Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 18

Mark wrapped things up at the office after a very long day and then planned his long awaited reunion with his one true love. Much time had passed with no contact with Sarah. He left her alone for nearly two and half months.
"That should be plenty of time for her to have relaxed a little bit. For her to get comfortable in her new life. Time to make a move." He sneered. Once Mark got home he began to tidy up the house he had ripped apart months earlier. He left it trashed up this long as a reminder of that rage, gave him incentive to carry out his plans to once again claim his wife.
"She should never have played these games with me. She should have known better and learned that I am the boss and then we would not be in this silly predicament." He reasoned. "And I will tell her just that. She will finally see things my way. I own her and no one else. And then we will take care of Mr. Magnificent." He silently planned in his head. "Oh yes the time is drawing near. She will never expect what's coming her way!" Mark snickered at all the thoughts running through his head as he picked things up and put them back where they belonged. He bought new frames to reframe the lovely faces of his wife and rehung them on the wall.
"There, all  done!" He chuckled again as he made his way to the shower.

******************************************************************************

A little more than two months had passed and Sarah's life had been uneventful as far as Mark was concerned. She thought about how wonderful Steve and her had been as she got dressed for work that morning. She now woke in new spirits every morning! She walked out to the kitchen. "Good morning Mel!"

"Well good morning sunshine. What time did you get in last night?"

"Now I can't tell you everything Mel!" Sarah giggled.

"Oh that is sinful Sarah!!

"Guess what!?"

"Ok, what?"

"Guess where Steve and I are going?"

"Must I guess, wouldn't it be so much easier to just tell me?" Melanie teased with a smile.

"Ok you win, I will just tell you! We are going to the courthouse. I am finally going to start the divorce proceedings."

"Sarah that is wonderful! But I thought you said you were not quite ready to do that, that you have been feeling a little anxious over it, what has changed."

"Well Steve and I have been talking more about it, and for us to move forward in our relationship I need to end this one with Mark." she explained. "And besides that I have not heard from Mark, so maybe he has moved on you know? I don't want to sit around being afraid of 'what if' anymore."

Melanie walked over to her friend and gave her a hug, "That is awesome Sarah, I am so happy for you, I am glad you are ready to move forward."

Sarah broke away, "It is time Mel, it is time for me to live."

"Steve sure is something else Sarah. You have a wonderful man there." Sarah broke out in a big beautiful smile and agreed. There was a honk outside.

"Oh..." Sarah said taking a sip of coffee, "...that is for me! Got to go Mel, I will see you this evening!" She gave Melanie a kiss on the cheek and was out the door! Melanie was so happy to see Sarah finally content with her life. She certainly deserved all the happiness she could get and Steve seemed to be showering her with it.

************************************************************************

"Ok that is all we need! You will hear from us when your court date is set up!"
"Thank you sir, you have been most helpful!" Sarah said to the Attorney. She looked over at Steve with a smile. "When will my husband be....uh served?" she asked with a concern.

"It should be no later than three days."

"Ok thank you!" Sarah said as she stood up and Steve joined her in rising.

"Ms. Hascom?"

She turned to look back at her attorney, "Yes...?"

"We will make this as painless as possible. It should go smoothly though since there are no children involved, and you agreed to let him have the house."

"Thank you Mr. Peterson, I am hopeful."

As they drove, Sarah allowed her mind to wander and became a little anxious. She remembered the little threats that Mark had made to her. Why did she always let him make her so damn uneasy! She had not heard from him in two months, so why now is she feeling like this.

 "Steve..?"

"Yes sweetheart."

"Can you not take me home just yet?"

"Sarah what is wrong?"

"Oh just a little uneasy, everything seems to be going along a little too easy for me, don't you think?"

"I think you let your mind get too busy, that is what I think. But we can go to my house if you'd like." She looked at Steve and smiled. And again let her mind drift off, but this time with thoughts about Steve. How did she get so lucky to find such a wonderful man. How could he have ever found her so attractive. He knew a lot of her little habits, her quirks, and yet he treated her as an equal to himself. She could say anything she wanted to him when they had a little disagreements, and not have to worry about repercussions.

"What are you thinking about...?" Steve asked.

"I am thinking about how wonderful my life is here with you. How you have made everything perfect for me." Steve pulled off onto a little lookout spot and stopped the car. He took Sarah's hands within his own.

"Sarah, I have found a new life myself. I want you to know that I will always do my best to show you happiness. I want to share my entire life with you and you alone." Steve paused for moment gathering his thoughts. "I think about you day in and day out, sometimes so much it hurts. And when we are not together it seems like my life is empty. I am whole when I am with you. I love you Sarah, I know it seems so fast for both of us, but it feels right."

Sarah shook herself from the state she was in and gave Steve an incredible hug and whispered in his ear "I love you too Steve!" The tears were flowing freely from her eyes, but for once the flowed out of happiness. Steve held her even closer. They remained like that
until they had the strength to let go. Steve looked into her eyes and then softly kissed her lips, eyes, cheeks, and back to her lips. Sarah giggled happily as she returned the favor. They drove off and headed to Steve's house.

**********************************************************************************

Sarah woke up to someone lightly shaking her. She opened her eyes and saw Steve standing there over her with a warm smile, and still in his P.J.'s. She couldn't help but think how delicious he looked standing there even though they slept separately.

"Wake up my sleeping beauty."

"No, you did that all wrong..." she explained. "You are suppose to kiss your sleeping beauty awake." she giggled.

Steve leaned down and gave her a seductive kiss good morning. "Did you sleep well my dear?"

Sarah grabbed ahold of him and pulled him into her bed. "I did sleep very well, thank you." He rolled on top of her, kissing her neck, and moved to her ear. Sarah was breathless and clung to him.

In the distance they heard the faint ring of the phone. "Uh...maybe I should get that..." Steve said in between kisses.

"The machine will pick up." she returned each kiss that Steve gave her. They were lost in their own world. Her life finally seemed to have meaning, she found that one person she could share everything with, for real this time.