Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 17

Mark sat quietly in the church study room with his Bible open in front of him, glancing down at his phone. It had been weeks, and he needed feedback from John. Impatience gnawed at him; he couldn't wait any longer. He sighed and picked up his phone to call John. However, John didn't answer.
"Come on, John... pick up," he muttered, dialing the number again. Finally, John picked up.
"Hello," John greeted.
"John, any progress?" Mark asked, sitting up.
""I've been searching for her, just as I promised," John replied amidst background noise.
"No progress?" Mark inquired.
"Nothing," John responded. "However, the money you gave me is finished, and I'd like some more. Maybe a hundred thousand dollars this time."
Mark fell silent upon hearing John's request.
"You can make it two hundred if you want to be generous," John added.
Mark sighed, running his palm across his face. "Cash or check?"
"Check would be better," John quickly replied.
"I'll send you the money," Mark said in a low voice. "Just do whatever it takes to find her."
"You're a good man," John acknowledged. "Alright, I'll update you. Bye."
The call ended, leaving Mark with a silent plea: "God, please bring her back to me."
The door to the study room opened, and someone entered. Mark didn't care who it was, as long as they remained quiet. But when he heard the voice, he froze. It was Amanda—the last person he wanted to see.
"It seems it's just both of us here again," Amanda said, approaching him. Mark remained silent, refusing to look at her as she leaned against the table beside him.
"So... Mark, why are you here? It's past ten PM already," she inquired, studying his profile.
"Amanda, go home. I'm busy," Mark replied curtly.
"But I only came to thank you for the other night..." Amanda began, looking around the study room. "That was the best sex of my life."
"Amanda, we're in church," Mark reminded her.
"I was just complimenting," she continued, starting to caress his arm. "Are you really bothered that you cheated on Emily?" she whispered. "Don't be. Wherever Emily is now, I'm sure there's a man fulfilling her desires too. We're all human, all married. She's been away for over four months—Emily is in need. She can't survive without someone to depend on. She's probably depending on a man, and you know men don't give things for free," Amanda said, giggling. "If you catch my drift."
Mark's mind nearly shut down. Amanda's words echoed in his head, planting seeds of doubt and fear. What if Emily was indeed resorting to such desperate and immoral measures? The mere thought made his heart race, his thoughts spiraling out of control. He couldn't bear to imagine his beloved wife, the woman he cherished, engaging in such actions. He felt like he might pass out from the weight of it all.
"So you see, you're both doing it, just with different people," Amanda remarked with a smile, her words cutting through Mark's turmoil.
"What do you want, Amanda?" Mark asked, attempting to regain his composure.
"You," she whispered seductively.
"You're out of your mind," Mark replied, looking at her in disbelief.
Amanda chuckled softly. "Call me whenever you need me. I'll be waiting at your house," she said, pecking him on the cheek. "And a little financial support wouldn't hurt, you know," she added, kissing him again.
"Amanda, are you—" Mark began, but she interrupted him.
"Shh... no profanity in the church, Pastor Smith," she teased, straightening up. "I'll catch you later," she winked, then dropped a bombshell. "Oh, Mark, there's a rumor circulating in the church that Emily has left you."
Mark's eyes widened in shock, though he refused to meet Amanda's gaze. Deep down, he knew it was inevitable. Emily's prolonged absence couldn't be masked as a mere vacation forever.
With a playful blow of a kiss, Amanda walked out of the room, only to encounter Jonathan standing in the corridor.
"Jonathan," she greeted with a smile. "Do you have an appointment with Pastor Smith?"
"No, Sister Amanda," Jonathan replied respectfully. "I just need his counsel. It's abrupt."
"Alright, may God be with you both," Amanda said, smiling up at the tall teenager. "It was an enlightening session with him," she added before exiting.
Jonathan entered the study room, closing the door behind him.

##^**^#%^

Emily carefully arranged the dishes on the round table, ensuring they were placed just right before addressing the men seated there.
"Enjoy your meal," she said with a polite smile. The restaurant wasn't bustling with customers today, and this was the last table she needed to attend to. Slowly making her way back to the kitchen, Emily felt the weight of her pregnancy bearing down on her. At five months along, her bump was becoming noticeable, and she found herself increasingly allergic to various things. To add to her struggles, fatigue was a constant companion.
Meanwhile, John entered the restaurant, his feet weary from a long day. He had traveled to San Jose for a seminar and found himself ravenous. Spotting the restaurant, he decided to give their food a try, opting for a seat in the corner where he could peruse the menu in peace.
Sophie, taking a break from her lollipop, glanced over at Emily resting by the counter.
"A Chinese man just walked in, Emily," she called out, drawing Emily's attention to his table.
"Oh," Emily straightened up, grateful for the heads up. "Thank you, Sophie."
Sophie couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity. Why was a pregnant woman working such long hours? Did she have no other options?
"If you're feeling tired, I can handle..." Sophie started, but Emily interrupted.
"I'm fine," Emily reassured her with a soft laugh. "Thank you, Sophie." With that, Emily made her way over to John's table, who was still engrossed in the menu.
"Hello, sir," she greeted him warmly.
As John looked up at her voice, he froze in surprise. Emily—his client's wife and the woman he'd been searching for—stood before him. What was she doing here? It made sense for her to flee Los Angeles, but he hadn't expected to find her in a restaurant.
"How may I help you, sir?" Emily asked, oblivious to the tension in John's voice.
John's heart raced, but then he realized something—Emily didn't know him. She didn't even know about her husband's therapy sessions. He needed to be sure it was her. Glancing down at her hand, he spotted her wedding ring, confirming her identity. Her stomach seemed fuller than in the pictures—was she still pregnant with Mark's child?
"I'm sorry, sir, if you're still deciding on your order, I can come back later," Emily offered, her warm smile faltering slightly.
"I'd like a plate of French fries with three chicken wings and a cup of vanilla milkshake," John replied quickly.
Emily's smile faded as she processed his order. He spoke so fast, she barely had time to jot it down.
"Vanilla milkshake?" she confirmed, to which John simply nodded. With that, Emily walked away to fulfill his order, leaving John to examine the pictures Mark had sent him earlier. There was no doubt—Emily was the one he'd been searching for. Thank goodness.