50 comments/ 84141 views/ 22 favorites Priorities-Jack & Emma By: muirmadra Apologies to all. I haven't written anything for quite awhile...at least since my recent open heart surgery. I had many things rattling around within this dusty brain pan, and writing, I'm afraid, was near the bottom of the list. I want to thank those of you that have sent me praise and, of course, constructive criticism. I have taken up the pen, or keyboard, many times and...many times, stopped only to start a new story. This is one of those stories. Just a little tale about priorities and communication. Note: I may have taken certain author's liberties regarding Oak Harbor, Washington and Valdez, Alaska. Maybe, not as accurate in my descriptions as they should be. Oh well. Again—any comments, critiques are welcome. ****** * The tall stranger stood in the middle of the trail, his dusty black boots jammed into the earth, shoulders stilly taught. Standing at a slight angle, his healed Colt hidden, the stranger looked downward to the ground, his eyes hidden behind the brim of his black Stetson. His hat matched the rest of his attire; black woolen shirt, gun belt, black denim pants and a black leather vest. In the heat of the mid-day sun with the heat wafting upward from the ground, the stranger gave the appearance of a wavering shadow. His horse bristled at the noise of the two riders easing over the rise, approaching along the same trail. Snorting, the stranger's steed bobbed his head, his eyes watching the roan and paint converging toward them. "Easy...shhh...Dakota. Easy there," whispered the stranger. His head still staring at the ground, as he heard the two riders pull up. "Mister...you're standing in the middle of the road, you mind moving over some?" The rider sitting on the paint waited for the stranger's reply, his hand resting on his six-gun. "Whatcha think, Blair? You seen im before?" asked the one astride the roan. "Yeah Dex...I seen him before," was all the one called Blair said. He stared at the man in black, his right hand carefully removing the leather strap from over the horn of the hammer of his Navy Colt. "Well...who is he? Hissed Dex, anxiety evident in his eyes. "This here's Chase Sanborne..." muttered Blair, his hand hovering over the polished handle of his pistol. The rider called Dex whispered, "Dear god." "God's got nuthin to do with it!" snarled the man in black, the hat slowly turning upward revealing a set of pale blue eyes, eyes devoid of any emotion or mercy. "What's your beef, Sanborne?" asked Blair, his eyes watching the stranger's gun hand. "Why you bracing us?" "Know a man called Jim Bartlett?" Blair closed his eyes for a brief second. "Yeh, I know im. Me and Dex once worked for im a spell...before he sent us packin. Wrongly accused us of losing some of his herd intentionally." "He's dead!" "How?" "You should know, you killed him," said Sanborne. Dex's eyes widened and Blair glared at the dark man. "The hell I did. When that man told us to move on, I was relieved. Bartlett was an angry and bitter old man...meaner than an irritable sidewinder. Workin for im was nuthin but trouble for the two of us but...I stop short of killin. Truth is, both Dex and me was ready to quit the Single Bar T." The man call Sanborne reached inside his vest with his left hand, the right still over the black steel strapped to his hip. When the hand slid out from his vest, a small object was clutched within the fist. Sanborne held the item for a moment before tossing it on the ground directly in front of the two horses. Blair looked at the object and swore under his breath. As he gazed at the insignificant piece of leather, he heard his partner gasp. "Blair that looks like your..." "Shut your pie hole you fool!" snarled Blair. As Blair looked up, his hand had already pulled at his big Navy Colt, growling "Take him!" Dex stared in horror as his trail partner spun around in his saddle, red mist exploding from the center of his chest as the blast of Sanborne's Colt .45 boomed. "BLAIR!" he screamed reaching for his gun. Dex never cleared leather, the two forty-five slugs lifting him from his saddle over the backside of the paint. He landed in a cloud of dust in the middle of the trail, not far from the lifeless body of his companion. Chase Sanborne stood motionless, staring at the carnage he orchestrated. Healing his Colt, he walked over to the fallen two. He stooped down and grabbed the small object. He gazed at the leather and multi-colored bead piece before he tossed it next to Blair's hat. Standing, he glared at the two men. Their horses had bolted after the shooting and both bodies now lay across the trail, Blair's gun still gripped in his hand. Dakota snorted, his left front hoof scratching in the dirt. Sanborne turned and made for the temperamental stallion. Without looking back, he grabbed the saddle horn with his left, slid his left foot into the stirrup and swung into the black leather saddle. He didn't worry about the two corpses; it was a well used trail. With a vocal click and a twist of the reins, horse and rider galloped off. ****** "Will you get your nose out of that damn book and help around this house!" she screeched. "At least take out the god damn trash! Sometimes, I think you love books more than your wife." Jack sighed and thought, at times dear wife, at times... as he set the book down. Damn woman, you're in rare form for a Saturday afternoon. Usually, I'm able to get a couple of chapters in before you start screaming. He pushed himself up from the chair staring at the western novel he had been devouring the past two days. "Good read," he mused, "May be awhile before I get back to you." Entering the kitchen, he could hear Em, short for Emma, banging around in the living room moving furniture and whatever else to clean the house. He also heard that god awful noise she listened to whenever she began her house cleaning ritual, some kind of new age stuff. When he did take the time to listen, that soft electronic music would damn near put him to sleep. Em always said it kept her sane. Shit, I wonder what she'd be like insane, he wondered. He winced at the crash and sound of breaking glass. Sure enough, a high pitched shriek slammed into his skull, "OH MY GOD...NO!" He knew he'd better check it out or else give her another reason to show how uncaring he is. "What's wrong, honey?" "Oh Jack, my crystal flamingo slipped off the end table and fell