31 comments/  40062 views/  15 favorites

It was Written in the Stars Ch. 01

By: laptopwriter



"What do you mean you weren't born in Chicago?"

"What do you mean, what do I mean; I mean I wasn't born in Chicago, I was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan," I said trying not to laugh at my wife's obvious distress over something as trivial as my birth place. "Why, what difference does it make?" 

"Steve, it makes all the difference in the world," she said angrily. "It means the astrological chart I did on you before we were married is all wrong."

I knew all this lunacy had to have something to do with the way the planets were aligned but this topped everything. Cora, my wife of four years, was pissed at me because I didn't make it a point to inform her where I was born before we were married. Now she has no idea if the stars say we're compatible as a couple or not. How the hell someone as intelligent as my wife can be so taken in by all that astrology crap, I'll never know.

Obviously I've known about her interest in it since we met a little over five years ago, but I've always thought it was more of a hobby than anything...I mean, no one can really and truly believe in that junk...right? Hell, I have golf; she has astrology, no big deal. 

I first met Cora at a party and pretty much fell in love with her from the moment she smiled at me. She was smart and witty with an infectious laugh and sparkling blue eyes. 

Normally I'm shy around women but she was very popular and I knew if I didn't make a move someone would steal her right out from under me, so I did; make a move that is. About ten minutes after we were introduced I asked her out and damn if she didn't say yes.

We pretty much hit it off from the very start. We liked the same movies, songs, artists...everything; and we enjoyed doing things together, especially photography. That's what I do for a living.

Cora was very pretty, had an excellent figure and was extremely photogenic. She loved to model, but she also had a good eye and knew what went into creating a good photo. After some technical instruction using my equipment, she became a pretty good photographer in her own right; I loved the interplay that created between us. There was only one area where we didn't mesh...astrology.

I think it was our third...maybe fourth date when she mentioned it and I pretty much told her what I thought of all that drivel; so, except for telling me when Mercury went retrograde a few times, she never really talked to me about it that much.

Now, that's not to say she gave it up, she had a whole group of friends that shared her interest. Cora belonged to an astrology club that met every Thursday night; the lady who ran the club, Barbara, used to teach astrology out of her home. 

She taught people, including my wife, what it meant when people were born at certain times of the year. That determined their zodiac sign, their rising sign, and what personality traits they would possess. Then there is the bit about stars lining up with certain planets and how all that mumbo-jumbo would affect your life; and of course we can't forget how to figure out some one's astrological chart and plot every aspect of their life from the cradle to the grave...well, you get the picture. 

Barbara was a sweet, middle-aged lady and probably my wife's best friend. She didn't teach any longer but the club was made up of former students and was mainly just an excuse for them to get together and gab over a couple drinks every week. 

They all enjoyed themselves and I had absolutely no problem with it; in fact, they were always invited to our parties and outdoor BBQs; they were a nice bunch of people and apart from their fascination with the ruling planets, I liked them too. Out of respect and never wanting to embarrass my wife, when astrology came up in conversation I'd just smile and nod my head a lot.

Seeing the level of my wife's annoyance over something so trivial as being mistaken about my birthplace made me realize, that after all our years together, I had underestimated just how seriously my wife actually took all that crap. 

"Honey, if it was so important why didn't you ask where I was born before doing the chart?"

"I just assumed; I mean both your mom and dad were born here in Chicago, and I know they were living here at the time you were born, so I just naturally assumed you were born here too."

"Well don't get pissed off at me, if you had asked I would have told you. Hell, honey, I didn't even know you did my chart before we got married."

"Of course I did your chart; I wouldn't have married you if I hadn't," she said curtly.

Cora immediately pulled some of her astrology books from the bookcase and sat down at the dining room table with a new, blank zodiac chart in front of her and proceeded to map out our future according to the stars...again.

I could see she was in no mood to cook dinner so I looked in the fridge but didn't see anything I particularly wanted to cook either. "How about if I just order a pizza for tonight?" After speaking I realized I'd let my frustration with all this BS show in my voice but she didn't even notice.

"Ah, yeah, fine," she muttered without looking up. 

I patiently waited over two hours for my lovely wife to rejoin the living; during that time she didn't speak and barely ate.

Finally she lifted her head with a sigh and a scowl on her face. 

"So, what's the verdict; are we going to grow old together or are we headed to divorce court?" I said sarcastically.

She gave me a dirty look and said very briskly, "I don't know; I'm just very disappointed."

I was astonished with her comment. "What! Disappointed in what?"

"Let's just leave it, okay? I don't want to talk about it."

That was fine with me; at least for the time being. I was aggravated and it was probably not the time to hash things out, I'm sure I would have said things I wouldn't have been able to take back so I dropped it.

For the rest of the evening she was pretty quiet and so was I, but I had a plan; it involved making love when we went to bed, thinking I would show her my love and everything would be back to normal by morning.

I know, typical male reaction, but what the hell, they say actions speak louder than words and I was prepared to show her I was the same loving husband I'd always been.

Unless it was that time of the month, we both always slept naked so when she came out of the bathroom wearing a three quarter length nightgown I started silently counting the weeks; she was nowhere near her period!

"What's with the nightgown?"

"I just felt like wearing it tonight," she flatly replied.

"Really...just felt like it? We've been married for four years, and other than the baby dolls you wore on our honeymoon, this is the first time you've worn something to bed when you weren't having your period. What's going on Cora; is this still about that stupid astrology chart?"

"I don't want to talk about, Steve; just drop it," she said crawling under the sheet and turning her back on me.

"No, I won't drop it. That's what you said earlier and I said okay because I thought you were just in a bad mood, but if this is going to affect our love life then we're damn straight going to talk about it. Now what's going on?"

She lay silently ignoring me.

"Damn it, Cora, you're really starting to piss me off; if you think you're going to lie there and ignore me you're wrong. I can guarantee you won't get a wink of sleep until you answer me."

She quickly turned on her back with a big deliberate sigh meant to show me just how irritated she was. She still didn't look at me; she just stared at the ceiling. "You're just not the person I thought you were...okay? Now, can we just drop it, please."

"No, we can't drop it; what do you mean, not the same person, in what way?" I was not about to let it drop and have a statement like that hang over me.

She took a while to answer again but I think she realized this was not going away until we cleared the air. "Okay fine," she finally spouted, "The chart shows you just don't have the integrity I thought you did; I thought you were honest to a fault but I know now that's not the case."

"You have GOT to be kidding me; for crying out loud, Cora, you've known me for five years; in that time have I ever lied to you? Have I ever done anything that would warrant a statement like that? Think about it; this is extremely important, Cora, this is about you and me. Use your own intellect instead of relying on the stars; I'm the same person I've always been, I don't give a fuck what that stupid piece of paper says. I'm your husband; I love you and I hope you still love me." I was waiting for a confirmation but it didn't come. "Don't tell me you've lost your love for me based on that chart."

"No, of course not; I just need some time, that's all. Can't you do that, please; can't you give me a little time?"

"Fine, how much time?" 

"I don't know; I just have some thinking to do."

"Okay, you do your thinking then call me when you come to your senses; in the meantime I'm going to sleep in the spare room," I said as I got out of bed and stomped toward the hallway. "I'd rather sleep in a bed alone than have you lying beside me in that stupid nightgown and not be able to touch you." 

After beating the hell out of my pillow and finally settling down I heard her weeping...good, I thought, at least she still has feelings, anyway.

I don't know how well she slept but if I got two hours I was lucky. I tossed and turned all night; I just couldn't believe, after everything we'd shared over the last five years, she could make a statement like, "I'm not the man she thought I was? I'm not a man of integrity?" 

My eyes were wide open when the sun started peeking in through the blinds. Screw it, I thought, there was no way I was going to get anymore sleep so I might as well get up. 

I used the shower in the hall bathroom then walked into the master bedroom, grabbed some clothes, and went back to the spare room to get dressed. I don't know if Cora was really asleep or faking it but she didn't move while I was in there.

That was the first time since we'd been married that I left the house in the morning without kissing Cora. Since I was two hours early, I stopped at Denny's for breakfast. I sat there wondering if I'd be able to concentrate on work; I had a client coming into the studio and had to shoot a layout for his ad campaign. I had to focus but I just couldn't get the prior night's events out of my head, and my emotions were all over the place. One minute I was pissed the other I'd be melancholy. I wondered if I could have handled the situation differently; maybe I should have given her more space and just backed off...I don't know, who can figure out women; it was just so damn hard for me to believe that she put so much stock in that astrology gibberish.

As I suspected, it was a tough day at work; I just couldn't keep my mind on what I was doing. I loved my wife and did not want to continue our little feud, even if it meant being the first to blink. On the way home I picked up a dozen red roses and a card saying I was sorry. 

I was surprised to see she wasn't home yet as I drove up. She usually beats me home by ten or fifteen minutes and with me stopping off, I was about twenty minutes later than usual.

I put the flowers in a vase and set them on the table in the foyer so she'd see them as soon as she walked in. I had the card leaning against the vase. I wanted to see her reaction so I was upstairs peeking around the corner when she walked in and watching as she opened the card with slight smile. She took just a second to read it then bent down and smelled the flowers; I thought I was in like Flynn but then she nonchalantly tossed the card back down on the table and walked into the living room. It was aggravating; I couldn't tell if my peace offering achieved its desired objective or not. 

Well, I thought, I have one more trick up my sleeve, let's see what that does.

"Hi, honey," I greeted her coming down the stairs as if I hadn't been spying on her. I leaned in to give her a kiss on the lips; she didn't back away but she didn't meet me half way either. That ticked off but I tried not to show it. 

I know people get angry at one another but it's usually when a person screws up somehow and does something wrong; I hadn't! I think that's what bothered me so much, the absurdity of it all; anyway, I kept my cool and just gave her a small peck.

"Thanks for the flowers, that was sweet," she said with just the hint of a smile. 

"That's okay, honey, I also made reservations at Chez Louie." 

Her smile got just a tiny bit bigger but she thought for a couple seconds before saying okay. She was still a little stand offish while we got dressed but finally started to melt over dinner. She started to relax even more when I got her on the dance floor a couple times. The smile that I love so much came back, and we started talking again. 

"So how did the shoot for the ad campaign go today?"

"Everything went okay," I said. In reality it took me nearly all day and several attempts before coming up with something the client found acceptable. "You were late getting home today, everything ok?" I asked.

"Yeah, I just had a hard day at work and had to stick around till I was finished," she commented. 

Again I was glad to hear that she had a tough day too; I figured that meant she was just as bothered by the previous night as I was. 

Later, as we got home, I didn't give her a chance to put a nightgown on; as soon as we walked into the bedroom I moved in behind her, put my arms around her waist and pressed my hard-on into her butt. She closed her eyes with a sensuous moan and leaned her head back to rest on my shoulder. 

I kissed the side of her neck; that always got her juices flowing. "No more nightgowns, okay?" I whispered in her ear. 

"Mmmm, okay," she responded softly. 

I nibbled on her earlobe, another one of her erogenous zones; "Take me to bed, honey," she said almost melting in my arms. 

I unzipped the flirty, little cocktail dress she wore and let it slip to her feet. She wasn't wearing a bra so I slipped my hand in the front of her panties and felt the warm, moist recess of her dainty pussy before gliding the laced trim silk down her long legs. I picked her up in my arms, turned toward the bed, and gently laid her down. I removed her high heels then rolled the thigh highs down and off. 

As I stood gazing at this magnificent woman, all I could think of was how much I adored her. Her beautiful smile told me she knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Hurry, darling," she cooed as I started to unbutton my shirt. Within moments I was pulling my shorts off, she giggled as she watched my rock hard penis pop free and do its best impression of a bouncing diving board. I climbed in next to her; the skin around my cock was stretched so taught I thought it would rip open.

She turned on her side in my direction and kissed me. "I do still love you," she assured me. 

I smiled and kissed her back; now, this was the woman I loved. I followed the contour of every hill and valley of her delectable flesh as I worked my mouth toward the gates to heaven. I found that little button hiding under its protective hood and flicked it with my tongue. I felt her twisting and turning under my skillful manipulations and was silently proud of myself for bringing her from orgasm to orgasm. 

Finally I positioned myself over my queen and guided my love tool inside of her; she moaned and grabbed me around the neck as I began to thrust my way to our mutual fulfillment. She screamed out just as I felt myself going over the edge and into paradise, pumping stream and stream of warm cum into my precious wife.

With the sheen of perspiration glistening on our naked bodies we both collapsed in exhaustion... ecstatic, enraptured exhaustion. 

Once being able to grab our breath, we rolled toward each other and kissed again. I had no trouble falling to sleep, I had my wife back; I was an extremely happy man.

Over the next couple of months, things couldn't have been better. Cora was the same sweet loving woman I had fallen in love with and there was no mention of my birth place or my integrity. I was convinced Cora realized she was being silly putting that much faith into the stars and had come back to reality.

Very rarely did I have to go out of town on an assignment but it did happen every once and a while. "Hi, honey," I greeted her as she answered her cell. I always liked to give her as much lead time as possible when I was going to be gone over night. 

"Hi, honey, how's your day going?" she replied.

"Everything's fine, babe; I just wanted to let you know I'll be going down to Peoria next week. I just landed a new client and he wants to do the shoot on the River-Walk down there. I was hoping to make it a weekend shoot. I thought you and I could make a little mini vacation out of it, but we had to get permission from the River Front Association and all they'd give us was next Wednesday and Thursday, so I'll be gone overnight. I'll be home Thursday evening but probably not before you leave for your astrology club."

"Okay, honey; thanks for calling and letting me know. I hate to spend all Wednesday night alone; maybe I can talk my sister into going out for dinner; would you mind?"

"Mind, no of course not; why would I mind?"

"Well, you know; some men don't like it when their wives go out at night without them."

"Honey, I trust you implicitly, you know that; besides, how much trouble could you get in to with Doti along; she couldn't keep a secret if world peace depended on it."

Cora chuckled. "Yep, that's my sister, alright; okay, honey, I'll give her a call and see if she can go. Will you be home on time tonight?"

"Oh sure; no problem, Babe," I assured her. As I hung up I wondered how many couples out there had as strong a marriage we did...not many, I was sure of that.

That Saturday night it was Cora who made the first move, I loved that about her. I'd heard from some of my pals that their wives never initiated sex; Cora did all the time, and when she did she usually became the aggressor. All I had to do was lay back and bask in ecstasy as she would perform a solo using my body as her instrument. 

It was well into Sunday morning before we were both spent. Cora cuddled her sweaty body next to mine and promptly fell into a peaceful slumber. I could always tell when she was completely sedated from the cutest little snore anyone ever heard. I was still breathing a little heavily as I gazed up at the ceiling and let my mind start to wander. 

