the joy Braxton was experiencing. Maybe she would have even agreed with Brice if she had only been asked.
“Before you go, Braxton,” Lorene hollered above the excitement.
They all quieted while she spoke.
“Your present from me and your grandfather is that we’re going to pay your insurance on the car until you’re out of school.” Lorene cast a smile Angela’s way.
Angela smiled back. Lorene did have a clue. She knew exactly what she was doing and took great pleasure in it. This family was not going to get under her skin ever again.
Spending time with the boys went out the window with the new car. Of course they wanted to go with friends and enjoy it. So when Brice asked her to go to dinner at her favorite restaurant, The Waterfront, Angela jumped at the chance. Because she’d only nibbled on the pizza earlier, she was starving. Plus, anything to make the time go faster was a blessing. She couldn’t imagine sitting around the house with her ex all evening. She just needed to get through the time until her flight out in the morning.
It was a beautiful restaurant and a beautiful night. The glass doors that created an invisible wall between the diners and the deck overlooking the sound were pulled back, inviting the fresh air and smell of the sea inside. There were candles on the tables and the lights were low, a lovely setting in which to relax. And that is exactly what Angela did. She breathed deep of the salty air and settled back into the comfortable chair. Her composure surprised her.
The dinner conversation was superficial and sparse which pleased Angela. She just wanted to be done in Connecticut and on her way home. Home, it sounded so good. Brice poured more wine for both of them. He had become fidgety. It seemed to Angela that he was wanting to say something and was trying to decide how to start. She hoped not. Finally, he asked her to dance. She didn’t want to, but she accepted because she knew how to manage Brice. Give him what he wants.
The music was lovely, slow and romantic, and Brice was, like with everything else, an accomplished dancer. She yielded to the moment and enjoyed the dance. When it ended, Brice kept his arm around her and moved right into the second song.
He drew her closer nuzzling her hair. “You are beautiful, Angel.”
There was a time she yearned for moments like this—but those moments had been far too rare.
“I want you to come home, Angel.” He enveloped her in his strong embrace as they glided across the floor.
No... no ... but the words stuck in her throat.
Her hesitation spurred him on. “Look, it’ll be easier on you this time, the boys are out of the house, you’ll have a lot of time for yourself.”
What he didn’t know was that she’d just realized the boys were the reason she stayed as long as she had.
“You can get involved in some women’s groups, charity things. And we’ll have many more engagements to attend.” He drew back and smiled at her. “We do make a handsome couple, don’t you think?”
They walked back to their table but instead of sitting down, Angela collected her purse and wrap. “I’d like to go now,” she said calmly. She could see the struggle in Brice’s eyes and knew he’d never give up that easily.
In the car, as they pulled out of the parking lot, he dove right into the topic he had been pursuing after their dance. “I think, if you would just admit it, what we’ve both learned from all this, is that we belong together. And we have a family.”
Angela took a careful breath. All it took for Brice to explode was to disagree with him. “Brice, we’ve had a nice day with the boys, a nice dinner, let’s just let it go at that for now, okay?” She hoped against hope that he would let it go.
His hands gripped the steering wheel, and he visibly puffed up. “I don’t get you. I gave you everything. Everything!” His face turned red under his perfect tan.
Angela shrunk into the corner by her door. Everything except respect, she thought.
“All I ever asked from you was to be a supportive wife.” His voice rose with each word. “Is that too much to ask?” He tossed hateful glances to her across the car.
She knew Brice’s definition—supportive meant never disagreeing. Do what you’re told and always, always stroke his ego. That