problem by backing down too easily. If she
had stood up to him more, maybe he would have developed some
sensitivity. She had certainly stood up to more intimidating
people. Yet Tessa Kirkland, who had intimidated every authority she
had encountered, somehow succumbed to Tessa Wilson, a woman who
could never manage Merritt.
A sad longing rose in her heart, almost
bringing tears to her eyes. Despite the anger, she loved Merritt.
They shared too much history, they shared the responsibility of
their children, they needed each other, didn't they?
Perhaps, Tessa realized, she needed Merritt,
but as she watched him move confidently through the crowd, she
wondered if he needed her. Most of the things that she relied upon
him for, he could find somewhere else. Could he hold any qualms
about hiring someone to take Tessa's place for practical purposes?
He hired Liset so that he could escape his responsibilities at
home. If someone were to ask him to make the same choice at work,
he would never abdicate from his duties. Yet, he felt no compulsion
to treat Tessa with so much dedication. Merritt did not seem to
need Tessa at all.
At that moment, Jason's voice interrupted her
reverie.
“I'm sorry Karen scared you away earlier.” He
leaned an elbow casually against the window ledge, hemming Tessa
into a corner by a tall potted tree. His characteristic smirk stood
firmly in place on his dark face, and as she stared up at him, she
couldn't imagine how he had moved so close to her without her
noticing. Not liking her position of weakness, she stood to her
feet, inadvertently bringing herself within inches of his face.
Embarrassed, she glance nervously at the
ground, and she felt him move even closer. Tessa's heart fluttered
like a trapped bird as her heels scraped the mirrored glass behind
her.
“I wasn't scared off,” she feigned bravado,
but her voice quivered infinitesimally. “I've known Karen too long
to be scared by her. I just wasn't enjoying the conversation and
wanted a drink.” With the words, Tessa inched toward the nearby
table and its colorful display of beverages. She prayed that she
could gain some breathing room.
After reaching the table, Tessa glanced up
across the brim of her glass. She thought she caught a look of
displeasure cross Jason's face. “You didn't enjoy the company?”
The space forced between them by her drink
gave Tessa a slight sense of relaxation, her raised hand increasing
the distance just enough to maintain respectability. “Oh, nothing
personal, Jason,” she replied easily. “I wasn't trying to get away
from you.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
She had meant only to communicate to Jason that he wasn't the
object of her derision, but she recognized how he might misconstrue
her words. She could tell by the sparkle in his eye that he had
read more into the comment than she intended.
His boldness should have repulsed her. His
attention should have repelled her. Somehow, though, his look of
pleasure ignited her senses, spreading warmth throughout her skin
and shivers down her spine. She groaned inwardly at her sudden
inconstancy; did ten years of marriage mean nothing to her.
Unfortunately, Jason responded to the sudden flush of color on her
cheeks, and when he stepped closer, her power of speech failed
her.
Without warning, a voice knifed through the
air, punching her in the gut and sending her reeling. A moment
later, Merritt's form forced itself into the space between herself
and Jason. “Tessa,” Merritt commanded, though he looked only at
Jason. Her husband quickly placed his arm around her shoulders,
rather more possessively than affectionate, and said, “It's time to
go, Sweetheart.”
Tessa felt herself drowned in guilt, though
her mind tried to cry that she couldn't have helped the evening's
events.
Turning quickly to Jason, Merritt pressed
Tessa behind himself. “Good evening, Jason,” he proclaimed in a
terse, powerful tone. A dismissal, not a
had stood up to him more, maybe he would have developed some
sensitivity. She had certainly stood up to more intimidating
people. Yet Tessa Kirkland, who had intimidated every authority she
had encountered, somehow succumbed to Tessa Wilson, a woman who
could never manage Merritt.
A sad longing rose in her heart, almost
bringing tears to her eyes. Despite the anger, she loved Merritt.
They shared too much history, they shared the responsibility of
their children, they needed each other, didn't they?
Perhaps, Tessa realized, she needed Merritt,
but as she watched him move confidently through the crowd, she
wondered if he needed her. Most of the things that she relied upon
him for, he could find somewhere else. Could he hold any qualms
about hiring someone to take Tessa's place for practical purposes?
He hired Liset so that he could escape his responsibilities at
home. If someone were to ask him to make the same choice at work,
he would never abdicate from his duties. Yet, he felt no compulsion
to treat Tessa with so much dedication. Merritt did not seem to
need Tessa at all.
At that moment, Jason's voice interrupted her
reverie.
“I'm sorry Karen scared you away earlier.” He
leaned an elbow casually against the window ledge, hemming Tessa
into a corner by a tall potted tree. His characteristic smirk stood
firmly in place on his dark face, and as she stared up at him, she
couldn't imagine how he had moved so close to her without her
noticing. Not liking her position of weakness, she stood to her
feet, inadvertently bringing herself within inches of his face.
Embarrassed, she glance nervously at the
ground, and she felt him move even closer. Tessa's heart fluttered
like a trapped bird as her heels scraped the mirrored glass behind
her.
“I wasn't scared off,” she feigned bravado,
but her voice quivered infinitesimally. “I've known Karen too long
to be scared by her. I just wasn't enjoying the conversation and
wanted a drink.” With the words, Tessa inched toward the nearby
table and its colorful display of beverages. She prayed that she
could gain some breathing room.
After reaching the table, Tessa glanced up
across the brim of her glass. She thought she caught a look of
displeasure cross Jason's face. “You didn't enjoy the company?”
The space forced between them by her drink
gave Tessa a slight sense of relaxation, her raised hand increasing
the distance just enough to maintain respectability. “Oh, nothing
personal, Jason,” she replied easily. “I wasn't trying to get away
from you.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
She had meant only to communicate to Jason that he wasn't the
object of her derision, but she recognized how he might misconstrue
her words. She could tell by the sparkle in his eye that he had
read more into the comment than she intended.
His boldness should have repulsed her. His
attention should have repelled her. Somehow, though, his look of
pleasure ignited her senses, spreading warmth throughout her skin
and shivers down her spine. She groaned inwardly at her sudden
inconstancy; did ten years of marriage mean nothing to her.
Unfortunately, Jason responded to the sudden flush of color on her
cheeks, and when he stepped closer, her power of speech failed
her.
Without warning, a voice knifed through the
air, punching her in the gut and sending her reeling. A moment
later, Merritt's form forced itself into the space between herself
and Jason. “Tessa,” Merritt commanded, though he looked only at
Jason. Her husband quickly placed his arm around her shoulders,
rather more possessively than affectionate, and said, “It's time to
go, Sweetheart.”
Tessa felt herself drowned in guilt, though
her mind tried to cry that she couldn't have helped the evening's
events.
Turning quickly to Jason, Merritt pressed
Tessa behind himself. “Good evening, Jason,” he proclaimed in a
terse, powerful tone. A dismissal, not a
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