Gabriella Ch. 07

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soular
soular
3,051 Followers

"Wow, I can't believe I didn't think of that on my own."

"Genius, I know. But I think your problem is easier to fix than you think," Steven said.

"How so?"

"You told me a while ago that you spend more time with Ella than you get to with Patricia, right?"

"Yeah."

"So then just keep your distance."

"Don't you think I've tried that? I work on my bike, I hang out with you guys, hell, I even go to the movies by myself just to stay out of the house. But I keep fucking up. That girl drives me crazy and not in a good way."

Steven kicked the ball down the court. "I can only imagine."

"In the beginning, I didn't mind spending so much time with her. She was getting into a lot of trouble at school, and like an idiot, I thought I could be a positive influence."

"Makes sense. Keep an eye on her so she isn't doing anything bad."

"Exactly."

"Only she started doing you."

Simon stood. "I knew you wouldn't take this seriously."

"Yeah, I am. But look on the bright side. They write porn scripts based off your problem."

"This shit isn't funny, Steven. Maybe you see the silver lining, but Gabriella is hurting herself on a daily basis. Patricia blames herself for everything, meanwhile it's my fault but I can't say shit without destroying the almost nonexistent fragile thread holding those two together. Not to mention fucking over the only family I have. So how's that for a porn script?" Simon felt heat rushing up his neck.

"All I'm saying is that it's not the end of the world. Breathe motherfucker," Steven said with a smile.

Simon closed his eyes and inhaled.

"Or daughter-fucker I guess would be more appropriate."

It took every ounce of restraint not to clock his friend in the face again.

"But all jokes aside, you'll be okay, man. Just keep it together," Steven said, squeezing his shoulder.

"Yeah."

Outside, Steven leaned against his car door. "Hey, I just thought of something. For a temporary solution, Ella could move in with me."

"Not a chance in hell."

"Come on man, you know I wouldn't do anything. You've always been able to trust me."

Simon blew into his hands to warm them. "I know man, I do trust you. But it's Gabriella I don't trust. She has a way of getting to people. You won't understand until it's too late and then you'll be like, 'what the fuck just happened?'"

"Alright. I guess you would know better than anyone."

"Unfortunately, I do."

Steven unlocked his door when Simon stopped him. "So you think the problem is just us being under the same roof constantly. Maybe if she wasn't there, then the affair would end?"

Steven nodded. "Absolutely."

Maybe there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

"But," Steven continued. "If it doesn't stop, then you have bigger problems than you thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, maybe it's not just about sex."

Simon scoffed. "You're not suggesting that she and I have some sort of emotional connection, are you?"

Steven shrugged.

"Well don't, because that's not the case. Unless you count homicidal emotional triggers."

"Great. Then if she moves out, you have nothing to worry about, right?"

"Right."

Steven made a face as if he were in deep thought.

"What?" Simon asked.

"Nothing."

"No, tell me. I know you want to say something."

"I just, I don't know, I think it would be easier for you if you stopped this, this thing you're doing," Steven said, motioning to all of him.

"What thing?"

"This Mike Brady act."

"It's not an act."

"Oh, okay. I heard you say 'freaking h' a while back."

"So."

"Since when did you talk like a Muppet?"

Simon tossed his bag into the car. "I don't believe this shit. Because I'm trying to be better than the asshole I used to be, you have a problem with it?"

"I don't have a problem, but I didn't think there was anything wrong with the old you. Maybe Patricia won't either."

Simon shook his head. "I think I know my wife better than you. She grew up around a lot of bad shit and she doesn't want it in her house. And I don't blame her. And if that means working on myself a little to be a better person so my wife can be happy and live in peace, then I think that's a win-win."

"So how does Ella fit into this happy, peaceful win-win life?"

"I don't know," he admitted. He wasn't sure there was a place for her. Not after he had destroyed the stepfather/stepdaughter relationship they could have had. So much for Mike Brady.

"Maybe now I'll start getting glimpses of my old friend."

"Your old friend, huh? You like being friends with a liar and a cheat? Did your broken nose feel the same?"

Steven grinned. "Brought back old times. Although your fist weren't usually aimed at me."