on the floor. It's shattered!" she cried. Jack found her kneeling on the tiled floor holding the largest remaining piece. Inwardly, he smiled...he hated that monstrosity but he knew it meant much to Em. David Preston, her boss, gave it to her at the last company banquet. Thinking of Preston, Jack frowned. Em's boss was a real shit and pussy hound. Jack knew Preston was always sniffing after Em, always giving her gifts such as that fucking crystal flamingo. Trying to sound as sincere as he possibly could Jack attempted to sooth his distressed wife. "I'm so sorry, babe. I know how much you liked it. Wasn't it the expensive crystal Preston gave you? You know...the one from Santorini, Greece." Em nodded as she held most of the broken shards in a dish towel. Sniffling, she quietly said, "Ye...yes, it was. But, it's not the expense but the sentiment. Preston remembered how much I like flamingos. He's always been good at that." Jack had wished he'd kept his mouth shut but...no, not him. "Good at that?" he asked a little too sternly. Emma turned and glared at her husband. "He's good at something you seem to lack. He always knows what I like!" she groused. Keep my mouth shut, he mused, please don't say any...awe fuck it! "Sure he always knows what you like, Emma; he desperately wants inside those pretty little panties of yours!" The moment it came out, Jack knew he was in a world of shit. Hell, too late now. Emma's eyes narrowed so tight Jack could barely see those precious green irises, her face turning an ugly reddish yellow hue that nearly blended with her red hair. "You shit! You bastard! You jealous asshole! You've never like David, never given him a chance. You always believe the worst about people and think he's always trying to seduce me. Well, I'll tell you something right now Mr. Jackson 'Asshole' Lee, it'll be a long time before you ever get back into these, as you say, pretty little panties! A LONG FUCKING TIME! In fact...SLEEP IN THE GUEST ROOM TONIGHT!" A rage that had been simmering for a long while reared its grisly head within him and Jack couldn't help but smile and laugh. He knew it would only add fuel to the blazing furnace known as Emma Marie Lee. "Shit, Em...I can't remember the last time I got into those panties you think so highly of. God damn woman, you know...now that I think about, we haven't fooled around for maybe what, two...three months? And...making love? Hell, I don't think we've made love for the past six months. Maybe, shit, maybe somebody else has been the lucky recipient of your hidden affections? Wouldn't doubt it cause you sure ain't been gettin any from your loving husband now, have you? And God knows he's tried. Furthermore...YOU SURE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVIN IT TO YOUR LOVIN HUSBAND NOW, HAVE YOU!" Jack chuckled as he continued, "Guestroom? I don't think so sweetie. As a great philosopher once remarked, 'Homey don't do that! You don't want to sleep with your husband then YOU can fucking move into the guest room." Staring at her husband, Emma blinked, her face pale and quickly losing the red flush of her anger. Eyes widened, she displaying those beautiful deep emerald orbs Jack so loved. A tear formed at the corner of her right eye as she understood what her husband had just said. He had never before spoken to her in that manner and was shocked at his anger and resentment. Then, the realization of what he just accused her of hit home and she jumped up running from the room and down the hall. Seconds later, Jack grimaced as he heard the slam of a bedroom door and briefly wondered if she locked him out of theirs. "Damn it, why couldn't I just keep my big mouth shut? He reflected. "You know why, you idiot. This has been going on for way too long!" he gruffly answered himself. Soon, he calmed down enough to wrap his mind around a very uncomfortable thought. She never denied it; she didn't refute his allegation of her cheating. Abruptly, his heart sank as he worried what her lack of denial meant. "Son of a bitch..." he whispered thinking of a despairingly new and uncertain future. Jack sat down and contemplated on his next step. His wife was in the bedroom undoubtedly bawling her eyes out and here he was wondering what's to come. At that moment, it occurred to him his wife didn't actually say she had cheated on him either. Jack stood and walked down the hallway. He saw their bedroom door still open and assumed she must have run into the guest room; however, when he turned he saw that door open as well. But, Emilia's, their eldest daughter, bedroom door was closed. Stepping softly to the door, he listened and could hear his wife sobbing. Gently tapping, he quietly spoke, "Em...could we talk?" Emma sniffled and hesitantly murmured, "Please leave me alone. I...I'll be okay, just give me a few minutes." Angry as he was, it tore at Jack's heart to hear his wife sound so sad, so forlorn. "All right then. If and when you do want to talk, call me." There was no reply and he turned to walk away as she continued crying. "Damn!" he muttered. It was near six in the evening when Emma went looking for her husband. She found him sitting alongside the work bench in the garage with the garage door open and Jack watching the neighborhood. She stood in the door frame from the house and gazed at her husband sitting there. He had that look she knew so well. He was deep in thought and who knew where he was at this moment. She feared the answer. "Jack?" she called out, almost in barely a whisper. Jack turned and looked at his wife and a deep sadness washed over him like a large wave rolling across the beach. He knew he loved her more than anything and, despite their issues, cherished this woman. "Yes, Em?" "Can we talk now?" A lazy crooked grin spread across his face and nodded. "Sure...why not." She couldn't help but smile at the man she married twenty-one years ago, still just as handsome but with a few more lines around the eyes, a little more gray around the temples. Jack's deep brown eyes were always mischievous, twinkling with humor and love. Emma knew who held the love in those eyes. Oh, why couldn't he be more attentive to her needs like David, she thought. Thinking of David Preston, she blushed as guilt swept through her thoughts. Jack noticed the metamorphosis rush across her face; an expression he'd seen many times before ...it was her guilty look. Now why would she feel guilty? He slowly