Suzie’s House 446 : Piercing Old Skin

Clearly the love of his life had no intention of discussing their problems. She sat in his chair, sipping coffee and reading his newspaper. Only, now that she paid for it, maybe the paper was hers. He had to give her that. But he didn’t buy into her plan of simply ignoring him until his very existence faded into nothing.

He waited until Gabriel left. Every time he tried to get something off his chest to either his wife or his daughter, Gabriel would step in and stop him. And every time Ethan would obey because he couldn’t help but think the guy might be right. Gabriel was just trying to help, but sometimes a man couldn’t get anywhere like that. After a quick wave and promises to call, Ethan went into the house to confront his wife.

He sat on the edge of the couch opposite the recliner with his hands clasped at knee level and waited until Sophie looked at him.

“I love you.”

Her eyebrows few up and her mouth made a little “Oh,” though no words came out. Her newspaper fell to her lap. She cleared her throat carefully. “Do you even know me?”

“Yes.”

“But I’ve been faking it all these years. I’m not that doormat. I never really was.”

“Yeah. I know.” He didn’t dare say he let it go on for so long because he thought it was cute.

“No, you couldn’t possibly love me.” Sophie bent her head down and waved a hand between them.

He wasn’t about to let her dismiss him so easily. “I have always loved you more than anything or anyone else.”

“Then how could you do it? How could you go back to her?”

He knew without being told exactly which “her” she meant. It was Deserea, his high school sweet heart. “I. Didn’t.” He ground the words between his teeth. “I tried to go see my father, to tell him about James and to ask him what to do.”

Sophie’s eyes narrowed. Maybe she thought they had already done everything they needed to do about James. It had been her idea to drive him out of town and drop him off while he was drunk. Except she probably didn’t mean for them to drive all the way to Des Moines.

“And what did your father say?” She arched an eyebrow at him. She’d never much cared for his father.

“He couldn’t say anything. He’s dead.”

“Oh. Oh, I’m so sorry.” She covered her mouth with her hand.

He didn’t try to explain. Maybe later, when they were on good terms again and he could explore all the pain without fear of even deeper emotional cuts. Right now, he had more than enough naked feelings to deal with.

Sophie recovered quickly. Her eyes flashed as she said, “But you still went to see her. I mean, she lives in the same town. The way you two were in high school…”

“I did…. I did see her… by accident. Her grave is two rows and a few headstones away from my fathers. I noticed it as I was walking past.”

Sophie’s face ran through so many emotions that Ethan could hardly keep up. First came the flushed red and drawn eyebrows of fury. Then all the color drained away and her hand came up to cover her mouth again. Wrinkles of confusion, suspicion, and worry all took their turns. He waited, not quite sure how her hurricane of emotion would hit him.

“Then… When? When did she die?”

“About three years after the two of us ran away together. So… almost twenty years?”

“How ironic.” She let out something half way between laughing and crying. The sound, eerie in its own way, couldn’t compete with the smile and tears. “All these years I’ve abased myself to you for fear that you would find out I tricked you, and go back to her.”

“I knew what you were doing all along. I knew you weren’t really pregnant. You didn’t trick me.”

“But then… why did you leave her? Didn’t you love her?”

“I did. I loved her very much. But I love you more. Always have.”

If you enjoy Suzie’s House and would like to see more, please leave a comment. Suzie’s House is powered by its readers.