Chapter 3 Dance With Me

Thomas was going crazy.

He was sure that he would be carted to the loony house soon, as he turned over the house in his search for it. He thought he kept it on the coffee table, but he couldn't find it yet.

She was not back yet. So, where could it be?

Had he merely thought of it but forgotten in his haste to join his partner? He searched some more. The couch? Nope, could he have placed it on the TV? Not there. Did he stick it on the stick-it board in the kitchen? That was ridiculous, he thought after running back to the living room when he couldn't find it.

Thomas sat on the couch and decided to calm down. What good will it be for Reyona to come back home and meet him in a frenzy like this?

"I probably took it with me when I was rushing out, or I didn't write it after all; yes, that must be it," Thomas thought as he stood up and went to the bar to get a drink.

A scotch. Yes, that would be just the thing.He heard the sound of her car as he was on his way to the bar, though, and he rushed back to where he was seated. Then he thought of how weird it would look if he was just sitting down there doing nothing.

"Would she find it suspicious that I am at home by this time of the day?" he thought as he stood up, moved to the other couch, and sat back down.

He stood up again and rushed to the window. He couldn't see her yet; she must be parking in the garage.Thomas tried to remember all the training he gave people and how he always emphasized control over their emotions. He wondered why he couldn't seem to remember any of those right now.

"That slip of paper is somewhere," his mind whispered sinisterly to him.

"Damn it. Now was not the time to lose control, man. You have been handling her fine; don't blow it now. You just need to get Susan out, and all this shit would be over," he thought to himself as he finally decided to go meet her out on the porch."No better time to act like a lover than now," he thought as he opened the screen door.

"Hey, babe. You are home early," he heard from behind him.He thought of how chirpy his wife's voice sounded as he pasted a smile on her. He had not heard her like that in a while, not until she had become insistent about the baby business.

"Yeah, honey. Business was slow today so I decided to close early...Euf, what has got you in such a mood?" he asked as she hugged him suddenly and tightly.

He patted her back and held her at arm's length. She really was a beauty, if only he hadn't met Susan first.

Reyona rolled her eyes as she thought, "It is you, bastard. The fact that I could best you if only just for this once"

Then she said, "What do you mean? I am happy because I am coming home to my love, of course, and to see you waiting out here for me. Even better!" She said it brightly as she moved in to kiss him.

He turned his cheek to her, but she leaned around and kissed him fully on the mouth with a humming sound in her throat."Rey, Rey, hold on, Rey," he said against her lips as he tried to move back from her, but she merely encircled his neck with her arm and kissed him deeply.

She finally let go, and he pulled at his ears as he looked at her with a sheepish smile on his face. "I don't know what this is all about, but..."

Reyona grinned "Yeah, yeah, I know. You don't like public display. I know; forgive me. I was just so happy to see you. Moreover," she said as she looked around and waved her hands at the quiet neighbourhood

"Nobody will see us, you know. They are too busy taking actions of their own to care about a loving couple smooching on their porch. We could even do it right here and they wouldn't bat an eye."

Reyona was shocked at herself that she could talk like this, and by the look on her husband's face, she saw that he was amazed as well. She had never been so direct with him before-well, maybe once upon a time when they first started dating-but not in a long while in the past eight years.

Things had cooled considerably between them, especially since she started talking about starting a family more frequently.

Reyona knew that it was either this or. Either she became this chatty, chirpy creature that confused him, or she would be screaming right now. The turmoil in her heart only increased as she saw the way he was talking to her as if all was well.

He was pretending like he was not about to leave her for another woman or another family. A family he had denied her. She wanted to pull at her hair, scream, shout, and punch the bastard in his face for his deceit as she looked at the face he had always shown her while he was cheating on her.

How had he done it when she had no clue? Had she fancied herself so much in love that she had been so blind to everything? She trusted the bastard with her life, and this crippling betrayal was all she got? Well, two could play at that game.

Her bright countenance slipped, but she firmly put it back on as she smiled more brightly when he said, "Rey, what has come over you? Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Or is there something you want to tell me?" Reyona thought bitterly as she pulled on his arms and opened the door. "Okay, okay, okay, I know," she said as they entered, and she dropped her bag before she twirled.

She had to do something with the adrenaline in her system. Something that had nothing to do with wrapping her hands around his neck and throttling him.

"I know, no public display. I got you, buddy," she said with a salute.

Thomas gave her a sceptical look as he asked, "Are you sure you are fine, Rey?" She sure was acting strange.

"Yeah, honey. I am Dandy!" she twirled again before she clapped her hand "Stereo, play "I am in love by Starqueen.".

A tinny voice sounded from the sound system: "I am in love with Starqueen coming up," right before a breezy note filled the room."Do you remember this, Tommy? This was what you played for me the day you proposed to me, and I said yes," she said as she danced back to him.

"Eight years; it's been eight years of light and love, darling. Dance with me."