Southern Greed by Peggy Holloway Read Free Book Online Page A

said, “I don’t know, Kathy, but I intend to find out.  Now that I’m feeling better w e’ll figure out everything together.   What would you like to do with your life?  You can’t just be Adam’s wife.  You want to have your own boutique?”
    “Can I do anything I want to?”
    “Yes, you most certainly can.  Is there something you’ve always wanted to do?”
    “Art.  I love to draw and paint but am not very good at it.  I’d like to go to art school.”
    “Then you will, my darling.   But first we need to find a private detective.  Would you look some up and make appointments for them to come see me?”
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 18
    Adam found me, when he got home from the office, in the pool with Ronnie and the professor.  Ronnie had invited me while we were having lunch together.
    I had been having so much fun swimming that the time had gotten away from me.  I had planned to swim for about an hour and then look in the yellow pages under private detectives.
    Eugene had been telling me how he had taken an early retirement from the English Department at Ole Miss when he had seen the ad in the paper for someone to write their m emoirs.  He came down to Savannah and met Miss Gracie and both he and Ronnie had loved her right away.
    “This has been so good for Ronnie, well for both of us,” He said.  “We lost my wife and Ronnie’s mother last year to cancer and this change has been a good thing.
    “I had always wanted to write and this is just what I needed.”
    Eugene wasn’t as good looking as Adam but he was so kind I was attracted to him and wished I had met him years ago.
    “Hey, Kathy, watch this,” Ronnie said as he dove off the edge of the pool .  When he came up I clapped and heard Adam say, “Good job, Timmy.”
    “His name’s Ronnie,” I said.
    He shrugged, “Whatever.  I have to talk to you.  Can you come up to the room?”
    I didn ’t answer and he said, “Come on , Kathy.  I want to make up.”
    I noticed Eugene watching us and he swiftly looked away.  Adam put his mouth to my ear and whispered, “I want you so much.  I’ll be more gentle , and I’ll pleasure you, this time.
    A shiver of disgust ran over me and he mistook it for desire, “See, you’re turned on just thinking of me inside you.”
    I looked at him shocked, but got up and toweled dry.  I waved bye to the other two and Ronnie made me promise to swim with him again tomorrow.
    The only reason I had gone with him was that I didn’t want to cause a scene in front of the other two but as soon as we were in our room, I closed t he door and leaned against it.
    I felt empowered now.  I had someone on my side.  It wasn’t like when the reverend had raped me.  I now had my grandma, and she would believe me.
    Before he could speak, I said, “You raped me last night, Adam.  You hurt me and you will answer for it.”
    He laughed, “Come on, honey, aren’t you being over dramatic?  What we do in the privacy of our bedroom is no concern of anyone else.  You’re my wife, or have you forgotten?  And who’s going to believe you over me?”
    He sat on the edge of the bed and sighed, backtracking. “Look, honey, you’re right, I wanted you so badly last night I couldn’t wait.  Please forgive me and don’t call it rape.  I would hate myself if I thought you were hurt.  Come on, honey, come on over here.”
    Why are women so stupid sometimes?  Why was I so ready to forgive him and tell myself that I had been mistaken, that he had really wanted me so badly he had gotten carried away and didn’t mean to hurt me?
    This time he took his time and made love to me and I had never experienced so much pleasure.  I fell in love with him all over again.  What a fool!
    For days I felt like I was floating on air.  He would give me a secret smile across the room during supper or anytime we were around others.
    He took off during the middle of the day on some days and came home so that we could make love.  My