I was happy; happier than I'd ever been or even thought possible. Only one thing would now make me happier...a child. When Cora and I were married she had been working at the bank for less than a year and I was a young photographer desperately struggling to make it on my own. We decided to wait until we were more secure financially before having kids. 

I hadn't told Cora yet because a lot hung on the shoot in Peoria and I didn't want to build up her hopes until I was sure; but if everything went right, and the client was pleased with my work, he would go to the top of my client list overnight. His company's advertising work would almost double my yearly income. 

I was thinking it may be time to finally start that family. I'd wait until after I got back and made sure everything worked out, but as soon as things were definite, I was going to sit down and talk to my lovely wife to see how she would feel about walking around with a big tummy for nine months. I could feel the big grin stretch across my face; God, I could hardly wait.

As was usually the case on a long drive, all the way down to Peoria I found myself thinking about anything and everything. I was wishing Cora could have come along. She was fantastic to have along on an assignment. Not only could she do some modeling if I needed it, but she knew how to help set up my lights and reflectors; she was also a source for new ideas. She was always welcome on any shoot. 


It was Written in the Stars Ch. 01



I also couldn't help thinking back to all that astrology crap. I wondered if I should try to discourage her from taking that stuff too seriously. Just thinking about the fight it caused and her statements about me not being who she thought I was still rang loud and clear in my ears. It was downright scary to think she could be influenced so heavily by that junk. 

I supposed trying to debunk that stuff would just cause more problems, but I just couldn't help speculating on whether she still had reservations about the man she married; I hoped not. I questioned myself as to whether I should just come out and ask her or let it go; but then if everything went right over the next two days, I wanted to discuss having a child, I guessed I'd find the answer to my question then. 

By Thursday afternoon we were done. Everything had gone like clockwork and we finished a good two hours ahead of schedule. The client was ecstatic and I was on top of the world as I headed north and watched Peoria disappear in my rearview mirror. I still had to go into the studio and unpack all my gear but there was a chance I'd get home in time to see my beautiful bride before she left for her astrology club.

As it was, I found I had just missed her as I drove past Brad and Gail's house. They lived across the street and Brad was one of my best friends. He was in his yard so I stopped to say hi before pulling into my drive.

"Hey, old buddy, where you been; haven't seen you in a couple days?"

"Hi, Brad; yeah, I had to go down to Peoria. I see I missed my lovely wife," I said seeing her car was gone.

"Yeah; she just drove off not more than five minutes ago. Damn, she looked nice too, she must have a hot date, huh," he joked. 

"Oh yeah, right; she better not," I joked back. "The only dates she's allowed are with me."

We talked for a couple more minutes until somebody drove up behind me and honked for me to get out of their way. I told Brad goodbye and pulled into my driveway. 

I was tired from the long drive and all the loading and unloading of my equipment so I looked for something easy for dinner. I found some frozen turkey steaks to stick on the grill, grabbed a can of beer and I was all set. 

As tired as I was, it was still too early for bed, and since there was nothing else to do I wandered into my office to start going over the shots from Peoria. When I started, I just wanted to look, I had no intensions of actually editing them but sometimes I just can't help myself, and before I knew it, I was scouring over each and every photo, making notes, and selecting the best shots for the client's needs. I was so engrossed, I had completely lost track of time until I heard the front door.

"Hey, gorgeous," I greeted my wife with a smile.

"Honey, I thought you'd be in bed by now," she replied giving me a kiss.

I glanced at the fancy clock we got as an anniversary present from her parents. "I had no idea it was so late," I said seeing it was almost eleven. "You're pretty late getting home yourself; you didn't have any car trouble, did you?"

"No, no; we all got into a long discussion about whether Pluto is actually a planet or not, that's all. I didn't realize it was so late. I am pretty tired though, I think I'm just going to go up and hit the sack; you don't mind, do you?" she asked already heading toward the stars. 

"No, of course, honey; give me a few minutes to finish up some notes from Peoria and I'll be right up."

"Oh yeah," she said climbing the stairs and not looking back, "How did it go?"

"Great," I said exuberantly. 

"Good," she replied reaching the top landing.

I was a little disappointed in her obvious lack of enthusiasm, but then to be fair, I hadn't told her the significance of the job, either; so to her I guess it was just another assignment.

I went back to the office; it only took about ten minutes to finish up what I had started. I was again disappointed to find Cora sleeping already when I crawled in next to her. 

I lay there for a few minutes, trying to come to grips with my disappointment; I had been so elated when I got home but it was waning rapidly. Like I told myself earlier, since I didn't tell Cora how important that one assignment was I had no right to be upset in her response. I finally consoled myself with that thought, but just as I was about to drift off, Brad's comment about her looking so nice when she left popped into my mind. Of course Cora always looks nice but when she came home she wasn't dressed in anything he hadn't seen her in a million times before. Huh; strange, I thought before slipping into unconsciousness. 

The next morning at breakfast, Cora seemed to be a little preoccupied. 

"Anything wrong, Honey?" I asked as she kind of stared into space while eating.

"Huh...oh no; I'm sorry, honey, I was just thinking."

"Anything you care to share?"

"No; it's nothing important, just some stuff at work," she replied. 

"I just missed you last night; I saw Brad in his yard as I was pulling into the drive, he said I missed you by five minutes. I'm going to have to watch that guy, he commented on how great you looked when you left; he wondered if you had a hot date," I said with a smile. "I expected you to come home dressed in your little black cocktail dress or something."

"Were you disappointed when I came home dressed in slacks?" she asked jokingly.

"Not at all, doll; I'm just always glad when you're home; I don't care what you're wearing...of course if I had it my way, you'd be naked all the time."

"Yeah, that might be a little embarrassing at the bank; don't you think?" she asked with a big grin. "Maybe Brad was talking about Wednesday night; I had a nice dress and high heels on when Doti and I went out to dinner. You must have gotten done sooner than you thought, huh? How did everything go in Peoria; I never got a chance to ask?" she said changing the subject and evidently forgetting about last night.

"Honey, everything went better than I had anticipated and I'm pretty sure the client is just as happy as I am. It'll be my biggest account so far, babe, and a nice boost to our income."

"Oh, honey, that's great," she said, finally showing some enthusiasm. 

"Yeah, I'm actually stealing the account from one of the big studios down town; they messed up royally on their last ad campaign. I'm pretty sure I have the account sewn up, if I'm right maybe we can talk about starting that family, finally," I said watching for her reaction.

"Maybe," she answered. 

Well that was anticlimactic, I thought. 

"We'll have to talk about it some other time though, honey, I have to get to work," she said getting up from the table. She walked around and gave me a quick kiss before heading out.

She left me wondering; I knew she had to leave but I was expecting a little more reaction to my proposal than that; especially since she had been so emotional about having kids when we'd talked about it in the past. I had gotten the impression before, that it was almost torture for her to put off having children but knew it was in everyone's best interest until we could afford it. Here I tell her we can finally afford it and I get a, "Maybe?" 

Once again I was getting that bad feeling in the pit of my stomach but chased it away telling myself I was getting paranoid ever since that stupid fight about my birthplace. After all, she did seem to be preoccupied with something; more than likely she hadn't really absorbed what I was saying. She'll probably come home tonight after thinking about what I said, and throw herself at me demanding I get her pregnant immediately. 

That thought put a smile on my face where it stayed all day, until I got home that night. Cora's car was in the drive when I pulled up and I was anticipating a big, loving welcome as I walked in...but it didn't come. 

I was really disappointed when Cora wasn't even there to greet me with her usual kiss and hug. "Cora," I called out, "Are you home?"

"In here," I heard her say.

As I walked into the dining room I saw her with her astrology books spread out on the table again. I walked up to give her a kiss. Without looking up he offered me her cheek. "That's all I get," I said giving her a peck. 

"Let me just get done with this, honey." 

Damn I hated that crap! I figured she was trying to determine the best time to get pregnant and was already figuring out the kid's charts based on possible birthdates. In the meantime there was nothing started for dinner again and I was feeling like an outcast. I came up with an idea to kill two birds with one stone.

"Hey, hon, let's celebrate my new client and go out for dinner tonight."

"Fine, but let me finish this first, okay; I'll be done in another twenty minutes," she said almost sounding aggravated. 

I felt like telling her to forget it if she couldn't muster any more excitement than that but I didn't. Instead I went upstairs and showered. I was almost completely dressed by the time she came up and joined me.

"So, do you have all the kid's charts done already?" I asked a little cynically. She ignored me completely as she walked into the shower. I thought, what a way to start out our celebration.

As it was, the night went pretty well, although she did seem to still be preoccupied a little bit. Even that was gone later in the evening though when we made love; finally, for the first time all day, I knew I had her full attention. It was almost one in the morning by the time we cuddled in preparation for sleep.

"So, have you given anymore thought to our starting a family?" I asked quietly.

"Of course, but I want to wait a couple months yet before I stop taking the pill," she said.

I knew it; I knew that's what she was doing when I got home. She was trying to determine when she wanted the baby born. What I couldn't figure out was how she could be so sure she would get pregnant right away; I understand it sometimes takes months, or even years for some couples. Oh well, I thought, maybe she knows something I don't; in any case, we've waited this long, I guess a couple more months won't make a difference. I went to sleep that night grinning from ear to ear; my business was booming, I had a wonderful, sexy, loving wife, and soon I will be a father...I was living the best of what life had to offer, and I knew it.

For most of the following week, I don't think I ever came down from walking on cloud nine. I couldn't help showing my elation every night as I walked in the door. The first thing I would do was wrap my arms around my lovely wife and smother her with kisses. I was starting to flirt with her again, like I did when we were first dating. I took every opportunity to feel her up, which usually resulted in some sexy little banter between the two of us. Life was good.

That Thursday Cora's mood changed again when she came home from her astrology club. I noticed it right away; she was very quiet. I asked if something was wrong and she said no, but I knew something happened. She also looked different somehow; I tried to figure out what it was that was different but I couldn't put a finger on it. 

I knew when something was bothering me I wanted to be left alone to figure it out by myself so I thought I would give her the same courtesy; if she wanted to talk about it, I was there; if not I knew she would work it out herself. 

The problem was she didn't seem to be working it out. She kind of kept her distance from me the whole week. I wondered if she was having second thoughts about having children and didn't want to tell me. I was hoping, sooner or later, she would bring up whatever was bothering her and we could talk about it.

Now I can be a very patient man, but after three weeks of Cora's attitude my patience was running out. Each day she seemed to be pulling away from me just a tiny bit more; even during love making. I thought of confronting her and not letting her off the hook until she told me what was wrong. 

To prepare for my interrogation, I sat down and started going over everything in my mind; just when all this started and wondering if there was something that happened at that time to give me a clue. As I started to analyze the past month, I remember it all seemed to start with her coming home from her astrology club. I wondered if it was something that one of her friends was going through, but they were my friends as well, why wouldn't she tell me? 

The more I thought, the more scenarios I came up with; did they discuss our having children and found something in the stars that was a bad omen? Knowing my views on the subject, that would certainly give her a reason for not wanting to discuss it with me. 

Could it still have something to do with the fight we had about my birthplace? I doubted that; as traumatic as she took it at first, she seemed to get completely over it fairly quickly. No, I couldn't see that having a bearing on the current situation. What ever happened, happened at Barbara's astrology club. 

For five years, I thought, that stupid Voo-Doo never caused a problem, now it seemed, every time I turned around it was becoming a cause for concern.

Since I was almost positive our problems had something to do with her astrology club, I decided to wait until I had a chance to talk with Barbara before confronting my wife. 

The following Thursday I got a peck on lips before Cora took off. Since it was a twenty minute drive from our house to Barbara's, I waited until she pulled out of our drive before calling. 

"Hello," she answered.

"Hi, Barbara, it's Steve Haynes, how are you?" 

There seemed to be a slight pause before she answered. "Oh, Steve, I'm fine, how are you?"

"Well I'm not too sure, Barbara, that's why I'm calling. Cora is on her way over but just left so we have a little time to talk. She's been kind of out of sorts for the last month or so; she won't talk about it but I noticed it seemed to start after one of the astrology meetings. Can you think of anything that happened or was said that would have caused her some distress? Has she said anything to you about something being wrong?"

Again there was a pause, this time a little longer. "You said she's coming over?"

"Yeah, she's on her way; she never misses those club meetings, you know that."

"Steve, some of the other members will be coming shortly so I really don't want to get into it until we have some time to talk. You know where I work, right; over on Touhy and Wolf road?"

"Ah, yeah, sure; Barbara, but now you're starting to scare me, what's going one?"

"Steve, I really can't get into it right now; can you meet me for lunch sometime?"

"Yes, of course." I thought about my schedule for a second. "I can't tomorrow, I'll be tied up all day, how about Monday? I'll have to juggle a couple things around but I can be there," I said now genuinely concerned.

"I'm sorry, Steve, we have a meeting on Monday; how about Tuesday?" she responded. "Don't say anything about us talking or about lunch to Cora, okay?"

"Yeah, okay, Tuesday it is, but that's a long time from now, can't you give me a hint about what's going on; you really have me worried now," I said anxiously.

"No, it'll be better if we talk in person."

"Okay, I'll wait for you in front of your building at noon on Tuesday; if I can't make it I'll call, but unless you hear from me, I'll be there." We said our goodbyes and hung up.

Shit, now I was almost sorry I called. I sat on the couch wondering what could be so terrible that Barbara couldn't talk about it over the phone. On top of everything else, Cora was late getting home again; not by half an hour like before, it was midnight by the time I came out of my stupor and looked at the clock. I tried calling her cell but it went directly to voice mail. It was quarter after before she came strolling in.

"Damn, honey, where have been? I was getting worried, I almost called Barbara to see if you were still there," I said without so much as saying hello.

"You didn't, did you?" was her reply without so much as a hello.

"No, but..." 

"Don't you ever embarrass me like that; I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself," she interrupted matching my ire with her own.

"Don't use that tone with me, you had me worried sick; it's after midnight for crying out loud; what the hell am I supposed to think? The least you could have done was called to tell me you were going to be late."

That appeared to take her by surprise; I don't think she realized how late it was.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, "Barbara and I started talking after everyone else left and I guess I lost track of time. Why didn't you call my cell?"

"I tried but it's turned off."

"What," she said taking it out of her purse. "I'm sorry, honey; I must have turned it off accidentally somehow, no wonder you were worried." 

She sauntered over to me seductively, put her arms around my neck, and gave me a big, sloppy kiss. "Forgive me?" she asked pulling our lips apart again. 

