Read Online Unresolved Issues by Wanda B. Campbell - Free Book Online Page A

finish.
    â€œDerrick, I’m going to Zito’s for lunch. Would you like to join me?”
    Staci turned her head to see the female who’d rudely interrupted her time with her husband. She looked at the twenty-something female long and hard, but didn’t recall seeing her before. She then looked at Derrick for an explanation.
    â€œThis is Rhonda. She’s the dental assistant I hired a few months ago,” Derrick explained. “Rhonda, this is Staci.”
    Inside her head Staci counted to ten—quickly. Derrick had just introduced her to an employee as simply Staci and not as his wife. He didn’t seem to even notice his error. Staci wanted to remind him that California is a community property state, which meant half of this office belonged to her, including the employees.
    â€œHi, Staci,” Rhonda said, then leaned against the door frame and waited for an answer from Derrick.
    â€œThat’s Mrs . Garrison,” Staci corrected and shot hot daggers at Derrick. When she looked back at Rhonda, her facial expression remained hard. “Rhonda, tell me, when did it become appropriate for an employee to barge into her employer’s office and address him by his first name?” Staci didn’t crack a smile. Derrick appeared nervous. He fumbled with his hands, then brushed them over his mustache.
    Rhonda stood there with her mouth ajar. She’d been calling Dr. Garrison by his first name from the beginning, and he had never corrected her. Nor had he mentioned his wife.
    â€œI’ll meet you at Zito’s,” Derrick answered, and Rhonda made a quick exit.
    Staci turned away from Derrick to gather her emotions. He had chosen to spend time with another female over her. He’d chosen to accept an impromptu lunch date with an employee instead of talking about their marriage with his wife. Now it was time for her to make some decisions of her own. At that moment, she made several. She was not going to beg Derrick to talk to her. She was not going to drill him on the nature of his relationship with Rhonda. If he wanted to spend his time with Rhonda instead of her, then so be it. She was not going to chase after him. She was hurt, but still had her pride.
    â€œI won’t keep you from your lunch date,” she said when she finally turned around. “Here’s your mail.” She pushed the mail on the desk toward him. “I don’t work for the postal service. I will not sort or deliver your mail to you in the future. I suggest you put in a change of address with the post office.”
    â€œStaci, we don’t have to do all that.”
    â€œYes, we do.” She strapped her purse on her shoulder. “Derrick, I came here to talk to you about our marriage, and you just proved to me that our marriage is not important to you. I should’ve known that when you left a week ago. Our marriage is not now or ever has been important to you. I’m just sorry it took so long for me to see that.”
    In her heart, Staci waited for him to tell her she was wrong, that their marriage did matter to him. But he didn’t.
    â€œGood-bye, Derrick.” As she turned to leave she gave in to her anger. “One more thing,” she said after opening the door. “The next time you would like to enter my home to pick up the rest of your belongings, call first. I live alone, and I don’t want strangers roaming around the premises.”
    Staci managed to stay composed all the way to her car. Once inside, she waited for the tears to come, but they didn’t. They didn’t come on the ride home either. Sitting alone in her bedroom and taking off her wedding ring, there still weren’t any tears. That’s when Staci decided she’d cried all the tears she was going to cry over Derrick Garrison. She had given him her best, and he had given it back. That hurt; it really hurt. But like her father said, in the end she would be fine. It would take some