LOVE BEHIND BETRAYAL

                                               LOVE BEHIND BETRAYAL

            I love my sister, but the feelings I had for her husband were much stronger. I confessed my love to him. There is no going back now. I didn’t want to feel this way, but every time Jeffrey and I were in the same room, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. What woman could blame me?

His deep, sultry brown eyes and perfectly plump, kissable lips only amplified his strong athletic quarterback-built body, making him so irresistibly sexy.

           But the essence of his physicality was not the only thing that drew me to him. It was the gentle way he treated my sister. It seems like he met her every need.

According to her, he shops, cooks, and even takes care of the children when he’s not working. He takes her out on date nights, and she told me his love-making skills are fire!

           If that isn’t enough, he has a successful construction business. I even

witnessed his kindness after my sister had that accident last year. He went to the hospital to visit her every day. He brought her candy and flowers. He wouldn’t go home until the hospital staff practically threw him out.

           I am sure he is not perfect, but in my eyes, he’s close to it, and that is why

I want this man so badly. Last week, I told Jeffrey exactly how I felt about him, and he agreed to meet with me so that we could figure this whole thing out. I have no idea if his feelings for me are as strong as mine are for him, but I am dying to find out.

            I know that I must seem like a home-wrecker or a monster, but I am neither.

To say my sister won’t be heartbroken would be a lie. But she’s always been the pretty and the strong one in the family. She was praised for her good looks and strength, while I have been known as the ugly, weak duckling. But I was told I had nice legs.

             As we aged, my sister even managed to maintain her youthful face and nice figure. Even though she’s six years older than me, everybody thought I was older. She could have any man she wanted, but I couldn’t; until now, I hope!

           When I used to pretend to have trouble with my plumbing, Jeffrey was more than willing to help me. Even though I could have taken care of these minor issues myself, I just used the pretense to be near him.

So, when he told my sister that he’s coming over tonight to help with my plumbing, he doubted she would question him. I am praying Jeffrey feels the same way I do, and before he leaves, he’ll be doing more than plumbing to take care of my needs.

           I spray my favorite perfume on the back of my neck and behind my ears. I put on a light blue-see-through blouse and a short black skirt, showing my shapely legs. The only part of Jeffrey and me getting together that is breaking my heart is that I’ll be hurting my niece and nephew.

           I love those children, and we have a close relationship. They will be hurt at first,

depending on how my sister handles it. Knowing her, she’ll make me out to be the bad guy. I hope too much damage is not done between the children and me. Kids are resilient. Hopefully, they will forgive me one day.

           Knock, Knock

           “Jeffrey? I called out. “You’re early. Give me a minute.”

 I gave myself a once-over in the full-length mirror, making sure I looked good. I took a deep breath and said a tiny prayer, hoping he would confess his feelings tonight.

           I ran to the door and opened it.

            “Carla?” I gasped.

           “May I come in?” she asked nonchalantly.

           “Of course,” I said, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

           “Thank you,” she said as she walked into the apartment. She was wearing shades so I couldn’t see her eyes. It was getting dark outside, so I didn’t know why she had them on.

           “Are you alright? Is everything alright with the kids?”

           “We’re fine,” my sister said.

           “Please sit down,” I told her, just to be polite, but prayed she wouldn’t stay long.

           She took a seat, and then I sat next to her.

           “What brings you here?” I sigh.

           “You’d crossed my mind, and I decided to check up on you.”

           “Really, now?” I asked, glancing at my watch.

           “Why not now?”

           “I would love to visit with you, but I am expecting company,” I said as my left leg shook.

           “Who are you expecting?”

           “A friend of mine,” I lied.

           She tilted her head and smiled.

           “A boyfriend?” she inquired.

           “I don’t discuss my personal life with you.”

           “Yeah, and that’s a shame.”

           “I would love to chit-chat, but my company is on their way.”

           “What time is he supposed to be here?”

           “Who said it was a He?” I asked as I nervously got up from the couch.

           “I can only assume it’s a He based on the way you are dressed, and that strong perfume you’re wearing is enough to knock out a heavyweight champion.”

           “Can you just leave, please?” I begged as I walked over to the front door and placed my hand on the top lock.

           “Okay, I will go,” said Carla as she got up from the couch. “But I am tired, and my throat is dry. May I have a glass of water?”

           “Okay,” I huffed. I walked towards the kitchen, which was down the hallway past my bedroom and bathroom. I came back into the foyer area where she was standing, and she looked a bit out of breath. She took the glass of water and drank it down so fast, I thought she was going to choke.

