Trickling Effect

She closed her eyes and remembered the last two years of their marriage. "Twenty years tomorrow," she sighed. Two years ago, before she opened up to someone other than her husband she wasn't sure where her life was going. It had taken six months before she went to Thomas and told him she'd been seeing a counselor with her mother in tow. He'd been hurt that she'd kept him out of her life once again and by then he had pretty much stayed out of it.

Six months after that, they finished couples counseling, but by then "she" already had her hooks into him. The other woman. The one that attached herself to Thomas as soon as "she" saw an opening. Once Carmine realized what was happening, she battled the inner demons to rip his head off and shove it down his throat, but she looked back on everything. Their entire life, not just the rape and not just the affair. She looked at it all and decided her marriage was worth more than the heartache she knew she'd feel without him in her life.

For months she wined and dined her husband. She loved every minute she spent with him and she knew the kids did too. Eventually he stopped working late. In time he stopped smelling of her. Carmine relaxed and when he left that morning, she felt in her heart she had him back completely. She got out of bed and called her mother. Her kids would be picked up from school and stay the night at her parents'. She set to work getting dressed and shopping for their anniversary dinner.

She smirked as she climbed into the car and thought, "Celebrate tonight, because the day of our anniversary. . .we aren't getting out of bed." She eyed her reflection in the mirror and grinned. As the day progressed and eventually late afternoon arrived, she took a call from her husband. When she hung up her thoughts "He said a little late" kept running through her head as quickly as her pulse did.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thomas made his way to his office, his step light, his mind clear. He had his wife's anniversary present in his desk and the flowers would arrive tomorrow, if he bothered to let her answer the door. He dreamed of keeping her either on him or on her back all day. When he settled into his day of daydreams and business Thomas never thought of the woman he'd met almost two years ago.

Lately it wasn't until she called him that he thought of her. He hadn't seen her in weeks. He hadn't really wanted to see her months before that, but felt obligated too, after all he was taking care of her. He'd met her two weeks after he walked out on Carmine, after the final argument about their bedroom fiascos. He had gone to work and slept on his couch for the first three nights. He'd wake up early, go home, shower, shave, change, and then come back to work. It was on the fourth night that he finally got a hotel room and it was the seventh night, a full week after the incident that he met her.

She'd been walking out of the ladies room and there was just something about her that said she needed held. She did. She'd lost her husband, four months prior to their meeting and she did need him. He needed to feel useful and so when he couldn't fix Carmine, he fixed her. They fell quickly into each others arms. He stopped going home to shower. When he did go home he'd stay in the guest bedroom. Thomas would stay a couple nights, but then he'd tell Carmine he had to go away on business. He'd take the other woman with him.

Things changed when Carmine came to him and told him about the one on one counseling. Yes, he was furious that she'd left him out, but in the end as they went through counseling, he admitted that he'd left her too. He had tried to break it off with the other woman, but he couldn't completely. Every time he tried there seemed to be another reason for him to fix her. It wasn't until a month ago that he knew they were finished. He'd told her and not seen her since, so when she called him on this particular day, he'd been surprised.

"I need you," Elizabeth said quietly through her tears.

Thomas sighed into the phone. "Liz, I can't. You know that. It's over. Tomorrow is Carm and my anniversary and..."

"Tom, Karrie's been in an accident," she cried.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The smile of the little girl filled his mind and he pushed back his hair. "What happened?" he asked.

"She was playing at the neighbors and slipped into the pool. She's okay, but . . .God. Tom, I was so scared and I need you, just for a little while. I just need someone to talk to. I could have lost her Tom..." Elizabeth took calming breaths over the phone.

"I'll come by after work. I'm not staying Liz. But I'll check on Karrie and say hi to her," he sighed. He'd never gotten close to the girl, she was to much of a memory of the real family he had, but he didn't want her hurt either.

"Thank you sweetie; she'll love it," Elizabeth whispered into the phone and then hung up.

Thomas ran his fingers down his face and groaned into his palm. "This is the last time, Elizabeth," he told himself. He finished his day, his heart lighter, but his thoughts heavy. He dreaded the scene that played in his mind. When he arrived at Lizzie's he called Carmine with his cell phone, telling her he'd be a little late, but not to worry.

