Tethered

Chapter Ten:

Over the next few days Daniel was very careful around me. I decided not to tell anyone what happened. It was an accident. Daniel got angry and made a mistake. He was trying to get my attention and I just wasn't listening.

He said it would be better if we didn't answer the phone for a few days so we could deal with what happened. He called in sick for a couple days after that so we could spend some quality time together.

He insisted on bandaging my arm until it healed. I missed several calls from my mother as we spent time together in near silence. Finally, three days after the incident he could take no more.

"You need to talk to me Meredith." He took my hands in his as we sat on the couch. He had muted the documentary he had put on for me and begged for my attention. "We can't work through this if you won't talk to me."

"Okay." I whispered slowly.

"Okay. That's a start." He smiled as if that one word changed everything. "I am so sorry that I got out of control. I promise that it will never happen again. I was just so upset, and I couldn't get you to listen to me. But that's no excuse."

I nodded. I had never seen anyone so angry. My parents had never yelled at me before. And even when Aaron and I argued he had never lashed out like that. I had no idea how I was supposed to act. How was I supposed to begin to forgive him?

"I think maybe you should see an anger management counselor." I tried to sound firm. Daniel blew out a sigh of relief.

"I will. I promise I will. They offer a counselor to all the employees at my work. I will make an appointment for this week." He smiled and kissed the back of my hands.

"Okay." I gave a small smile and sat closer to him.

"But I want you to trust me. I was trying to tell you that Jared is bad news. I don't want you hanging out over there if he is there. If Julia wants to bring the kids over here for a few hours that's fine." He stared at me intently.

"Why what did he do? He seemed perfectly nice to me." I shrugged.

"How he acts at home and how he acts at the office are completely different." He said avoiding my gaze.

"What do you mean? He said he has never been happier, and Julia thinks he might propose." He was looking back at the screen and didn't answer me. "Did you see him do something at work?"

"What do you want me to say, Meredith? Some people never change."

We were pretty quiet for the rest of the night until bed. What Daniel said kept running through my mind. Jared had seemed so happy the last time I had seen him. Was he seeing someone while he was at work? He couldn't be, Julia just had their baby. But Daniel seemed convinced that he wasn't who he said he was.

Daniel went back to work the next day and when my mom called, I answered her.

"Meredith, what the hell is going on?" my mom was livid. I had never heard her so upset. "Did something happen?"

"No mom. We're fine." I closed my eyes and put my hand to my forehead to push my hair back. The weather was really starting to warm up and I had to take off my light jacket. Spring was here and summer was not far off. And even though it wasn't as warm as the spring back in Arizona, I was finally getting used to the cooler weather.

"Why haven't you answered me when I call?" she still sounded worried, but her voice no longer sounded freaked out.

"I... uh... had a little cooking accident. I spilt hot water on my arm and had a slight burn. I didn't want to call you until I had seen a doctor and knew it wasn't serious." I lied practically through my teeth. But what good would it do to tell her the truth. I was sure most couples went through some mishaps when they first got married. It was just an adjustment period we had to get through.