Chapter One

Lightning flashed suddenly to illuminate the sky and its surrounding area, instantly vanishing. Following mere seconds later, a rumbling of rolling thunder. “Looks like a storm is brewing.” Evelyn offered to break the swelling tension and silence. She waited, hoping to get a reply that would relieve the knotted pressure in her chest. He kept his silence. Looking out the passenger side window, she sighed. “I didn’t know she had cancer, Warren.” She glanced back at him waiting for some type of reply. “God, Warren! People get all worked up over the smallest matters. You act as if I meant to embarrass her.”

“Just drop it, Evelyn. What’s the big deal? The fact that I may be without a job tomorrow is of little consequence!”

“How was I suppose to know she was your bosses daughter? I’d only met his wife.”

“I told you to just drop it! I could talk to you ’til I’m blue in the face, but you still wouldn’t get it. Not because you can’t! But you just won’t! You do and say things for reaction. Regardless of whose feelings get hurt in the process.”

“That’s not true!”

“Oh come off it, Evelyn this isn’t your first foot in mouth. You’re rather consistent about it. Frankly, I’m getting tired of it. It’s getting old fast.”

“What’d you mean by that?”

“Like I said, drop it.”

Evelyn, could feel the tremors in her stomach increase. She hated this. Hated this feeling of not being able to control his reactions to her misdeeds. ‘God, why do I do it? Why? It’s my big mouth! Why can’t I just shut my mouth?! He’s right. I do it on purpose. But I’m always sorry later.’ She could feel tears of self pity welling in her eyes. But she wouldn’t cry in front of him. It wouldn’t do her any good anyway. He was mad at her now. And rightly so. What drove her to always embarrass him in front of others? They’d been together for two years now. She knew beyond a shadow of doubt that she loved Warren. He was perfect for her. But the problem was, she didn’t think she was perfect for him. She also knew, that she had a tendency to cling just a little too tightly to him. She wanted him and his attention all to herself. When it was just the two of them together, they did fine. But add other people, or better yet, other women – especially attractive, together women, who seem to outshine her. The claws suddenly become sharp. An insatiable need to expose their flaws in whatever fashion she could, would overwhelm her. Towards her mouth, her foot would take flight. Leaving, Warren embarrassed and her sorry. Like tonight. “You want to stop and get something to eat? We left before dinner was served.”