Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 6

Sarah pulled into the driveway and grabbed her new purchase. She climbed out slowly not really wanting to be back in the same house as Mark. She got to the front door and opened it. She quietly walked in the house hoping that Mark might have fallen asleep. She laid the keys on the table, and walked in to the kitchen and prepared to cook the steak. She pulled out the frying pan, the one Mark insisted that she used for his steak. After she got it started she decided to go check and see if Mark was sleeping. She tip toed to the bedroom, and took a peek around the doorway. There lay Mark sleeping on the bed. She turned, pulled the door shut and headed back to the kitchen. She pulled a soda from the fridge, and sat down at the table. Her cheek and lip began to throb again, but the ice earlier in the day helped in reducing the swelling. She began thinking about tomorrow, and if she could pull it off. She knew she would putting Melanie in jeopardy, but what if it was like she said? What if she would really be protected? This could be her happiness. She could actually survive. She knew Melanie would help her as best she could. All the thoughts actually brought a small smile to her lips. The steak was crackling loudly, and brought her out of her dream world. "Oh my goodness, please don't be burnt, please, please!"

She ran to the stove, and lifted the lid. She quickly flipped and steak, and breathed a sigh of relief. She turned the flame down, and added some more seasoning. And out of no where, she spit on the steak. She did not know why she did that. Maybe out of revenge for all that he had done to her. She gently wiped her lip, and recovered the steak. She headed back to table to sit back down when there was a light knock on the door. "Now who on earth could that be?" she asked to herself. She walked to the door and opened it to the stunning stranger who
she first met at the Super Mart.

Sarah really was taken aback by his good looks, height, and voice. "Uhhhh hello..." she said softly. "Can I help you?" As she turned to look over her shoulder. He stared at her a moment longer, and blinked himself out the daze he was in.

"Oh yes..uhh.." he stuttered. "You dropped this at the Super Mart." He said as he handed her driver's license. Sarah looked at it in surprise.

"Oh sir thank you, I had never realized."

"Steve..." he said holding out his hand. "My name is Steve, and nice to meet you."

"Well nice to meet you too Steve, " Sarah whispered. "I am sure you know by my license that my name is Sarah." she said slightly smiling. "How can I ever thank you for returning this to me?"

"Well how bout inviting me in for a cup of coffee, it got a little chilly this evening." he said. Sarah looked over her shoulder again.

"Uhh..I don't think that would be a good idea." she explained. Steve had a good idea of why, but he felt he needed to get to know her better.

"Ok I'll tell you what.." he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and pen. "...here is my number, call me when you want to pay up." He handed her his number with a wide grin.

"Oh, I don't know if that would even be possible Steve, I am married...."

Steve cut her off. "I know Sarah....but think about it ok? It is just a cup of coffee" he told her smiling. For a moment they stared into one another's eyes. Sarah shook herself out of her daze, suddenly realizing she was in a dangerous situation. "Well, ok then I will certainly consider it." she whispered. "Thank you again Steve." 

"You are quite welcome, take care." Steve whispered back with a smile. And with that he turned and walked away. Sarah watched him as he reached his car, and gave him a quick wave, and closed the door.

Sarah remembered the steak on the stove and ran to the kitchen. She lifted the lid and a wonderful aroma escaped the confinements of the pan. She flipped the steak, and she got lucky once again. She jabbed a knife in and the steak looked perfect. She recovered it and lowered the flames a bit more. She then prepared a nice light salad with Italian dressing. She wished that she felt like eating, because the steak smelled so tempting, but her face and lip just hurt too badly. She knew she had to go wake Mark so he could eat. She was finding it hard to do so. She made her way to the bedroom and around to Mark's side of the bed. "Mark..." she whispered gently shaking him. "...your dinner is done." Mark slowly came to, and began rubbing his eyes. He looked at Sarah distantly, almost like she wasn't there. Sarah began walking away and said "Come on Mark, it will get cold." With that she walked out of the room.

Sarah pulled a plate out of the cabinet and laid the steak on it, she heated some corn in the microwave to go with it. She then made him a dish of salad, and had it all on the table before Mark ever got out of the bedroom. She made sure the tv was on and the channel to the news. While she prepared all of this she realized how routine her life was. How sad it was to live her life over and over as if the day never changed into the next. She joined Mark at the table and dished herself her own salad. It was very painful taking that first bite. But the salad was good to her. She caught herself consistently drifting back to the tall stunning man whom she met at the mart. He had beautiful green eyes, jet black hair, and that voice was to die for. She caught herself smiling and decided she better tune back into her reality there at the table.

"So were you able to buy anything at the Bazaar?" Mark asked her.

"Well it was something Mark, I found a dress that I really liked, and I went to go buy it, and found all my money was gone. I wonder what happened to it?" Sarah announced bravely.

"Well you do misplace things a lot." he retorted

"I agree sometimes I do Mark, but I would not misplace a hundred dollars!"
"So what are you insinuating my dear?"

That was as brave as Sarah dared to get. She was sure she got her point across to Mark that she knew he had taken her money.

"Nothing Mark, I am sure it is around here somewhere." Sarah lowered her eyes, she began to think about her plans tomorrow, and if she could actually pull it off. She knew Mel had been right saying that she needed to get out and soon! Time was ticking down, she felt it.

"What time are you working tomorrow Mark?" she asked

"Same time as usual seven am. But tomorrow is my overtime day, so can you please be sure you have dinner on the table for when I get home. It will be a very busy day for me and I will be really hungry when I get home!"

"Of course Mark."

"Look Sarah, I am really sorry about earlier, but you know the rules. I have set rules that I need you to live by. Things go much more smoothly that way. You know this Sarah. And when you defy me by not following the rules, I get agitated."

"I know Mark, and I am sorry too." Sarah said playing it smart. She lowered her eyes painfully waiting for the conversation to be over.

"Good, looks like you are finally learning who is boss in this house!" He told her, making her feel quite small and used. Sarah glared at him after his last statement, and rose from the table to take her dish to the kitchen. Mark reached out and snatched her arm, and pulled her into his lap. "How bout a lil lovin darlin?"

"Mark, I really do not feel like it right now. I want to clean up and go relax with a book." Mark grabbed her face in his hand and forced a kiss on her. Sarah winced in pain, and bared the intrusion into her space. He finally released her, and she quickly jumped up.

Tears were stinging her eyes and threatening to fall. Sarah managed to hold them back until she stood over the sink and rinsed her dish, the tears readily fell then. In the meantime Mark stripped down to his shorts and laid out across the couch focusing on the news. He threw his clothes in the bedroom doorway. She looked over at him and felt sick. How did he ever fool her into loving him? And now she felt so trapped, and so insecure. She realized that their marriage vows really meant nothing as her love for him slowly wasted away into nothing.  Six long years she has given him and she has to wonder for what? She proceeded with cleaning up, always careful to keep an eye on him at all times.