rose from the stool and walked toward her. Emma could see the change in his eyes and became nervous. Maybe this wasn't the right time for them talk. "Well, let's get this over with," said Jack resignedly. He expected the worst. "Okay," she timidly answered. Together, they walk out onto the back yard where she sat in a sofa length, covered swing. Jack looked at her and asked, "Want some coffee?" Nodding, she smiled and replied, "That sounds nice." He went inside and set up the coffee maker and while waiting he closely observed his wife sitting in the swing slowly drifting back and forth. He couldn't help but smile thinking back to happier occasions and the first time he saw her along the dock in Salmon Bay, Seattle, Washington. Jackson Nathan Lee had just finished tying off the bow line of the Sea Mist, a seventy-five foot scientific research trawler and had just sounded off, "Bow line secured" when he saw her walking down the dock toward the vessel. He stood there transfixed as she approached. Tall, maybe somewhere around five foot nine to five ten, she was slender and strolled along the undulating dock with a grace befitting a ballerina. Though she wore a pale green woolen cap pulled halfway over her ears, rich tresses of deep red, highlighted with slivers of gold, fell over her shoulders in luxuriant curls. Her trim frame, hidden beneath a dark navy blue pea-coat, accented the long slender legs contained in pale blue denim jeans tucked just below the knees into a pair of black suede boots. As she passed, Jack had looked an incredibly deep emerald green eyes twisting upward in an exotic almond shape below a pair of thin deep rust colored eyebrows. A few wisps of reddish curls tumbled downward in front of the exposed portion of those delicate ears creating a unique framework around an equally exquisite porcelain face complete with soft rosy cheeks and sculptured nose. Her lips were full, red and inviting perched above a flawless chin set atop a long willowy neck that elegantly curved into a bone white thick turtle-neck collar. He had never seen anything or anyone so beautiful. As he stood there mouth gaping, eyes wide staring, the striking young woman turned and looked back at him from over her left shoulder. With just the hint of a smile, her eyes flashed before she turned back and continued walking along the dock. "Jackson Lee...JACK!" Jack snapped out of his trance to find Captain Barrick and his crew staring down at him from the gangway, the captain frowning while the rest those misfits either grinned or howled in bouts of laughter. "Get your ass moving and secure the stern line!" bellowed Barrick above the convulsions of the others. "Aye sir," yelled Jack as he ran to the stern to brace the thick line to the mooring bollard. Once he had the line secured, Jack turned to search for the cause of his mortification only to catch a quick glimpse one black boot and blue denim vanish beyond the railing of a massive yacht moored on the opposite side of the dock, the gleaming white yacht taking up the entire side. Shaking his head, he knew she must come from money, way beyond his meager standards. "Aw...come on Jack, she's way outa your league bud. Let's go grab some brewskies at Flannigan's." Jack turned and found his closest friend, Michael Chee, grinning, flashing those bright pearly whites of his. Michael Chee was an undergraduate majoring in oceanography who was assigned as an intern aboard the Sea Mist, much the same as Jack, an intern in marine biology and engineering. "Sounds good to me ya grinning gargoyle, as soon as the Sea Mist is..." "Don't worry, Barrick gave us the go ahead. The rest of the crew will finish up," laughed Chee. "Why would he..." "Aw, because of that baby gray we helped. We were the only one's willing to jump in and cut away that fuckin net. Anyway, we free so don't argue...let's go." Jack smiled and said, "In a minute, need to grab my gear." "Hurry man, I'm parched!" complained Chee, his eyes pleading. Fifteen minutes later, they were busting through the front entrance of Flannigan's Sports Bar and Grille. "Hey, Jacky you ole' sea wolf...Chee-man, where you guys been?" shouted a huge mass of muscles behind the bar. "Jimbo...how's business man? Just got off the Sea Mist and do we need to get the taste of salt outa our system. Give us a couple a Corona's port faver!" "That's por favor you nimrod," he laughed and slammed two Corona's on the counter. "First two are on the house you two clowns, after that you pay double for every skirt you chase away." Chee looked hurt and, with huge puppy dog eyes, whined, "What are you accusing us of Jimmy...we bring the fairer sex in by the droves...don't we Jacky?" "Hell yeah we do, Chee! They can't help themselves but converge on this old fire trap once we're in town." James, Jimmy, Flannigan shook his head and chuckled. "The only thing you two poor excuses for marine biologists can attract is a good case of the crabs!" Guffawing, the giant bald headed bartender and owner wiped his hands in a less than clean dish towel and moved toward the other end of the bar to handle a sudden mob of customers. "That's marine biologist and ENGINEER, JIMBO!" yelled Jack. "When will you ever get it right?" All he got back was laughter. "Come on Chee, let's grab a table. I've got ten bucks says I can take you down this time." Chee just laughed and replied, "You know something Jacky, you never will beat me but at least you never give up. Custer and the Seventh Cavalry would have been proud. Grab a stick, I'll rack." It was on the fifth game, and forty dollars poorer, that found Jack lining up the cue ball on the side cushion to bank the eight into the side pocket. Easy shot, he thought. "Gonna finally get you, you red skinned devil," he snickered as he pulled back on the stick. Just as he slid the cue tip forward, someone struck his elbow causing the cue ball to glance off the edge of the eight ball and roll slowly across the faded green and worn felt. "NO!" he screamed as the glossy white ball hesitated on the edge of the corner pocket and hung there. Chee screamed, "Yeah...do it, DO IT FOR THE RAPE OF OUR INDIAN CULTURE!" As if obeying the skinny Native American, the ball unceremoniously dropped into the pocket. "SCRATCH! You lose again pale face. Hey yah, hey yah, hey yah ho hah!" chanted Chee as he broke out into a ceremonial dance. "God damn, mother fuckin, son of a bitch! Who the hell bumped my elbow?" Jack angrily looked around searching for the culprit and froze. Staring at him was a pair of green eyes, eyes that were very concerned; upset about its owner bumping into this handsome young man now standing there red faced holding a cue stick. "Oh my god, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hit your elbow. Did I ruin your game? Please forgive me." Jack understood what a deer felt like when struck by oncoming headlights. He just stood there staring at those beautiful eyes unable to utter a syllable. Priorities-Jack & Emma "Jacky boy...pull your tongue back in, stud!" chuckled Chee, smacking Jack in the back of the head. Almost as if waking from a dream, Jack began stammering, "Um...ah...no, you didn't do anything. It's fine...really...no problem." Chee started laughing hysterically before settling down and approaching the young woman. "Please forgive my awestruck companion here. