Chapter 1
Amelia Kendall stepped out of her scrubs, stuffed them into her backpack and hurriedly changed into her skirt and blouse. She struggled into her high heeled shoes and looked frantically at the time on her cell phone. She knew that if she didn't hurry, Jack wouldn't be able to eat lunch with her and she didn't want to miss him again. His job took up so much time lately that they had barely enough time to talk in the evenings before he drifted off to sleep. He had been away on business a week ago in Texas but told her that they might be able to meet for lunch sometime this week. She had decided to surprise him like they had always done during those years of marriage. His office building was just down the street from the hospital so she'd be able to get there with no problem. Her long hours at the hospital didn't help matters but she hoped that surprising him this way would be a good way to catch him. They had not had time to have a good talk in quite a few weeks even though they were married and living in the same room. It was odd for them to go through a spell like this. They had been inseparable in the five years they had been married and very happily married at that.
Jack was one of those men that every woman looks for. Not only was he handsome and smart, on closer reflection he was also a good communicator and friend. He was probably the best friend that she had ever had and she didn't make friends easily. Growing up the way she had made it hard to trust people but from the moment she met Jack she knew that he would be different. He had a way of looking at her that just said, "I love you" without words. She could be across the room, talking to anyone else but when he entered and saw her the feeling was instant. His eyes would light up, his face would soften and she would feel a warm glow that all was right between them. At least that had always been the way that it was until recently.
It was understandable that Jack wasn't acting like himself. Six months ago things had gotten hard. In the space of three months, he had found out his sister had cancer, been promoted at work and... Amelia tried to stop her thoughts as an instant ache returned to her heart. But the thought crept in anyway. And they had lost their first pregnancy to miscarriage. Amelia straightened her clothes in the mirror and brushed her hair smooth with hurried strokes. She threw her backpack on her shoulder and headed to the parking garage. She would normally have made the walk to his office building but she was already late.
Inside the car she hurriedly turned on the engine, and pulled smoothly out of her space. The ache of their losses became fresh in her mind. Jack's sister was almost ten years older and had become not only a sister but a surrogate mother to her here in Florida and she still felt the loss of her every day. Their intent was to name the baby after her if it was a girl. Carrie was always the first to encourage her when the pregnancy tests were negative. She researched fertility treatments for them. She was always so sure that they would conceive and was so positive all the time. Every time Amelia thought about her she felt guilty and sad. The pain of losing the baby shortly after losing such a vital part of their lives and the subsequent feelings had put a rift between them. Amelia knew it was her fault and she wanted to fix it. She had been distant, often escaping from Jack whenever he would try to comfort her or talk with her about it. She didn't know how to deal with it well, the pain was so raw and new, and she would often seclude herself to try to eliminate the pain. She had a hard time dealing with the loss and for the first time in their marriage Jack's presence only made things worse for her. Now that a few months had passed she was ready to open up again but Jack was distant.
In the past few weeks, Jack had been short during their conversations. He was usually the one to start conversations about everything when they were together, always curious about her cases at work and the juicy happenings of the hospital staff. She could tell that he was hurting and in need of a talk but when she tried to approach him, he would say only that he had a great deal of pressure at work and could they talk later. She tried to be patient with this but was hurt when he wouldn't talk to her. It just wasn't like him and she worried that her coldness had done some major damage to their relationship.
There were a few other things that had been bothering her, things that she couldn't quite get out of her mind. They seemed small at the time but now it was almost as if Jack were hiding something. It was out of character for him but she couldn't make the thought go away. Several times she had walked in while he was reading emails and he had quickly closed his account, trying to act nonchalant but looking nervous. Another time when they were together she opened his case from work to get out a pen and he nearly fell over trying to get it for her. She knew his face well and could see something near panic came into his face as he lurched toward her. She couldn't help thinking that he was keeping something from her. She shook her head and stopped the thoughts from invading again. All the more reason that lunch today would hopefully help them get back on square footing again. She wanted to find out what was happening with him and she hoped they could start today.
Parking in front of the building was scarce so she pulled into a spot in front of the neighboring building and got out of the car to feed the meter some quarters. After checking to see if the car had locked, she turned to walk toward Jack's building when she saw Jack emerge from the front doors with a purposeful walk. She was about a block behind him but saw him ahead of her. It was early afternoon and the sidewalk was busy in front of the building so she didn't try to call out to him. The heels she was wearing kept her from going fast and she worried that she would lose him. She pulled out her cell phone to call him and see if he would wait for her somewhere but the call went to voicemail. She saw him pull the phone out of his pocket and send her call to voicemail then he turned toward the neighboring building, The Hotel Lawrence.
