If You So Desire (sequel to Turn... and Walk Away)

Chapter 8

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Third Person POV

"Did he give you a hard time?" Max asked anxiously as soon as Debbie entered the apartment with Jan.

"No, he didn't," Debbie replied. "He was actually very nice and helpful to us. He even helped me by handing me your towels and toothbrush."

"Did he ask you where I was?"  Max asked.

"No, he only asked me "What can I do for you?" Debbie replied.

Max could not decide whether to be happy that Tul did not give Debbie a hard time or to be sad that Tul did not ask where he was.

"Did he ask you who you were?" Max asked.

"No," Debbie replied. "I was the one who introduced myself after he asked me what he could do for me."

Max could only shake his head. That bastard husband of his didn't seem to be interested where he was or what he was doing. Perhaps he never really loved me at all, Max was thinking. Maybe it would be best to stay away from him until he came begging me to come back to him. Yes, better to stay away, maybe even forever, let's see what he will do.

Max went about sorting all the stuff in the box that Debbie gave him. After that, he decided that he was not going to mope around inside his room. He went out to find Debbie busy in the kitchen taking things out from the fridge.

"What are you thinking of cooking for dinner?" Max asked.

"Oh, just something simple. Stuffed bell peppers and beef bone marrow soup with spinach leaves," Debbie replied.

"Can I help you prepare the ingredients?" Max offered.

"That would be lovely," Debbie replied gratefully.

Just then Jan stuck her head into the kitchen. "P', what time are you leaving for work tomorrow?"

"The usual." Debbie replied.

"Can't you leave a little earlier?" Jan asked.

Debbie sighed. "I wish I could but I need all the beauty sleep I can get to have the energy I need to carry out my tasks at work."

"Why do you ask?" Max asked Jan.

"Oh, I was hoping that she could give me a ride to the hospital where I'm doing my internship," Jan replied.

"I can take you there in my car," Max offered.

"Are you sure?" Jan asked, her face lighting up with a bright smile.

"Of course I'm sure," Max replied. "Better take advantage of me while I'm still on vacation this week because by next week I have to go back to work."

"Oh, yes, I forgot that you and Debbie are co workers," Jan said happily.

"What time do you have to leave tomorrow morning?" Max asked, busily chopping the onions that Debbie handed to him.

"Six o'clock," Jan replied.

"I will set my alarm then," Max said, his eyes starting to tear up from the onions that he was chopping.

"If it's that bad for you, there's no need to give me a ride," Jan said, looking alarmed at the sight of Max's tears falling down his cheeks.

Debbie quickly grabbed some tissues from the tissue box that was lying in one corner of the kitchen counter and started dabbing away at Max's wet cheeks.

"You don't have to do anything for Jan," Debbie whispered to Max. "She will be alright taking the bus. She will have to wake up an hour earlier. It's not gonna hurt her. C'mon stop crying now."

Max pushed Debbie's hand away from his face.

"How about you take care of chopping the onions. Then I will stop crying," Max said, walking over to the kitchen sink and splashing some water over his face.

When Jan and Debbie realized what had been making Max cry, they both burst out laughing.

Between Debbie and Max, they were able to put together their delicious dinner of stuffed bell peppers and beef bone marrow soup with spinach leaves.

Jan helped out by setting the table and preparing the ice cold mango juice in a pitcher.

"I will wait for you in the living room promptly at six tomorrow, okay, Max," Jan said by way of bidding him good night.

"Sure," Max said. "I promise I won't be late."

= = =   = =  =   =  = =

Before going to bed, Tul decided that he was going to go shopping for food stuff in the morning. The kitchen cabinets were running empty of condiments and tea bags and he was out of bread and milk and eggs and butter. He needed to buy some meat and seafood and fruits and vegetables as well. There was so much that he needed to buy. He decided to wake up early the following morning to avoid the long line at the supermarket checkout counter.

Tul rose early the following morning with a heavy heart.

Waking up alone in the king size bed was distressing for him, but he told himself that going after Max when Max was angry with him would only make Max angrier.

He let the water from the shower wash away the tears that were flowing freely down his face.

He told himself to be strong and to keep busy during the days and nights that he was alone.

After his shower he changed into his favorite pale blue shirt and midnight blue denims and removed the grocery list that he had stuck to the refrigerator door last night and stuffed it into his pocket. Then he grabbed his car key that was hanging from the hook at one corner of the wall just beside the front door.

Tul was waiting for the light to turn green at the corner of the street when he saw Max's car running on the avenue perpendicular to the street where Tul's car was.

Tul did not fail to notice that there was a pretty lady sitting on the passenger seat beside Max. Tul recognized her right away as the other lady who had accompanied Debbie to pick up Max's stuff from their condo unit. The lady was laughing while Max was saying something to her.

Tul wondered where they were going at this early hour of the morning.

Tul's heavy heart got heavier at the thought that it had been so easy for Max to replace him with someone else.