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Michael Chee and this; this poor sap is Jackson Nathan Lee, called by friends as Jack. Some say he's a descendant of the famous Southern general, Robert E. Lee but you wouldn't know that by listening to him. Of course, you already ruined him earlier today. Puzzled, she stared at Chee and then back at Jack. Her eyes widened in recognition. "Yes, on the dock earlier this afternoon." Jack, finally gathering his wits, punched his friend on the arm and said, "No, it's okay. I'm sorry about my friend here. He calls himself Red Cloud's Revenge but he's not even Sioux. He's Salish! I would probably have lost to this dumbshit Indian anyway. You just accelerated the inevitable." The young woman smiled and said, "Oh...okay, I was afraid I may have ruined your, ah...billiard game?" "Just pool, actually we were playing eight ball. And, I apologize for the language. I didn't know you were behind me." Jack enjoyed listening to her voice, a soft musical lilt to her enunciation. In fact, he suspected some Irish may in there somewhere. "Uh...that's alright, I've heard worse believe me. I have three older brothers. My name is Emma, Emma O'Brian." She held out her hand and he shook it finding it warm and soft yet with a firm grip. For a moment, he didn't want to let go but reluctantly released her. "Very nice to meet you Emma O'Brian. Are you from around here?" "No," she said. "I'm here with some girlfriends visiting Seattle for the weekend. Kind of a get away from school." Chee interrupted to ask, "Emma...where's your girlfriends? Are they here?" a huge grin on his face, his eyes twinkling of future conquests. "Chee, for god's sake...," Jack whined. "What? Can't a guy ask?" said Chee. "It's okay...really," said Emma and pointed to a high pub table just on the other side of the bar. She waived at two young and very pretty women looking at her. Smiling, they waived back. "Please excuse me," said the Chee, "but duty calls. I'm afraid your friends look rather lonely and need some local guidance." The excited Native American vanished leaving both Jack and Emma laughing. "What school?" he asked. "Excuse me?" she replied. "What school are you from?" "Oh...UC Berkley." He frowned and growled, "OH NO, a liberal among sheep!" She couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe...but I don't see any sheep. More likely wolves but definitely no sheep." Jack snarled in his best John Wayne inflection, "You may be right pilgrim but around here it's huskies...Washington Huskies." Again she laughed and nodded. "I must acquiesce, Washington Huskies it is." "That was quite a ship you boarded today. Your fathers?" The sudden change of topic caused Emma to stare at him before she smiled, understanding what he meant. Laughing she said, "Oh god no, that was my roommate's parents boat. They were throwing a graduation party for her." Still laughing, she continued, "My folks could probably only afford the cab it took me to get there from the airport." Jack grinned and Emma was taken by his lopsided grin, framed by several days' growth of beard. She felt a stirring of emotions for this shy and clumsy yet somehow dashing young man as his dark brown eyes gazed at her. She found herself attracted to the tall lanky pool player, his scruffy dark brown hair falling across his eyes. She saw a deep scar run from his right temple to just below his cheek. Jack noticed where she was staring and said, "Knife. Deep in the bowels of LA trying to protect the virtues of a fair maiden against the ravages of twelve sex-starved gangsters!" Emma glared at him as if he had lobsters crawling out of his ears. "Would you believe, five ex-boyfriends trying to get their things back? No? Okay then, how about...one angry sister throwing a coffee cup at her brother for spying on her and her boyfriend necking in the kitchen?" Emma tried to suppress a giggle but couldn't keep from laughing. He just looked at her unsuccessfully trying to look cool and sincere, that crooked grin popping out as his friend, Chee, suddenly appeared and rolled his eyes as he shook his head. Chee said, "Now do you understand what I go through?" "What the hell are you doing here, you crash and burn?" questioned Jack. A very attractive blond-haired young woman popped around from in back of the Native American and giggled, "No bloody likely, I'd say," she cheerfully said in a low seductive voice. Emma laughed and said, "Jack, this is Diana. Another of my roommates and, as you've probably guessed, not from around here either." Jack smiled and shook Diana's hand as she said, "Ello Jack, pleased to meet you, mate. Sydney." "Beg your pardon?" "Sorry chum, from down under...Australia, mate. You know...shrimp on the barby, koalas, roo's and all that. Sydney, Australia." "Roo's?" "Kangaroos you dunce," snickered Chee. "Even I figured that one out." Jack and Emma laughed as Chee and Diana told the couple they were heading out to Pioneer Square. The two accompanied them and spent the evening sampling all that Seattle had to offer; the Public Market, Pioneer Square, the Seattle Underground and the Center, the home of the famous Space Needle. Jack and Emma seemed glued together for the next three days, before she and her friends had to return to Berkley. On the evening before her departure, the two were sitting in an old thread bare sofa on the upper deck of his house boat gazing at the setting sun. Emma snuggled against the left side of his chest, his arm around her shoulders. "Jack?" she