Now how the hell could anybody stay angry with someone like that? I'd almost forgotten about my conversation with Barbara.

"Yeah, I forgive you," I countered with a grin. "Just don't let it happen again," I said with a mock stern tone in my voice. 

I thought we were both too tired for sex that night, but if there was any question, she answered it. "Good night," she said crawling under the sheet. 

"Good night," I replied. We didn't even get a chance to cuddle before she was sound asleep. As for me; well I lay there wondering what Barbara was going to tell me.

The next several days were torture; I tried to act normal but all I could think of was the phone conversation I had with Barbara; that Tuesday I was waiting in front of the building where she worked just as I said I would be. When she saw me, I got the impression she was hoping I wouldn't show. I asked where she wanted to have lunch, and to my surprise, she picked the bar and grill across the street. I was surprised because she didn't drink.

She picked a quiet spot in the corner of the place as far away from everyone as we could get. I pulled out the chair for her to sit down then sat myself on the other side of the table. She hadn't spoken a word since we walked in, nor had she looked me in the eye. Barbara was always a happy person, always the first to laugh at a joke or be ready with a kind word; but there were no jokes, no kind words as I watch her struggle with whatever it was she had to tell me. Her hands trembled and I saw tears in her eyes.

"Barbara, what going on?"

To be continued...



It was Written in the Stars Ch. 02



"Barbara, what's going on?"

"God I hate doing this," she said, obviously in some mental anguish. "I'm about to lose a very good friend, but I can't help it," she said still not being able to look me in the eye.

"What, Barbara; who is the friend you're going to lose, Cora?"

Just then the bar maid came over to take our order; it was an untimely interruption and I had to keep myself from being rude just to get rid of her. As soon as she turned her back to leave I pounced. "Okay, Barbara, tell me; what the hell is going on?"

She sighed as if she was about to face a firing squad. "A couple months ago Cora called me all upset over you being born in Michigan instead of Chicago like she thought you were. She said she redid your chart and found you weren't the honest person she thought you were. She had been lied to in an early relationship, Steve; it hurt her very badly, so honesty is very important to her now."

"Barbara, I have never lied to her," I said interrupting.

"I know, Steve, and I told her that but it really bothered her. We've talked about it a few times since then, and try as she has, she just can't let go of it. It's been extremely difficult for her because she does love you but she just can't help believing the chart; according to her interpretation it said one day she's going to wake up and find you've lied to her about something that will cause her whole world to come crashing down on her."

About that time the barmaid came back with my beer and put Barbara's lemonade down in front of her. "Your orders will be up in a few minutes," she informed us before leaving again.

"Barbara, that's ridiculous. I'm really shocked to find out Cora takes all this astrology stuff so seriously, I thought it was more of a hobby."

"Oh no, she believes in it wholeheartedly," she said. "She kept it from you because she knew how you felt but she never lost her faith in the stars."

"Faith in the stars," I repeated cynically shaking my head. "Can't you tell her she's interpreting it wrong?"

"I tried but she has a mind of her own, Steve. She's very good at constructing and reading charts and she knows it."

God, this was all so mind numbing; I was getting more and more fretful by the minute. 

"Has she said anything about children? We talked about a month ago; my business is doing pretty well and I told her I'd like to start a family. She wasn't quite as enthusiastic as I had hoped; now I understand why. Has she said anything to you?"

"Oh yeah, she was really torn on having children after doing your chart. She said she didn't think she could be a single parent."

"For crying out loud, this is crazy, Barbara, she's got us divorced already?" I said getting a little louder than I had intended.

Barbara's face changed, looking as if she was in torment. 

"What?" I asked in fear. "Don't tell me she's filing for divorce!"

"No, I don't think so, but..."

"But what, Barbara; come on, tell me what the hell is going on in her mind, damn it."

"Steve, I don't know for sure, but...well, we had a new guy join the club a couple months ago; his name is Mark Goodsom. Of course we all did his chart and started discussing it with him; we do that with everybody; anyway, we all started comparing his chart to our own and found that his and Cora's were a perfect match, I mean perfect; according to their charts they were born to be with each other."

I started feeling sick. Barbara was insinuating that Cora had already found another man; I had to excuse myself quickly as I got up and ran to the washroom. Tears were welling up in my eyes before I even got there. I immediately went into one of the stalls where I was sure I would vomit, but after a few minutes past, I couldn't, so I washed my face and returned to the table.

"Barbara, is she planning on leaving me?"

"Truthfully, Steve, I don't know; but what prompted this meeting was you telling me Cora was on her way over to the club," she looked me in the face then looked down again. "Steve, I haven't seen Cora for the last month," she said sadly, before hitting me with the punch line, "nor have I seen Mark."

God, never in my life had I felt the way I did at that moment. "You mean she's cheating on me?"

"I don't know," she quickly responded. "Honestly, but when you said she was coming over last night...well, she never showed; neither did Mark."

I hadn't even noticed the barmaid as she set our food down in front of us. "Enjoy," she said before walking away.

I slumped down in my seat; I'd never felt so low or so defeated in my life. I wanted to burst out crying but was determined not to do it in front of Barbara and the whole bar. 

"She didn't come home last night until after midnight; she said you and her got talking and she lost track of time," I said almost mumbling as if I was in a trance. 

The woman who just destroyed me with the truth shook her head. "I'm sorry, Steve, but like I said, I haven't seen her in a month."

I thought back to Thursday night and realized what was different, her hair; it was done differently than when she left; I also remembered she smelled different, like she had just showered and used a different brand of soap. I didn't think anything of it at the time but now it was all falling into place. 

"I'm sorry, Barbara, I don't mean to leave you like this but I can't stay; if you do see or talk to Cora, please don't tell her about our meeting," I said standing abruptly and throwing thirty bucks on the table. I hurried out and across the street to my car; I drove around to the back of the office building where no one would see me and cried...cried harder than I could remember ever crying before, even as a child. 

I had no idea how long I sat there but when I finally ran out of tears I realized I had no idea what to do. She was the most important person in my life; I'd take a bullet for her. How could she not see WE were reality, SHE and I, not that stupid astrology crap; that was nothing but fantasy? I pounded my fist against door panel in frustration. "I can't lose her," I told myself out loud, "She's my life, I can't...I just can't lose her!"

I was physically and emotionally drained. My chest rose and fell as I tried to breathe. I could feel my heart pounding so hard I thought it would explode. I needed to think. Rhetorically, I kept asking myself what am I going to do but it wasn't a rhetorical question, I really did need to figure out a plan of action. 

I couldn't stay in the car all day, I needed someplace where I would be comfortable; some place I could block out everything else and consider my options. I started the car and headed for my studio. 

As soon as I was inside I turned my cell phone off and wandered into my office in the back of the building; I was wishing I had some hard liquor but I never kept any there. I did have a coffee pot so I poured myself a cold cup and stuck in the microwave. That was better anyway, I thought, I needed a clear head. I put the, now hot cup of coffee, on the desk and literally collapsed into my chair. I still couldn't believe it; maybe it's not true. Maybe there's a perfectly innocent explanation...but if that was the case why would she lie to me? 

I guessed the first thing to do was find out if she was really cheating on me or not. If it was true it'd have to be on Thursday nights, it shouldn't be hard to find out for sure, but what then? I guessed I'd figure that out when the time came; first things first.

It didn't take me long to come up with a plan; hell, it was easy. I called Brad at work and asked if he could meet me for a drink. He was surprised to hear from me; in all the years we'd known one another I don't think I'd ever called him at his job. 

I texted Cora telling her I'd be about an hour late, then met Brad after he got out of the office. 

He noticed as soon as he sat down. "Steve, are you okay? What's the matter, man, you look like you've been crying."

I just came right out with it. "I think Cora is cheating on me."

"What; no way, you're wrong, Steve; there is no way; what the hell ever gave you that idea, anyway?"

"We've been having problems lately," I told him. I explained about her belief in astrology and the situation with my birthplace. He sat there and listened, sometimes shaking his head like he couldn't believe it any more than I could; then I told him what Barbara said and how Cora lied about where she was going for the last several Thursday nights.

"I just can't believe it, Steve," he said almost crying himself. "How can she believe in that hocus pocus and not see that you and her were made for each other?"

"I don't know, Brad, but she does."

"What are you going to do?"

"Well the first thing I have to do is find out if it's true. I've got to know if she's really cheating on me or not; after that I'm just not sure. I..." I was starting to break down again and fought hard to stay in control, "I don't want to lose her, Brad; I love that woman with all my heart."

"I know you do, buddy, I know you do."

"Okay," I said looking down and wiping my eyes dry again, "can you help me follow her Thursday night?"

"Ah, oh sure."

"Thanks," I said still fighting to manage my emotions, "I'll be behind you. She'd probably spot my car but I doubt if she'll recognize yours. I'll stay behind you and we'll stay on the phone just in case we get separated."

Brad was nodding his head but seemed a little apprehensive. "What are you going to do if we find out she is cheating, you're not planning anything I should know about, are you?"

"You mean like beating the crap out of this Goodsom guy?"

"Yeah, like that," he said a little anxiously.

"I sure thought about it, but no, I don't think it would do any good and I'd probably just wind up behind bars. No, I won't do anything that will land us in jail."

Brad seemed relieved and let out a little sigh. "Okay, I'll watch out the window; as soon as she leaves I'll jump in the car and fall in behind her; you'll what... fall in behind me then?"

"Yeah," I said sadly. "I saw something in a movie once; at the time I thought it was clever but I never thought I'd have an occasion to use it."

"What's that?" Brad asked.

"It'll be just dark enough by the time she leaves that she'll turn her lights on, so I'm going to break the driver's side tail light lens out in her car. That'll make it easier to follow her. I also have a couple magnetic reflectors in the garage that I'll stick on her trunk."

"What if she sees them; she'll know something's up."

"She won't see them, I'll do it sometime just before she leaves; she'll have no reason to go behind her car before hopping in the driver's seat."

"Okay, man; sounds like you have everything figured out. Try to keep your head up between now and then, huh; I know she lied but I still can't believe she's cheating on you, maybe it's something else; something innocent."

"Brad, you have no idea how much I'm praying that you're right."

We finished our beers and went home. Cora was on the phone when I walked in but abruptly ended the conversation.

"Hi, honey," I said giving her a peck on the lips. "Who was that on the phone?"

"Oh just one of the new trainees from work," she said. 

I glanced at my watch. "The bank's been closed for over an hour."

"I know, but he had a question and I guess just couldn't wait until tomorrow," she said.

"You let your trainees call you at home after hours? You should tell them this is our time; if they have questions they should ask you at work," I said forcefully. I didn't really believe the person on the phone was a trainee from the bank, I believed it had something to do with this Mark character. I didn't want to say that but I couldn't help showing I was pissed.

She didn't say anything in response; she just turned toward the stove and checked the roast she was cooking. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, why don't you go wash up," she said flatly.

I went up stars and wondered how I was going to deal with all of this for the next couple of days and not tip my hand. I was dying inside; little by little, piece by piece, moment by moment...I was dying. I kept hoping my suspicions were wrong but more and more of the clues kept pointing to my worst fears. 

For the next couple of days Cora was kind of quiet; normally I'd been trying to coax her out of her mood, but this time I just kept to myself as well. Thursday I stopped off at a hardware store on the way to a photo shoot. I had a couple items I needed for later.

As I got home I parked the car on the side of the street before pulling into my drive. I knew Cora would be in the kitchen and wouldn't see me but she would hear the car drive in. I walked up behind her vehicle and hit the red, plastic tail light lens with the small ballpeen hammer I bought; not enough to break the bulb, just enough to break the front of the lens so you could see the brightness of the light itself. Then I took out a couple of the reflectors I had taken from the garage before leaving for work and stuck them on the back of her trunk. 

I stood back a little and admired my handy work; there'll be no problem following her tonight, that was for sure. As I turned to walk back to my car I saw Brad watching me from the window; he gave me a thumbs up. 

We were both a little quiet again at supper; later, before leaving for her, "astrology club," Cora gave me a kiss...I wondered if it would be the last one I ever got from her. 

I watched out the window as she pulled out of our drive; I looked over and saw Brad was already in his car waiting for her. He let her get a little way down the street then pulled out behind her; I was walking out to my car as he pulled away. 

My phone rang as I started the ignition. 

"Are you there, Steve?"

"Yeah, I'm here; I'm one car behind you," I said as I pulled out. "Do you have her?"

"Oh yeah; between the job you did on her tail light and the reflectors, I couldn't lose her if I tried."

Just then the knot in my stomach got bigger as I watched them turn ahead of me. "Well that rules out Barbara's place," I said over the phone.

"Huh," was Brad's confused response.

"Barbara's place, where she's supposed to be going...it's the other way."

"Oh," he said sadly. 

We didn't have to follow her very far; the Brightside motel was only about ten minutes from our house. Brad and I watched as she pulled into their lot and went right into room one-fourteen. Brad pulled in but drove around to the back of the lot so his car wouldn't be noticed; I followed him. 

"I'm really sorry, Steve," he said as we got out of our cars. 

"Thanks," I said almost unable to speak. There didn't seem to be much question anymore; people don't have rendezvous in motel rooms to play tiddlywinks. Still, even with all the evidence I was facing, I still had just a glimmer of hope as I opened my trunk and took out the ten pound sledge hammer I bought earlier. 

"Whoa!" Brad said getting excited when he saw it. "What are you planning to do with that?"

"Don't worry, it's not for them," I reassured him. "Have you ever watched one of those cop shows; they all have a big battering ram to knock doors in with. Well I don't have a big battering ram but I think this will do."

"Can't we just ask the clerk to give us a key?" he asked.

"He's not going to do that. Don't worry, I'll pay for the door. Here," I said reaching in the camera bag and giving a Nikon to him, "I've got it all set up, all you have to do is hit this button. I want as many pictures as you can take. If she wants a divorce at least I'll have the evidence to show I wasn't the bad guy."

"Okay," said Brad taking the camera. "We should probably give them a couple more minutes before we break in."

We both stood in silence by our cars for another ten minutes then started our march to the door of room one-fourteen. 

"Ready?" I whispered. Brad nodded his head. "When the door opens you follow me in and start hitting that button on the camera."

"Will do," he whispered back. 

I took a stance beside the door where I could get a good swing, and in a motion much like Paul Bunyan swinging his mighty ax, smashed the big hammer into the door right behind the doorknob. In a loud crash, the metal door swung open with an explosion of wooden splinters from the jam flying in every direction. The safety chain flew from its mooring and the top of the door unhinged falling partially inside the room. 

