The Bachelor's Bride

Chapter 13-Etta

The next day, I donned my best day dress and wrapped up Elliot into his warmest clothes. It was a chilly winter say out in New York and I couldn't have the little guy getting sick.

Today I would be meeting with Dr. Leroy Thomas. I had spoken with him through a correspondence of multiple letters after seeing an ad in the paper. He claimed that he could help get me vocals chords working again after doing a quick check up on the state of the scare tissue in my throat.

It was a decent walk to his office, especially with a heavy toddler in my arms. It left me looking slightly flushed and exercised.  I knocked on the hard oak door that led to Dr. Thomas's office.

A young man around Jack's age opened the door, smiling, "Hello, how may I assist you young lady?"

I handed him the introduction paper I had already prepared.

I'm Mrs. Etta Muller. We corresponded over treatment plans in regards to my throat. I'm here for my appointment.

"Mrs. Muller, of course! Come in!" He stepped aside, eyeing Elliot. "And who's the little guy? Your son?"

I scribbled my answer frantically, trying to balance Elliot carefully on my hip, No, I'm watching him for a friend.

"Ah I see. Well I believe I have a few children's toys around here somewhere..." He began searching through multiple boxes and bins before pulling one out successfully. "Ah here we are! He can hopefully occupy himself with these while I do a quick examination of your throat. Sit here please."

I got up onto the examination table and allowed him to poke and prod around in my mouth before he finally nodded, satisfied with his examination.

"The scar tissue is healing up very nicely. You are definitely on a road to recovery." Dr. Thomas said reassuringly. He helped me down from the table and I followed him to his office, taking a seat as I scooping Elliot onto my lap.

Do you think I might be able to ever talk again? I wrote out hopefully.

He nodded, "I do. But we will have to do some voice exercises to get your voice back to a somewhat normal state."

That's good news. I sighed with relief.

"It is, but this will take time and work. Are you willing to do that?" He asked. I nodded enthusiastically. He clapped his hands together. "Great! Now let's begin."
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"So, what did you do today?" Jack asked, taking a seat at the dinner table.

Elliot and I walked around the city today and then we had some lunch at the cafe.

I didn't tell him about Dr. Thomas. I didn't want him to know until I could tell him with my own voice.

"That sounds fun." He said, chewing on his piece of steak. "I've been looking into that factory fire for the newspaper article in writing. It's actually quite interesting. I currently have reason to believe that your boss purposely locked you girls up in that building so you couldn't escape the fire."

That's terrible!

I never liked to think about the fire because of the bad memories associated with it. But I could definitely see Mr. Jeffers doing something like that. Especially after I had blown him off and made him angry.

"I really want to catch whoever did this to you." Jack said, a look of determination in his gaze. "I know it wasn't an accident. I just have to prove it."

It's really sweet of you to look into it for all of us. Too many girls died that day.

I collected the empty dinner dishes as I began furiously cleaning. I didn't like thinking about that day and all of the girls bodies that had littered the ground.  I wiped away a tear that had escaped from my eye.

A warm pair of arms wrapped themselves around my waist.  Jack leaned his chin on my shoulder, "I didn't mean to upset you."

I shrugged, still scrubbing the plate in my hands. Jack sighed, gently prying it away from my red, raw hands.  He turned me around to face him, his blue eyes like calming ocean waves, "I won't talk about it anymore if it upsets you this much."

I shook my head, caressing his cheek to let him know it was okay.  Jack's gaze fell to my lips, making my skin blush fiercely.  Before I knew what he was about, his lips were on mine, devouring them. I gasped slightly when he bit my bottom lip, sucking on it.

My arms wrapped around his neck of their own accord as I twisted my fingers into his messy brown hair.  He pushed me against the counter, tilting my head back to get better access to my lips.

When I finally pulled back to catch my breath, my lips were swollen and red. Jack tested his head against my forehead, "Sorry. I got a little carried away."

I chuckled slightly and kissed his lips again, trying to remember his taste.
Jack stepped away, "We've got to stop now or I won't be able to stop myself."

I licked my lips slightly at his dare, but he kept his distance. I didn't want him to stop. He was my husband. Why did he have to stop for anything?

Unless he was embarrassed by me?  I hadn't thought of that.  Fear suddenly plagued me. It was possible.  I spun around and went back to cleaning plates, completely embarrassed by my actions.

"And now I've made you upset again." Jack sighed. "Etta, I'm sorry."

My shoulders stiffened, but I wouldn't turn around to look at him. I heard him sigh and leave the room.  I wiped away the tears on my cheeks. I needed to stop doing stupid things that would only break my heart into pieces.

Copyright © 2017 by Rosanna Parker
All Rights Reserved
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