I don't really know what to think of this chapter. It wasn't easy for me to write. The truth is I hadn't planned for this chapter to turn out the way it did, but sometimes, for a writer, a story takes over and you have to let it lead you where it wants to go. Anyway, thank you all for supporting me. I hope you find this chapter to your liking. :)
(Ben)
For Emma's benefit I reached over and pulled the window shade down, blocking out the sight of the ground giving away to the sky. Takeoff seemed to bother her more than landing. I glanced at her, sitting across from me.
Her eyes closed, her hands were gripping the armrests of her seat. I lowered my gaze to her chest and saw it wasn't rising and falling. She was holding her breath. I held back a sigh and shook my head.
"Emma, stop holding your breath," I told her.
She opened her eyes.
"Breathe," I said. "You're going to be fine."
She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "I'm not flying again for a long time. Do you hear me?"
I nodded. "Loud and clear."
Emma unclenched her hands from the armrests, running a trembling hand across her forehead. She tightened her seat belt and folded her hands on her lap. "When we land are you going to the office or home?"
"Office," I answered. "I called for two cars. I figured you'd want to pick up Henry and go home."
"I do." She let out a sigh of relief as the plane leveled out. "That's better."
Once the seat belt sign went out, I removed my seat belt and grabbed my suit coat from the seat next to mine. I dug my cell phone out of the inside pocket and turned it on, checking to see if I had any messages.
Emma retrieved her phone from her bag. No sooner had she turned it on it started ringing. She answered it. "Hello?" She paused for a second. "Dean, it's good to hear from you. How are you?" Another pause. "Good. I'm looking forward to the wedding. I bet Abby is getting anxious."
I listened to her side of the conversation with a frown on my face. Who the hell was Dean?, and why was he calling Emma? I waited impatiently for her to wrap up the call. The minute she ended the call I demanded to know who Dean was.
"He's a friend from college," she replied.
"I don't believe I've met him," I said. "How long has it been since you last saw him?"
"Four months ago, I think." Emma put her phone away. "He was in town on business so we got together for dinner at the Baldwin."
My stomach clenching, I shifted slightly. So his name was Dean, the man she cheated on me with. In that moment I wondered if I should end it now, my plan of making her suffer. She had given me the perfect opportunity to do it. I studied her, trying to make a decision.
"Why are you looking at me that way?" she inquired, arching an eyebrow.
"I'm trying to decide something." I drummed my fingers on the armrest of my chair. "My decision will have a big impact on certain lives."
"Just go with what your gut is telling you," Emma said.
"Alright." I ceased drumming my fingers and sat up straighter. "I dropped by the hotel that night to meet your friend. Now that I know his name is Dean I'll call him that. I finished work early and thought I would join you and Dean for dinner. When I got there I ran into an old friend of mine. We hadn't seen each other in sometime so we found a quiet corner to catch up."
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Forgive (Available in paperback & eBook- SAMPLE)
RomanceBen and Emma Wellston were a happily married couple until an encounter one night changes Ben. Now he is angry, bitter, and distant. Clueless as to the reason why Ben changed all Emma knows is she can't take much more of his treatment. When thing...