I heard a blood curdling scream from Cora as I dashed into the room and saw my foe trying desperately to back his face away from my wife's naked pussy. Cora, having no idea of what was happening, was pushing at the top of his head in her panic; he got so twisted up in the bedding he lost his balance and fell off the side of the bed taking the top sheet with him. Cora lay there looking at me, stunned into silence with nothing available to preserve her modesty. 

Brad was snapping away as I stood and stared at her naked body. It had been the source of my universe, now it was the source of the most horrible pain I'd ever experienced in my entire life. Suddenly it all became clear; up until that moment I had been planning a strategy for saving my marriage, for keeping the woman I loved; it was at that instant in time that I realized I no longer had a marriage; that I would walk away from the woman I loved. There was simply no way of ever living with the pain of what I saw in front of me. 

I saw Cora's face fill with fear. I guessed she saw it in my eyes; I could feel my sadness turn to anger. My entire body was infected with it; every muscle, every nerve tightened in response; I took a deep breath trying to calm myself. 

"This makes a lot of sense doesn't it, Cora," I said with contempt. "According to the fucking stars it was my honesty that was in question. You were so worried about me lying to you, but it was you who lied and schemed behind MY back; YOU who betrayed ME and made a mockery of our wedding vows." 

I saw her hands starting to tremble; tears welled up in her eyes and were trickling down her flushed cheeks. I think she was just starting to realize the extent of her treachery, just starting to see what she had lost forever. 

I felt fire in my eyes as I looked down at the man who would steal my wife. He sat on the floor cowering with the sheet still tangled around him; I looked back at her. "I see you're wearing your wedding rings so shit head here obviously knows you're married; so much for his integrity, huh."

"Steve," said Brad being unsure what I was going to do as I approached her.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt anybody." Cora looked confused as I took ahold of her hand; not sure of my intentions, she tried jerking it from my grip but I held it tight; she was stunned as I yanked her wedding rings from her finger. I tightly closed my fist around them; I could feel my face burning with fury; I must have looked like a wild man as I turned and headed toward the doorway.

"Wher...wait...where are you going? Steve, where are going with my rin...Steve, wait...please, my...my rings?" she cried out in anguish. 

"Come and find out," I yelled back. I walked out the broken door and laid the rings down on the sidewalk. A small group of people were milling around, curious I suppose, with what was going on. They watched as I gathered my rage into one powerful swing.

"Steve, NOOOO!" I heard Cora scream as I raised the hammer above my head then brought it down with all my strength, smashing the rings and sending shards of the cement below spraying out along with fragments of eighteen karat gold; I had no idea where the diamonds landed. 

Standing in the doorway, her naked body in full view of the lingering bystanders, Cora slumped to the floor in despair. "My rings...my rings," she sniveled. 

"Now they're as smashed as my heart and neither of them will ever be the same," I cried out; I was in so much pain, I wanted her to feel some of it. 




It was Written in the Stars Ch. 02



"I don't understand, Cora; how could you hurt me like this? All I ever did was love you more than life itself and look what you did; you crushed that love just like I crushed your fucking rings. I never thought you could be so cruel. Come on," I said to Brad, "let's go and leave the lovers alone." 

Just then a young, pimply faced motel manager came rushing around the corner of the building but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me with the sledge hammer. He looked at the door hanging from only the bottom hinge. The look in his eyes was definitely one of fear.

"Don't worry," I told him, "I'm not going to hurt anybody." I pulled a business card from my wallet and handed it to him. "Here, just send me the bill for the door and the sidewalk."

Cora was still slumped in the doorway, naked. She held her face in her hands and bawled, paying no attention to the growing crowd of gawkers. I think she was in shock, or something pretty close to it. When Brad and I got back to our cars I took the camera from him and threw the sledge in the back seat. 

"Are you going to be alright? Why don't you come home with me, don't go back to the house right now." 

"Thanks, I really appreciate the offer but I need to be alone. I think..."

"That's just what you don't need right now, Steve; you've just gone through an extremely traumatic experience; you need people around you, people who care for you. Come on, come home with me."

I knew he was worried that I might do something to myself; to tell the truth, the thought had crossed my mind. In any event I wanted to be alone. "Thanks, Brad, but no; I'm going to stay at the studio for a few days."

I could see the worried look on his face as I got into my car but I'd never been so depressed in my life and I just didn't want anyone around me; I had just come to terms with the fact that I was going to live the rest of my life without the woman I loved and I wanted time to...well, to wallow in my misery. 

As I left the parking lot I took one last look at the woman who had made me so happy. She was still sitting naked in front of the doorway. At some point her shit-head lover had gotten dressed and was trying to get her back on her feet but she was flailing her arms at his legs and screaming something at him. I couldn't tell what it was. I hope she and the stars and her asshole, 'perfect match,' boyfriend will be very happy together, I told myself sarcastically.

When I unlocked the front door to my studio and stepped inside everything looked different; oh, the lights, the cameras, stands, and all the other equipment was the same stuff I'd been using for years but somehow it had lost its importance, its stature in my life. What was it all for? True, I loved my work, I was very lucky that way, but it had been all for US; to build a life for US, Cora, me and our kids; my family. But there was no family anymore, there wasn't even an US anymore; just me. Was it still worth all the time and trouble; was it still worth all the ups and downs of running my own business?

I turned back around and left again; I locked the door and started to walk; I had no destination in mind, I just needed to clear my head. It was time to reevaluate my life. 

Deep in the vertigo of my thoughts, I seemed to pass a never ending parade of streetlights that would cast my shadow across the pavement. By the time my legs were so tired I could hardly stand anymore, I found myself in front the dark, choppy waters of Lake Michigan; how I got there I hadn't a clue. I was miles from the studio. I reached into my pocket to check the time on my phone and realized I'd left it on the seat of my car. As the soothing sound of the night tide echoed in my mind, the turbulent waves nipped at my heels as I climbed along some of the smaller rocks to a large bolder; there I sat down for a well-deserved rest. I looked around to get my bearings. Damn, I had to be five or six miles from my studio; I suspected it was one or two in the morning. At least I used the time productively, I thought. During my little stroll I had pretty much mapped out a plan for the rest of my life...and it didn't include Cora or any other women for that matter, just me; I decided I was the only person I could count on and I swore never to give my heart away like that again. 

I'd spent the last five years of my life building a business to be proud of; earlier I had asked myself if it was worth it; I decided the answer was yes; that business would be my love, my only love. I would throw myself into it lock-stock-and-barrel. I would build the most prestigious photography studio in Chicago-land...well, that was the plan anyway.

By the time I got back it was getting light out. The first thing I did was get my phone out of my car. My voice mail was full. I couldn't believe how popular I had become all of a sudden. There were calls from Brad, Cora, her mom and dad, her sister, Doti, Barbara, and Julie, a friend of Cora's from the bank. The only ones I didn't erase were the ones from Brad; I would call him back as soon as I was sure he was up. The rest I wanted nothing to do with. Part of my plan was to cut myself off from Cora, her friends, her sister, and even her folks, as much as I loved them; I just didn't want anyone around reminding me of what I'd lost. 

In the back of the studio I had a small room I used for a model's dressing room. It had a closet, make-up desk, couch, and a shower; I would get rid of the couch in exchange for a futon, partition off half the closet for my own clothes and the room would second as my bedroom. In the office I had a hot plate for cooking and a small refrigerator; all the comforts of home. 

I checked my schedule and found I had only one photo shoot and it was in the studio at three in the afternoon. I set the alarm on my phone for eight o'clock, just three hours away, and lay down on the couch; I didn't even remember closing my eyes, I was asleep so fast.

The next thing I knew my phone was going off already; could it be eight o'clock so soon, I wondered as I reached for it...no, it was only seven. It wasn't the alarm but the phone itself was ringing. 

"Hello," I mumbled doing the best I could on two hours of sleep.

"Steve, are you alright? Damn it, man, where have you been; Gail and I have been half out of our minds worrying about you!" I recognized the angry man on the other end as Brad. 

"Steve, don't you ever do this to us again," said his angry wife on the extension. 

"Good morning, Brad; good morning, Gail." I said a little sheepishly. I heard somebody sigh but wasn't sure if it was Brad or his better half. "Brad, I told you I'd be okay, I'm not going to do anything to myself. I went for a long walk last night and left my phone in the car, that's all; sorry if I worried you guys."

There was a short pause on the other end; I think they were just glad I was okay. Gail spoke first. "Damn it, Steve, you had us scared to death. The first person Cora called was Doti; she went over to the studio figuring that's where you'd go. When you never showed she called here asking if your car was across the street. You told Brad you were going to the studio so when she said you weren't there we all got worried."

"I'm sorry, really; I did go to the studio but left right away. By the time I got back it was dawn."

"Have you talked to Cora yet, she's called here probably twenty times already. I don't think she believed us when we told her you weren't staying here," sighed Gail. 

"All she has to do is look across the street and see my car's not there."

"I don't think she's been home yet, Steve," Brad chimed in. 

"She probably stayed with good old Mark," I said with venom. 

"No, I doubt that, Steve; she was crying pretty good and begging us to have you call her if we talked to you; I don't think she'd be talking like that if she was with him," Gail said. 

"Well I haven't talked to her and I don't intend to. As soon as it's nine o'clock I'm calling my lawyer and filing for divorce. I want nothing more to do with her or her idiotic, starry-eyed friends; none of them."

"Steve, can't you just talk to her; please. She really sounds broken up, maybe there's still a chance for you two, maybe if you went to couples counseling or something."

"Gail, you weren't listening to me...I want nothing more to do with her," I said emphatically. "Damn it; she literally abandoned me, Gail; abandoned me for that asshole because their charts matched; that's what gets me, it's all just so fucking stupid! Forgive my language," I said.

"Yeah, I know; Brad told me the story. I know she loves you though, I'll bet if you gave her a second chance..."

I cut her off. "Gail, there will be no second chances; we're done, I could never go through anything like this ever again...and I won't. From now on I am Steven Haynes, photographer and that's it; not husband, not father, not lady's man, not lover, just photographer. 

"Oh, Steve, please don't do this to yourself; you're a wonderful man, don't let your heart turn to stone like that."

"Sorry, Gail, it already has; from now on my only love is my studio," I said coldly.

Three times, while talking with Brad and Gail, my phone buzzed telling me I had a call waiting; I ignored each of them. After hanging up I turned the phone off, took a shower, and walked the four blocks to Denny's for breakfast. 

By the time I got back it was shortly after nine; time to get things started. Lou was the lawyer who helped me incorporate a few years earlier. He was my first call; when I explained the situation, he said he'd handle the divorce for me and gave me advice about finances; the problem was, our personal account and my business account were both held by the bank my wife worked for. I didn't want to go in and see Cora. Lou suggested I not go into the main bank where she worked but pick a branch several miles away. 

I looked on the computer and picked out one that was a forty-five minute drive. Lou told me if Cora fought the divorce the court could order the accounts frozen, so his advice was to take out enough cash to hold me over if needed. 

Cora and I had one joint credit card which I paid off and closed before going to the bank. Again, on Lou's suggestion I was only going to take about forty percent of the money from our joint accounts so as not to piss off the court. I would; however, close out my business account and move it to another bank. She didn't have access to that account anyway, but I just didn't like the idea of it being in the same bank as where she worked. I also had a corporate credit card I could use in a pinch. 

Between going with Cora to Christmas parties and other social events the bank had I half expected to see someone I recognized at the branch when I walked in, but happily, I didn't. I waited for the guy in line ahead of me to finish then went up the window and told the teller I wanted to cash the check I handed her and close out my business account. She looked at the name on the check, excused herself, and ran into the branch manager's office. I saw him make a quick phone call then come back out with the teller.

"Hello, Mr. Haynes," he said extending his hand, "I'm Mr. Peterson, the branch manager. I can help you in my office if you don't mind."

The cashier left us and went through his office and came back out on the other side of the teller's window again. She looked at me with a sheepish smile as I followed Mr. Peterson into his office and sat across the desk from him.

"Why do we have to come in here, Mr. Peterson, is there a problem?" I asked. I was sure Cora had already put the word out and the call he made was to the main bank to alert her I was there.

"No, no, Mr. Haynes," he said with an awkward smile, "It's just that when someone wants to close out a substantial account like yours, it's actually my job to try and persuade them to keep it here. Ah, can I offer you something, coffee?" he asked.

"No thanks," I said shaking head. I was sure all this was just a stalling tactic. "Look, if this is going to be a big deal I'll have to come back; I have appointments this afternoon and didn't expect this would take all day," I said flatly. 

"No, no, Mr. Haynes, ah just let me bring up your account here," he said moving the mouse on his computer. "Okay, let's see here," he said pondering at the screen. After two or three minutes of staring a hole into his monitor and not saying a word, I spoke up.

"Okay, look; you've obviously been given the heads up already about my wife and me; I strongly suspect that call you made was to inform her that I was here. Now let me make this as clear as I can; I don't want to talk to her and if you think you can stall me for the next forty-five minutes while she gets here, you're wrong."

He sighed and slumped down in his chair a little. "Alright, Mr. Haynes, I'm sorry but the request to stall you came from the Vice President, himself. I'm pretty sure he called all the branch managers, so no matter what branch you go to you're going to get the same treatment from all of them."

It was my turn to sigh, and I did. "Look, Mr. Peterson, I don't mean to get you in trouble but either I get this taken care of in a timely manner or I make a complaint to the banking commission. You can tell you VP I made that threat and intend to carry it through."

"Yes, Sir," he said looking down, "We'll get you all set."

Well he certainly didn't break any land speed records but in thirty-five minutes I was walking out of there with Three thousand dollars in cash and a cashier's check from my closed out business account. I was halfway through the small lobby...

"Steve, WAIT!" I heard her yell. 

I looked up and saw Cora approaching from a side door. Damn, I thought, how the hell did she get here so fast; she must have broken every speed limit she came to.

"Please, please, Steve, please talk to me," she begged. 

She looked so bad I almost felt sorry for her; I was pretty sure she had even less sleep than I'd had. Oh what the hell, I thought; avoiding her is the cowardly thing to do; man up and talk to her, I told myself.

"Okay, Cora, let's talk, but not here; let's find a restaurant or someplace we can grab some coffee," I said.

"There's a little place right around the corner," said Mr. Peterson grinning as he walked out of his office knowing he accomplished his goal. 

We walked over, sat in a little two person booth in the corner, and ordered coffee.

"Steve, I don't even know how to begin to tell you how sorry I am," she started. "I can't believe I betrayed you like that; I'm so ashamed of myself. In spite of how it looks, I do still love you; Steve."

I hadn't said a word yet, she practically broke the sound barrier getting there; I figured it was her show.