whispered. He looked down into those green gems gazing up at him. "Yes?" "Thank you, this has been so wonderful!" she sighed. After the past three days, she felt as if she knew everything about this man. Smiling, he replied, "You're welcome." He tightened his grip on her lithe frame, smelling the fragrance of jasmine in her red hair. An icy chill ran through his heart as he thought of her leaving. He didn't want her to go. "Jack?" she softly asked again. "Mmmm...?" "I...I..." She couldn't find the words for what she needed to say. Coming to her rescue, Jack said, "Em...would you mind if I came down to see you once in a while? I've really enjoyed your company so much and would like to keep seeing you. That is, if you like?" "I'd like that," she murmured. "I would like that very..." She never got the chance to finish her sentence before he pulled her close and kissed her. He realized, at that moment, how much she meant to him...how much he loved her. Emma moaned as his tongue sought hers. God, how I love this man, she thought thrilled and scared at the same time. It's only been three days, Emma's mind screamed. As she breathed in his scent, she muttered, "I don't care." Jack was about to ask what she meant but, instead, let his lips continue with their sensual dialogue. A year later, after a whirlwind courtship and Emma's graduation, they were married and moved to a small town just north of Monterey, California. The following three years found Emma giving birth to Emilia and a year later, Jackie. Staring at Em sitting in the swing, Jack thought of the girls. By now, both of them were away at school, Emilia following her mother's example at Berkley and Jackie was attending Washington State U. Since the girls left home, things had become tense around the household. Jack had become buried in work and Emma more involved with Preston and Sons, a prestigious law firm focused in civil law and big business. Emma was a personal assistant to the son of Douglas Emmet Preston, David Preston. Tall, blond with dark gray eyes, he possessed the confidence and predatory instincts to become a very successful civil attorney. And, Emma was his latest prey, Jack was sure of it...even if Emma didn't believe it. He knew she could be so naïve at times, a product of her liberal background. The past year witnessed increasing friction between the two of them as they became more and more embroiled in their work and Jack could see his wife becoming further distant with each passing day. Jack poured the coffee into two cups and carried them outside giving one to his wife. "Thanks," she whispered taking the hot cup. "Anytime," he replied and she looked at him for a moment before turning her gaze to the mass of purple, red and orange bougainvillea growing along the back wall. Jack sat on a stool next to the swing and waited. Sipping the hot black brew, he stared at the sky watching as a lone jet left an extensive white vapor trail along the immense blue sky, the only blemish in its expanse. "Jack..." "Yeah," he said quietly. "I'm sorry." Jack gulped and looked down into his coffee, a thin sliver of steam rising from the dark brown liquid. "For what?" She closed her eyes and sipped from her cup before answering his question. "For causing you to think I cheated. I didn't. Well, not physically, I guess." "Not physically?" She turned to stare at her husband, looking into his deep brown eyes. "I never had sex with him. But I...ah...have been with him." Jack didn't say anything, just watched her many expressions flash across her face. She never could hide her feelings. "He invited me to dinner on several occasions, the last two requests, I...I accepted. At the time, you were away in Anchorage. You remember those three weeks you were gone?" Jack nodded. Coincidentally, that had been three months ago when he noticed a chill develope between the two of them. He had been sent to Alaska to check for possible oil seepage and rising toxicity in the bay and if there were any impacts on the environment. He always called her every day he was gone and could pinpoint the exact moment when she sounded different on the phone. She had sounded flustered, a guilty edge to her voice but he didn't ask. "I remember. You sounded different on the phone, like something was bothering you." "Yes, I felt guilty after that first time. I knew I shouldn't have accepted his invitation but...I did." "But...you didn't feel guilty after the second dinner? Did you have a good time? Was he everything you imagined? Was he better than your lowly husband?" "Jack, stop that. Yes, I enjoyed the evening and he was a gentleman the entire time. We just talked." "Talked?" Emma paused and stared into her coffee cup. "Yes, we just talked." She knew the next question. "About what?" "Everything. We talked about the law firm, my future with Preston and Son, about me and...you. We talked about the girls." "What about you and me?" "He wanted to know how everything was between the two of us. David told me the firm was thinking of promoting me to the position of Executive Manager for the firm and wanted to know if our family life was good." "And?" Emma looked away, gazing at the sky. "I told him you and I had some issues to work out. I told him..." "Told him what, Emma?" "I told David I felt you believed your job, your career was more important to you than your family, more important than me." "Lay you ten to one, Emma; he suggested to you that I was probably having an affair, didn't he?" At first she was going to deny Preston had spoke those exact words but nodded and said, "Yes, he did. But, please believe me Jack, I didn't consider it for a moment. I knew you would never have an affair, never cheat on me. He didn't say anything further." "Anything else?" There was an edge to his voice. Emma briefly closed her eyes before continuing. "Yes. He's asked me to accompany him on a business trip to Vancouver." "You know what he wants don't you, Emma?" "Jackson Lee, you always think the worst of people. He needs me to go with him, to act as his assistant during important negotiations. It's part of my new responsibilities as Executive Manager." Her face flushed with anger, lately a normal routine with Emma. "Okay Emma, you told me. You've been out to dinner with this man twice and now he wants you to go with him for how long?" She looked down and softly replied, "Three days." "So, what do you want from me, my blessing?" "I don't