later.” The college was in summer session and he’d purposely set up his classes at a decent hour.
“I’ve gotpreparation to do for it. Don’t you have meetings today?”
“In a few hours. Jared, this isn’t working between us. We’re frayed to our nerve endings.”
He slammed his briefcase on the table. “I told you what we should do. Go to therapy. It might help.”
“I can’t tell this to my sisters. How can I confess it to a stranger?”
“Sweetheart, listen to yourself. There’s nothing to
confess
. It’s a condition that afflicts, I might add, a lot of men! They go to seek help when they can’t get it up.”
“Or take a pill.”
“A temporary solution. Look, I’ll find the right person. Make the appointment. You just have to show up.”
“I can’t…”
He stalked out of the house, shut the door hard and tore out of the driveway. Ana cried all morning. What was wrong with her? Why wouldn’tshe seek help? She could start by telling one of her sisters the truth, then she could go to therapy with Jared. She’d pick Magdalena who understood everything. Or Sofia who had such powers of insight into human nature.
Feeling more positive after her catharsis, Ana showered, put on a peach sundress and strappy sandals and headed over to the school. There was time to see Jared before his class.Her steps were lighter as she made her way to his office.
Hmm. The door was closed. Maybe he was in a meeting. She went to take a peek through the blinds on the window and found them closed tight. He could be working. She knocked.
From inside she heard a low murmur of voices. He hadn’t said he had an appointment. Something niggled at her. So she knocked again. More voices. Now she wasgetting worried.
“Jared, it’s me, Ana. I know you’re meeting with someone, but I need to see you for a moment.” He’d be happy about her decision and wouldn’t mind the interruption.
More waiting. She was just about to knock a third time when the door opened, but only a foot. He didn’t look any different than he had when he’d left two hours ago. Yet he did. His hair, too long now, was messy.Okay, there was a bit of a wind outside. His cheeks were red. “Hi.” His voice was gravelly. Like it got after sex. Jared. Sex. Jared. Sex. Oh, my God.
Without saying more, she pushed open the door. Because her action surprised him, she managed to get a full view of the room. Once again, nothing appeared out of place. A woman sat in a chair in front of his desk, her back to them. Ana scannedthe room. The outside blinds were closed, too. And a blanket she’d bought for the couch was bunched up on the floor.
And she knew.
“Jared?”
“Honey, let’s go somewhere and talk.”
“Tell me this isn’t what it looks like.”
He said nothing. The woman—the woman she’d learn was Valerie Ashford—remained silent, faceless.
“Jared. Tell me!”
Finally, he said simply, “I can’t tellyou that, Ana. I’m so sorry.”
She stumbled away and raced down the hall. He called after her but she reached the stairway and flung open the door. He was right behind her as she started down.
“Ana, wait.”
She kept going. So did he.
And then she tripped. Tumbled down several steps until she hit the landing. From the floor, she looked up at him, her lip bleeding, her foot twisted.It was then she realized their marriage was over…
Straightening now, Ana stood and went to the sink to throw cold water on her face. Staring into the mirror, she took a hard look at herself. Was she still the vulnerable woman who’d lain broken and bleeding, physically and emotionally, as she had been back then? Had she learned anything in the past two long and lonely years? Was she going tosuccumb to the guilt and anger and shock again, which was her reaction to his affair? Or was she going to woman up and deal with this better?
oOo
Letter #9
Dearest Ana,
Words can’t express how bad I feel for what happened two days ago. I hate living
“I’ve gotpreparation to do for it. Don’t you have meetings today?”
“In a few hours. Jared, this isn’t working between us. We’re frayed to our nerve endings.”
He slammed his briefcase on the table. “I told you what we should do. Go to therapy. It might help.”
“I can’t tell this to my sisters. How can I confess it to a stranger?”
“Sweetheart, listen to yourself. There’s nothing to
confess
. It’s a condition that afflicts, I might add, a lot of men! They go to seek help when they can’t get it up.”
“Or take a pill.”
“A temporary solution. Look, I’ll find the right person. Make the appointment. You just have to show up.”
“I can’t…”
He stalked out of the house, shut the door hard and tore out of the driveway. Ana cried all morning. What was wrong with her? Why wouldn’tshe seek help? She could start by telling one of her sisters the truth, then she could go to therapy with Jared. She’d pick Magdalena who understood everything. Or Sofia who had such powers of insight into human nature.
Feeling more positive after her catharsis, Ana showered, put on a peach sundress and strappy sandals and headed over to the school. There was time to see Jared before his class.Her steps were lighter as she made her way to his office.
Hmm. The door was closed. Maybe he was in a meeting. She went to take a peek through the blinds on the window and found them closed tight. He could be working. She knocked.
From inside she heard a low murmur of voices. He hadn’t said he had an appointment. Something niggled at her. So she knocked again. More voices. Now she wasgetting worried.
“Jared, it’s me, Ana. I know you’re meeting with someone, but I need to see you for a moment.” He’d be happy about her decision and wouldn’t mind the interruption.
More waiting. She was just about to knock a third time when the door opened, but only a foot. He didn’t look any different than he had when he’d left two hours ago. Yet he did. His hair, too long now, was messy.Okay, there was a bit of a wind outside. His cheeks were red. “Hi.” His voice was gravelly. Like it got after sex. Jared. Sex. Jared. Sex. Oh, my God.
Without saying more, she pushed open the door. Because her action surprised him, she managed to get a full view of the room. Once again, nothing appeared out of place. A woman sat in a chair in front of his desk, her back to them. Ana scannedthe room. The outside blinds were closed, too. And a blanket she’d bought for the couch was bunched up on the floor.
And she knew.
“Jared?”
“Honey, let’s go somewhere and talk.”
“Tell me this isn’t what it looks like.”
He said nothing. The woman—the woman she’d learn was Valerie Ashford—remained silent, faceless.
“Jared. Tell me!”
Finally, he said simply, “I can’t tellyou that, Ana. I’m so sorry.”
She stumbled away and raced down the hall. He called after her but she reached the stairway and flung open the door. He was right behind her as she started down.
“Ana, wait.”
She kept going. So did he.
And then she tripped. Tumbled down several steps until she hit the landing. From the floor, she looked up at him, her lip bleeding, her foot twisted.It was then she realized their marriage was over…
Straightening now, Ana stood and went to the sink to throw cold water on her face. Staring into the mirror, she took a hard look at herself. Was she still the vulnerable woman who’d lain broken and bleeding, physically and emotionally, as she had been back then? Had she learned anything in the past two long and lonely years? Was she going tosuccumb to the guilt and anger and shock again, which was her reaction to his affair? Or was she going to woman up and deal with this better?
oOo
Letter #9
Dearest Ana,
Words can’t express how bad I feel for what happened two days ago. I hate living
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