TUESDAY TALES - SWEET

 

Welcome! The word prompt today is "Sweet". We have another episode of "Two of Hearts". When you've finished reading, hop on over to read the other wonderful stories. Find them HERE. 

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Her footsteps echoed off the buildings. Leafy trees, still heavy with rain, drooped a bit. Although the worst of the storm was over, everything the rain had touched glistened in the light of the street lamps. She walked carefully along the wet pavement. It wouldn’t do to slip and fall. She had to stay in good condition to look after Stan.

Suddenly, Willie jerked the leash from her hand and took off.

“Willie! Come back!” She ran after him. Fortunately, he’d stopped to sniff another pug.

“You,” the man said.

Jen looked up. It was the same man from that morning. And his pug. What was her name?

“Queenie,” he said.

“Oh, right. Queenie.”

“I’m Terry,” he said, extending his hand.

“Jen.” She shook it, avoiding his gaze as she watched the dogs.

Willie wagged his tail with a fury she’d never seen before. The dog was obviously sweet on
this other pug. She smiled, despite the train wreck that was her life. Willie was funny. He tried to mount the smaller dog.

“No! Willie! Stop that!” Jen yanked him back.

“Uh, uh, Willie. No sex without dinner and a movie first,” Terry said, wiggling his finger at the pooch. Jen tried to laugh at the feeble joke, but only managed a smile.

“Nothing to worry about. He’s fixed.”

“Oh, right. I love the way they say that, ‘fixed’. Like a normal male is broken, or something.”

“Never thought of it that way.”

She shifted her weight, conscious of his scrutiny. Though anxious to get away, she didn’t have the heart to drag Willie from his playmate.

“How’s your husband doing?” Terry asked.

“I don’t know. They put him in a coma.”

“Wow. I’m sorry.”

She glanced up to see a sympathetic look that appeared genuine. Finally, someone who wasn’t accusing her of trying to kill Stan by letting him ride his motorcycle. Tears threatened. She took a deep breath.

“What happened?”

“What does it matter?” She waved her hand.

“I get it. You don’t have to talk about it.”

“He went for a ride on his motorcycle. It slid out from under him on the wet street, and he crashed,” she blurted out. “That’s what the police said. We won’t know until Stan wakes up.”

“Holy shit! Fuck. That’s terrible.”

“He broke some bones and got knocked out. They put him in a coma to let his brain heal. The doctors don’t know the extent of the damage.”

Terry gave a low whistle. He took her hand between his two. “That’s horrible.”

At his touch, her defenses broke. “I didn’t do it. I didn’t. I’d never hurt Stan. I just want him back the way he was,” she said, unable to stop tears.

“Of course, you do.”

“The doctors won’t tell me anything. They say they don’t know.”

“That’s understandable. Head injuries are tricky.”

“He broke his leg and wrist, too.”

“He must be in pain.”

“That’s the reason they put him under. To relieve the pain and let him heal.”

“Did they say how long they’re going to keep him like that?”

She shook her head. Emotion closed her throat. Barely able to breathe, she couldn’t speak. There was something about Terry’s manner, his sympathy, that triggered her emotions. Terry stepped closer and pulled her into a hug. She sobbed into his shoulder, wetting his shirt. He rubbed her back. After a few moments, aware of his body pressed to hers, Jen moved away.

That's all. Thanks for stopping by.