"Oh Thomas," Elizabeth cried, when he let himself into the house. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She stepped on her toes and pulled his mouth down to his. She felt him stiffen and she pulled away, a smirk to her lips. "Karrie's upstairs. She's staying in my room; she feels safer that way."

Thomas followed Elizabeth up to her bedroom. He wasn't surprised, that when she hugged him he felt nothing. He was actually relieved. He smiled to himself and knew that he'd never take Carmine for granted again. When they topped the stairs he continued to think of Carmine and his life with her. They'd had a good marriage up to the point of the rape, then he had become an ass. Now he had the next forty or more years to make it up to her. He couldn't wait.

Elizabeth opened the bedroom door and stepped in, quietly shutting it behind her after Thomas walked in. The room was dark and he assumed it was because Karrie was resting. When he heard the door to her bedroom lock, he sighed and turned to face her. "Unlock the door Liz," he told her.

"Thomas I just want to talk to you," she whispered. She closed the distance and milked the waning sunlight as best she could by standing in its beams. She gazed upon his features while she slowly began to release the buttons of her blouse.

"That isn't what your doing Lizzie."

He stepped around her and twisted the lock free. "Where's Karrie?" he asked.

Elizabeth glared at him and pulled her shirt from her body. "She's at mom's," she answered. Shrugging her shoulders, she began to work her skirt down. "She's fine."

Thomas stared at her and shook his head. "She was never hurt was she?" he asked. He saw the truth in her eyes and shook his head. "You're a piece of work." He turned to leave, but was stalled when she grabbed his arm.

"Thomas... don't leave. We can work this out. I love you and you love me." She gripped his arm tighter. She stood there in her heels and under clothes. Her bra was cut low, her areolas peaked out. Her nipples were hard and Thomas could smell the aroma of her sex coming from her thong. He yanked his arm free and headed for the stairs. Once he reached the bottom he wasn't surprised that she was there right behind him.

"Thomas, you can't walk out of here," she screamed.

He looked at her again, seeing her as the clingy woman she'd become. He wondered if he made her that way and something inside him told he had helped. "I don't want you to call me. We're done," he told her.

The hand that connected with his cheek stung; he lifted his palm to the heated flesh. When he pulled it away there was a trace of blood. "Goodbye Elizabeth." He opened the door and left her standing in the porch light. . .

Married twenty years. . .

Carmine Robertson looked at the rain that fell steadily down her window. The lights were low, the candles flickered in the back ground, their glimmer reflected in the mirror by her bed. She sat on the window seat, the cushion underneath worn and tattered, but still comfortable. Carmine, however was not. Her fingers trailed the paths of the rain as it splattered to and fro, the beating rhythm filled her senses and she pressed her forehead against the cold glass.

He was very late.

Deep inside she knew he was going to be. While she grilled the steaks, made the cheesecake, tossed the salad, and chilled the wine, she'd kept telling herself it was all for nothing. Once again as the lavender scented candles dripped their scented wax down the sides she closed her eyes and wept the tears of a love lost. . .

Thomas Robertson sat in his car, rain pelting his windshield. He'd just looked at himself in the mirror and scrubbed away the signs of his affair. He also noticed the bruise and cut from the slap she'd given him. They both came from the emerald ring he'd given her over a year ago as a present. Tonight he'd broken it off with her and the bruise was the proof of his adultery. He noticed the time and cursed.

He was very late.

Deep inside he knew she wouldn't forgive him this time. He knew he'd pushed that last button and she wouldn't be there at the door to greet him with open arms, though knowing ones. Yes, she knew. She just hadn't accepted it. Today though out of all the days of the year to be late, this one was the worse. . .

