SECRET TORMENT

All the way home in the plane, Nelson fumed about his wife’s refusal to go to New York with him. He was certain she’d change her mind when she realized how selfish she was and join him at the Sherwood Airport Hotel. But she didn’t, which just made him angrier. Then when he tried calling her at different intervals between meetings and couldn’t reach her, his anger turned to rage.

. . .

He paid the cab driver and briskly strode up the front steps of his home. As he unlocked the door, he heard the television loudly playing. He headed to the bedroom to deposit his suitcase and briefcase and then entered the living room.

Jenna stood up when she saw Nelson and walked over to him. “I didn’t hear you come in. Did you have a nice trip?” she asked, kissing him on the cheek.

“It paid off,” he retorted, standing stiffly in front of her, his hands at his sides. “And how were your days and nights while I was gone?”

Ignoring his inferences, she answered, “Well, I spent the first night with Aunt Tillie. I didn’t think you’d mind. The rest of the time I was at home.”

“Am I the recipient of your little white lies now, Jenna?” His voice was loud and sharp.

Jenna’s shoulders sagged. How many times she’d rued the day she confided to him that she’d concocted little white lies in order to appease her demanding father.

“I was a child at the time. Have you never told little white lies in your entire life?”

“Only in my business dealings,” he replied coldly.

She knew differently, but she didn’t want to fuel his anger. “Let’s not fight, Nelson,” she pleaded.

Looking over her shoulder to see where the chirping was coming from, Nelson spied Charlie perched on the arm of the couch.

“Haven’t I told you I don’t want that bird having the run of the house!” he screamed. “He belongs in his cage!”    

Charlie chirped louder.

As Jenna walked over to him, he flew to her shoulder and cowered against her neck.

“Do you want me in a cage, too, Nelson?” she asked, as she walked to the den, trying to soothe Charlie before placing him back in his cage.

When she returned to the living room, Nelson had turned off the television and was sitting in his brown leather chair, stark naked.

“Come sit on my lap,” he said, holding out his hand to her. “I’m tired of fighting. I think we should make love.”

Her body trembled. She wanted to run and lock herself in the bedroom. But the last time she did that, he got an ax from the garage and chopped the door down.

She tried to control the fear in her heart, speaking softly. “Nelson, I’d like to talk first and then make love.”

“Well, I want to have sex first. I haven’t seen my wife for three days, and I want my wife to act like a wife!”

“I have things to tell you that can’t wait,” she pleaded.

“Well, they’ll have to wait because I can’t wait!” he screamed, jumping up and locking his strong hands around her slim wrists and pulling her in the direction of the bedroom.

“Nelson, stop! You’re hurting me!” she shouted.

Her cries went unheeded.

He threw her across the bed and ripped off her blouse. As he fumbled with her bra, his hot breath felt like flickers of flames against her neck and breasts. Her flesh was afire with hate. She writhed and kicked at him. “Please, Nelson, please don’t do this. I’m pregnant!”

His face turned ugly and distorted as he looked at her. “Another white lie, Jenna?”

“Please, Nelson, it’s the truth.”

She tried to push him away, but his torso and legs held her fast while his hand struggled to remove her panties. 

He hesitated a moment, then raised up again and studied her tear-stained face. “Why should I believe you this time!”

“Call Aunt Tillie – she knows the truth.”

“I’m not stupid,” he sneered. “Of course she’ll lie for you.”

“I don’t want to lose our baby!” she shouted.

Nelson put his hand over his wife’s mouth to blot out her cries. He didn’t care that she didn’t return his passion – he took her body and did with it what pleased him.  She was his wife.