Fade to Black

by Unknown

  The sound of a snort followed by the loud, obnoxious clanking of her shoes pursued him toward the den, his sanctuary. “Rich.”

  “Hmm?” Rich grunted, refusing to even slow his pace.

  The clanking stopped and he heard her stomp her foot. “Rich,” she whined.

  He turned around and met her gaze. “Oh, come on, Shea,” he mocked, using a Mr. Belvedere accent as he pressed his fingertips together. “We would hate to be tardy, wouldn’t we? Your family hates that so.”

  Fury flashed in her eyes. “How dare you?” she hissed.

  “I don’t know, maybe I’ve finally found my spine.”

  “Rich, what changed between us?” The mood in the room changed from acid to syrup so fast he almost laughed.

  Memories of all the hell she’d put him through rushed at him, giving him the courage he needed to finally call the shots. Yes, he concluded, I have finally had enough. “Honey, I didn’t change. You did. And, for the record, I’d like to know what caused it.”

  She started to wring her hands together. “Nothing…caused it.”

  “Well, you’re sure as hell not the same woman I vowed to love forever.” He took a deep breath and launched the next question into the air, come what may. “Did you have an affair?”

  She looked like a deer in the headlights, just waiting to be plowed over by a semi. Her voice dropped low and she finally blinked. “Rich, you’re a wonderful husband, and I guess I’m just…”

  “Forget it,” he snapped, and turned his back on her, jammed his wallet into the back pocket of his jeans and grabbed his phone and keys. “I’ll meet you there.”

  “Wait. What will they say if we…”

  “Honestly, Shea, at this point, I don’t care what they say.”

  His feet were headed out the front door before he even realized what he’d said—or done. Damn, it’s going to hit the fan. There was no way she was going to let his speaking to her that way just simply slide without any kind of retaliation.

  He pushed the keys into the ignition, and with a flick of his wrist, the engine began to purr. What a comforting sound. The new feelings that were coursing through his veins were that of strength, power. It had been so long since he’d taken any kind of control in his marriage.

  The feeling was liberating.

  If nothing else, Kate had given him a new outlook on his, until now, pathetic existence. He’d become only a shell of himself—been drowning, his lungs burning fiercely. Kate was that first breath of fresh air after emerging from the depths of despair.

  Since confronting Shea about an affair, Rich was sure that the possibility was real. Her lack of denial or excuses was enough to verify that she most likely had.

  How could I have been so stupid? Nate had suggested it in the very beginning. Why had Kate’s insinuation held more value?

  Kate.

  It was 4:00. Kate would be heading into the station to get ready for the 10:00 newscast. He groaned. His heart missed her more than he had a right to, more than he wanted to. His entire body ached to simply see her.

  A red light stopped him, and the proverbial crossroad became very real. If he turned right, it would lead him to the station—to Kate. Turning left would take him to dinner—to Shea. That was the choice, wasn’t it? Kate or Shea.

  The light turned green and the choice was made. His heart pounded as each new intersection took him closer to his destination. Anxiety built in the pit of his stomach as he turned the engine off and opened the door, heading in the direction of the building. His hand shook with nervous energy as it ran through his hair and he composed enough courage to actually open the door and walk inside. His eyes quickly surveyed the room.

  “Rich!”

  His head jerked in the direction of his name. “Hi, Olivia.”

  She giggled as she shook her head, the black strands tickling her tiny shoulders. “I kinda figured I’d see you at some point today.”

  “Oh, yeah?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

  “She’s not here,” she said with a grin.

  “Who?” His eyes still scanned the room in hopes that Kate would appear out of thin air.

  “Rich, Kate’s already out on a story and won’t be back for hours.”

  “Oh…no…I forgot…”

  Another burst of giggles started. “Yeah, yeah, you can say whatever you want, but you and I both know why you showed up here today.”

  He didn’t even bother lying to her. His silence told her everything she needed to know.