As Carmine blew out the candles, Thomas hurried home. As she walked around covering the food with plastic wrap and making room for it in the freezer, her husband was feeling the impact of an air bag slam into his face. As the beautiful brunette with the new dress on slipped out of her stilettos, the handsome business man fell unconscious against the steering wheel of his car. When the housewife and mother of two slid into bed and shut off the lights, the father was placed in an ambulance. As Carmine slept a night full of restless tumbling, Thomas slept the sleep of the dead, his life support echoing through the room. . .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carmine woke up the morning of her anniversary and slipped into the shower. She tried to reign in the emotions that were running through her. He'd hadn't stayed out all night in so long that when he wasn't in bed with her that morning, it only confirmed her suspicions. She lost her battle and the tears fell like rivers down her soft cheeks. When she left the safety of the bathroom it was only to climb into her bed and curl under the blankets. There she stayed until she heard the pounding on her door. She slid her slippers on and grabbed her robe, tying its sash as she made her way down the stairs.

She pulled open the door, hoping to see Thomas, though why he'd knock never crossed her mind. Instead she saw the older versions of him staring back at her. The look on her mother and father-in-laws' faces immediately sent a chill down her spine and she swallowed the burning question that was suddenly there. Her lips shook as Thomas' father started to speak, "There was an acci..."

He never got to finish before Carmine fell to her knees and wept. What she wept for she wasn't sure. Was he dead? Was he seriously injured? Had he been with "her"? Had he been on his way home and not with "her"? Carmine didn't know. What she did know was that the word accident confirmed what she already knew, deep in her heart. No matter what, if there was a chance he was alive, she was not going to live without him.

She felt the soft pressure of another and looked up. Her mother-in-law was squeezing her shoulder and she too was down on her knees. "He's alive. He's in a coma. You need to come with us." She watched the mother of her husband wipe away her tears and then she reached out and wiped Carmine's as well. "We called your parents and they are keeping the kids. They said they'd tell them something, but not about this. . .not unless you want them too."

Carmine stood up on shaky legs and shook her head "no". "I'll tell them later. When I know more." She stared at the parents of her soul mate and clenched her eyes shut, took several deep breaths and asked, "What happened?"

The group moved inside and the door was shut behind them, by who, no one knew or cared.

"There were a couple of kids joy riding last night out on State Road Eight; they were racing another vehicle. It looks like they all rounded a curve at the same time. Thomas coming in one direction, the other two vehicles coming from the other direction. It was head on."

Her green-gold eyes filled with new tears that slid down her face. She sniffed and wiped at her sodden features, before asking about his condition and about the others involved.

"The hospital tried to call you, but no one answered. They reached us early this morning and we came here to get you. All they told us was he was in an accident and was in a coma. I had to call a buddy from the Police Station to get the details on the accident," her father-in-law said.

"Come dear, let me help you get dressed. We are anxious to see him, as I'm sure you are too," the soft words of her mother-in-law reached her ears.

"Was anyone with him? In his car? A woman? Anyone?" Carmine asked. Her heart held tight in a vise of her making and when they answered "no, he was alone" she released it. But there were still questions left unanswered. Where was he going or coming back from? State Road Eight wasn't anywhere near his work.

She mounted the stairs with the older woman and with her help she was ready to leave within the hour. On the way there she called her parents and asked that her father meet them at the hospital. She didn't talk to the kids; she didn't know what to tell them.

When they arrived, she was shown to her husband's room, but never got to take a step into it before she was called over to the nurse's station by the commanding voice of the Doctor on call. She shook his hand, though inside she felt numb.

"He's still in a coma. The impact of the air bag helped with the initial hit, but there were several more that did damage. He was wearing his seat belt and that did save his life," the monotone voice told her.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked, then noted her father coming in. She reached one hand out to him. He took it and she held it tightly.

The Doctor took a deep breath and launched into every medical term that Carmine didn't understand and it wasn't until he saw her growing frustration turning to anger that he slowed himself down and talked to her on a more normal level. "There is severe trauma to his head, the swelling in his brain is serious. We've done surgery to remove part of his skull so there isn't all that pressure against the bone. He's breathing on his own now, though we did have him hooked to life support in the beginning, just to be safe. He should recover fully, but until he wakes up there are no promises."

"Promises? What do you mean?" Thomas' father asked.