She was fidgeting with her napkin. "Steve, everything you said in that motel room about me being the one who lied and cheated; it was all the truth, every word of it and I'm so sorry; you've been a good husband and you didn't deserve that. I...I don't know why..." 

I couldn't help myself; I had to open my mouth. "Because you believe more in the stupid stars than you do in me," I said interrupting her. "I've never felt such pain in my life, emotional or physical; I thought I was going to drop dead in that motel room, Cora, I really did." 

Her eyes brimmed with tears. "Yes, I don't think I realized how badly you were hurt until you smashed my rings and told me that was the way I smashed your heart; God, I'm so very sorry, Steve; I handled things all wrong; I really messed up." She took her napkin and dried her eyes. 

"But, Steve, it just wouldn't have worked between us. I know you consider what I believe in to be a lot of hooey; and...well, that's part of the problem. When I found out about you being born in Michigan and then redoing your chart...well, I...I knew I'd made a mistake. Mark and I are more compatible with each other, we..."

"Ah come on, Cora; we've had five great," I stopped for a second then continued, "no, not great, fantastic...five fantastic years together; you're never going to find anyone who's more compatible than us. We could have built a wonderful life together, started a family, and grown old together. Your belief in astrology ruined it all; I just can't believe it, what a waste," I said looking down and shaking my head.

"Steve, I know it seems that way to you right now, but you'll find someone to do all those things with; someone who's right for you; you're a great guy, I know there's someone out there..."

"Oh, Cora, just shut up will you," I said not being able to listen to anymore of her bullshit. "Look, it's over between us; let's just leave at that. I don't want to hear about meeting someone else; I don't plan on meeting anyone. I'm going to put my heart and soul into the studio from now on. I'm no longer interested in a wife and family; I'm no longer interested in having kids and I'm sure as hell not interested in having my heart broken again."

"Oh, Steve, don't do that, please; don't close yourself off like that. You're a wonderful man and you'll make a wonderful father someday."

"Enough," I said. "Look, you wanted to talk and we talked. If you have nothing more to say, I have to get going."

"Alright," she said slightly nodding her head and still wiping her tears. "In spite of what you think, I do still love you; I can't just turn that off and I'm so ashamed of how I acted and what I did to you; I'm so sorry, Steve. I do hope that you find someone; I really do. Please don't let what I did, keep you from loving someone else and raising that family."

"Yeah, fine," I said getting up from the table.

We said out goodbyes, I paid the check and we went our separate ways. It turned out, I was glad she caught me; our talk gave me a sense of closure. 

Earlier, even though I denounced them at the time, Gail's words about counseling did make an impression on me. After the way Cora cried and acted at the motel, a part of me wondered if she was so desperate to get ahold of me because she wanted to try and save our marriage. Maybe she wanted tell me she no longer believed in astrology; that she knew I was still the man she married; of course she didn't. There was no need for counseling; divorce was the only option. Now, after talking to Cora I actually felt a little better, my path was clear and there was no turning back. Tuesday of the following week the papers would be filed in court and that Friday she'd be served at her mother and father's place where she was staying. 

Me...I put that segment of my life behind me by sitting down and formulating a new business plan for the studio; it had three time-elements, ninety days, one year, and five years; it took me all weekend but I got everything all mapped out...and then I cried!

Cora was very amicable; as a result, the divorce went through without a hitch. We sold the house but had very little equity in it so neither of us got a lot. We both found apartments; hers was not far from where we lived, mine was six blocks from the studio. 

As planned, I threw myself into my work. At times I wondered why I even paid rent for an apartment, the only thing I ever did there was sleep, and sometimes I didn't even do that. I worked day and night without even thinking of socializing. It wasn't really all that bad until the holidays hit. I was invited to a couple Christmas parties but really didn't feel like going and my folks were celebrating a belated anniversary with a Caribbean cruise.

As long as I could keep busy I was fine but there was nothing for me to do around Christmas. As hard as I tried to stay away from all of Cora's friends, every once in a while I'd hear something through the grapevine; the latest was that she and that asshole, Mark had moved in together. On Christmas day I sat alone in my office at the studio, and for the first time in months...cried my eyes out. This is stupid, I told myself, she's gone, let her go; but I just couldn't help it, it was the holidays and I'd never felt so all alone in my life.




It was Written in the Stars Ch. 02



A week later I was told by Brad and Gail that if I didn't show up at their New Year's Eve party they'd never speak to me again. I used to love going to parties when I had Cora on my arm, but now just the thought of going to one made me cringe. Except for a few models on a work set now and then, and a waitress to order food, I had barely even talked to woman since the divorce. I had no one to bring to the party and knew how out of place I would feel. I told Brad it was nothing personal, I just didn't want to go to a party where everyone but me would be paired up, but he and Gail were relentless in telling me I had to be there, so I went. 

The party started at nine; I came quietly wandering in about ten. I looked around and thought about leaving again, but I promised so I headed toward the wet bar in the corner of their den where our host was mixing drinks.

"Hey, you finally made it," Brad said as he saw me approaching. 

"You got a Miller Lite back there with my name on it," I asked with a smile. 

"I sure do, buddy; I've been saving it just for you."

Just then I felt someone's soft hand on my arm and looked. "Hi, Steve, I was beginning to think you weren't coming. I thought sure we were going to have to cut you out of our will."

"Hi, Gail," I said as she chuckled at her own joke. I leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "You didn't give me much choice," I replied. "I don't know how long I'm going to stay though; I really appreciate what you guys are trying to do but I really feel out of place. I'm just not ready to start socializing yet."

"Well you better get ready because I have someone I want you to meet," said Gail starting to pull on my arm. 

"Oh no," I responded holding back, "Really, Gail, I'm not ready to meet anyone yet; please don't play matchmaker for me."

"Listen, I know this girl form the health club. Her name is Megan Biondi and she's really a nice person..."

"I'm sure she is, Gail, I'm just not looking to meet anyone."

"Will you just let me finish what I was saying; I invited her because she had nowhere to go for New Years. Her boyfriend moved away last summer for a new job and she hasn't dated anyone since..."

"Gail, I..."

"Will you please shut up long enough for me tell you what I want to tell you..." 

I apologized and she continued.

"As I was saying..." she said in a huff, "She wasn't going to come until I mentioned you would be here; she knows your work. She thinks you're the greatest photographer since...well I don't know, since some other great photographer."

"Come on, Gail, you're making that up; how would she know my work, I'm far from famous," I said not believing a word she said. 

"She works for The Allen Agency," Gail explained.

"Allen's Ad Agency? They're one of my best clients."

"Uh ha; she works in their design department and sees your stuff all the time. She said she heard you were in the office a couple months ago and wanted to meet you but by the time she made it through the building you were gone."

"Why hasn't she just stopped in at the studio if she wants to meet me that bad, hell I'm there all the time."

"Well, I think she's too shy just to pop in like that. She's actually a little nervous tonight. Come on, Steve," she said tugging on my arm again.

I remembered when I was a kid, my mom fixed me up on a couple blind dates with the daughters of friends of hers; I learned real fast that when someone says, "She's a really nice person," it meant I should turn and run in the opposite direction as fast as I could. Funny how that came to mind as Gail led me through the crowd of partygoers to meet Megan. 

Suddenly everyone around me disappeared and I went deaf to the sounds of a room full of people. My eyes fixed on the beautiful oriental looking woman talking with two people in the corner. Her long black, lustrous hair almost reached the cute little butt of her petite, but perfectly proportioned body. Her coal black eyes were softened by a smile that would tame a mountain lion with one glance.

"Did you say her name was Biondi? She looks oriental," I questioned Gail.

"Her mother is Japanese; her dad was Italian. He was killed in a traffic accident when Megan was a teenager."

"What about her mother?"

"She's still alive; she lives out in New England somewhere. Now put a smile on the grumpy face," she said as she led me to the breathtakingly beautiful woman.

"Megan," said Gail as we walked up to her, "I want you meet someone; this is Steve Haynes."

"Mr. Haynes," I notice her hand shaking a little as she held it out. "It's...ah, ah a real pleasure to meet you." Gail wasn't lying, she was actually nervous, it was flattering.

"Ah, Steve, please," I said gently shaking her hand. "I understand you work at Allen's Ad Agency, I do a lot of work for them."

"Yes, I know," she said with that magnificent smile, "I really love your work. I...I was going to have you do some glamour shots of me for my boyfriend a while back. It was going to be a going away present for him. The first person I thought of to do them was you, but I...well, I don't think I couldn't have gone through with it; I'd been too embarrassed. Just before he left we got into a big fight anyway and wound up splitting on not such a good note, so I'm glad I didn't have them taken now."

"God, she was just so damn cute; I was beginning to think maybe there was actually another woman that could take Cora's place...and just maybe I'd met her!

We found a relatively quiet spot in the corner of the living room and talked; she still seemed a little nervous but as we talked that started to go away. We were really getting along well when...

"So what's your sign," she asked, "I'm a Virgo."

It was as if someone twisted the knife that Cora had stuck in my heart months before. I couldn't help it; I knew I was being terribly rude but I just couldn't stay any longer. Megan looked shocked as I excused myself and headed for the door without even saying goodbye. I was actually having trouble breathing when I got to my car.

By the time the New Year was being ushered in, I was in the back room of my studio getting loaded; I'm pretty sure I passed out before midnight. I was still slumped down in my chair the next day when the phone woke me up.

Continued...



It was Written in the Stars Ch. 03



"Steven Haynes, what the hell is wrong with you?" sounded a very upset Gail. 

My head was pounding, my joints were sore from the way I slept, and I had my best friend's wife pissed off at me; what a way to start a new year. 

"Well I hope you're proud of yourself; do you know you had that poor girl crying! What the hell happened? I've never known you to be so rude; something must have happened..."

"She's a Virgo," I said interrupting her. 

There was a short pause. "What?" 

"She's a Virgo," I said again. "I really liked her, Gail, but then she came out with that astrology crap; from now on I absolutely will not have anything to do with anyone who even dabbles in that stuff as a hobby; I will NOT!" I said emphatically. 

Again Gail took a moment before she spoke, "Steve, I...I don't really think she's into astrology at all; I mean, she's never said anything to me about it." 

"Well she did to me; we hadn't talked for more than half an hour when she asked what my sign was, and then informed me that she was a Virgo. I'm sorry, Gail; I honestly didn't mean to make her cry but when someone even mentions that crap to me it's like scraping fingernails on a chalk board. I won't have anything to do with it, or anyone who farts around with it in any way."

I heard her sigh. "Yeah, I can understand that; I'm sorry, Steve; she really is a very sweet girl and I just thought you two would hit it off; I was hoping she could get you out once in a while and away from that studio."

"Gail, I know your heart was in the right place. I'm sure Megan is a very nice person and I'm sorry I hurt her feelings, I really am; but please, from now on, no more playing matchmaker. I don't have time in my life right now anyway. Okay?"

"Okay, Steve; I'm sorry it didn't work out though."

"I know; do me a favor, when you see Megan again, please give her my apologies. I know I should have never walked out on her like that, I just couldn't help it."

"I will, Steve," replied Gail. 

At least we were still friends by the time we hung up, but now I was upset all over again from just talking about it, and on top of that, I felt guilty about Megan as well...damn, I didn't mean to make her cry. 

I needed to get myself together. The apartment had a much nicer shower than the studio so I decided to go home, shower, and hit Denny's for some food; thank God for Denny's on the holidays.

As I sat, eating what turned out to be a late lunch, I thought back to the night before. Even though it didn't work out with Megan, I had to admit it was nice talking with a member of the opposite sex again. 

I took the last sip of coffee, and by the time I paid the bill, I had made up my mind to start dating again; not a lot, but maybe two or three times a month. Hopefully that would be enough to get me laid once in a while; it'd been a long time. 

My first opportunity to jump back into the dating pool came up the following week. Erica Snell was a local model I had used many times in the past. Between her vast number of wigs, make-up styles, and facial expressions, she had more looks than Rich Little had voices; on top of that she was intelligent, had a great sense of humor and was very friendly. 

We had been working all day on an ad campaign for one of the major candy distributers in the city. It was almost five o'clock by the time we wrapped things up. I was a little nervous; I hadn't asked a woman for a date in many years but if I played this right it really wouldn't be like asking for a date, it would be just a simple, friendly gesture to buy a hard working girl dinner.

"So what do you think?" she asked coming out of the dressing room now in normal clothes with just a little make-up, "Will I be on billboards?"

"Billboards, magazine ads, you name it; did you hear their advance man, they loved the shots; you're in, Erica. I heard the ad exec say they may use you in a commercial spot."

"Really?" she asked getting excited. "Would you do the commercial?"

"No, that would go to one of the big boys down town," I replied. "I don't have the resources for that kind of thing." She was getting her stuff together to leave. "Say, Erica, it's after five already, let me buy you dinner for doing such a great job."

She stopped and looked at me; I could almost see the hesitation in those expressive eyes of hers; finally she answered. "Yeah, okay; I'm starving."

There was a little Italian bistro only three blocks away; I'd actually never eaten there before, Denny's was just a couple blocks further, but I wasn't going to take her there. 

It turned out to be a nice place; it had a nice wine list, good food, and a quiet atmosphere. We mostly talked about the various shots we did during the day and which ones we thought they would use. We were there for about an hour and I decided I'd better go for it. 

"Erica, I was wondering if you had a steady guy? The reason I'm asking is...well, if you don't, I'd like take you out. Maybe go to a show or dinner and dancing..."

She was giving me kind of a strange look like she was just waiting to say something so I stopped talking.

"What happens if I don't go out with you, you stop using me?" she said suspiciously. 

The question surprised me; I knew there were photographers who coerced their models into sleeping with them by threatening not to hire them anymore if she didn't, but it angered me to think she would consider me to be one of those guys.

"Let's just forget I asked," I said curtly, then added, "And don't worry, you're a great model and I'll continue to use you like I always have."

"I've insulted you, haven't I; I'm sorry, Steve, it's just that I get offers like that all the time and well...it's cost me a lot of work. I should have known you weren't like that; my apologies."

"Apology accepted," I said.

"I appreciate the offer, Steve, you're a really nice guy but I really don't like mixing business with pleasure. It's fine as long as everything goes okay in the relationship but as soon as something goes wrong it can be disastrous. I did it once, when I was just starting out; after six months I broke it off and he went around bad mouthing me to every photographer and agency in the city; it was almost the end of my career."

"Erica, you have to know I would never do that," I said, again a little miffed.

"I know you wouldn't Steve, but I just see it as a conflict of interest."

Like I said, she was an intelligent woman. She was absolutely right and convinced me then and there that I have to look outside the profession for my dates. 