  “So, how’d you get away? Aren’t you supposed to be at Shea’s family’s?”

  “Yeah, they only live a few miles from here, and I…”

  “And you thought you’d just drop by to check on things.”

  “Something like that,” he mumbled. “Well, I guess I’d better get over to dinner.”

  “Do you want me to leave anybody a message?”

  “No…just pretend I was never here.” He didn’t want to appear any more pitiful than he already felt. Kate didn’t need to know he’d stopped in to see her on his day off, when he was supposed to be with his wife. Dammit! “Bye, Olivia.”

  “Goodbye, Rich, have a nice dinner.”

  He waved over his shoulder and was out the door, in his car and driving out of the parking lot before his mind had even processed what he was even trying to accomplish. This situation was getting volatile.

  He had a wife he didn’t want and wanted a girl he couldn’t have.

  Dammit! Irony sucks!

  The car came slowly to a stop outside Shea’s sister’s house. The red BMW revealed that Shea was already here. He wondered what excuse she’d used for his unfortunate tardiness. She appeared on the front porch and hurried out to meet him, an unfamiliar smile on her face. “Hi, baby,” she called. “Is everything okay at work?”

  Adrenaline bit him in the ass and he searched her face for any kind of animosity, but she just smiled. Oh, right, her cover story. “Fine.”

  She reached out to take his hand, but he stuffed it into his pocket. If she wanted to put on a charade for her family that was fine, but Rich refused to make it any easier for her to fool them into thinking everything was wonderful between them.

  Shea’s sisters also appeared in the doorway; ShyAnne with her high-maintenance platinum hair and Sharlice was the more subdued of the three. Both of them still carried an animosity for Rich that he never understood.

  “So Rich,” ShyAnne said in a tone that dripped sugar—and venom, “How are things at the office?”

  “ShyAnne!” Shea hissed.

  “What?” ShyAnne kept up the pretense, twisting a lock of her hair around her finger in faked innocence. “I’m only interested in what he’s doing at work.”

  “ShyAnne.” Ray wrapped his arm around the waist of his wife, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, “That’s enough.” He extended his hand. “How are you, Dick?”

  “Rich.”

  Ray ignored the correction and kept right on talking, “Life treating you good?”

  “Alright. You?”

  He kissed ShyAnne on the cheek. “I can’t complain.”

  She looked up at him with adoring eyes before they turned to ice as they focused again on Rich. “I’m going to help in the kitchen,” she snorted before clomping away.

  Ray reminded Rich of Squiggy on Laverne and Shirley, complete with the squeaky voice and slicked back hair. The disgusting little man watched until his wife was no longer visible then returned his attention to Rich. “ShyAnne says that things aren’t good between you and Shea.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Acting dumb was the safest way to respond to that. Commenting in any way was like stepping into a minefield naked, without even the protection of a cup.

  “Yeah.” He leaned in closer and Rich could smell cheap alcohol on his breath. “Shea told her that you’ve moved into the den, and added a deadbolt.”

  “Has she now?” Rich kept his voice flat, emotionless.

  A bark of laughter burst from
Ray. “We’ve all been there, Dick.”

  “Rich.”

  Ray waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, Rich. I understand more than anybody how passionate the girls can be. But those that fight hard, can love even harder.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively and shot an elbow into Rich’s side. “You catch my drift, there, Dick?”

  “Rich.”

  “I mean, I understand the need for sleeping behind a locked door every now and then, but to completely move out of your own…”

  “Excuse me.” Rich cut him off, and weaved his way in toward the television and no more questions. Man rule 712: No talking during sporting events, except to tell the ref he’s a dumbass.

  Ryan, Sharlice’s husband, sat quietly, as always, in the chair in the furthest corner of the room. He was polar opposite of Ray, still sporting the physique of his college football days. “Rich,” he said, patting the arm of the couch next to him. “Utah State is up by three.”

  Rich sighed in relief at the much needed normalcy of that statement. “Wow, close game.”