It was not odd for him to visit with clients in the hotel's restaurant but picked up her speed in case he was meeting a client. She thought he might be meeting someone for lunch but as he entered he did not turn toward the restaurant but instead hurried into the lobby in the hotel. Amelia could see him through the clear glass doors and large windows that shone bright light in the afternoon sun. She saw him sit down and almost called out his name, when a woman approached from the elevator. Jack stood with his back to Amelia but she could see the woman's face clearly. They embraced and the woman's face was so happy as she hugged Jack that Amelia's heart nearly stopped. She watched the exchange with fascination, confused by the unexpected embrace. The woman kissed Jack's cheek and hugged him again. Jack's face was not visible but he did not turn away. Amelia approached quietly and the lobby was wide enough that she found an inconspicuous place to watch their conversation.
The woman sat down across from Jack and he scooted his chair forward as if wanting to be closer to her. She talked with great animation and laughed a few times at whatever he was saying. Then her expression got serious and she reached out for his hand. Jack's face was a picture of calm as took her hand in both of his, Amelia's heart ached, tears forming in her eyes, anger and hurt welled up in her chest. They sat like that for a few minutes, the woman's head was bowed and she appeared to be crying. Jack reached out several times to wipe away her tears. Amelia felt sick and she had almost decided to confront them when they stood up and Jack followed her to the elevators. Amelia was so surprised by this move that she couldn't make herself move an inch.
She watched Jack push the button and the elevator doors open as the woman stepped in first, Jack led her in with a hand on her back in a familiar way. Amelia moved toward the elevator as the doors shut. She watched the numbers climb to the 8th floor and stop. She couldn't believe that she did it but she went to the next elevator and followed suit. She held her breath as the elevator ascended hoping that her worst suspicions would not be confirmed. Her mind raced and just as the doors opened, Amelia glimpsed Jack and the woman in front of a door. The woman slid her card into the lock and opened the door and Jack followed her into the room and closed the door.
Amelia's whole body felt like it was on fire with anger and hurt and hot tears filled her eyes. She got out of the elevator and stood at the end of the hallway to watch the door but Jack did not emerge. She thought about confronting them and then thought better of it. She couldn't explain any of this and couldn't face Jack introducing her to someone he might be leaving her for. She wouldn't put herself through the humiliation of standing in front of them both. She just wanted out of there.
Tears flowed freely as she reached for the elevator down button and punched it furiously with her thumb over and over. Sobs racked her body as the elevator lowered her to the lobby but she wiped her eyes and composed herself and numbly but steadily walked through the lobby and out the front door to her car. She climbed in, put her head on the steering wheel and sobbed for a few minutes She watched the glass doors hoping to see Jack emerge. She didn't measure the time but as she sat and the minutes ticked by, her worries and imagination ran wild. She couldn't wait any more. She couldn't face Jack. She turned the key in the ignition and drove through the pain until she reached her house.
She opened the garage door with the opener and drove into the garage to park the car, walked steadily through the kitchen, up the stairs to their second floor bedroom and slowly sunk down on the bed and laid on her side. Shock filled every inch of her as she replayed the scene in her head, over and over again. It didn't make any sense and yet there it was. Jack with another woman. Jack wiping her tears, listening so intently, laughing with her, touching her. Jack following her to a hotel room. Was this really happening? This isn't Jack! Jack loves me. That woman was so familiar. Who was she? Amelia's mind whirled. She reminded Amelia of someone, a familiar face. She replayed the woman's image in her mind and an image crept around the edges of her mind. She got up out of bed and pulled her laptop off of her desk. There had to be an explanation for this.
Jack was one of those men that every woman looks for. Not only was he handsome and smart, on closer reflection he was also a good communicator and friend. He was probably the best friend that she had ever had and she didn't make friends easily. Growing up the way she had made it hard to trust people but from the moment she met Jack she knew that he would be different. He had a way of looking at her that just said, "I love you" without words. She could be across the room, talking to anyone else but when he entered and saw her the feeling was instant. His eyes would light up, his face would soften and she would feel a warm glow that all was right between them. At least that had always been the way that it was until recently.
