by Lauren Wood
“Well how am I supposed to know that you didn't call her?”
“I will stay with you, until I talk to her and then until she comes by or we meet somewhere. However you want it to go. Then you will know for certain that I haven't talked to her. Then you can get your answers and we can go back to what we had going on between us.”
“It seems like I find myself jealous. I don’t like to be jealous Danny. I don’t want to think about you giving away all of that pleasure with your bedroom skills to someone else. You’re mine. You’re my husband and I don’t want to think of you with anyone else, now or back in the past. It’s just a reminder that other women have touched you and I hate it.”
“It has nothing to do with my bedroom skills. You should know that. You should know exactly what women are looking for in a man nowadays.”
While I had to agree with him, he was alluding to the fact that Elaine and the other women that did interviews were there for his money. I also knew that a good orgasm could go a long way. He’d certainly done something to my mind. I wanted to tell myself that's all it was. It was just a few good orgasms, but I knew deep down that it was more than that, so much more than that.
“Whatever the reason is Danny, I just want to talk to her. I am sure that I can see past her lies and know if she's telling the truth. I really am rather good at that.”
“Apparently not, because this is what we have to do now. If you could see the truth for what it was, you would see that I was telling it and wouldn’t ask to meet with Elaine.”
Once again, I really wanted to believe him, but I just couldn't. I didn't know why, but it was impossible for me to believe him. I needed to know that I wasn't being made a fool of. I figured that if he was telling the truth then I would meet with Elaine and I would finally know for certain. Well I was worried about the gameshow and getting the money at the end of it I had really came back for Danny more than anything else. Danny was the one that I wanted to be with, but I had to make sure that he was only mine. I wasn't going to share him. I just refused.
We spent the morning together and all I could say is that it was awkward. Neither one of us really knew what to say to each other and after a very uncomfortable conversation about the weather, we were both out of things to say to each other. It was actually rather sad.
I waited for him to call Elaine and I got ready to meet her. I knew that it was going to be a situation that I wasn’t going to want to be in, but there was nothing that I could do about it. I had to know, one way or another and this was the only way that I could think of.
Chapter 91
Deirdre
The fact that Elaine wanted to meet my husband at a hotel, should have been the first clue that this was going to be far worse than I thought it was going to be. I knew that the last thing I wanted to do was go speak to this woman, but I knew that I had to. I had to know what is going on between her and Danny.
Danny told me that Elaine wanted to get back together with him and he was worried that she was going to lie and tell me things that were going to break us up. It was another one of those things, I didn't know if I should believe him or not. Was he just saying this because he was trying to get out of what was about to be said to me? I really didn't know. And that was the whole point, I needed to. I was still faithful and thinking that I would be able to know if she was lying to me or not.
When I got to the hotel, I made sure that I was there a little bit earlier than her. It was late enough that Danny would be able to call her now. She should already be on her way and I was grateful for a moment to myself. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to collect myself when I heard soft knock on the door. It certainly was a far cry different from when Danny would do it.
I went to the door and the beautiful auburn-haired woman smiled at me. Elaine was even prettier up close.
“I'm sorry I must have the wrong room.”
I found it rather odd that she didn't recognize me. The woman that had destroyed my marriage and caused so much chaos, should know who I am and what my face looks like. I found that rather strange and it was something that I held onto for a while.
“Don't you know who I am?”
She looked at me again and I could tell that she was trying to figure it out. Her nose crunched out and the freckles on her cheeks moved as she did so.
“Oh, I know who you are...”
I could tell the second that she knew exactly who I was, because her eyes widen just a little bit. She looked around the room and I knew for certain that Elaine was hoping that my husband was here. Was she hoping that he would save her?
“Yes, I am Danny's wife. I would like to talk to you a little bit, if you don't mind Elaine. It seems we have a lot in common. Danny for one thing.”
The eyes bulging was just one of the things that she did to show me that I had surprised her. That made me instantly feel better because it meant that Danny hadn’t been able to get ahold of her. I don't know if he would really do something like that but now, I know for certain that at least he hadn’t this time. I wanted to believe Danny so bad.
“Yes, I know that you are his wife. I saw the show. It was really interesting, if you’re in to that sort of thing. I know that you guys are married, but you guys are not actually married right?”
“In what way do you mean?”
“I mean that this is all for show. You guys didn't fall in love and get married, so it’s not really real.”
There was no answer for her and it took me a moment to realize that. We hadn’t met in the traditional sense and even the wedding had been far from tradition, but they didn't mean that he wasn’t my husband. He certainly felt like my husband and to have a beautiful woman like her tell me otherwise, maybe me realize that I may just lose the one thing that I thought I could always count on. I wasn't ready to lose that too.
“We are really married. It's legal.”
