Malice

-6

-Reagan-

There was absolutely no way I could work under the circumstances. Sure, I could make up one of those overly used, horrible excuses that nearly one hundred percent of 'abused' wives used like 'I ran into a wall' but I refused to go Lifetime movie on anyone. So, I simply just cancelled my appointments for the next several days. I knew it was going to put me in a horrible bind and no doubt I would lose a few clients over it but I was a well known realtor and it wouldn't take long to have things back in order.

Mentally, I felt sick. As much as I tried to convince myself that John 'didn't mean it' I knew better. I fully expected one of his half-assed apologies but all of Sunday he stayed locked in the office and early Monday morning he was gone. As much as I'd wanted to save things between us, I knew that it just wasn't gonna happen, on my end anyway. I needed to get out but the only way that would successfully happen was if Kingston Noel wasn't following me around.

I waited thirty whole minutes after John was gone before I left myself. By eight forty-five that morning, I was pulling into the Noel's driveway. This was ridiculous and quite childish. If I couldn't get through to Kingston, then surely June could. I just prayed that she would agree and convince her husband to stop this. It was none of his concern and I really didn't give a shit how much money John had paid him to follow me.

They lived in a family friendly neighborhood, much like the one John and I lived in, except it was a little more dated. There were 'children at play' signs on every block and a school bus stop even. I was feeling edgy as I made it up the porch steps to the front door and rang the bell. I thought about the many times we'd had dinner with Kingston and June over the years...How I had thought of them as good friends and how now, I felt completely betrayed by Kingston Noel. True, he had been friends with John far longer but this was ludicrous.

I almost turned to leave when I heard quiet footsteps on the other side of the red painted front door and a second later it opened up. June Noel stood on the other side of the threshold, looking quite sleepy. All of a sudden I felt bad for bothering them so early in the morning. Her red hair was tangled slightly and a robe was tied at the top of her protruding, pregnant belly. For a moment and not one longer, that longing to carry a child washed over me. Get over it Reagan, it's never going to happen.

"Oh...Reagan." June yawned and blinked her dark green eyes several times before they finally adjusted to the bright morning sunlight. When her gaze settled on my face, they popped open wide and she gasped, "Oh my God, Reagan. What happened?" Before I could answer her demand, June was pulling me inside of the dim, cool foyer of their home.

Really, I was in no mood to explain anything, so I just shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I'm sorry if I woke you. I was actually hoping Kingston was available?" Her gawking over my 'injury' made me shift uncomfortably and she frowned deeper. The gesture only made her more beautiful than she already was.

"Sure. I mean, he's still getting around but you can wait. Would you like some coffee or tea?" June asked. Just like that I could smell the coffee brewing and if I listened closely enough I could hear the machine groaning. My friend didn't wait for an answer, she turned and started down the hallway that I knew led to the kitchen in the back of their house.

"Coffee's fine." I answered, as if the whole pot I'd had this morning wasn't enough. Like the house, the kitchen was old-fashioned. While June made our cups, I took a seat at the island bar and waited. I couldn't help but feel envious of her life; one where she could carry a child and more than likely not have to deal with a secretive husband who was borderline abusive. I prayed that she wouldn't ask me about my face again.

Once I had a cup of hot coffee in my hands, June settled on the other side of the island to stand. For a few minutes, we made small talk. She asked me how things were going and of course, I lied. Its fine. Works fine. Life at home is fine. When quietness settled I decided to bring the matter at hand up, "I'm sure you didn't know this but, John hired Kingston to tail me."