The Driven

Chapter 14

Thea

Fuming was an understatement in describing the way Thea felt. She'd slept angry and woken up angry. She promised herself to stop trying, her husband simply didn't care. She could buy the whole world and he wouldn't notice.

The nerve of Hank to always show up like he was her band aid. She could take the disappointment, she didn't need Jamal sending his errand boy to ease her pain. She had to keep pretending not to be hurt by Jamal's lack of effort because Hank was always there observing. Sometimes, she just wanted to break down without a spectator.

Last night had been a total disaster. She had wanted her husband not Hank. It wasn't the first time he was showing up instead of Jamal. At first, it had made her smile that Jamal sent him to get her but now it was becoming a thing. An annoying one at that, she should have never allowed it in the first place.

Thea acknowledged that she shouldn't have taken it out on Hank last night. She knew how persistent her husband could get if he wanted something. She just expected Hank to be smarter, he was being used as a way out. Didn't he see that?

Thea went to the kitchen and went through her deliveries. She got some jewelry that needed work then saw a gift from Amber. Thea called her immediately.

"Thea, I'm very sorry for what I said the other day. I've just become so cynical that I forget there's true love and what you have with your husband is the real deal."

Thea doubted that. "Thank you, Amber."

She wanted to tell Amber that she was right. Something was making Jamal absent from home and she knew she was the thing. She had known for a while but had been in such denial. It wasn't normal to have a partner like Jamal, he never used pet names on her, he rarely touched her. She was fairly certain they never had sex on their wedding night, his version of event never added up. He had only said it to put her at ease.

Amber was talking about a new boutique she discovered while Thea was thinking about her failed marriage. She could have ended things earlier but it still wasn't too late.

"Amber, you were right," Thea said interrupting her.

"No, I wasn't. I'm sorry I got in your head and that's why I sent you the present, it'll spice up your married life."

Thea smiled and looked at the small present. "What is it?"

"It's a surprise for you and your husband, you should try it. I can promise you wouldn't regret it, and I've taken care of everything."

"Everything?"

"Yes, just go to the location on the card."

Amber was so tight lipped about the present and Thea smiled again. One thing Amber was good at was making people happy. Thea was suddenly in a better mood.

She opened the present after ending the call and a card fell from her hand. She picked it up and read the address scribbled on it, she looked at the back of the card and it was plain. Thea sent the address to Jamal. She kept her text cryptic but urgent, the suspense would get him to come.

Thea was looking forward to the end of the day, if Amber's gift was going to help her marriage she was down for it. All thoughts of ending her marriage left her mind and she sang as she made breakfast.

Hank came in later than usual but she was too happy to be mad at him. She served him breakfast and waited until he finished with his meal.

"Hank, I'm sorry for last night. I know none of this is any of your fault, you were only trying to help and I shouldn't have snapped at you." Hank stared in surprise and she smiled at his reaction. "I know how hard my husband likes to work. Maybe, I should be more understanding."

He drank water and looked at her. "It's fine and you were right, I shouldn't have been in the middle."

"Water under the bridge," she reassured him. "I'll get ready for work."

She went to her room and prepared for work. Something told her Amber's gift was going to be very helpful. Her morning went smoothly as if the universe was working in her favor that day. She finished all the jewelry she was working on and didn't even snap when a customer called to complain about a bracelet she'd fixed.

Thea left the office early and dismissed Hank. She rushed to a boutique and bought a new pair of heels and dress. By the time it was 6:30 pm, she was on her way to the address on the card. She called Amber on her way and she helped her calm her ragging nerves.

The address was on a lonely road and Thea looked at the plain building when she arrived. Thea took her purse from the back seat before going in. The receptionist who was even plainer than the building asked for her invitation card before directing Thea to room 419. Thea used the key card she was given to enter the perfectly furnished room.

It looked nothing like the exterior of the building. The light was warm and the atmosphere was therapeutic, Thea dropped her purse on the sofa. She looked around and noticed a large bedroom with king sized bed, there was a bathroom with pink bathtub and Thea went back to the living room.

Thea called Amber again. "Amber, what is this place?"

"Just wait and see. Is Jamal with you?"

"Not yet. He should be on his way."

"Enjoy your intervention," Amber said and ended the call.

Intervention? Were they going to be assigned a therapist? Thea wanted to seek professional help for her marriage so if this was going to be a sit down with a therapist, she had a lot to say.

She got comfortable on the sofa then crossed her legs. Her husband hadn't seen her in days, she hoped he liked her outfit. She used more lipgloss before calling him. Jamal wasn't picking and she tried not to panic. What was an intervention without his presence? He wasn't going to have her looking like a fool, would he?

The door opened and her smile faded when she saw a tray of refreshments. She started pacing immediately the door closed. She called Jamal again and his line was busy, he was either on his way or trying to call her.

Her heart beat raced when she heard a knock, he was finally here. Thea couldn't contain her smile, she rushed to the door and opened it then closed it immediately she saw Hank.

He didn't come. The disappointment coursed through her body and she felt so lightheaded. She heard a knock again and opened it. Thea ignored Hank as he walked in, and she poured herself some drink from the fancy bottle on the table.

Hank was looking like he was expecting her to curse him all over again. Little did he know that she was drained. Jamal used him as a cop out and she used him as the target of her rage. He was pathetic and so was she.