Love of a Lifetime by Emma Delaney Read Free Book Online

looked him directly in the eye and asked.  “Are you having an affair?”
    She watched as his expression went from surprise to incredulity to anger.  No one could fake the emotions that quickly played across his face as he processed her question.  Maybe asking him outright was a bad idea after all. 
    “How could you ask me such a question?”  His voice was low and alarmingly calm considering that anger that continued to simmer in his eyes.  “How could you….”  He sighed and looked away from her, but not before she saw just how much her question had hurt him.
    “I’m sorry, but I had to ask.”  She whispered.  “I was told by a complete stranger tonight that you were having an affair with Patricia Wilson.  That the two of you have been spending so much time together that it was becoming quite obvious…”  She shrugged her shoulders.  “I didn’t want to believe it, so here I am allowing you the opportunity to explain what is going on and why Ms. Wilson herself would hint around that she is having an affair with you.”
    Bill stood frozen at her words.  “Who did you talk to?”
    “You didn’t answer my question.  Are you having an affair?”
    He stood in front of her within two long strides.  Lifting his hands to capture her face he implored her with his eyes to believe him.
    “I would never, never , seek out another woman as long as I have you.   You are the only woman in this world that I want in my life and in my bed.”
    Carla’s lips quivered and tears ran down her cheeks.  “I had planned this big elaborate scene in order to seduce you after you took me out for my birthday.  It had been so long since you had paid any attention to me that I actually feared that maybe you might have found someone else.  Then tonight Margaret spoke my worst fears and I just shattered.”
    Bill pulled her into him as she began to sob anew.  He didn’t know who this Margaret was or why she would make such claims, but he knew he would get to the bottom of it.  There were enough troubles within their marriage without an outsider creating more negativity.
    Wiping her tears away, Bill gently kissed her cheek and looked her in the eyes.  His own heart constricted at the misery he saw, the dullness that had overtaken her normally vibrant glow.  He was willing to do anything take that pain away.
    “I love you, Carla.  You know that right?”
    She nodded her head and buried her face into his chest.  As much as he loved feeling her body against his, the warm comfort he retained from it, he had to make sure she understood, believed , that his entire world only existed because of her.
    “Come home, Carla.  I miss you so much there are days I can barely breathe from it.  I miss having you as a constant in my life, your warm body in my bed.  I miss smelling you on my clothes.”  His eyes burned from the truth of it.  “The house doesn’t even have the same feel of home since you have been gone.”
    Carla pushed away from him and placed her palms flat on the island.  This was killing her.  She was literally dying inside from the turmoil.  She wanted to come home just as much as he wanted her to, but she feared the consequences would be disastrous.
    “I love you too, Billy, but I can’t come home.  Not when there are obviously so many issues left to address.  I think I’ve proven tonight that I’m not secure enough with our relationship to do it any justice.  If I come home now there will always be a black cloud lingering over us.”
    His fault .   Bill was the reason she was so insecure.  He was the one who ignored her for so long that she no longer trusted in his commitment to her.  Now, because of some unknown person’s malice, the progress they have made has had a setback. 
    “Who did you talk to tonight?”
    Carla shook her head.  “It doesn’t matter, Billy.”
    He couldn’t tamp back the anger that ignited.  “The hell is doesn’t matter.  I need to put a stop to these