  “It’s been a real nail biter,” Ryan noted, his eyes on the TV.

  “Dinner’s ready,” Sharlice called from the dining room.

  “Well, I guess we’ll just have to TiVo it.” Ryan laughed. “What did we ever do before the ability to record stuff?”

  “We missed a lot of nail biters,” Rich said with a chuckle and followed the other man into the snake pit.

  Shea gave Rich a weary smile and patted the seat next to her, which he took out of nothing more than obligation. There was no need to bring any more tension to this party. After a quick blessing on the food, the feast began. Everyone picked out their favorites and passed the bowls and platters on to the next person.

  Rich’s phone buzzed, signaling a text message and his heart jumped with anticipation. Is she thinking of me too?

  Shea’s scrutinizing eyes searched his face as she forced a smile. “Do you need to get that, honey?”

  “I probably should just in case there’s some sort of emergency at work.”

  ShyAnne snorted and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, like…”

  “ShyAnne,” Ray interrupted the snide comment that was sure to finish that statement.

  Rich walked back into the living room and opened his phone.

  You okay, man?

  Nate

  It shouldn’t have surprised him how deflated he was to see that it wasn’t from Kate. But it hurt. He wanted her to be the one checking on him. He swallowed his wounded ego, and typed back.

  Yeah.

  Thanks.

  He closed the phone, and turned to walk back into the dining room, but stopped to enter another message.

  Kate,

  Just wanted you to know

  I’m okay.

  Rich

  His fingers itched to type that he missed her. He loved her. He wanted her. But he left the message as-is, hit send, and headed back to take his place next to Shea.

  ShyAnne leaned over to Sharlice, whispered something, and they both erupted in hysterical cackling that grated on him. The fact that his name had been clearly mixed into the hissing didn’t help his bad mood.

  Rich’s best attempts to ignore them were futile as he tried to enjoy the delicious food that was on his plate. Instead, their stares and continued giggling were wearing on his already fried nerves. “Excuse me.”

  “Is everything okay?” Shea placed her hand on his forearm.

  He yanked his arm away from her as though her hand was on fire. “Yeah, I just need to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

  The face staring back from the mirror looked absolutely exhausted. He’d only been here an hour, and already he felt like he’d been through the wringer. He ran some cold water and splashed it onto his face, then dried it on a towel.

  Curiosity was killing him. Would Kate answer his message?

  He reached into his pocket and… The phone wasn’t there. Shit!

  Panic sunk in as he rounded the corner to the dining room just in time to see Shea setting the little black thing down on the table. Her face was tight and her eyes were calm. Too calm.

  Kate didn’t realize just how much she enjoyed working with Rich until she was stuck with Tommy. He was married to Leslie, the main anchor, and their constant text messaging and lovey-dovey phone conversations were enough to make the strongest stomach hurl.

  “Yes, sweetheart, we’re just heading back now, and then I’ll be home and in your arms before you even know it. I love you, too. Goodbye, baby. Kiss kiss.”

  Dude! Grow a pair! Kiss kiss? Kate stared out the window and tried desperately not to gag. The beep of her phone saved her sanity. She didn’t even check the caller id. Any excuse to ignore the guy next to her was a good one.

  She smiled at the text from Rich, glad that he was surviving a house full of crazies and carving knives. For the moment, at least. Tapping the phone against her lip, she debated on whether or not a response was wise.

  After going back and forth for a few minutes, she decided that surely he wouldn’t have sent it if he didn’t want some sort of response.

  Rich,

  Glad you’re okay.

  Things aren’t the same

  without you.

  Kate

  She didn’t even put her phone away, grateful for the distraction from having to carry on a conversation with the ever dull, Tommy Williams. Honestly, they should offer hazard pay for going out with him. After practically doing his job for him, pointing out the shots that were needed, she was now stuck in a confined space with him.

  Kate’s heart jumped at the single beep, and she cursed the excitement she felt.

  Of course, I’m okay, bitch!

