."
"Please stop."
"I know your husband isn't there. You're not getting any, are you, Marcie? You must be real horny.
You'll be glad to see me when I
get there."
Sobbing, she slammed down the receiver.
It rang again immediately. This time she didn't pick it up. She reasoned that if he were calling, he couldn't be trying to break into her house. Nevertheless, she shoved her arms into the sleeves of her robe and ran downstairs.
Frantically she checked all the doors and windows. She monitored the alarm system to see if it was set.