"You're right," I said nodding my head slightly, "But I still reserve the right to take you out for a victory dinner if you land the contract for that commercial."

She smiled; "You got it, Steve; in fact if I get that commercial I'll take you out to dinner."

I knew she was just being conciliatory after turning me down flat, but it was still nice to hear.

For the next week or so, I didn't think about dating; the holidays were over and I was busy again. It was after one in the morning and I was still editing shots in the back of my studio when I decided I needed a break. I sat back in my chair and again thought how nice it was talking with Megan; until she told me she was a Virgo, of course. Still...I needed someone to relax with; maybe go on a date or two. I thought about my conversation with Erica and knew I had to rule out the models with whom I worked. So who; and where? I hated the thought of going to a pick-up bar. I never did very well in those places anyway. 

As I sat and contemplated my stomach started to rumble and I realized I hadn't had any dinner. Ah, Denny's, open twenty-four, seven. I was about to call it a day anyway; I'd walk down, grab a bite to eat then good home and get some shuteye. 

As I walked into the restaurant I was surprised to see Karen; she usually worked the dinner hour. I sauntered up the counter. "Karen, you're here awfully late; forget to go home?"

She chuckled a little. "Talk about not going home; are you still working?" 

"Yeah...well, no, not really; I'm going home after I eat something. What about you; how come you're here so late?"

"My son broke his arm a couple months ago; even with insurance the hospital bill is over a thousand dollars. I asked Bill, the manager, if I could work some more hours; I was hoping he'd let me work lunch and dinner but he gave me the graveyard shift instead; Oh well, I guess beggars can't be choosers; isn't that what they say?" she said with a smile.

I was surprised to hear she had a son old enough to break his arm. I'd never really looked at Karen before; she was a pretty woman. I would have guessed she was only twenty-one or two.

"How old is your son?" I asked.

"He'll be seven in April," she said. "If he lives that long; he thinks he's a stuntman or something, he knows no fear."

I laughed. "You'll have to get him a protective suit like an astronaut wears."

"Yeah," she chuckled. "What'll you have, Steve?"

"Ah, well," I said still looking at the menu, "since it's almost time for breakfast how about steak and eggs?"

"You got it," she said turning around and feeding my order into the computer. She picked up the coffee pot and started making her rounds to the other late night patrons. 

I sat there wondering why I'd never really noticed Karen, other than to give her my order. She was really a very striking looking woman. A young woman with money problems and a child; I'll bet she'd jump at the chance to go out to a nice place for dinner and dancing, I thought. Sure, why not? Just then she came back with my order.

"Hey, Karen, when you get a minute come on back; I'd like to ask you something," I requested.

"No time like the present," she said putting her chin in her hand before resting her elbow on the counter in front of me. "Ask away," she declared with a smile.

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like a short reprieve from all work and worries and go out with me for a nice dinner and some dancing afterward?" 

She hesitated for a few seconds while staring me in the face.

"How long has it been since your divorce," she asked. 

The question surprised me a little; I really expected her to just about jump over the counter thanking me. "Ah, well we separated a little over a year ago but the divorce was final seven months ago."

"I appreciate the offer, Steve, I really do, but after going out with a couple of recently divorced men I've learned something...they all have a lot of baggage they carry with them for a long time," she said. 

I guess I looked a little shocked but she went on.

"Look at you; I used to see you in here at dinner time once in a great while; now I see you in here at one in the morning, how come? Because throwing yourself into your work is the only way you can survive. Now you're horny and you want to get laid but I'm not anyone's one-night-stand. When I go out with someone I want at least the potential of a relationship. I want someone who is stable in their own life; right now that's not you, Steve."

"I'm stable," I said in my defense. "I'm good at my profession; I have a growing business..."

"Yeah but what about all the things still swirling around in that head of yours; the grief, the anger, the pain; are you looking for another relationship already, I doubt it. All that emotional chaos you went through, it's still there and it'll take a while before it all dissipates. When it does, come back and see me then, Steve; come back and ask me when you can enjoy life and laugh again; I'd be honored to go out with you then. Right now I have enough emotional problems of my own to contend with; I couldn't take on yours too."

She leaned over the counter and gave me a soft kiss on the lips, then left with a smile to go fill ketchup bottles. To say I was stunned was an understatement. Was I really that messed up? Maybe I was, I thought about it all the way home. 

That night I couldn't get to sleep; I kept thinking about what Karen said. Maybe I shouldn't even think about dating yet; hell, I couldn't get anyone to go out with me anyway. 

By the next day I'd pretty much given up on dating again, but I still had that problem between my legs; damn, dating or no dating, I had to get laid! 

Hooker? I just couldn't see myself paying a prostitute, besides it was dangerous; no, no hookers, but maybe, I thought, I should try going to some meat market on a Friday night and just seeing if I can get laid. It seemed to be my best option at the time. 

The following Friday night I decided to take a chance and went down to The Fox's Tail, one of the best pick-up bars in town...or so I was told. The place was packed with wall to wall humanity, mostly guys but there were quite a few women as well. I was surprised to find a bar stool empty and grabbed it. I ordered a beer and started to look around some more. I was really feeling out of place; funny how lonely you can feel in the middle of a room filled with people. It didn't take me long to figure I'd finish my beer then leave. 

I was on the verge of one last swallow before hitting the bricks when the bartender told me someone was staring at me. I glanced over and saw an attractive woman looking back at me. I smiled; so did she. I was trying to decide what to do next when she started walking my way.

"You're that photographer, aren't you?" she asked.

I was stunned. "Ah, yeah; at least I'm 'A' photographer. I'm sorry, do I know you?" I'm usually pretty good with faces but I didn't remember her at all. I knew she never modeled for me.

"Not really," she said holding out her hand to shake. "My name is Jeanette; my ex-husband is Wally Simsky, you used to work with him. I saw you a few times when you would meet him at one of the houses but I always stayed in the car; I don't think you even knew I was there."

Now I knew who she was. Her ex was a real estate man. When I was just starting my business I used to shoot interiors and exteriors of the homes he was selling. It didn't pay much but in those days I took everything I could get. I did remember sometimes seeing a woman in the car when he'd meet me at a property but I was never introduced.

"How do you do," I said shaking her hand. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Same here," she said with a smile. 

Just then the guy sitting next to me left; I quickly put my hand on the stool to save it for her. She sat down and asked if I was still working for her ex. I told her no, I hadn't done that kind of work in three or four years. We seemed to be getting along pretty good, and after a full hour of talking she hadn't mentioned astrology once; that was good enough for me. I asked her out and she accepted. 

The following night I was nervous as I pulled in to her apartment complex. I wondered if she had the same goal for tonight as I did...getting laid. I'd hoped so. She seemed like a nice person, and from what I could see the night before, had a nice body, but there were certainly no sparks, at least not from my end. I knew there was not going to be any big romance between us but I sure wouldn't turn down a friend's with benefits type of relationship. 

She gave me a small peck on the cheek when she met me at the door and we were off for a nice dinner, some dancing, and I hoped a night of wild sex. 

"So, Steve, if I'm not being too nosey, what happened between you and your wife?" she asked about half way through our meal.

"Ah, it's a long story but basically she believed in astrology instead of life," I said.

"Huh," she sneered, "I wish my break up was that easy to explain; to this day I don't know why Wally wanted a divorce. According to him we just grew apart. I think he was running around on me but I couldn't prove it. That's why I was in the car sometimes; I wanted to make sure he wasn't meeting some floozy. Of course he always swore he wasn't having an affair but I knew he was lying, hell all men have affairs; I'll bet you fucked some of those models when you were married, didn't you?"

I was flabbergasted, "I sure as hell did not," I indignantly responded.

"Liar, men are all alike, none of them can keep it in their pants; some bimbo wears her skirt six inches above her knees and they'll crawl all over themselves to see who can get to her first," she snarled. 

I could feel my jaw hitting the floor as I listened to her tirade; where did this come from, I wondered. She wasn't like that at all the night before.

"Hey, hey," I said interrupting her. I think my anger must have come through when I spoke; I'd hoped so. "Let's forget about our ex's and just have a good time tonight, huh."

She looked up like she was a little embarrassed. "Oh I'm sorry, you're right; I just get worked up sometimes."

I don't think we said three words to each other for the rest of the dinner and I was really thinking about calling it a night and forget about taking her dancing but I thought, what the hell, maybe she's just nervous; I'll stick it out and see if things get better.

When we got to the club it was of course packed; I looked around and figured the ratio was at least two guys for every girl and was thankful I had a girl to dance with already. We couldn't find a vacant table but there were counters all along the walls where people could set there drinks while they stood and watched the dance floor. We picked out a spot and were only there a few seconds when a nice looking barmaid came to take out orders. She explained as long as our glasses were on a napkin she knew we were dancing and would not pick up our drinks; when we left we were to put the glasses directly on the counter so she knew we were not coming back. 

We waited until she brought our drinks so we wouldn't lose our place then I asked her to dance. My folks were masters at the jitterbug; I wasn't anywhere near as good as them but I did learn enough moves to get by and was pleasantly surprised when she stayed right with me. After that we did the two step to a slow song before returning to our drinks. 

After her diatribe at dinner, I was a little gun shy to start a conversation but we had to talk. The night before she told me she worked in a sports store as a manager but we didn't get very far into it.

"So, Jeanette, I know you're a manager but what do you do exactly for the store?"

"Try to keep my boss from feeling me up, mostly," she said.

I thought, oh no! I opened the flood gates again, but just then a guy walked over and saved me; at least that's what I thought at first.

"Hi, Jeanette, I've never seen you in here before," he said looking straight at my date.

"Hi, Tom," she replied. Then, almost as an afterthought, she introduced us, "Tom, this is Steve; Tom works at the store with me," she explained.

"It's nice to meet you," I said cordially. He barely glanced in my direction with a slight nod of his head and completely ignored the hand I had extended.

"You want to dance?" he asked Jeanette.

"Sure," she responded without so much as looking at me for approval. She left me standing there and strolled out on the floor with asshole. 

If I had cared for her even the slightest, I would not have allowed that to happen, but I had already decided this was the first, last, and only date I would have with Jeanette. I had completely given up hope for having her for a fuck-buddy, in fact, with the way the night had gone, I wasn't even horny anymore. 

I stood and nursed my beer while watching them dance three dances together without coming up for air. I took my last swallow, removed the napkin from under the bottle and paraded out to where they were.

"Jeanette, I'm leaving, have asshole here drive you home."

"What, no wait!" I couldn't believe she was surprised at my actions. As I started to leave, Tom grabbed my arm.

"What did you call me?" he said trying to act the big man.





It was Written in the Stars Ch. 03



I turned and looked directly into his eyes. "If you want to keep that hand, remove it immediately," I said as menacingly as I could. I guess he didn't want to test me because he let go.

"Steve, wait; I'm sorry, we just got talking," she said, I guess trying to apologize. I didn't say anything else; I just turned and walked out to my car...this dating crap was really bullshit, I thought while driving home. 

Sunday morning I was still fuming. Instead of driving the eight blocks to Denny's for breakfast I decided the walk would help me calm down. I was hoping to see Karen but her shift hadn't started yet. From there I had to go back into the studio. I didn't have anything scheduled to shoot but since going out both Friday and Saturday nights, I had a ton of editing to do. As I walked into the office I saw the light on my phone flashing telling me I had a message; guess who...

 Steve, I'm so sorry for last night. Before you picked me up I called Wally to let him know we were going out. I was trying to make him jealous, but instead he just told me what a great guy you were and said to have fun. I was so mad at him; that's what prompted all that ranting and raving at dinner. Then I was so embarrassed over what I said that when Tom showed up it was a relief in a way, I just had to get away from you for a few minutes. Tom's actually a big jerk and I had fully intended on rejoining you after that last dance. I guess I waited one dance too many, huh? Tom doesn't know where I live and I wanted to keep it that way, so after you left I took a cab home. I feel so bad over the way I treated you, please accept my apologies. I guess I'll understand if you don't call me for anymore dates. Goodbye Steve.

I was glad she understood because I had no intention of asking her out again. She was more messed up after her divorce than I was. I thought about what Karen said, 'I have enough emotional problems of my own without taking on yours too.' Now I knew exactly what she was talking about.

Once again, for the next month I threw myself into my work. It was the only part of my life that was going well. I was looking over the books one night but couldn't keep my eyes open; I awoke the next morning with my head lying on the desk. That's when I seriously started thinking about hiring an assistant. I had been avoiding that ever since I started the business. With all the taxes, insurance, rules, and regulations that were involved it was just such a hassle for a small business like mine, but I could easily afford it and I needed some help. I was composing an ad for the newspaper when my phone rang.

"Steven Haynes Photography," I answered.

"Hi, Steve, it's Gail." 

"Hi, doll, what's shaking," I asked in an upbeat manner. Usually when she called it was with an invitation to something or other.

"Steve, did you know Barbara Sheffield; was she the one who had the astrology club?"

I wondered why Gail was asking me about Barbara, they'd only met a couple of times, then it dawned on me, she said, 'did you know?'

"Yeah, Gail, why did something happen to her?"

"She died of a stroke; I'm sorry, I know you liked her in spite of everything. Her obituary is in today's paper. She had the stroke last Friday but wasn't discovered in her apartment until Saturday. They got her to the hospital but she never regained consciousness and died on Sunday."

I had to take a minute; damn, she was only in her middle fifties, way too young to die like that. "Yeah, she was really a nice person," I said. "She was actually the only person from Cora's group of friends that I still talked to. Does it say where she'll be laid out?" I asked.

"Yeah, at Schuster's," she said. "But you know if you go to the wake you'll probably run into Cora," Gail warned.

"Yeah, it doesn't matter, Barbara was actually a good friend; even though Cora had known her much longer than I had, she was honest with me and was actually the one to let me know about Cora cheating on me. After I filed for divorce she called me and said how sorry she was. I think she felt guilty and was somehow blaming herself for telling me; I told her how much I appreciated what she did and that I knew how hard it must have been for her. After that we kept in touch once in a while; she was always careful not to mention Cora to me; I always appreciated that. I've got to go pay my respects," I said.

I figured the best way to avoid the others was to be there on the first day of the viewing as soon as the doors open. It worked, at least for a few minutes. When I first walked in I saw no one I recognized; I'd assumed they were family. 

I walked up to the casket and looked down; it was hard to recognize her, but isn't that always the way? I really felt regret for never talking to her again after our luncheon that time. I knew it was too late, but I leaned down a little and softly thanked her for being a true friend. 

As I turned around and headed for the door I saw two members of the astrology club coming in.