It was understandable that Jack wasn't acting like himself. Six months ago things had gotten hard. In the space of three months, he had found out his sister had cancer, been promoted at work and... Amelia tried to stop her thoughts as an instant ache returned to her heart. But the thought crept in anyway. And they had lost their first pregnancy to miscarriage. Amelia straightened her clothes in the mirror and brushed her hair smooth with hurried strokes. She threw her backpack on her shoulder and headed to the parking garage. She would normally have made the walk to his office building but she was already late.
Inside the car she hurriedly turned on the engine, and pulled smoothly out of her space. The ache of their losses became fresh in her mind. Jack's sister was almost ten years older and had become not only a sister but a surrogate mother to her here in Florida and she still felt the loss of her every day. Their intent was to name the baby after her if it was a girl. Carrie was always the first to encourage her when the pregnancy tests were negative. She researched fertility treatments for them. She was always so sure that they would conceive and was so positive all the time. Every time Amelia thought about her she felt guilty and sad. The pain of losing the baby shortly after losing such a vital part of their lives and the subsequent feelings had put a rift between them. Amelia knew it was her fault and she wanted to fix it. She had been distant, often escaping from Jack whenever he would try to comfort her or talk with her about it. She didn't know how to deal with it well, the pain was so raw and new, and she would often seclude herself to try to eliminate the pain. She had a hard time dealing with the loss and for the first time in their marriage Jack's presence only made things worse for her. Now that a few months had passed she was ready to open up again but Jack was distant.
In the past few weeks, Jack had been short during their conversations. He was usually the one to start conversations about everything when they were together, always curious about her cases at work and the juicy happenings of the hospital staff. She could tell that he was hurting and in need of a talk but when she tried to approach him, he would say only that he had a great deal of pressure at work and could they talk later. She tried to be patient with this but was hurt when he wouldn't talk to her. It just wasn't like him and she worried that her coldness had done some major damage to their relationship.
There were a few other things that had been bothering her, things that she couldn't quite get out of her mind. They seemed small at the time but now it was almost as if Jack were hiding something. It was out of character for him but she couldn't make the thought go away. Several times she had walked in while he was reading emails and he had quickly closed his account, trying to act nonchalant but looking nervous. Another time when they were together she opened his case from work to get out a pen and he nearly fell over trying to get it for her. She knew his face well and could see something near panic came into his face as he lurched toward her. She couldn't help thinking that he was keeping something from her. She shook her head and stopped the thoughts from invading again. All the more reason that lunch today would hopefully help them get back on square footing again. She wanted to find out what was happening with him and she hoped they could start today.
Parking in front of the building was scarce so she pulled into a spot in front of the neighboring building and got out of the car to feed the meter some quarters. After checking to see if the car had locked, she turned to walk toward Jack's building when she saw Jack emerge from the front doors with a purposeful walk. She was about a block behind him but saw him ahead of her. It was early afternoon and the sidewalk was busy in front of the building so she didn't try to call out to him. The heels she was wearing kept her from going fast and she worried that she would lose him. She pulled out her cell phone to call him and see if he would wait for her somewhere but the call went to voicemail. She saw him pull the phone out of his pocket and send her call to voicemail then he turned toward the neighboring building, The Hotel Lawrence.
It was not odd for him to visit with clients in the hotel's restaurant but picked up her speed in case he was meeting a client. She thought he might be meeting someone for lunch but as he entered he did not turn toward the restaurant but instead hurried into the lobby in the hotel. Amelia could see him through the clear glass doors and large windows that shone bright light in the afternoon sun. She saw him sit down and almost called out his name, when a woman approached from the elevator. Jack stood with his back to Amelia but she could see the woman's face clearly. They embraced and the woman's face was so happy as she hugged Jack that Amelia's heart nearly stopped. She watched the exchange with fascination, confused by the unexpected embrace. The woman kissed Jack's cheek and hugged him again. Jack's face was not visible but he did not turn away. Amelia approached quietly and the lobby was wide enough that she found an inconspicuous place to watch their conversation.
