Stranded Heat Part 1

By Phoebe Brown

Mary Landry couldn't wait to get to West Jefferson, NC for the getaway she had plan for her and Daniel. Their marriage had been on the rocks since the first year. Five years later, and the marriage had not improved enough to keep things going.

"I need my space. I can't function under your nagging!" Daniel yelled that last day they stayed under the same roof.

"Nagging? I am just asking you to at least consider my feelings the next time you decide to drink too much and glue your mouth to your secretary under the mistletoe!" Mary blurted out.

"She kissed me!"

 "I didn't see you pushing her away! I'm tired of her always in your face, in your office, at our house for stupid little drop offs. Has she been in our bed?"

"Now Mary you are pushing this too far. I said I wasn't trying to kiss Michelle! It was Christmas, I was drunk, and it was a mistletoe for God's sake."

 "No Daniel, don't make alcohol the blame! Were you drunk the evening you were supposed to be working late and I came to the office to surprise you and walked in on a surprise of my own!"

"Oh that...stop bringing up old stuff and let's move on." Daniel attempted.

"You know what? I want a divorce. I can't be going through this with you." Mary said breaking down into tears. She sat on their huge king sized bed with her pretty face in her hands.

"Stop crying. I won't give you a divorce! I love you Mary."

"To hell with your twisted love. You don't love me! You know nothing about love. Just leave me alone." She sobbed with tears rushing down her cheeks.

 Daniel, feeling like he had been kicked in the stomach, went to her side and fell to his knees. His forehead beaded heavily with sweat. She refused to look at him.

"Baby, I do love you. I need you!"

His words more piercing to her ears than soothing, she looked up slowly and their eyes met.

"Please leave this house. I don't want to do this anymore!" She short of screamed and dropped her head.

Daniel knew that she was serious because her blue eyes had turned green. That always happened when she was angry beyond her control. He knew he had to fish for something.

"We can't just let this go. We already had all of the odds against us. You want people to be right about us?"

Mary looked up at Daniel. Fury in her eyes. How dare he bring up the fact that people cursed their marriage because she’s white and he’s black. Color and people didn't make him put his tongue down his secretary's throat.

Color and people didn't tell him to have her sitting on his lap with her skirt on the floor, when Mary showed up with something sexy on just for her man. People had warned them that because of their mixed relationship, they wouldn't make it. 

But the mixed relationship was hardly the reason for their problems.

"Just because he had money, didn't make him a good man." Her mother couldn't wait to say. "You two were just too different."

"Mixed marriages happens every day mom. Welcome to the real world!" Mary scolded.

"Yes, but not in our family!" Her dad couldn't wait to throw in.

So much for family support. Mary decided not to contact her parents until they had something positive to say to her. Something comforting. It always seemed to her that they waited on her to do something wrong so they can say "I told you so."