"Steve," said Margaret sounding surprised.

"Steve," echoed Blackie holding out his hand.

"Hi, guys," I replied shaking Blackie's hand and giving Margaret a quick kiss on the cheek. "I was so surprised to hear about Barbara, had she been sick or given any indication something was wrong?"

"Not a thing," replied Blackie. "We were all at the club meeting the night before it happened and she seemed fine."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Has anyone seen Cora yet, they were so close, it must be really hard on her," I said.

They looked at each other. "Well, Cora was kind of excluded from the club after we all found out about her and Mark," Margaret reported. "We didn't really throw them out or anything; they both started coming back to the meetings but no one would really talk to them so they stopped coming."

I didn't say anything but it did my heart good to hear that; Cora absolutely loved that club and the people in it; it must have killed her when they turned against her. 

"Well," I said wanting to get out of there before running into anymore from the club, "I'm sorry to have to run but I have a shoot I couldn't reschedule so I have to get going."

I don't think they believed me but they were gracious enough to act like they did.

"Listen, Steve; don't be such a stranger. Everyone's asked about you from time to time. Let us know how you're doing once in an a while," Margaret said returning my kiss on the cheek. 

"Will do," I said getting antsy. I really didn't want to run into Cora if I could avoid it. I shook Blackie's hand again and made a bee-line for the door. I was just pulling out of the lot when I saw Cora pulling in. I was a little surprised to see she was alone. Where's your asshole perfect match boyfriend, I caught myself thinking. I saw her eyes widen when she saw me and it looked like she wanted me to stop so I punched it and got the hell out of there. 

On the way back to the studio I thought about what Karen, the waitress at Denny's said about all those feelings still swirling around inside of me. She was right; even after more than a year, seeing Cora again brought all the hurt and anger right back to the surface. I chastised myself for allowing that to happen; living a good life is the best revenge, I told myself; I've got to work on that.

Of course after I was back in the studio it became my life once again. Another month had gone by and I found myself at two in the morning editing the day's shoot, yet again. Damn, I told myself, I was going to get an assistant and forgot all about it; tomorrow I write an ad and post it; I need help!

That's just what I did; I posted it in the paper and on line; the very next day I had six interviews already lined up. After interviewing the first four I was almost ready to give up. I didn't expect them to know much about my work, I could train them, but they still had to be trainable. Half of the people who came in couldn't even fill out the job application. 

I had just walked the last applicant out the front door and was headed back to my office grumbling something about half the day being shot, when I heard the door open. I turned and saw Megan standing there looking kind of scared. I had to admit, she sure looked fine.

"Megan, what a pleasant surprise; I'm glad you're here, I want to apologize..."

"Mr. Haynes, please; I'm the one that should be apologizing. I'm so sorry."

"Sorry, for what?" I asked. 

"Because I...well I um...is there somewhere I can sit down; ah, I...I'm a little nervous."

"Sure, follow me," I said guiding her through the studio and into my office. "Here," I said pulling up a chair for her, "have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee? I just made it."

"Yes, please." She sat and took a sip of brew before talking again. "Mr. Haynes..."

"I thought we settled that," I said interrupting her again. "The name is Steve, remember?"

"Alright, Steve," she replied with a smile. "Now, please stop interrupting me or I'll never get to say what I came here to say." 

"Shoot," I said sitting across from her.

"Mr. H...ah, Steve; when I first saw your photography work years ago I thought you were very talented. Through the years you have shot some of the best stuff I've seen, and I'm not the only one who thinks so."

I was about to say something humble but she gave me a look that told me I'd better not cut her off again. I just smiled modestly and sat back.

"I also heard some of the people you've worked with say what a terrific guy you are. I've wanted to meet you for years but never got the chance. I knew you were married and I was engaged so I had no romantic expectations; I just thought...well, maybe I did have a few romantic notions, but I knew they were just fantasies."

I thought I saw my opportunity as she took another sip of coffee. "Megan, I..."

"Please, Steve, let me get through this." I shut up and she continued. "I've known Gail for years; we work out at the gym together all the time. She knew about my fiancée leaving and invited me to her New Year's Eve party. I declined at first but then she started telling me about this great, newly divorced guy who was going to be there; when she said your name I almost died. I couldn't believe it. I told her how long I've wanted to meet you and accepted the invitation immediately; then I got nervous. By the time I got to the party I was a basket case; a couple of Brad's vodka stone sours help calm me down and by the time you got there I was already pretty mellow."

She sipped more coffee then proceeded. "Anyway, when we started talking I was still pretty nervous but the conversation was going okay until there was a slight lull...remember? That's when I asked about your sign."

I remembered only too well; I guess it showed on my face.

"Steve, I had no idea what happened between you and your wife. I know nothing about astrology; absolutely nothing. I said that because guys are always asking me what my sign is and it was the first thing that popped into my mind. Hell, I don't even know my sign; I say I'm a Virgo because they're supposed to be well organized people; at least that's what I'm told. I knew when you left like that I had said something wrong but I had no idea what. I started crying, that's when Gail came over, took me upstairs, and put me to bed in the guest room. It wasn't until the next day when she and Brad told me what happened between you and your wife that I knew what I said must have hurt you terribly. I've wanted to apologize but I was embarrassed, and maybe a little afraid. It wasn't until I saw the ad in yesterday's paper that I got up the courage to come over."

"Ad?" I asked, "You mean about the job?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah, I want to apply but I couldn't without saying I was sorry first."

I was dumbfounded into silence for a minute. "First of all it is me who should apologize to you..." She started to say something but I held up my hand. "Now it's my turn to talk. As I was saying, I'm terribly sorry for leaving you at the party like that; it was incredibly rude of me. You had no idea what happened between Cora and me and I should have never reacted like that. Again, I'm sincerely sorry." 

"Secondly, I would love to have someone with your qualifications working here but I'm afraid there's no way I could pay you what you're making at Allen's."

I saw a slight smirk on her face.

"What do you think a designer at Allen's makes...no, wait," she said quickly, "Maybe I should find out what you're paying before I tell you."

"Ah, well to tell you the truth, I wasn't planning on paying more than minimum wage, but I also wasn't expecting to get anyone with your knowledge of the business either." 

When I ran the ad I thought about the maximum I could pay if I really found someone I thought I could rely on; there was no sense negotiating, I would gladly pay her the max; it would actually be worth it just to have her around to look at, I thought. 

"Megan, I wish I could pay more but I'm afraid the best I can do is five-hundred a week; of course that comes with..."

"I'll take it," she blurted out. 

"Really?" I said sounding more like an excited school kid than a savvy business man. 

"Yes," she said. "But I do have to give Allen's a couple weeks' notice, would that be okay?"

"Yes, of course. Well," I said standing up and reaching out my hand, "welcome to Steven Haynes Photography."

I showed her around the studio. I could tell she was going to be a real asset just by the way she paid attention and by the questions she asked; they were all the right ones. 

Just for my records I had her fill out an application as well as insurance forms. Just as she was leaving a client was walking in; she got a big smile on her face when I introduced her as my new assistant. 

The next day I got a call from her.

"Hi, Stev...ah, is it still okay to call you Steve or should I go back to Mr. Haynes since you're my boss now?"

"Hello, Megan, and if I catch you calling me Mr. Haynes I can dock your pay now," I joked. 

She giggled. "Okay, Steve, just checking. I was calling to let you know Allen's is going to make me work the two weeks. I was kind of hoping they'd let me go when I gave them notice but no such luck."

"Oh I didn't figure they'd let you go, Megan; I expected them to keep you there as long as they could. I wouldn't be surprise if they offer you a raise to entice you to stay," I told her suddenly feeling apprehensive. I hadn't really thought of that until I just said it. Damn, I wondered if they would lure her back. 

"They already did," she replied, "I told them no thanks."

A couple times over the next couple of weeks Megan came by the studio in the evening to give me a hand. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to get someone like her. On her first day she came in ready to work; by the time noon rolled around we had accomplished more in a few hours than I would have all day by myself.

"Megan, it is the custom around here, for me to buy lunch for all my employees on their first day."

"All your employees; how many have you had?" asked a surprised Megan.

"You're the first, but all customs have to start somewhere," I chuckled. 

I put an, 'out to lunch,' sign on the door, locked it up and took her to Denny's; well, it was my favorite place for lunch. We found a booth in Karen's section and sat down. 

"Hi, Steve, you brought company today," she said. "You know that means a bigger tip, right?" she said with a smile.

"Hi, Karen; I'd like you to meet Megan; she just started today as my new assistant."

Karen seemed shocked for a moment. "Your assistant; really?" she asked looking at Megan. 

Megan grinned and nodded her head. "Yup," she answered proudly.

"Well congratulations, Megan; maybe now Mr. Workaholic here won't have to come in at one in the morning anymore."

"Not if I can help it," Megan replied looking at me.

"Over lunch we had a great conversation. She told me she developed a love for photography in college and was really looking forward to going out on some shoots with me to see how I worked.

As we were just finishing, Megan excused herself for the lady's room as Karen was bringing me the check.

"Looks like I missed out, huh," she said as I dug for my cash.

"Missed out on what?"

"You; you asked me out and like an idiot I turned you down; sometimes I can be really stupid."

"Karen, I don't what you're talking about? You want to go out, the offer's still open?"

"Ah, don't be ridiculous; she wouldn't like that."

"Who wouldn't like it?"

"Megan, silly; that girl is in love with you; don't tell me you haven't figured that out yet."

"Karen, we don't even know each other, not really; besides she works for me, it would be a conflict of interests to get involved."

She just smiled. "We'll see," she said. The two girls crossed paths as Karen left; they said something to one another but I couldn't hear what it was; Megan was smiling when she got back to the table though.

That night was the first time in over a year that I locked up the studio and headed home before six in the evening. I didn't know what to do with myself when I got there.

By the end of the first month I was wondering how I ever got along without Megan. She was learning quick and already knew most of my lighting techniques; she was as good at editing my work as I was, and she was such a pleasure to have around. Several times I caught myself fantasizing about making love to her but now that she was my employee I figured that was out of the question. Like Erica had told me, it was a conflict of interest; if we got involved, then had a falling out I could lose her as my assistant; I couldn't take that chance.

"Steve, Jim Roper called a little while ago, he wants you to call him back as soon as you get in," Megan told me as I returned from running some errands. I got on the phone and called him back immediately. Jim was the man in charge of advertising for Chi-town candies, my biggest client. 

"Hi, Jim, it's Steve; I just walked in and Megan said to call you right back."

"Yeah, by the way, who is Megan? Since when do you have an assistant?"

"Since a couple of months ago," I told him. "Things got so crazy around here I had to hire someone."

"Does she look as delicious as she sounds over the phone?"

Leave it up to a guy who works for a candy company to use a word like delicious when describing a woman. "Melts in your mouth," I replied using his vernacular. Megan was looking right at me when I said it but I was pretty sure she had no idea what I was talking about.

"You're going to bring her along to Peoria with you, aren't you?"

"Ah, I didn't know I was going to Peoria, Jim; when is this?"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. We're doing a follow up campaign from that ad you shot for us on the river walk down there, only this time we're doing it right. We're going to do a series of ads. We'll need three different models."

"Are we going to have time to do all that?" I asked. "If I remember right, the Riverfront association had us on a short leash last time."

"Steve, they got so much free publicity from our ads they are bending over backwards this time; the entire place is ours for as long as we need it. I'm thinking three days, four at the most. I need you to tell me when you can do it; I have to know as soon as possible so I can get everything arranged."

"Alright, Jim; let me check my schedule and get back to you later today. Do you have the models or do you want me to take care of that?" 

"I have one," he responded. "I don't think you know her; her name is Jessica, she's from L.A. The boss saw her picture somewhere and had to have her for this. The other two I'll leave up to you."

"Okay, I said; let me do some maneuvering and get back to you before the end of the day," I told him before saying goodbye.




It was Written in the Stars Ch. 03



"What was that all about?" questioned Megan. "I sounded exciting."

"Well I don't know about exciting; that's not quite how I would describe Peoria, but it'll be fun. Come on, let's go check the schedule, we need to find a place where we can block out four full days. I also have to call Erica Snell and Jean Mathers to see if they can do the modeling." 

Megan and I went to work and by four o'clock that afternoon I called Jim back with the timetable and everything was worked out. Jessica would fly in directly from L.A. and the rest of us would meet at Denny's for an early breakfast then drive to Peoria in a five vehicle caravan. Megan road with me, Erica and Jean drove together, and Jim with the rest of the ad department made up the rest of the wagon train. 

When we all checked in to the motel they told us Jessica had already arrived. We found her by the side of the pool dressed...well, almost dressed in a little tiny bikini that left very little to the imagination. It was easy to see why Jim's boss wanted her, she was stunning.

Jim sent one of his guys to the riverfront to scout locations while the rest of us discussed what we would be shooting. With her background in set design, Megan tossed out a couple ideas of her own that both Jim and I thought were great. It was almost noon by the time we actually started shooting but we had a very productive day. Later we all went out to eat then headed back to the motel to make an early night of it; the following day would be a long one; we were going to shoot from dawn till dusk.

I was just drifting into dreamland when I heard a faint knock on my door. Being a bachelor, I didn't own a robe, so I slid my pants on with no underwear and threw on a shirt without bothering to button it before answering the door.

"Megan." She stood there, as far as I could tell, dressed only in a little white robe that barely covered her pussy. 

"Hi, Steve," she said greeting me with a big smile. "Can I come in?"

"Ah, yeah, sure," I said stumbling all over my words. I closed the door behind her. She just stood there for a few seconds before speaking.

"Steve, I sincerely hope I'm not risking my job but I have something I want to show you." With that she stood in front of me, untied the sash of her robe, and let it slide down her arms to her feet. 

Now I'd seen a lot of naked women; most models are not shy about undressing in front of photographers, but Megan's petite little frame was absolutely perfect; so perfect in fact, that with no underwear on the front of my trousers immediately stood out in obvious, tent like, fashion. 

I saw a big smile stretch across Megan's face. "Steve, it's not nice to point you know," she chuckled. 

I was too dumbfounded even to be embarrassed. "Megan, I...I"

"Please don't fire me; I know I shouldn't do this but I can't help it, I've waited as long as I could." She walked her naked self up to me, pressed her naked pussy into my discernible hard-on, reached up and kissed me. 

Employee or no employee, I put my arms around her tiny waist and pulled her tighter to my body. I felt emotions I hadn't felt in a very long time as I kissed her back; our tongues danced together in rhythm. Megan was first to break the kiss as she slid my shirt off my shoulders then quickly unbuckled my belt. She pushed me backwards onto the bed and told me to lift my hips and she pulled my pants off in one motion. 