need your blessing, Jack but I wanted you to understand this is only business. I know I was wrong about having dinner with him without telling you. That's why I'm telling you now." Jack just stared at Emma. She was on her high horse that was for sure. Well, time to knock her off. "Fine, you do that, do whatever you want Emma. Evidently, whatever I think doesn't mean shit to you." "That's not tru..." "LET me finish! And yes, it is true. For the past six months, we've hardly been the loving couple...I don't know why. Yes, I've been very busy on this latest project in Alaska but you've always understood. Suddenly, things have changed and not for the better. I find out you've been on two dates while I was gone. Oh...you are sorry for not telling me but evidently not sorry about going out with that asshole. Fine! Here's the deal. You go on your three day 'business trip' with that pussy hound. Guess I can have dinner with a 'friend' a few times myself. Maybe even go on a 'business trip' back to Alaska. Seems to me, Marie would love to finally get some field experience." Emma stared at her husband, "Marie?" "Yeah, you remember Marie! She's that new environmental engineer we hired. You met her at the last picnic. Long blond hair, blue eyes...remember?" Emma did remember. Marie was gorgeous and...young. And, she remembered how the girl went on and on about how much she's learned from Jack. "You can't be serious! You're just saying that to get me jealous!" "Now, why would I do that? Obviously, I shouldn't be jealous of dipshit now, should I?" "No, of course not," she said a little too quickly. Damn him, she thought. All she wanted was some alone time for herself and enjoy the attentions of a man who knew how to treat a woman. She wasn't going to do anything other than have dinner with the man. But, here was Jack saying exactly the same thing she had and she could feel the seeds of jealousy growing within. Well okay, if that was how he wanted to play it. "Fine, you do what you think is best, Jack. I'll be leaving this Friday and be back Monday." "Wow, a little quick there Emma. Not much advance notice...huh? Do me a favor before you leave on this 'business trip.'?" "What?" she answered. "Be sure you're up on you birth control. I don't want someone else's little mouth to feed. And, make him use a condom. You don't want to get any diseases." Seething, his wife finished the last of her coffee and stood. "I'd better start getting my things together," she sneered. Jack didn't reply. He watched as his wife stomped into the house. Fuming, he remained outside. Without warning, he growled and hurled his coffee cup against the wall shattering the porcelain into pieces. "Damn that woman!" he muttered under his breath. Thursday evening was arctic in the Lee home. Didn't matter it was the middle of summer with typical California weather—warm and breezy, it was frosty between husband and wife. Jack and Emma barely spoke to one another. She was still furious at her husband and Jack acted as if he could care less, pretty much ignoring her and her feelings. Early Friday morning, Emma awoke and immediately realized she was alone. Normally, she was always the first to wake and start the coffee but, this time, Jack was gone. When she glimpsed his side of the bed, she noticed his covers were pulled up and his pillow missing. An icy fear seeped through her as she grasped Jack had not slept in the bed. "Damn it, Jack where are you?" she muttered as she flung back the covers and slid off the mattress. Searching for her husband, she found his pillow on the bed in the guest room. The bed had obviously been slept in but Jack was not in the room. She quickly stepped into the kitchen only to find the coffee maker empty. "Shit, you didn't even bother to make coffee?" she angrily protested. "Jack? JACK!" There was no answer and she became concerned. As she moved back into the bedroom she spied a half sheet of paper propped against their wedding photo on her dresser. She grabbed the paper and saw it was in her husband's handwriting. "Emma, Sorry I won't be able to see you off. Hope you enjoy your time with David Preston. I'm sure he will take good care of you. More than you probably feel I would. Well, I guess you need that kind of attention. By the way, who other than David Preston has spoken to you about this new position? Oh, and speaking of David. I have to confess, I almost confronted that piece of shit about inviting a very married woman, my married woman to dinner without the knowledge of her husband but decided he's not the problem. You are! It was your decision to accept both invites. It was your choice not to tell me. And, now you've resolved to go away with him for three days. All he did was dangle the carrot. You're the one who took the bait. I'll be away for the week so I won't be home when you get back from you're your little interlude. I'll be in Valdez. A last minute request by the company, sorry for the short notice. If there's an emergency, call my cell. By the way, when I get back, we need to sit down and discuss who gets what. And, what to tell the girls. Have fun with Preston! Jackson Nathan Lee" "OOOoooh, that asshole!" She screamed crumpling the sheet of paper and tossing it against the wall. "I'll just bet he's taking that Marie," she spat. "Well, fuck him. Two can play at that..." She stopped mid-sentence. "Sit down and see who gets what? Tell the girls? What the hell..." She knew exactly what he meant. She plopped down on the bed and stared at the crumpled piece of paper. Tears began to fall as she realized Jack was telling her it was pretty much over if she went with Preston. Then she thought of Marie with her husband and her eyes narrowed as her eyebrows furrowed. I don't think so, she reflected. ****** The plane slowly taxied to the terminal of VA Aviation. As soon as the aircraft came to a stop, Jack and Marie gathered their carry-on luggage and bailed from the twelve passenger turbo-prop. Half an hour later, they were standing in the lobby of the Best Western - Valdez Harbor Inn. Marie stood aside as Jack checked in at the desk. When he returned, he handed her a key and grabbed the luggage. Moving into the elevator, they proceeded to the room. As Marie got off on her floor, Jack watched her step out pulling her travel case behind her. He wondered how she'll do tomorrow. They would be testing the waters of Port Valdez through the Valdez Narrows