           “Thanks, I really needed that.” She handed me the empty glass. I walked over to the end table, putting the glass down. I walked back over to the door and unleased the lock and opened it.

           “Before I go, I have something to show you.” She pulled off her dark shades, revealing a black eye. I gasped and then shut the door. “What the hell happened to you?”

           “That’s why I came over here this evening,” she sniffed. “But if you don’t have time for me, I’ll go.”

            “No,” I said. “I am not going to let you leave until you tell me what happened.”

           “Okay,” she said. “But what about your date?”

           “I never told you I had a date. I said I was expecting someone. I will call them and postpone.”

           Carla took a seat on the couch and started scrambling through her large

shoulder bag.

I went into the bedroom to make my call in private. I looked around

for my cellphone where I had Jeffrey’s phone number stored. I didn’t know it by heart. I thought I had left the cellphone on my dresser, but it wasn’t there. Maybe I left it in the living room. I prayed that he wouldn’t call while my sister was here.

           I tried to play it cool, gliding back into the living room. I scanned around the room, looked on top of the end table and on the television stand, but no phone.

           “Is this what you’re looking for?” Carla said, holding my cell phone in her hand, showing me a history of all the calls between Jeffrey and me.”

           “Yes,” I said. “Where did you find it, and how did you know my passcode?”

           “While you were in the kitchen, I went into your bedroom and took it off the dresser. I know your code because while you were in my house flirting with my husband one evening, I saw you typing it in your phone.”

           “Why would you do something like that?” I snapped.

           “Because I was suspicious.”

           “Suspicious about what?”

           “How could you?” My sister asked with tears running down her face, past her bruised eye.

           “I don’t know what you are talking about,” I paced the floor.

           “You’ve always been such a little liar,” Carla said, squinting.

           “I never meant to hurt you,” I cried out.

           She shook her head from side to side.

           “It just happened,” I said, almost apologetically.

           “What exactly happened?”

           “I fell in love with him.”

           Carla threw her head back and started laughing hysterically. Then suddenly she stopped.

           “Sit down, little sister. I have a few things you need to know. First of all, you can

take off that slutty blouse and wipe off that god-awful perfume you are wearing because Jeffrey is not coming!”

           “Yes, he is, and there is nothing you can do to stop us from being together.” Now that the truth was out, I became bolder.

           “You see this little shiner I have?” she said, pointing to the nasty bruise on her eye.

           “Yes.”

           “Guess who gave this to me?” She smiled cunningly.

           “Jeffrey…?”

           “You’re smarter than I thought.”

           “But he would never….”

           “Who said?”

           “You.”

           “There’s another thing I want you to know. I am an even bigger liar than you are.”

           “So, you have been lying about how wonderful he has been to you and the kids all of these years?”

           “I had to save face, because you remember I am the pretty one, the strong one, the successful one. I couldn’t let everyone know that my husband was a piece of shit!”

           “But what about that time you were in the hospital, and he was so attentive to you?”

           “Who do you think put me there? He was only buying me things, and catering

to me so that I wouldn’t tell the cops that he kicked me down the stairs!”

           I covered my mouth. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, but why would she make any of this up?

           “Earlier, you asked me why I stopped by?”

           “Yes.”

           “I am here to inform you that you can have Jeffrey all to yourself, because I am filing for divorce!”

           I stood there with my mouth wide open.

           “The only thing you have to do now is bail him out of jail, and he’s all yours.”

           “He’s locked up?”

           “After I found out that he was about to cheat on me again, I did a little investigation. It has been obvious for months that you had a thing for him. I know my husband; he wanted you too.”

           I just stood there.

           “I put two and two together after all the googly eyes you gave each other.

Then it was all those constant plumbing issues. I heard him whispering on the phone, about

a week ago. I knew he was talking to one of his lovers, or lover to be.”

           She pointed to me with a menacing look on her face.

           “There have been others?” I asked, almost choking on my own saliva.

           “Plenty. I asked him if he was having an affair with you.

At first, he denied it. I kept needling him because I had to know. I knew this would be the end of our marriage. I foolishly tolerated all the other affairs, the beatings, and the mistreatment, but I wasn’t going to watch him have an affair with my sister! He must have gotten tired of me pestering him, and he punched me right in the face! I called the police on him, and they arrested him for battery.”

           “Oh, God!” I cried. “I am so sorry.”

            Carla rose from the couch, walked toward the door, and opened it. Then she

said, “You are the sorriest person I’ve ever known.”