Her Secret Affair

Chapter 24

Brianna sat on the sofa, dialing her mother-in-law's number.

"Hi, Brianna," her voice chirpy as always as she answered.

"Hi, Mum," she answered, "hope Nicky hasn't been giving you too much trouble."

"Never, he is always such a good boy. I brought him to school this morning. His teacher said to remind you that there is the end of year school play tomorrow afternoon. On Friday there will not be much at school, so attendance is not mandatory."

"Shit," she thought, "I'm going to have to find a way to cover up my face." 

"Brianna, are you listening to me?"

"Sorry, Mum. Yes, I heard you. I'll remind Joseph about it tonight. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it."

"Are you still in pain?"

"Yeah, I am still sore. I'm not sure whether those chairs will be comfortable for me to sit in for a long time." Well, that's not a complete lie, is it, she thought to herself.

"Which reminds me," she continued, "do you mind if Nicky stays over again tonight? I'm really sorry for keeping him with you for so long."

"It's not a problem. When he comes home from school we'll pass by to see you."

"No, don't. I - I - I mean, I'm going for a check-up at around 2. So, I won't be home," she said the first excuse that came to her mind.

"That soon? Didn't they just release you on Tuesday? Never mind then, we'll pop by for dinner."

"Joseph is finishing late today. Can we have dinner on Friday instead?" praying her face would be less visible by then.

"Brianna, is everything ok? It seems you are avoiding me."

She heard a knock at the door. "Thank you," she said silently to the heavens.

"Mum, sorry, I have to go, there is someone at the door," and she hung up.

She quickly checked her face in the hallway mirror, arranging her hair to the side. She walked to the door and opened it.

Frankie stood there, bag in hand, staring at her. His eyes darkened as he saw the fresh bruise on her cheek, worse than it was yesterday.

"Where is he?" he asked.

"What?"

"Where the fuck is he?"

"Frankie, please just come in," she pleaded, not wanting the neighbours to see anything. She closed the door behind him as he walked into the living room.

"Pack a bag, Brie, you cannot stay here."

"I told you I can't leave."

"What? So you will stay here as his personal punching bag?" 

"He didn't punch me," she said quietly.

"Brie, your face is worse than it was yesterday. Don't stand there and tell me he didn't hit you again."

"It was just a slap."

"Are you defending him? You are going to correct me based on terminologies? Brie, you are better than that."

"What are you doing here, Frankie?" she asked changing the topic.

"I knew something was wrong, so I came to bring you lunch," he sighed, his anger reverberating off his body.

"Thank you for the thought. Please put it on the kitchen counter," determined not to get too close to him.

"Brie, I cannot help you if you don't let me. Let me take you away from here. We can get your son from school."

"What? And we will move into your house and live happily ever after?" she retorted angrily.

"You do not have to come stay with me. We will find you somewhere, just not here with him."

"You don't get it. I cannot just leave my son with him, and I can't take him away either. What will I tell his mother? How will I explain to Nicky why we are living somewhere else? Joseph said he will tell everyone that I screwed his university friend whom he brought to our home, behind his back."

"YOU know that wasn't how things happened, so why would you care what he says?"

"That's my reputation we are talking about."

"So, you prefer to be here, miserable and being hit by a man who doesn't even love you?"

Suddenly, she heard the door open behind her.

"Brianna?" she heard her mother-in-law's voice calling her.

Panicking she turned around, already worried about what Joseph will do when he finds out Frankie was here.

"Hello, I'm Mary-Anne, Joseph's mother. Are you a friend of Brianna?" she asked curiously as she extended her hand to him.

"Hello, yes, nice to meet you," he took her hand without offering his name. "But, I was just leaving. Brie, think about what I've said. I'll talk to you later." He put the bag of food on the kitchen counter and walked away angrily, leaving Joseph's mother stunned.

"Who was that man? He is so rude."

"Mum, please don't tell Joseph," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

"Brianna, what is going on here?"

Brianna slumped down on the sofa, putting her face in her hand as she sobbed. Mary-Anne walked to the kitchen and made a cup of tea to give her. She placed the cup on the table in front of Brianna, before sitting quietly on the sofa next to her.

Brianna's sob slowly subsided and she lifted her head to look at her mother-in-law. She gasped when she saw Brianna's face.

"Did that man do that to you? We have to call Joseph right now," she exclaimed, grabbing her phone.

"No, please don't call Joe," the fear in Brianna's voice stopping her.

"Did Joe do this to you?" she asked hesitantly, realising how scared Brianna was.

"He - he didn't mean to. I did something bad. And he is angry with me," she said excusing his actions to his mother.

 "Does it have to do with that man that was here?" she asked, slowly understanding the situation.

Brianna nodded pitifully, embarrassed to admit her affair to her mother-in-law. She knew she needed to be honest with her, for there was no telling what Joseph would tell her.

"He doesn't love me," she told her quietly, staring at her hands.

"Who doesn't love you?"

"Joseph."

Mary-Anne stared at her, deep in thought. "Then, why do you stay with him?"

Brianna's head shot up, shocked at such a question from his mother.

"What?" she asked confused.

"You said he doesn't love you. Why do you stay with him?"

"He said I can leave, but I cannot take Nicky with me," resignation and sadness filled her voice, as a wave of fresh tears started to fall.

"He said that you?" Brianna nodded in response.

"Are you in love with that man that was here?"

"I don't know," she answered getting uncomfortable with the conversation. "Look, I shouldn't be telling you all of this. You are Joseph's mother. I shouldn't be talking about this with you."

"Dear, look at me. I am a woman before I was his mother. This is not the life you want for yourself."