"Look, I don't want to be that person again. And whether you agree or not, I love who I am when I'm with Patricia. I love the way she makes me feel. I love her. Period."

"I didn't question your love for her. I'm just saying this all might blow up in your face if you can't get a handle of things. It's like that book we read in high school. The Scarlet Letter. No man can wear—"

"Are you really quoting Hawthorne right now?"

"—one face in private and another to the multitude without getting confused as to which one is true...or something like that. You know what I'm talking about, we saw it on that episode of The Sopranos."

Simon sat down in his car. He knew the quote well. His own father had been a shining example of it. He would preach how vital the law was and how he would lead by example. Meanwhile he sent his wife to the emergency room with a broken jaw and dislocated arm one day because she talked a little too long to the mailman. He had resented those two sides of his father all his life. And now he was staring down a similar struggle

"Alright, enough of my Yoda spiel for today. You get what I'm saying."

Simon sighed. "Yeah, I get you. Get my shit together."

Steven hopped in his car and pulled up beside him. His shades blocking his eyes as a small grin appeared on his face. "One more question."

Simon rested his head against the steering wheel, bracing himself. "What?"

"Does she call you daddy or any freaky shit like that while you're going at it?"

Simon held up his middle finger then pressed the automatic window button to block out Steven's laughter.

**********

Patricia

Simon pushed the grocery cart behind Patricia as she tossed in several cans. She had yet to bring up the subject of last night with Ella, who had skipped out of the house long before Patricia woke. Patricia still felt strange about the whole incident, but she was a firm believer in moving on and making things better instead of harping on the past.

"I'm not sure if Nolan is still coming for dinner tomorrow, but what do you think he'll want more? Lasagna or meatloaf?"

Simon shrugged.

"You're no help." She stared at the package of lasagna noodles. "He definitely has a healthy appetite. But I think meatloaf will feel more family friendly, right?" She looked back at Simon, who was staring down at his phone.

Her stomach twisted in knots as she turned away and placed the noodles back. She wanted to trust him, wanted to believe him when he promised to make their relationship work and that it was over with Sarah. She wouldn't give into her curiosity. "I think meatloaf."

The next time she glanced at Simon, his eyes were on her. Patricia focused her attention on rows of spices ahead and pulled on the front end of the cart only to feel it slip from her fingers. She looked back to see why he had pulled it from her grasp. He flashed a small smile that bordered on sad. She forced a smile and turned to scan the shelf again. Simon wrapped his arms around her. If only we could stay in these moments.

"I have to earn your trust again," he whispered, before placing a kiss behind her ear, a sensitive spot only he knew about. His fingers clasped hers as he tucked something in her palm. "I'm going to grab a bottle of wine. Be right back."

She looked down at the small device in her hand. His phone. They were the windows to many affairs according to articles she had read online. Emails, texts, calls...they all fed the fire of infidelity.

She rolled the sleek plastic between her hands before placing it in the cart. There was no need. If he gave her his phone then there was nothing on there he would be ashamed of. There was nothing to hide because he wasn't hiding anything.

The temptation to look may never fully disappear since the trust had been broken. But she would work hard to keep the insidious voices at bay for the sake of their marriage...and her sanity.

When he returned he shoved his phone back into his pocket. She didn't tell him she hadn't looked and he didn't ask. Simon simply took her hand and helped her with shopping, pausing ever so often to pull her in for a kiss. He was trying so hard for them.

Patricia felt hopeful, for the first time in what felt like a lifetime but only added up to a day. They could move forward if she met him halfway. She kept telling herself that and shut out the warning that maybe Simon was trying too hard.

***

Two weeks later...

It had been a while since they had showered together, but tonight sure made up for it. Patricia had already been exhausted by the second time Simon made her come when he used his tongue to work his magic on her. He had every intention of continuing their water play but with her early start tomorrow morning, Patricia bailed on the idea of starting round three. She sat in bed rubbing the lotion onto her legs when the water stopped running.

A smile formed at the corner of her mouth as Simon appeared outside the bathroom door with a towel around his hips.

Patricia rested back on her elbows and admired him while he ran a towel over his hair. "You look absolutely hot right now."

Simon paused. "Really? Does that mean you're ready to pick up where we left off Mrs. Graham?"