My cock was straining to reach the ceiling. Megan lovingly caressed it with her fingers before taking it into her mouth. I knew I wouldn't last long; it had been so long and she was leaving nothing to chance. She licked my cock like a lollypop from my balls to the tip then swirled her tongue all around the head as she devilishly looked me in the eye. 

"Megan, I...I'm not going to las..."

"Shhhh," she shushed me before devouring my stiff rod. It wasn't long after, that I tried to warn her again, but instead of pulling off, she feverishly starting bobbing her head up and down taking the entire length with every stroke. I exploded, gushing again and again as she swallowed every drop of my cum. My body convulsed forward and my hips bucked uncontrollably but she stayed right with me, sucking down every ounce of sperm.

I collapsed backward onto the bed trying desperately to regain some regularity to my breathing. My eyes were still closed in heavenly bliss as I felt her climb on to the bed next me. She put her arm over my heaving chest and nuzzled into my ear, nibbling at the lobe.

"I love you, Steven Haynes," she whispered. "I knew it before I ever met you; I knew it as soon as I saw your work. I know I'm taking a big chance, I've known you a lot longer than you've known me, but...well, at the restaurant that first day, Karen told me I'd better tell you how I feel or I could lose you."

I lay there trying to absorb what Megan was saying; she loved me, but did I love her? I swore an oath to myself never to give my heart away again; never again to put myself in a position to be hurt as badly as I was by Cora. All I wanted was a fuck buddy, was I ready for more? My heart was beating so hard I was afraid it might stop. 

"Please say something, Steve; please," pled Megan.

I smiled, rolled on my side to face her, and gently kissed her on the lips. "Megan, no you're not fired, no you haven't blown anything." I thought about that statement for a second and smiled. "Well, that's not exactly true, is it." We both chuckled. "However, I am going to need a little time to process this. When Cora and I were together she was the most important thing in my life; as a result, when we split it almost killed me and I vowed never to let that happen again; I would never allow myself to fall so deeply in love with another person...never. Lately; however, I confess that since you've come into my life I've been fighting those feelings from coming back. When you're not with me, I miss you. When I go home at night I find myself thinking about you, wishing I could make love to you before going to sleep; wishing I would wake up next to you the following morning. To be honest, I don't know if I could love you as much as I did Cora; I don't know that I could ever love anyone like that again, but I know I don't want to lose you; I want you in my life, Megan; could you settle for that...at least for now?"

She smiled then swung her leg over me, propped her petite little body on top of mine, looked down into my face, and kissed me. I put my arms around her and rolled over, trapping her beneath me. I continued the kiss while my sex organ stiffened again and started poking at her pussy. 

"Oh baby, do you know how long it's been since I've had one of those things inside of me?" she asked as we broke apart. 

"Well wait no more," I said climbing the rest of the way on top of her. In spite of her being unbelievably tight, due to the preparatory functions of Mother Nature, I easily slipped inside of her. 

"Oh God, that feels so good," she cried out. 

I leaned down and kissed her again as I slowly stroked my hardened rod in and out of this lovely creature. This time it was she that last long. I could feel the walls of that heavenly tunnel of love spasm tightly, encasing my dick.

"Ahhhh, of God, yes, yes...AAAAAHHHHH," she screamed in ecstasy; her fingernails dug into my back and she wrapped her legs around my waist as she held on for dear life. 

At that instant I erupted with rope after rope of thick creamy cum. My body stiffened as a loud, continuous grunt escaped from the depths of loins and I collapsed into Megan's embrace. 

We lay side by side and nurtured one another with touch while coming down from our blissful high. We were content in each other's arms and drifted off to sleep cuddled in euphoria. 

"Hey, you guys, you up yet? Come on, chop, chop; it'll be light in an hour," came Jim's voice booming through the door and waking us up. 

"I guess our secret's out, huh?" Megan said with slightly worried look. "How did he know?"

"Honey, after last night I'm sure the whole motel knows; we were rather vocal."

Megan looked so embarrassed, then got the biggest smile. "You called me honey," she said. 

"I did, didn't I. Well, HONEY," I emphasized the term of endearment with a big grin, "You should have brought some clothes; now you have to go back to your room in that skimpy, little robe to shower and get dressed."

"Oops," she said picking up her robe, still on the floor where she dropped it, "You think Jim's still out there?"

Reluctantly, Megan slipped on the small, white terrycloth covering and peeked out the door before scampering back her room; half an hour later we all met for breakfast then hightailed it down to the river for a long day of shooting. 

Once again, Megan was invaluable as my assistant and contributed suggestion after suggestion, most of which we took. That night, as well as the next, she joined me in my bed again. 

The morning we were due to leave I woke up with her snuggled into me, still in peaceful slumber; she was actually smiling in her sleep. I looked into her lovely face as the sun shone through the blinds and highlighted her perfect features. If I was honest with myself I had to compare the previous three days with some of the most wonderful days of my life; even those spent with Cora. Did that mean I was falling in love? In spite of my determination to keep it from happening, had I allowed my heart to be placed in jeopardy again? There was only one answer I could come up with; yes. As scary as it was, I was falling in love...again.

"Is something wrong, Steve?" Megan asked about an hour into our drive home. "You've been awfully quiet."

"Nothing's wrong, Megan, I've just been doing a lot of thinking...soul searching really."

"Do you regret us sleeping together? I know you're still hurting over Cora; I would have never had the guts to approach you like I did, but after what Karen said...well, my fear of losing you was stronger than my fear of telling you how I felt. I'm sorry, Steve; I didn't mean to pressure you into something you don't want."

"That's just it, Megan; I do want it, more than anything. When Cora and I split up I told myself, never again, and I meant it; at least at the time. Over the last year and a half I've tried hardening myself; telling myself I don't need anyone; my studio is my only passion, and for a while I believed it, too. Then you came along and showed me how stupid I've been. You made me realize how lonely an existence can be with an attitude like that. You opened my heart again...and walked right inside. I still have a lot of emotions I have to sort through but I'm sure one of them is love...love for you," I said.

"Steve, I...I..." 

I looked over at her; she was emotional and had tears escaping from her eyes. "Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes," she answered nodding her head slowly and reaching in her purse for a tissue. "It's just...well this is like a dream come true; I've wanted this for so long but never dared to think it would actually happen...I..." she wiped her eyes, "I love you with all my heart."

When we got back to Chicago we talked and decided to take it slow; after all we hadn't even dated yet, so that's where we decided to start.

A couple days after getting back, Jim stopped in at the studio to see what we had so far in the way of shots. "Where's Megan," he asked after he'd been there for a few minutes without seeing her. 

"She's out running a couple of errands," I informed him.

"You're a lucky man, Steve; she's wonderful; beautiful, intelligent...God what I wouldn't do to find someone like that," he said showing some desperation in his voice.

"I didn't know you were looking; you always seemed to be happy as a bachelor."

"Oh don't get me wrong, I'm okay with the way things are; it's just that when I see a couple like you and Megan, I...well I guess I just get a little jealous."

I was thinking, sometimes I can be dangerous when I do that. "What's your thought on kids?" I asked him.

"Are you kidding, I love kids. I have a great dad and I always wanted to be the same kind of father he is; of course you have to have kids before you can be a dad."

"What about someone else's kid, could you still be a good dad if the woman already had a kid?"

He looked at me suspiciously. "What are you getting at?"

"Jim, have you had lunch yet?"

"No; why?"

"Because there is a waitress at the Denny's where we all had breakfast before we left for Peoria; her name is Karen, she's absolutely gorgeous not to mention intelligent, and personable. She has a seven year old boy. Come on, let's go have some lunch; I'll introduce you but from there you're on your own."

I did introduce them and by the time we left they were like old friends. They started dating and even double dated with Megan and me a few times. 

As the next few months passed I found I had done it, I'd given my heart to Megan; I just prayed she would keep better care of it than Cora did. 

For those of you who have never been in Chicago during the fall you don't know what you're missing. The leaves on the trees turn beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and red then dance with the gentle breezes against a royal blue sky. The temperature during the day is perfect for a sport coat and the nights were created to cuddle with your sweetheart. 

It was on just such a fall evening when Megan and I were walking along the lakefront. We sat and watched from the large rocks as bright yellow moon beans danced on top of the black water. 

"Brrrr," she said as the breeze shifted and came off the lake. I put my arm around her and held her close. It had been a little over two years since the night I caught Cora together with Mark and proclaimed myself henceforth as a solitary man. I had already broken that promise to myself; it was time to make it official.

"Megan, I want to thank you."

"Thank me; for what, honey?"

"For fixing my heart; only two years ago I thought it had been shattered with no hope of it ever functioning for anything more than to keep me alive...but you showed it how to love again; for that I'll be forever grateful."

"Awe, that's so sweet, I..."

She stopped talking as I slid off the rock and started to kneel. "Oh my God...Steve, you're not..." she put her hand to her mouth and started to squeal.

"Megan Biondi," I said while pulling the ring out of my pocket, "Would you marry me?"

She was speechless; she just held out her left hand and nodded with tears flowing from her eyes. I slipped the ring on her finger just before she jumped from the rock and threw her arms around. She kissed me several times then laid her head on my chest. She still couldn't speak. We set the date for the following May. 

It was an unseasonably warm day in early March; Megan and I were in the back office going over our last assignment when I heard someone come in the front door.

"I'll see who it is, honey," I said getting up and heading toward the front. At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me; "Cora."

"Hi, Steve," she said demurely. "How have you been?"

She was looking good; her blond hair was just as silky smooth as I remembered it and those blue eyes were like the waters around a Caribbean island. "I...I'm doing well, Cora; how about you?"

She tried a weak smile. "Oh, not too good; I came by to tell you how I regret what I did to you...to us; you were right all along, life is what we make it, not what the stars say. I still didn't know that the last time we talked; in the restaurant I told you I regretted my affair and my dishonesty about it; when you confronted me in that motel room I'd never been so ashamed in my life. When you smashed my rings I broke down because of the guilt I felt; I never wanted to hurt you like that, but at the same time I still believed Mark was my destiny, not you. Boy, how wrong can a girl be?"

"You mean you no longer believe in astrology?" 

"No, I no longer believe, Steve; the stars said Barbara would live to a ripe old age and she died at fifty-seven. The stars told me you were not trustworthy and it was me who turned out to be the one to deceive; the stars told me Mark was my perfect mate and he wound up trying to pimp me out to his friends. Right now he's in jail for drug possession. He got caught with a bunch of coke in his car a few months ago. Would you believe he actually thought I'd bail him out? Mark was an unbelievable disaster; and when I think of what I threw away I...well...No, Steve; astrology is a bunch of hooey just like you always said it was; I just wish you could have convinced me of it before I destroyed our marriage."

"I tried Cora; I begged you..."

"I know you did," she said bowing her head. She looked at my left hand. "I see you're not wearing a ring yet, is it too late to give it another shot, Steve? I..."

Just then Megan came out of the back and put her arm around me. I knew she overheard our conversation and had come out to stake her claim. "Darling, I have...oh excuse me," she said coyly, "I didn't know you were talking to a client."

Up until that second there had been a look of hope in Cora's face. "Megan, this is Cora, my ex-wife. Cora, this is Megan, my fiancée; we're going to be married next month," I told her trying not to sound like I was rubbing it in.

"Cora," Megan greeted her with an outstretched hand, "It's so good to meet you."

I couldn't help but feel a little sorry as the look of despair clearly showed in Cora's eyes. She and Megan shook hands as Cora graciously gave us her congratulations. "Well, you two," she said with her eyes glistening with tears, "I just stopped by to say hi. Again I hope you'll both be very happy together; treat him right, Megan; he's a hell of a guy," she said before turning around and hurrying out. I watched as she quickly walked past the front window; she was sobbing.

"Are you okay?" asked my bride to be.

"Yeah, honey; I'm fine. She said she no longer believes in astrology; maybe that will free her up to find someone again; I hope so."

On the day of the wedding I thought I'd be nervous but I wasn't; I knew it was right. Gail was the matron of honor and Brad was my best man. My folks were in attendance and Megan's mom flew in as well. She was an older version of her daughter. Jim, Karen, and her son, Daniel, were also in the audience and I knew they would be next. 

For a couple months prior to the wedding Megan had been keeping me in suspense. She told me not to buy a wedding band for myself. I had no idea why and she wouldn't tell me; she said I would find out on our wedding day. 

I'm surprised the buttons didn't pop off my tux when I saw my bride to be walking down the aisle. She had to be the most beautiful bride I'd ever seen. The minister started the ceremony; we each spoke our vows, then came time for the rings. For the second, and last time in my life, I proudly declared, "With this ring, I thee wed," and slipped it on her finger. 

Megan took a hold of my left hand. "My father was the finest man I've ever known," she told me loud enough for everyone to hear. "I was his princess and he was my king. He was taken from us when I was just sixteen. The only thing of his my mother had left was this, his wedding ring. She wanted me to give it to you on the happiest day of my life. We both know he would approve. With THIS ring I thee wed," she said with tears in her eyes. 

"I now pronounce you man and wife; you may kiss the bride."

EPILOGUE:

Six months after Steve and Megan were married Jim and Karen also tied the knot; Daniel was Jim's best man. 

Megan and Steve continued working together and Steve's studio grew in size, stature, and reputation. Within three years of their marriage they employed five people. That was good, because by that time Megan was pregnant with their second child already and Steve needed the help. Every little girl should have a baby brother and Lindsey Haynes would soon have hers.




It was Written in the Stars Ch. 03



***

It was a Sunday afternoon and a perfect day to go shopping at the mall; a very pregnant Megan walked beside her husband who was pushing Lindsey in the stroller. They were all smiles, talking and laughing while on their way to buy baby clothes for their new arrival; they hadn't even noticed Cora as they passed the food court; but she saw them. She watched as the proud parents walked on by; they were so happy together. 

She remembered the conversations they'd had about having children when they were still married; at the time they made her so happy sometimes she thought her heart would burst; now they were just sad remnants of her childish stupidity. 

Cora reached up and pulled the tears from her eyes but there were more right behind them. "Oh God how could I have been so blind," she mumbled to herself. They were now several stores down and she could only see their backs as she wondered if she would ever be that happy, would she ever find anyone who she could love like she did Steve; would life give her another chance; did she even deserve a second chance? 

More tears rolled down her cheeks and she let out an inadvertent sob as she pulled a tissue from her purse. There was one thing she was sure of; if she ever did find another man; a man she could love and who would love her, she wouldn't blow it again. She would be the best, most loving wife and mother a man ever had, but what were the chances?

The End.