into Prince William Sound, so it was going to be a long, full day. Later, as he sat in a chair by the window of the hotel room, he gazed outward at Valdez Port. Really beautiful here, he thought. An image formed in his head, Emma staring up at him with the green eyes of hers. "Why?" he muttered. "Why would she do this?" As if answering his own question, he thought, when was the last time you took her out to dinner? How long has it been since we went dancing? Hell, when was the last time I actually held her in my arms. He frowned and wasn't happy with the answers. ****** "Marie, grab the bucket...make sure it's tied off before you gather samples!" Marie LeSand nodded and, biting her lower lip, lifted the heavy bucket off the pitching deck and shuffled to the railing, the nylon rope trailing behind. "Ready?" She nodded and Jack said, "Okay, go ahead." Priorities-Jack & Emma She threw the clear plastic bucket over the side hearing the splash as it struck the surface of the churning sea. The bucket immediately disappeared beneath the waves as she held onto the line. "Wait...wait. Okay, bring it up." Struggling, she was able to pull the bucket to the surface but, once out of the water, had a problem dragging the clear tub up along the hull. "Here, let me help you," cried Jack as he wrapped his arms around the petite woman and pulled on the line. With his help, she was able to bring the sample up onto the deck. "Good job, Marie. By the way, don't ever be afraid to ask for help...okay?" Nodding, she murmured, "Okay, Jack...I won't." Several hours later, they headed into port after obtaining dozens of water samples from areas of Prince William Sound and the Narrows and, finally, Port Valdez. "How ya doing?" asked Jack watching Marie rub her arms through the thick coat. "I'm okay...a little cold, I guess." "I guess? Hell woman, I'm freezing. I can only imagine how you must be doing." Marie smiled, her face mostly hidden beneath the thick fur-lined hood. She sat on the bench, inside the pilot house as Jack steered the fifty-five foot boat into the bay. He stared at the coastline of the Narrows as he piloted the vessel. "Marie, what do you know about Port Valdez?" She smiled understanding he was testing her research skills. "The Exxon Valdez! The spill occurred here. Took forever and millions of dollars to clean up. The near destruction of the environment, of animal, plant and sea life for the surrounding ecosystem. The primary reason we're doing spot checks today." Jack was impressed. "Very good! Most of the spillage has either been removed or absorbed into the environment; but, we still need to maintain spot checks." Marie nodded, her exposed cheeks bright red as she inhaled the cold air. As she exhaled, she could see the vaporous mist from her breath burst from her lips. Jack looked back at her and said, "We'll be back inside the hotel soon. Just think about enjoying a nice hot spa!" "Shit, can't wait Jack," she rasped and she couldn't wait. All she thought about was being with Jack Lee. She knew he was married but, at the moment, she didn't care. Jack and Marie had become close friends and she knew there were ongoing problems between Jack and his wife. She noticed he had been quiet, not his usual happy buoyant self the past three weeks. Then, suddenly, he had to head up to Alaska and inspect the surrounding waters for oil seepage and toxicity levels. She was surprised when he asked if she would like to get in some field work and she quickly jumped at the chance to accompany him. Maybe, this was the time she would finally be able to crack that stone exterior of his. God knows she's already tried but he never took any of the hints. A smile crept across her frozen lips as she thought, maybe tonight's the night. After securing the boat, they gathered the samples and stored them in the lab before returning to the hotel. Once back, Marie and Jack entered the elevator, the doors closing before they began moving up to their floor. "Jack?" "Yes Marie?" "Am I pretty?" "What?" Taken off guard, Jack could only stare at this gorgeous creature asking him if she was pretty. She was more than pretty, she was downright dangerous!" "Uh...ye...yeah, you're very pretty!" "You sure?" He could see the longing in those huge blue eyes. "Yes, Marie...you're a very pretty girl, actually a beautiful young woman." She moved closer to him, her large parka open revealing a trim body beneath its thick exterior. "Do you find me attractive?" He knew where this was leading. Inwardly, he smiled. If he wasn't married and already promised to another, he would do anything to have this unbelievable creature looking up at him, but...he was married and still in love with Emma. "Marie, I find you extremely attractive and very dangerous to an old married man like myself." "I know things haven't been good between you and Emma for some time, Jack. I want you to understand I'm here for you anytime, anywhere...anyway you want. Jack, I really like you and find you very, very attractive. I'm not asking for any commitment. I only want you to know...I'm here for you." With that, she stepped up to him, stood on her toes and softly kissed him on the lips. The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. Standing against the door, keeping the elevator from rising, she stared at him. She reached out and gently graced her fingers along his cheek touching the stubbles of his two-day beard. After a couple of seconds, she said, "You know my room number." She moved out of the doorway and allowed the elevator to close, her sultry blue eyes fixed upon him as the doors closed together. "Oh my god," he breathed as the elevator continued onto the next floor. Jack knew Marie liked him but not to this degree. Shit, he thought, I'm in trouble. I've got at least three more days with this woman. Saying that, he couldn't shake the image of those well-endowed breasts straining against her red cotton pull-over when she opened her parka. As he stepped into his room, he shed his parka and pulled his woolen knit shirt over his head. "Damn it, I should have known better," he cursed. Heading into the bathroom, he reached into the shower and started the hot water. "Hell, I should be taking a cold shower not a hot one," he muttered as his little brain stood a full mast, harder than it's been in a long time. Stripping, he checked the water and, finding it the right temperature, stepped into the shower. He began with