  I’m with my WIFE!

  Rich

  “Damn!” That message had not come from Rich, but how did Shea get his phone?

  “Is everything okay?”

  Her heart pounded so hard in her chest, for a moment, she wondered if that was what Tommy was asking about. She managed a nod, and concentrated on her now erratic breathing.

  “Damn, Kate, are you going to hyperventilate or something?”

  “No…I’m…fine,” she gasped.

  “The hell you are.” He eased the truck over to the side of the road, threw it into park and ran around to open her door. “Get out.”

  “Really…I’m…fine.”

  “Shut up and get out.” He took her by the arm and tugged. “You need to walk around for a minute then you’ll be fine.”

  She took his advice and walked around on the shoulder of the highway, gasping for the wind Shea’s message had expelled from her lungs. Leaning over with her hands on her knees, Kate took deep breaths, only to have another wave of panic strike.

  Rich.

  What was Shea doing to him right now?

  There was no way Kate could call him. That would only make things worse. Damn. Why did she have to care about this guy so much? She shouldn’t. Didn’t want to, but couldn’t help it.

  “Come on, Kate, let’s get back to the station. I have a dinner to get to.”

  Her body slumped back into the passenger seat, and she leaned a cheek against the cool glass, closing her eyes. What had she done to poor Rich?

  Tommy pulled up to the front of the building and stopped the vehicle. “My shift’s over. I got dinner waiting for me. Hope you’re feeling better, Kate.” He handed her the video footage they’d just gotten and barely waited for her to close the door before speeding off.

  At least he didn’t use his boot to get me out of the car.

  The newsroom was even more deserted than it had been earlier. Olivia was still sitting at her desk, which was a surprise. Jordan was at the desk next to her, an even bigger surprise.

  “Oh, good. I’m so glad you’re finally back.” Olivia waved her over.

  “What’s up?”

  “Robin left sick, so I’m covering the ten.” Her fingers flew over the keyboard, adding letters, words to the script she was work
ing on.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She ignored the condolences, and kept talking, “There’s a tire fire on the west side…”

  “Oh, do you want me to…”

  “No, Clayton’s already on it.” She stabbed a piece of turkey and put it into her mouth. “Hmm, thanks, Jordan.”

  “Hey, if my baby can’t come to Thanksgiving—” He waved his hand over her plate, smiling. “—I bring Thanksgiving to my baby.”

  She giggled and finished chewing. “Clayton, fire. So that leaves me without an anchor.” She just left the statement hanging in the air, waiting for a reaction.

  Kate looked between Olivia and Jordan for another moment before realization hit. “You mean…me?”

  A grin spread across Olivia’s face as she nodded. “Yes, you. I already called Dale and he okayed it. So you’re on, girl.”

  “Wow, that’s awesome.”

  Then Olivia frowned.

  “What?”

  “Can you still turn your other story?”

  “Oh, yeah, sure. I’ll go slam it out myself, and have it ready to go in an hour.” Kate blew on her nails and rubbed them on her collar. “No problem.” She secured her bag back up on her shoulder and turned, before stopping. “Hey, Jordan?”

  He looked up. “Yeah?”

  “Would you mind calling to check on Rich?” She’d tried to make her voice sound indifferent, but failed miserably.

  His brows narrowed with the questions he wanted to ask, but didn’t. “You bet.” He gave a wink and picked up his phone.

  Relieved, Kate headed into editing, her own phone at her ear. She desperately wanted to check in on Rich, but called Jesse instead—to share her good news.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, guess who’s going to anchor the ten?”

  “Are you kidding? That’s awesome, KC! Good for you.”

  “Thanks. I’ve got a lot to do. I just wanted to let you know.”

  “Okay. I’ll see ya on TV.”

  “Bye.” Kate walked into the audio booth, recorded the track for the package and returned to the editing bay, closing the door, sealing herself in silence. The pictures zipped through the monitor as a hiss from the glass behind her alerted her to someone entering.