leftovers in the microwave, then waited for it to signal it was ready, when her doorbell sounded.
No , she silently yelled. She wasn’t up for visitors. She wanted nothing more than to eat her dinner while getting lost in some comedy on television before falling into a deep sleep.
She thought about ignoring the person, but when the door chimed again, she knew she had to answer. It may be one of her neighbors who’d spotted her coming in. If she didn’t answer, they’d know she was purposefully ignoring them.
She slowly made her way to the front door, gritting her teeth when the bell went off for a third time.
“Have some patience,” she muttered.
She yanked the door open, really hoping her face didn’t show her irritation at being interrupted.
She was ready to say hello when her good start to the weekend, instantly crumbled.
She was left speechless as she looked across the threshold at the one person she’d been hoping to avoid at all costs.
Joseph…
His arrogant face took in her short robe, slightly gaping open at her neck, then slid down to her bare legs, before he leisurely assessed her flushed face.
His arms were framed in the doorway, preventing her from slamming the door shut in his face. He smiled like a panther would just before pouncing.
“I have a question for you that couldn’t wait until tomorrow,” he said as if they had spoken yesterday instead of five years previously.
She was sure her face registered shock, because his grin grew wider as he continued looking deep within her eyes.
“Did the man you cheated on me with make you cry out the way I did with nothing more than a kiss?”
“He did not say that!” Emily gasped.
Katherine blinked as she looked around the room full of people, feeling like she was coming out of a trance. She’d forgotten she was even telling a story. For those few minutes, she’d been back at that day. The day Joseph returned to her.
“Yes, dear, he did,” Katherine said with a chuckle.
“I really hope you slapped him,” Amy said.
“What happened next…” Katherine began before a monitor alarmed and everyone went silent, fear written on their faces. Several nurses ran into the room, including Kinsey, and began pushing buttons, before the noise stopped.
“It’s okay, everyone. One of his wires just came loose,” Kinsey quickly assured them.
“Thank you, dear,” Katherine said as she bent down and kissed Joseph on the forehead.
She finally looked around and noticed Bree and Austin had joined them. She’d been so focused on her past, she hadn’t noticed her niece and nephew step inside.
“Are you going to continue, Aunt Katherine?” Bree eagerly asked.
“I’ll tell you more tomorrow. I’m tired right now, sweetie,” Katherine replied. “Can you give me a ride to the house, Lucas?”
“Of course, Mom.”
Lucas placed her arm through his and she leaned on her son as he led her from the hospital. She hated to leave Joseph, even for a few hours, but she needed to clean up and gather more supplies. She knew, though, that she’d end up back at the hospital to spend the rest of the night beside her husband. She’d slept beside him too many years to do it alone now.
Chapter Six
“Are you ashamed of me, Esther
No , she silently yelled. She wasn’t up for visitors. She wanted nothing more than to eat her dinner while getting lost in some comedy on television before falling into a deep sleep.
She thought about ignoring the person, but when the door chimed again, she knew she had to answer. It may be one of her neighbors who’d spotted her coming in. If she didn’t answer, they’d know she was purposefully ignoring them.
She slowly made her way to the front door, gritting her teeth when the bell went off for a third time.
“Have some patience,” she muttered.
She yanked the door open, really hoping her face didn’t show her irritation at being interrupted.
She was ready to say hello when her good start to the weekend, instantly crumbled.
She was left speechless as she looked across the threshold at the one person she’d been hoping to avoid at all costs.
Joseph…
His arrogant face took in her short robe, slightly gaping open at her neck, then slid down to her bare legs, before he leisurely assessed her flushed face.
His arms were framed in the doorway, preventing her from slamming the door shut in his face. He smiled like a panther would just before pouncing.
“I have a question for you that couldn’t wait until tomorrow,” he said as if they had spoken yesterday instead of five years previously.
She was sure her face registered shock, because his grin grew wider as he continued looking deep within her eyes.
“Did the man you cheated on me with make you cry out the way I did with nothing more than a kiss?”
“He did not say that!” Emily gasped.
Katherine blinked as she looked around the room full of people, feeling like she was coming out of a trance. She’d forgotten she was even telling a story. For those few minutes, she’d been back at that day. The day Joseph returned to her.
“Yes, dear, he did,” Katherine said with a chuckle.
“I really hope you slapped him,” Amy said.
“What happened next…” Katherine began before a monitor alarmed and everyone went silent, fear written on their faces. Several nurses ran into the room, including Kinsey, and began pushing buttons, before the noise stopped.
“It’s okay, everyone. One of his wires just came loose,” Kinsey quickly assured them.
“Thank you, dear,” Katherine said as she bent down and kissed Joseph on the forehead.
She finally looked around and noticed Bree and Austin had joined them. She’d been so focused on her past, she hadn’t noticed her niece and nephew step inside.
“Are you going to continue, Aunt Katherine?” Bree eagerly asked.
“I’ll tell you more tomorrow. I’m tired right now, sweetie,” Katherine replied. “Can you give me a ride to the house, Lucas?”
“Of course, Mom.”
Lucas placed her arm through his and she leaned on her son as he led her from the hospital. She hated to leave Joseph, even for a few hours, but she needed to clean up and gather more supplies. She knew, though, that she’d end up back at the hospital to spend the rest of the night beside her husband. She’d slept beside him too many years to do it alone now.
Chapter Six
“Are you ashamed of me, Esther
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