a shampoo then soaping the rest of his body. As his hands rubbed soap on his crotch, he felt his hard-on. "Shit," he griped as his hand began to slide along his hard flesh, the soap a nice lubricant as he reveled in the sensation. As he started stroking himself, he realized something was wrong. Arms had reached around as another pair of hands grasped his manhood stroking his slick flesh. He could feel the fullness of her breasts against his back. Aw fuck, he thought, how the hell did she get in here? "Marie, I'm sorry...I can't do this. I'm happily married to a..." He stopped dead in his tracks after he turned to confront her. "Marie? I don't think so buster. You're mine and you're gonna stay mine, understand?" "Emma...how? I...I thought you were in Vancouver, with Preston?" He stared at her nude form standing before him, his eyes trailing the water that ran over and around those stunning breasts of hers. He looked into her green eyes, eyes that glazed with lust. Still holding his cock in her hand, she pressed tight against him. "There are some things more important than 'business trips,' more important than fraudulent promotions. You were right about David Preston; we'll take about that later. I am so sorry, Jackson Nathan Lee, husband. Can you ever forgive me for being such a stupid bitch?" "Um...since you have a strong grasp of...things, yes...I forgive you. If you can forgive me." "MMmmm...," she moaned as she rubbed her naked form against her husband, his engorged penis pressed against her belly. "That feels so nice! Forgive you for what darling?" "For not thinking about us. Emma, you're the most important thing in my life, not the job. If I didn't make that clear, if my mule-headed stubbornness kept me from showing the love I have for my family, my wife...please forgive me." She looked up into those large brown eyes of her husband's and could see the love and concern. Smiling, she slowly slid down to her knees, her stomach and breasts' slipping along his wet skin until her face was in front of his penis, still clutched in her hand. She looked up one more time, smiling at his wide eyes before she opened her mouth and engulfed his rock-hard flesh. "Oh my god...," he gasped as she sucked him to the base, her nose buried in his pubic hair. She allowed the thick fleshy tube to slowly slip from her lips until just the head remained then moved forward, again sliding his cock deep into her mouth, into her throat. Soon, she developed a rhythm, her arms around him tightly holding onto the back of his thighs. It wasn't long before she felt that familiar pulse as his cock swelled. She knew he was about to cum. "Emma...I...I'm going to..." She didn't stop and wouldn't let go. Finally, he couldn't hold off any longer and screamed as he emptied into her mouth. She had backed off until just the tip of his dick remained within her lips, allowing him to empty onto her tongue. Once the throbbing ceased, she leisurely allowed his manhood to slip from her lips, the falling water cleaning her lips of his substance. As he stared down at her, she smiled and, gazing into his eyes, swallowed. "Emma..." "Shhh..., I wanted it, husband. I wanted you to know I am yours and only yours." He reached down and pulled her up. Holding her tight against him, he pressed his lips against hers, his tongue curling around hers. Jack could taste himself but cared less. All he knew was he loved this woman. After they toweled off and continued their renewed love on the bed, there was a faint knock at the door. Jack knew who it was and, evidently, so did his wife. Afraid of how she would react, he glanced at her as she sat atop of him, his cock solidly sheathed within her. She smiled and whispered, "Hold onto this for me...keep it ready, I'll only take a second." She took his hand and placed it around his dick. Grabbing her robe, she shuffled to the door and peered through the peephole. Marie had showered and slipped into her sexiest outfit braless, wearing a bright red skin-tight sleeveless pullover over a very short white skirt. She knew it was bold of her to go to his room but the young girl had planned and knew this was her big chance. She smiled as the door eased open; however, her eyes widened with shock as a beautiful red-haired woman peered around the door. "Marie, it's so nice to see you again...it's been so long. I'm sorry but Jack is indisposed at the moment. And, will continue to be unavailable. Understand?" Marie was unable to say anything as she nodded and stared at the gorgeous red-head with the piercing green eyes. Smiling, Emma shut the door. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She understood how close she came to losing the only man she'd ever loved. After she had read his note, she knew what she had to do. ****** Earlier, after calling David Abrams, Jack's boss, she quickly made arrangements to travel to Valdez, Alaska. But, before she boarded the plane, she called Douglas Emmet Preston and asked about the Executive Management position offered her by his son, David. Mr. Preston had no knowledge of it. When she explained to Mr. Preston of what David told her, he apologized profusely. He did, however, tell her she was a very valuable asset to the firm and would hate to lose her...just before she notified him of her decision to resign from the company. Mr. Preston said he understood and promised to write a glowing endorsement for her. She then decided she would wait before telling her husband about leaving Preston and Sons. ****** Emma turned and headed back to the bed, her husband still laying there with his dick in his hand, just as she'd left him. He watched as she approached, that lopsided grin visible on his face as she slipped her robe from her shoulders letting it fall at her feet to the floor. Crawling onto the bed, she removed his hand, replacing it with her own. Looking into his eyes, she whispered, "Love you, husband." Lovingly, he gazed into hers and softly said, "Love you, wife." ** There are times when forces beyond our control interfere in our relationship with the one who is significant to us. Work, money, bills, child rearing, many things play heavily on our daily lives and it is so easy to allow these 'forces' to interfere in expressing our emotions. It is up to us to filter out the inconsequential and concentrate on making quality time for those that mean the most to us before we regrettably agonize over our loss. Muirmadra