She laughed and maneuvered under the covers. "I don't think you have the energy to keep up with your words, young man."

"See, you keep saying stuff like that and you won't get any sleep tonight." Simon dropped his towel and slid beneath the covers. He pulled Patricia close and kissed her. "You'll be dead tired and walking funny tomorrow morning."

She giggled and slapped his arm. "Simon! You're too much."

"Isn't that your favorite thing about me, honey?" He nipped her ear. "Keep flirting and I'll have to show you."

"I don't flirt. I wouldn't begin to know how." She scooted back so her rear nestled at his groin.

"See, it's the innocent ones that always say that, but are probably the most lethal at it." He wrapped his arm around her and she interlaced her fingers with his. "You were so hot in the shower. I had forgotten how flexible you were."

"Oh, I have tricks, sweetie."

"Can I see more?"

She laughed. "Maybe tomorrow."

"You're a mean woman. But I love you."

"I love you too."

It was becoming easier to say those three words freely, without them hurting. The last two weeks brought a lot healing in their relationship while things with Ella remained at a standstill. She had only seen Ella in passing since their fight. Even Nolan had gone MIA. He had called before their Sunday dinner and said he wasn't feeling well. But Patricia suspected that had been Ella's doing. Simon didn't seem affected by her absence and never talked about it.

But Patricia wanted to talk about it.

She needed to talk about it.

Ella was slipping further and further away.

Patricia closed her eyes and willed her mind to go quiet but was still awake when the front door opened. She lifted her head as Ella's heels clacked down the hallway. Simon's arms stiffened around her.

She relaxed her head against the pillow again when Ella's door closed. At least she was sleeping at home. She didn't often spend the night at Nolan's, but she came in so late at night...or early in the morning, that she might as well have.

Patricia's phone lit up on the nightstand. She scanned over her emails until she saw the latest one from Sam. She read it once, pushed herself up against the headboard and turned on her night lamp to read it again.

Simon blinked and rubbed his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I can't believe him."

Simon rose and leaned against the headboard. "Sam?"

"He's bailing on one of our projects. He's supposed to conduct surveys in Asheville for a new cell phone model, but now he wants me to go."

"Tomorrow?"

"No, Friday."

"That's Gabriella's birthday."

"I know."

He yawned. "Well, tell him you can't go."

She cut her eyes at him as if he had grown a second head. "You know I can't do that."

"No, I don't know that. You hate that job anyway, you should just quit."

"Simon, you say that like it's even an option. No one is hiring and it's a blessing I even have a job. We can't afford all that we have on just your income alone. Not with our bills."

Simon looked unconvinced.

"Trust me, it won't add up."

"So then you go to Asheville." He rolled over and pulled the covers up.

Birthdays had never been big deals to her and Ella, but even so Patricia regretted the ones she missed because of work. She hated missing anymore, hated the idea of having another strike against her. Although Ella probably didn't care either way, Patricia cared.

Once Ella graduated, Patricia wasn't so sure that she would ever come back to celebrate the day with her mother. The only tie holding Ella here was that she depended on the four walls and bed they provided for her. The moment she found that comfort somewhere else, she would be gone. Perhaps forever. The fear of that possibility ripped through Patricia's body. Tears threatened to spill over. Tears that would wake Simon.

Patricia read Sam's email again through blurry eyes. She drafted a reply.

Sorry Sam, I can't go this time. It's my daughter's birthday.

She stared at the message, her thumb hovering over the send button. Would Sam fire her over one day? In a heartbeat, especially if it spared him heat from corporate. She closed her eyes and tallied the mortgage, the car payments and utilities. They could get by two months maybe three months on Simon's salary but just barely. Patricia never wanted to go back to living that way, not if she had a choice. She had never been impulsive and now wasn't the time to start.

She deleted the message and set her phone on the nightstand. She'd made the responsible decision but found no peace. Instead, Patricia spent the night listening to Simon sleep.

**********

Gabriella

Ella drummed her pen against her notebook as Mrs. Weathers' droned on and on about chamber music. She hated Music Appreciation Class. What a misleading name for a class. The course she thought would be an easy A made her dislike music, a feat Ella once thought impossible.

