"None of the above."
"Really?"
"I'm mad that he felt he couldn't talk to me. About any of it." I sniffled and cleared my throat, trying to draw the tears back in but failing because I felt one slide down my cheek. "We used to talk about everything. But lately? I'm not privy to what's going on his head. And I want to be again. It shouldn't matter that I'm his submissive. I'm still a human being. I'm his wife, his soulmate."
"I understand."
I was expecting her to get up and give me a hug. Instead, I heard her chair squeak as she sat back. We were both quiet for a several minutes. I closed my eyes and had almost drifted off to sleep when she spoke again.
"Malcolm and I have been talking."
I groaned inwardly. "I know. I know. I've outstayed my welcome. Hell, you're newlyweds, and I just showed up on your doorstep. But I can't go home right now. Not until I can figure out what to do next. I will make other arrangements. I promise. I'm sorry if I've—"
"Daphne, stop it. We're not kicking you out. You're welcome to stay as long as you need. You're family." She reached out, and I felt her fingertips graze my arm before her hand patted the top of mine. "But we do need to discuss where to go from here. Especially between you and Drake."
I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the chair so that I was facing her direction. The moonlight outlined her body as she reclined, her head turned toward me, hidden half in shadows. My chest tightened. She was right. Hiding from the truth didn't make it go away.
"Daphne, I need your agreement to at least hear us out before making any decisions."
I nodded. Then I realized she probably couldn't see me. "Yes. I'll listen."
"That's all we ask." Becca stood up and did give me that hug. Then she started down the ladder. "We'll be in the living room. Take your time."
I stared into the darkness of the night for awhile longer. So many thoughts ran through my head of what Becca was going to propose. I waffled between what my limits would be for each scenario...what I would or wouldn't do to save my marriage, even though that went against my submissive nature. In the end, I figured there was only one way to find out. Worst case, I would decline whatever they suggested and look up my old roommates in Chicago to see if I could crash with them, wherever they were now.
I shut up the windows before descending to the sitting room below on the third floor. My heart was beating so fast as I continued to the main level. I was thankful Drake wouldn't be there tonight, but I knew I had to face him eventually. He was still my husband. And he would return this weekend.
For now, though, I took solace in being able to talk openly with Malcolm and Becca. I would hear them out. And hopefully, they would give me guidance for the future.
Becca and I spent Friday sunbathing. There was a group of four older couples a few yards away perched in those old aluminum, folding chairs with plastic armrests and the colorful, weaved webbing on the seats and backs reminiscent of the 1970s and 80s. They sat perpendicular to the water to avoid the strong wind currents and faced down the beach toward Ocean City with three large umbrellas stuck in the sand behind their line of chairs.
We saw the group arrive this morning at the first house on the left as you entered the cul-de-sac. It was the smallest house, and it seemed out of place compared to the other houses around it. Maybe because it looked like it had been built a few decades before the others...and the dark color made it look dingy. Becca said the owner rented it out and only came around a couple of times a year. Outdated and neglected. Not what I would have expected for a beach house. Then again, I hadn't expected Malcolm and Becca's house to be as it was, either.
Two of the male guests had lugged a cooler while the women all seemed to carry a bag, a towel, and a book as they'd traipsed across the asphalt single-file and crossed over the pathway next to Malcolm and Becca's house. The remaining men had hauled the chairs and umbrellas. None of guests had moved since they'd staked their spot on the beach two hours ago. Such a carefree attitude with no hurried schedule or concrete plans other than to relax. I wish this trip had been that way for me.
CHAPTER TEN
After we'd gotten enough sun on both sides, Becca and I returned to the house. Malcolm made us crab cakes for lunch, and we sat out on the porch watching the ebb and flow of the waves while we ate. The visiting group was still in their spot down the beach. Off in the distance, we saw sails from several boats against the horizon line. The sky was clear and blue. It was idyllic. And I never wanted to leave.
It wasn't the first time this week that I envied my best friend and my sister-in-law. They seemed very content with their life out here. It didn't seem to bother them that I'd crashed on the last bit of uninterrupted time alone they would have for awhile since the university's fall semester would be starting soon for Malcolm. And Becca had said she needed to start on the next book in her trilogy now that they were settled in.
So far, I had managed to enjoy my day at the beach. But as the afternoon grew on, Drake's pending arrival lay heavily on my mind. Not