“Yeah, but I mean, you guys aren’t in love and stuff, right?”
It was another one of those questions that was hard for me to answer, because I didn't know how truthful I wanted to be about it. She seemed to know that I cared for husband, but the truth was that I loved him. I loved him more and more each day, and the longer I was there, the more I realized that. This woman did not only want back-in with Danny, but she was going to go to any length that she had to, making sure that it happened. A woman like Elaine could be very dangerous.
“I do love him. And he loves me. He tells me every single night. So, when I read your interview, I was rather surprised to hear that the two of you have been seeing each other behind my back.”
She was silent for a moment I took the opportunity to ask her why she was trying to seduce my husband, knowing that he was taken.
“We have been married for several months now and it has been very public. I don't understand what you get out of it. You can't possibly think that he's going to leave me to be with you, do you?”
“Why wouldn't he?”
That was a legitimate question, because the fact of the matter was, the woman in front of me was a lot prettier than I was. She was taller and more refined, and she had a better body. Elaine was obviously the best choice. It wasn't something that I wanted to think about, but it was there standing in front of me, so it was hard not to.
“He is not going anywhere and certainly not to someone like you. Why do you want him when he’s married? You can’t become the trophy wife.”
“Because I put a lot of time and energy into Danny and I don't want to see it go away. I know that you guys are married, but you just came on the scene. I have been seeing Danny on and off for years and I'm not about to let it all go away from some naïve girl like you. I'm not going to waste my time that way.”
I wasn't really sure what to say to that, because it was becoming clear that Danny had been right. Elaine did want him, and it sounded like she was willing to go to great lengths to make it happen. As much as I hated to say it, I wanted what he said to be true so badly, because I couldn
’t stomach him being with Elaine.
I didn’t stay very long, because there was no point. I’d gotten all of the information that I could from her. She was a dead end and I didn’t believe he was cheating on me. The woman was opportunistic and the challenge was given and accepted.
Chapter 92
Danny
I was nervous to find out what the two women had talked about. The last thing I wanted was for two exes to speak, especially when one of them was my wife. But there was nothing that I could do about it. My wife wanted to talk to her and Dierdre made it clear that she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
When she finally came out of the hotel, I had a bad feeling. She didn't have a look on her face, one way or another, but I knew that something had happened. She certainly wasn't her vibrant, happy self that I was used to being around. The worst part was that a woman like Elaine was now in some ways, in charge of how everything was going to turn out. That was the last thing that I wanted.
Deirdre got in the car and smiled at me. She asked me if we were ready to go and I was glad to get away from there. I didn't want to see Elaine and I was still anticipating what was going to be said by Deirdre. I had to know and she was silent for a time. I was convinced that she was trying to make me crazy and she was doing a damn good job of it.
“So are you going to tell me what happened?”
“Don't you already know?”
“How would I know Deirdre, when I was out here, and you were in there?”
“Because it seems like you know her pretty well.”
I wasn't sure what that meant, but it didn't seem to be a good thing. Nothing at this point was a good thing and I was walking on egg shells around her. I think she was enjoying putting me through this, making me a little crazy.
“I don't know her that well, but I know women like her.”
“If you knew all of this, why did you get with someone like her?”
I shrugged because I really didn't have an answer for it. It was in possible for me to understand why I had done the things I'd done. I knew in reality why I had pick Elaine. It was all physical and she wasn't very bright. But I certainly couldn't tell that to Deirdre. I was supposed to be convincing her that I was a good guy and I didn't think that would help my case at all.
“Like I said before Deirdre, I've never really worried about relationships. I never thought that it would turn into anything more, so I didn't pick women on their substance.”
She laughed again, which sounded strange at the moment and I asked her why she was laughing.
“Because that is just a nice way of saying, you wanted her for her body.”
It was as close to the truth as I was willing to get and for some reason, I didn't like the idea that she knew my reasoning behind it. I'd like to think that I was mysterious, and I had many reasons, but the truth was I didn't. The truth was that I was a man like everyone else. I didn't think with my brain half the time and that was my biggest problem.
“I guess you could say that Deirdre. I never thought about women for much more than that until I met you.”
“Why am I so different then?”
It was a question I didn't have any answer for, because I really didn't know what was different about her. I knew that she made me feel a certain way and I loved to be around her, but I don't know what happened differently those few hours we had spent together. It hadn't taken long enough for me to see that I wanted to be with her for good.
“I don't know Deirdre. I really don't know. There's just something about you that I couldn't ignore. I wanted to ignore it, I really did. It would've been so much easier, because I'm in love with you. It has been one of the most complicated things I've ever done.”
“Don't sound too enthused about it Danny, geez.”