She glanced at her phone. It was almost four and soon she would kick off her weekend. And today she was officially done being a teenager. But nothing good ever happened on her birthday. She'd gotten pneumonia, almost cut off a finger and was suspended from school. Many other problems plagued her on this day.

Her mother had slipped into her room earlier that morning and wished her happy birthday before she left on her trip. Ella had pretended to be asleep so her mother quietly backed out. She just couldn't bring herself to fake those Hallmark moments between them.

Maybe Nolan could make a difference. He planned to take her out for dinner at a nice restaurant in the city. Dinner seemed like a tame, uninspired idea of romance but Nolan was sweet in his insistence that her birthday should be a special day. Besides anything that kept her mind from wandering to Simon was a blessing these days. She hadn't spoken to him since the morning he ordered her to stay out of his life. She obliged even though her insides felt like they were crumbling. And now her mother was a four hour drive away in Asheville working, giving them their first chance to be alone.

In the past, she would've passed up a million dollars for one full weekend with Simon. Just simple things like ordering Chinese take-out would turn into a fun debate. She admired the way he got wrapped up in the History Channel programs he liked and could barely hold her chopsticks as she anticipated when he would turn his attention from the TV to her. Back then, she would float around with a dumb grin on her face for days.

Now his aloofness held more impatience than it had before. A cool look from him would force her to swallow back a simple greeting. So Ella just preferred to stay away.

When class ended, she grabbed her bags and made her way through the crowd of students. "Move," said someone behind her, right as a shoulder bumped her. The sorority girl who always rolled her eyes at Ella, despite not knowing her, passed by. Ella fought the instinct to jerk the girl's hair back, inciting a fight. Instead, she took a breath and let it go. Today was going to be different.

Outside, she found Nolan leaning against the wall. The closer she got to him, the wider his smile became.

"Hey birthday girl!" he said as he wrapped his arms around her.

She stood on her toes and gave him a kiss. "Are you going to call me that all day?"

"Up until midnight."

"Don't you have practice?"

"Nope. We had it this morning since we have a game tomorrow afternoon."

"So that means I have you all to myself?"

Nolan squeezed her rear. "Yes ma'am," he whispered into her mouth before his tongue slid through.

She dropped her bag and wrapped her arms around his neck. After a professor interrupted their kisses, Nolan drove her home. She tried to ignore Simon's car when they pulled into the driveway. Winter was fast approaching and all the vibrant green from the lawns had vanished, leaving only dead wet brown leaves in their place.

"So, I'll pick you back up at six, okay?"

Ella nodded and gave him a quick kiss. She pushed the front door open and at first, she didn't think anyone was home. Most of the lights were off and the house was calm. For a moment, Ella felt at peace. She wanted to catalogue the moment because this past year had been anything but peaceful.

Simon had been the biggest, brightest thing to ever happen to her and she couldn't imagine anyone would fill the emptiness in her heart, but she would survive. She just hadn't figured out how, other than doing the one-day-at-a-time thing and sneaking in and out of the house like she was an intruder.

She found Simon at the kitchen table grading a stack of papers and left him before he glanced up—not that he would anyway. After a long shower, Ella searched her closet for something conservative yet sexy to wear although the options were few. She settled on a strapless black dress she had "borrowed" from a Guess store. It was both short and form-fitting like most of her clothes, but elegant due to the color. She styled her hair in an updo and applied light makeup but she still looked dressed for a club instead of an upscale restaurant.

She peeked out into the hallway to see if the coast was clear. When she heard the faint rustling of papers, she pushed aside Simon's many warnings and darted towards the master bedroom. The photo that sat on top of their dresser caught her attention. Simon and her mother caught in a kiss. He had a copy in his office. Just like in the picture, they seemed genuinely happy these days. Ella shook off the sting of reality and walked into their closet. Her mother had been thrilled when they moved in with Simon, who owned a walk-in closet, the only luxury her mother had ever wanted.

Ella skimmed over several shirts and slacks until she reached Simon's half of the closet. His clothes were arranged from formal to casual, with his dress shoes and sneakers below in a neat row, minus a pair of sandals her mother had bought for him and he'd yet to wear. She smirked. A wife should know if her husband was a sandals guy.

soular
soular
3,051 Followers