She still couldn’t shake the previous night’s dream. She wanted so badly to forget the betrayal and deceit that ensued her every time she thought about the affair. Would he tell her best friend like he had threatened? How did she get to this place? She traced the frown lines on her face as she looked in the mirror. She didn’t even recognize the person staring back at her. Why did she allow things to get so out of control?
Just four weeks ago everything had been normal. She and Addison had planned a shopping spree to Macy’s and lunch at the golf course where they would meet up with Addi’s husband. He would plan to have one of his buddies join them for a blind date of sorts for Danielle. When Will showed up alone, Danielle wondered why his friend hadn’t wanted to join her. Little did she know that Will secretly longed to have her all to himself, if only for conversation at this point in time. Addison kissed him gently and began to show off some of the wares they’d purchased. Will took Danielle’s hand and gently squeezed it. “Sorry my friend couldn’t make it! Hope you’ll let me buy your lunch to make up for it.” Danielle smiled coyly and agreed. Will had always been a bit of a flirt and Addi just giggled so why not indulge him. This would be the beginning of many indulgences that began innocently but ended torridly.
The first time he kissed her she had been consoling him about Addi. He thought she might be cheating on him and had made it sound so convincing. Danielle knew that her friend was completely loyal and was sure if anyone were to know about an indiscretion it would be her. He went from weeping about Addi to lip locking with Danielle and then quickly apologizing. Danielle turned beat red and excused herself but his lips had tasted so sweet and he had made her feel like turnabout was fair play. When she got the text that they “needed to talk,” she thought that he wanted to apologize and set things straight. When she met him at the café and there was a candlelight lunch waiting, she knew that she had not understood the message. “Danielle I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I know Addi is going to leave me and honestly I’m fine with it.” Why did Danielle want to hear these words so badly? She knew that her friend was in love with her husband. There was no other man. She got up to leave and Will grabbed her arm and pulled her into him. Their lips touched for a second time and sealed her fate as an adulterer. There were many more lunches, dinners, and late nights. Will made Danielle feel as if their affair was the beginning of a new life. How could he spend his days with Danielle and his nights with his wife? Addi begin to confide in Danielle that Will was less attentive. That he made excuses for trying to conceive the baby she so desperately wanted. Danielle’s heart snapped when she realized her friend was trying to have a baby. She realized that Addi was truly committed to Will and he was enjoying leading his double life.
When she told him it was over he wept like a baby. Not the reaction Danielle had hoped for but regardless she was moving on. She asked that he keep it between them. It wasn’t necessary to hurt Addi and Danielle would keep a distance and possibly move out of the city to make things easier on everyone. “If you leave me I will tell her. I don’t care what happens to my marriage, I want you.” The words stung Danielle and honestly shocked her. He had to be bluffing. There was no way that Danielle could be the first of his affairs and most certainly wouldn’t be the last. He shook his fist at her as she walked away, threatening, yelling, and begging her to reconsider. As the rain began to fall she opened her umbrella. She felt like it cloaked her in darkness and her heart felt cold and lonely. She knew she was making the right decision but there was some awful hold Will had on her and she prayed it would lift as time passed.
When the phone rang and caller ID showed Addi’s cell phone her heart sank. He had told her. The selfish, indulgent loser had hurt his wife for no reason. Why did he have to do something so cold. “Hello?” Danielle figured it was best to confront the situation so they could both move on. “Danielle it’s Addi! I have some incredible news! I’m pregnant!”