"I can't tell you what he'll remember. I can't tell you if he'll remember. I can't tell you if he will wake up. He should, but I can't swear to it. He's banged up. He's broken an arm and fractured his right leg. His fingers are broken and there are various ribs that are cracked. From what I understand he hit these cars head on. One more so then the other, but they were flying down the road and he really shouldn't be here. . . I'm sorry. If he wakes up and you aren't here, then I'll be sure you're notified, other than that. . .it's a wait and see kinda deal." The Doctor shook the two men's hands and nodded his goodbye to the women before he slipped away to deal with someone else and their problems.

Carmine watched him leave and then hugged her father. When she was ready she walked back to her husband's room and quietly opened the door. She stepped in closing it behind her. His parents reopened it and followed her in, not upset that she'd forgotten them, they would have too. Her father appeared behind her as well, but this time he wrapped his arms around her chest and held her.

The steady beep of the machines filled the room and Carmine looked at the man, that lay lifeless in the bed beside her. Her fingers reached out and she stroked his hand, held it tenderly and somehow found the strength to bend her knees and sit in the chair next to him, her father's hands falling to his side. By the time Thomas did awake it was two weeks later and Carmine had learned all about his affair.

The woman, Elizabeth had gone to his work and learned of his accident. She'd then showed up at the hospital, throwing a fit about seeing her fiancé. Carmine had been by Thomas' bed; he'd been in his coma for three days. When she went to close his hospital room door, she'd seen the woman at the nurses' station ranting. She wouldn't have paid her any attention until they caught each others eyes. Elizabeth had glared at her with eyes the color of blue ice and those eyes spoke volumes to Carmine. Her green ones grew wide, but they showed the depth of hatred that Carmine felt.

Elizabeth crossed the space that separated her from Thomas room and pushed past Carmine. Carmine lifted her hand and stopped the nurses from advancing. "I'll deal with her," she told them. Her voice was laced with steel. She closed the door and watched as the tall vixen with the straight black hair, threw herself on her husband's unconscious form. She wept loud, long, and dramatically. Carmine rolled her eyes.

"Get off him," she hissed and leaned against the door of the room.

Elizabeth turned and sneered at Carmine. "Hello dear," Elizabeth greeted her lover's wife. "You can go now, I'm here." She turned to take her seat by Thomas' side.

Carmine took the needed steps and grabbed the woman's arm and pulled her from her intended destination. "You aren't needed here. You were needed once. I'll admit that. But you aren't needed now." Her voice was thick with emotion. She knew her nails were biting into the woman's flesh and she relished in the feel of it. She squeezed harder. "I've known about you. I just never knew what trash looked like. I appreciate you coming by." Carmine released the woman and shoved her away.

Eyes of blue streaked with distaste locked with those of emerald green. "He still needs me. Look at him now. He'll wake up and he'll need me," Elizabeth said.

The desperation in those words were heard and seen in the woman's eyes and Carmine sighed.

"Thank you," she told her.

"Thank you? For what, you crazy bitch?" Elizabeth asked.

"For confirming what I hoped, but didn't know. He doesn't need you. You need him. But the look in your eyes, the words you just spoke. He left you didn't he?" she asked though she knew the answer. "He was on his way back to me. The wife. Wasn't he?"

Elizabeth reached out to rake her fingers down the soft cheek of her enemy's face. Carmine stopped her with a fist connecting with a high cheek bone. She pulled her hand back and shook it. "Damn, that felt good."

The screech of outrage that bellowed from the room was heard outside its walls and several nurses rushed in. "Is everything alright?" one asked.

Carmine rubbed her knuckles. "No, I mean yes. This," she hesitated, "was just leaving." Carmine turned around and took her place by her husband's side. Elizabeth was no longer a concern.

Five years later...

Thomas held his wife's hand as they walked down the isle of the church where they'd started their life together twenty-five years earlier. They had many years to go, the first twenty-five had been ones they learned from and they knew the next twenty-five, forty, sixty. . .would be ones to learn from too. They'd made mistakes. They admitted them, but in the end as they waved goodbye to their son and their daughter, they knew it was worth holding onto and fixing.