The woman sat down across from Jack and he scooted his chair forward as if wanting to be closer to her. She talked with great animation and laughed a few times at whatever he was saying. Then her expression got serious and she reached out for his hand. Jack's face was a picture of calm as took her hand in both of his, Amelia's heart ached, tears forming in her eyes, anger and hurt welled up in her chest. They sat like that for a few minutes, the woman's head was bowed and she appeared to be crying. Jack reached out several times to wipe away her tears. Amelia felt sick and she had almost decided to confront them when they stood up and Jack followed her to the elevators. Amelia was so surprised by this move that she couldn't make herself move an inch.
She watched Jack push the button and the elevator doors open as the woman stepped in first, Jack led her in with a hand on her back in a familiar way. Amelia moved toward the elevator as the doors shut. She watched the numbers climb to the 8th floor and stop. She couldn't believe that she did it but she went to the next elevator and followed suit. She held her breath as the elevator ascended hoping that her worst suspicions would not be confirmed. Her mind raced and just as the doors opened, Amelia glimpsed Jack and the woman in front of a door. The woman slid her card into the lock and opened the door and Jack followed her into the room and closed the door.
Amelia's whole body felt like it was on fire with anger and hurt and hot tears filled her eyes. She got out of the elevator and stood at the end of the hallway to watch the door but Jack did not emerge. She thought about confronting them and then thought better of it. She couldn't explain any of this and couldn't face Jack introducing her to someone he might be leaving her for. She wouldn't put herself through the humiliation of standing in front of them both. She just wanted out of there.
Tears flowed freely as she reached for the elevator down button and punched it furiously with her thumb over and over. Sobs racked her body as the elevator lowered her to the lobby but she wiped her eyes and composed herself and numbly but steadily walked through the lobby and out the front door to her car. She climbed in, put her head on the steering wheel and sobbed for a few minutes She watched the glass doors hoping to see Jack emerge. She didn't measure the time but as she sat and the minutes ticked by, her worries and imagination ran wild. She couldn't wait any more. She couldn't face Jack. She turned the key in the ignition and drove through the pain until she reached her house.
She opened the garage door with the opener and drove into the garage to park the car, walked steadily through the kitchen, up the stairs to their second floor bedroom and slowly sunk down on the bed and laid on her side. Shock filled every inch of her as she replayed the scene in her head, over and over again. It didn't make any sense and yet there it was. Jack with another woman. Jack wiping her tears, listening so intently, laughing with her, touching her. Jack following her to a hotel room. Was this really happening? This isn't Jack! Jack loves me. That woman was so familiar. Who was she? Amelia's mind whirled. She reminded Amelia of someone, a familiar face. She replayed the woman's image in her mind and an image crept around the edges of her mind. She got up out of bed and pulled her laptop off of her desk. There had to be an explanation for this.
She logged into Jack's Facebook account to look at his friends, maybe it was someone he knew in from out of town. She scrolled down through the pictures, scanning their faces carefully but none of the women looked like her. She searched her memory trying to place the woman's face. She thought of Carrie, Jack's sister, and pulled out her phone to call her.
After three rings, Carrie picked up.
“Hello?” Carrie's cheery voice piped up.
“Hey, Carrie, it's Amelia.” Amelia said trying to sound normal.
“Hey, Ames! Aren't you still at work?” Carrie asked.
“No, actually,” Amelia replied. “I'm not.”
“Oh, sweetie, are you okay?” You don't sound good.”
“No, I guess I'm not,” Amelia said, on the verge of tears.
“Tell me what's wrong,” Carrie answered, concern ample in her voice.
“I saw Jack today.” Amelia paused and let out a breath, “I saw him with a woman. Downtown.”
Carrie didn't answer for a second, “With a woman?”
“Yes,” Amelia said, “In the hotel lobby.”
“Oh, was she a client?” Carrie asked.
“It didn't look like it.” Amelia went on hurriedly, “No, she wasn't. He was hugging her. They seemed really...” Amelia didn't want to go on, “Anyway, he followed her up to a room on the 8th floor. I stayed to see if he came out.”
Carrie was silent on the other end for a moment, “Amelia, you don't think...”
“I don't know what to think,” Amelia said with sadness, “Why would he go with her? Who is she?”
“What did she look like?” Carrie asked solemnly.
“I don't know. Maybe around Jack's age. 5'7”. Dark brown hair. Nice body.” Amelia said, “She was beautiful and really familiar. Was someone visiting from out of town?”
Carrie paused for longer than Amelia was comfortable with. “Ames” another pause. “Ames, you need to talk to him about this. Don't wait.”
