Love Among the Thorns by Empress LaBlaque Read Free Book Online Page A

on any task I asked of them. They’d do anything to be in each other’s company.
                One morning, after breakfast, Jeff announced that he and Clint were going fishing for the weekend. Although, I adored Clint, I had to attend a very important seminar in Dayton. It was imperative that Jeff stay with the kids. This time, Jeff was unusually persistent about going to the lake. Finding another sitter was out of the question, but Jeff didn’t seem to understand. “But Jeff, honey,” I pleaded, almost unacknowledged. “This seminar is very important.   It could mean a raise for me.   Can’t you and Clint go fishing next weekend?”  
                As usual, Jeff was cleaning up after breakfast. On hearing my reply, he paused, his large, round eyes held a pleading stare. When he saw I was not buying his exaggerated expression, he shrugged then continued to place the milk in the refrigerator. Standing upright, he bantered playfully, “Ah, come on, Celeste. I promise this will be the last trip until deer season. Come on, please—please—please,” he whined. His dark brown eyes squinted into a pitiful frown.  
                I could never resist Jeff’s humor. So, I fixed a smile across my lips. “No,” I teased. “Not this time.”   
                Jeff balked. “But Clint will be expecting me, sweetheart.” He reached for the butter and started to place it on the shelf in the refrigerator. “Baby, Fannie could keep the kids this time.   She loves the kids!”  
                I was lightly amused by my husband’s whimsical absurdity. I smiled, and again— “No,” I insisted. “Clint won’t mind this time.”  
                All of a sudden, Jeff grew a bit impatient. “Crap, Celeste. Fannie can keep the damn kids!”
                Shocked that Jeff would become angry enough to swear, I stopped sweeping. He hardly ever used profanity, especially after the kids were born. He usually had a happy-go-lucky attitude. I was appalled, but answered with a firm, “No, Jeff!” I couldn’t believe he had become so incensed. “Fannie’s children are visiting from out of town. She will want to spend time with them.”  
                Jeff almost threw himself down on the chair at the breakfast table. He was disappointed, and it showed.   Although I felt his frustration, I couldn’t give in. Feeling a need to console him, I calmly went over and affectionately cupped his freshly shaven face.   Pulling his face upward I gently kissed his lips. Angrily, he snatched away from my grasp.
                “You don’t understand, Celeste!” he complained.
                Jeff was trying my patience. I watched him storm around the kitchen, seething with hostility and self-pity. No, I couldn’t understand. “Jeff, what’s gotten into you? Babe, you know the kids come first.” It was as if I had slapped him. A tranquil appearance passed over him. There was no doubt that his kids were very important to him.
                “You’re right, Celeste,” he replied mechanically. “The kids are important.” His eyes held an icy stare. He quietly left the kitchen, gently closing the back door behind him. Shortly afterwards, I heard the car speeding away. I guess he was almost late for work. After all, he did have to open the store that day.
                Jeff enjoyed working at The Sports Center. It was the lifeline to his sanity. Manly things fascinated him. He constantly surrounded himself with the latest technology in hunting gear.  
                When I arrived at the office I hardly spoke to anyone, I was too engulfed in thought. I sat down at my computer. The turmoil of the morning echoed into a nasty headache. Why would Jeff become so infuriated about something so trivial? His behavior was senseless and severely out of place. Finally, I pacified myself, and proclaimed his