She was joking, but the truth was that I wasn't enthused about it. I'd been happier than I have ever been with a woman, but at the same time, I'd been more frustrated and confused than I’d ever been as well. Being with her was a mix of emotions and at the moment, I wasn't sure which one I was feeling.
“To be honest I'm not that enthused about it, Deirdre. Love puts me in a position that I've never been in before. I feel vulnerable and I don't like that feeling at all.”
“Well we are both vulnerable, so doesn't that make you feel better?”
I told her that it didn't. I wanted to know what Elaine and her had talked about it. When I finally asked her, she smiled again.
“You were right. She wants to convince me that you were together, so that she can have you. And you’re also right about the fact that she's not very bright.”
“So, what does that mean?”
“It means that I saw through her. You were right. I know now that you guys weren't together and that's enough. I'm glad that I talked to her and I'm glad that you set it up. I have a feeling you really didn’t want to.”
I was a little worried about what was going to happen, because I did work with Elaine's dad, but I didn't even care. If I lost a client over this, it was better than losing my wife. Anything had to be better than that.
“Well as long as you believe me now. That's all that matters to me. I was telling the truth, when I said I loved you Deirdre. I know that it hasn't been that long, and I know that everything is complicated right now, but none of it is true what they are saying in those magazines. Well some of it. My past is true, but you knew that when we first got together. I wish I could change it, I really do, but I can't.”
“I would never ask you to change anything Danny. I feel horrible too, because I didn't expect to love my husband. I expected to just deal with a man long enough to get through the year. But then you came along, and everything changed.”
“Do you wish I hadn't been the one standing up there we got married?”
“What do you mean, like if another guy was there instead of you?”
“Yeah something like that. What do you think would have happened? Would you still gone through with it?”
“I think I would have, because that's what I was expecting. I certainly wasn't expecting you to be there.”
I didn't like the way she said that, because it made it like I was something that could be interchanged with anything else. I could never think of marring someone else. I didn't like the idea that she could either.
“Well I wouldn’t have married anybody else. I know that you have your reasons for going on to this gameshow and I won't really understand them but I'm glad I met you. I'm glad we got married.”
“Even though they have ran your through the mud?”
“Not just me, but yes, it was still worth it. I really believe that.”
“I wish I was as clear thinking as you. With everything that has been said, it’s hard to feel that way right now.”
“We are still married and in love.”
She agreed, but I knew that it was going to be a while before we could figure it out. I held onto hope that it would work itself out, but I had to realize that it was going to take more time. Not to mention that we had several months of our lives being aired to the world to deal with. That was going to be easier said than done.
“Let’s just go home Danny. I’m tired. I don’t know what I expected from her or from you.”
“Just don’t shut me out Deirdre.”
Deidra told me that she wouldn’t, but I had to wonder if she would or not. When we got home, she was quiet. Said she had a lot on her mind. Deirdre ran into her studio and didn’t come out till later that night. We still had to share a bed after all, but it was obvious that she needed time with her thoughts at the moment.
Chapter 93
Deirdre
Things were weird between me and Danny. We slept in the same bed as we were supposed to, but we didn't do anything. We hadn't kissed in days and I wasn't feeling as connected to him as I usually did, as being together physically related, to us being together romantically. I loved him, and I wanted things to work out, but it was hard to get over everything. I did believe
him, but at the same time, I didn't want to turn out to be the idiot if he was lying to me about everything.
As much as I tried not to, I had read a little too much of the comments about the show. More specifically about me and Danny. Nobody thought that we would make it. We were just too different, and he was a player. Everybody was under the assumption that I wouldn't be able to change him. or that I even shouldn’t try. Until a week ago, I didn't realize that I wanted to change him. And even if I could, there was no way that I could change the past which was the main part that was hurting me so much.
So, when it rolled around to the next Wednesday, it was time to watch the taping and I went ahead and did so. I knew that putting my head in the sand like an ostrich wasn't going to help anything. We had answered some questions at the studio and when we got home that night, we had dinner in front of the TV. I didn't necessarily want to watch it in front of Danny, but he had insisted.
“Is there something I need to know about, Danny?”
“No, it’s nothing like that, but I want us to be together when we do this. You know the show has done it's best to get good ratings. If something is twisted, we should know, so we’re not blindsided like before.”
“Yes, that would be better. I just feel like if there was something you wanted to tell me, you should go ahead and do it now. Same principle. I’d like to know now, before I’m blindsided.”
“What like a confession?”
“Yeah something like that.”
“There is nothing to tell Deirdre. Like I told you before, I have done nothing wrong.”
I wanted to believe him, I really did. The last thing I wanted to do was look like an idiot again, because I had obviously fallen in love with someone that didn’t love me. I wanted to believe that he cared like I did, but that was a hard thing to really believe. We were so different, and I’d let all of the comments from strangers get into my head. It really was impossible.