“Why? What?” Amelia asked, hearing Carrie's hesitation.
“I can't talk about it but you need to talk with him, right away.” Carrie answered.
“Carrie, what aren't you telling me?” Amelia demanded. “What do you know?”
There was another long pause, “Hon, I'm sorry but this is all Jack.” Carrie sighed, “I wish I could explain. Talk to Jack and we can talk after that, okay?”
“Carrie, if you know something...” Amelia said.
“Hon, it's a long story and this really needs to come from him.” Carrie paused, “Just talk to him, okay?”
Carrie said sadly. “I need to go.”
“Okay,” Amelia said too confused to ask more questions.
“Bye, sweetie. Call me after you guys talk if you want,” Carrie said, “I'm sorry.”
“Yeah, bye.” Amelia answered softly.
Amelia sat in stunned silence for a few minutes. Carrie obviously knew what was happening. Amelia couldn't understand why she was not more forthcoming. Carrie was her best friend besides Jack in the entire world. Jack must have talked with her about the woman. The woman's face flashed into her mind again and all of a sudden the thought that was on the outskirts of her mind became clear. She gasped, jumping up off the bed and running to her husband's closet. She pulled out the mountains of scrapbooks that Carrie had painstakingly kept for him for years. She flipped furiously through the pages until she came to the one that she wanted and dreaded at the same time.
Amelia let out a small yelp as she stared at the photo. It was a picture of Jack with his high school girlfriend, Samantha. They were both smiling back from their prom photos and candid shots, and the thoughts surged forward like a tsunami wave. Samantha was Jack's first love, his first kiss, his first... Her heart clenched with disgust and sadness. Why was she here? How long had it been going on. Amelia thought back over the last few months and all they had been through and the feelings of betrayal grew. She stared at it for a few seconds before closing the book angrily. She threw the book back into his closet, ran straight to hers and began throwing clothes into her suitcase. She was packed in five minutes. She was so angry, so unwilling to think about it further that she didn't stop to leave a note or even pick up her toothbrush. She quickly went down the stairs and without stopping to do anything else got in her car, opened the garage and pulled onto the street. She stopped, crying and shaking as she dialed the number on her cell phone.
"Hello?" answered a kind voice on the other end of the line.
"Aunt Mere? It's Amelia. I'm coming home." Amelia said with sadness in her voice. Amelia heard some hesitation in her aunt's voice when she heard Amelia crying, softly.
"What's wrong? Is something wrong?" Aunt Mere asked. "Can I help you?"
"I'm coming home. I should be there late tomorrow night. Okay?" Amelia answered with an aching sob.
Amelia knew Mere was worried but she pressed on. "I need to go. Can I come?"
"Of course, my dear," Aunt Meredith answered softly.
Through tears Amelia said thank you and hung up, then powered off her phone. She didn't want to talk to anyone. Especially not Jack or Carrie and Aunt Mere would only have questions that were too painful to answer. She would be calling back any minute to talk and Amelia couldn't handle that right now. She got on the road heading north toward Georgia.
"Hello?" answered a kind voice on the other end of the line.
"Aunt Mere? It's Amelia. I'm coming home." Amelia said with sadness in her voice. Amelia heard some hesitation in her aunt's voice when she heard Amelia crying, softly.
"What's wrong? Is something wrong?" Aunt Mere asked. "Can I help you?"
"I'm coming home. I should be there late tomorrow night. Okay?" Amelia answered with an aching sob.
Amelia knew Mere was worried but she pressed on. "I need to go. Can I come?"
"Of course, my dear," Aunt Meredith answered softly.
Through tears Amelia said thank you and hung up, then powered off her phone. She didn't want to talk to anyone. Especially not Jack or Carrie and Aunt Mere would only have questions that were too painful to answer. She would be calling back any minute to talk and Amelia couldn't handle that right now. She got on the road heading north toward Georgia.
It would take about twenty-four hours to drive there but she didn't care. She would stop if she got sleepy. All she could think about was getting back to her home with Aunt Mere and Uncle George. Then she would figure out what to do. Then she could face this startling development. There she would be surrounded by people who loved her, that didn't keep secrets from her. She turned her radio to the hard rock station and raced north, away from Jack, and their life together, toward the one place, the two people that could give her comfort now.
I want someone to try to comment and let me know if it is working for anyone else. I'm new to blogging so I'm not sure how this works!
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