Her Eyes (10 page)

Behind them, the coffee pot started the small stream of the brew into the pot. In a few minutes he would have coffee, but for once he didn't need it to wake up. Every nerve in his body was wide awake.

"Catherine, can you tell me what's going on?"

Catherine pulled away and crumpled into the dining room chair. Propped on one hand, her face was hidden behind a sea of blonde hair. He couldn't see her eyes, and a nervous twinge went through him.

"Where's Win?"

"I let him out.” Her shoulders slumped. “Are you afraid of me?"

"No.” Even if he were, he wanted her near him.

"I've been hearing voices in my head, Frank. I'm going crazy. It's not my voice. It belongs to another woman.” She looked up and nibbled her bottom lip nervously.

Frank didn't know what to say. There wasn't a way to make crazy sound any better and the possibility that she'd gone nuts had surfaced a few times in his mind too. Admitting it was unthinkable. “Did the voices tell you to try to kill me again?"

"What do you mean, ‘again'?"

"Catherine, come on, please don't play dumb. You know what I mean."

"No, Frank, I don't! Why would I try to hurt you? I love you. I've always loved you.” She rubbed her temple as if trying to remember something.

"Maybe you did once but, Catherine, don't you remember the night Win ... the night you got hurt?"

"No, I don't. I remember our first kiss, I remember promising to be best friends, I remember what happened under the bleachers, but then I don't remember anything until ... until ... something about a knife and a car crash and then waking up in the hospital. Oh, Frank! Our entire marriage only comes to me in bits and pieces. Why don't I remember more of our marriage?"

"I don't know, Catherine, I don't know.” Frank wondered why she didn't remember more. And best friends? He had never promised Catherine he'd be her best friend. Pam was the only person he ever got that sentimental with. And what was that about the knife again? And the car? Catherine may speed and be an aggressive driver, but she'd never been in an accident.

He watched her study him for a moment before she finally offered, “Win knows I'm going nuts too. Right before the other voice starts, he comes at me. It's like he's trying to scare it away.” She shrugged. “I ... I understand if you don't believe me."

On cue, Win appeared at the back, bringing one enormous paw against the door. If he'd been taller, it would've been a knock instead of an awkward scratching. Frank stood and let him inside, noticing that the dog looked as stressed as he felt.

The cell phone began ringing, not good. Work always called on the cell, so he ran through the house to where he'd left it on his charger. He didn't need Catherine realizing that he'd lied, nor did he want to admit to calling a doctor.

"What?” His tone wasn't friendly, and he didn't care.

"Can you come in?” asked Irwin. It seemed the man couldn't handle anything. Maybe it was time to let him go and find someone who actually wanted to be a foreman. “We've got some added expenses I need you to approve. Also the state is looking for bids on their upcoming sidewalk extension project. It looks like quick, easy money."

"Money is never quick nor easy.” He glanced back toward the dining room, but Catherine hadn't followed. “I'll be in, but I can't stay long."

"Whatever you can spare."

Frank hung up. He didn't like the tone in Irwin's voice. That guy had always been on the verge of disrespect, acting as if Frank kept himself too far from the dirty work. Hell, he didn't do so much of the dirty work. He'd spent years doing nearly everything himself, and now he was the boss. He deserved little perks after sweating and pushing for everything he had.

Leaving Catherine alone presented certain problems. He didn't want to walk in on another bad scene or leave her safety up to Win. Perhaps he could turn a bad situation into something good.

"Catherine?” Frank called before he'd reached the dining room where she sat with a cup of coffee. “I have to go into work today. Would you like to come with me? We could go to the park. Maybe have a picnic lunch afterward."

Her face lit up. “I'd like that. It sounds romantic."

Romantic, he'd pulled off romantic. “Great.” And Catherine was willing to come to his work site. Unbelievable.

She finished her coffee, then got into the shower. He heard the water turn on and thought about Catherine, standing there, naked with water running down her body. She surprised him in every way, and because of her sweeter side, he'd never found her more attractive.

With everything happening, he shouldn't want her but after a few moments he followed her to the bathroom and slipped in the shower. Every moment seemed too precious to let slip by. He had a terrible feeling he might lose his Catherine, a gut instinct he couldn't shake. He had to have her, needed to have her.

She looked surprise to see him but didn't cover her naked body, instead she tried to cover her face, or at least the scarred side. Even with the gauze removed and the ragged red line where she'd been stitched together, Catherine was beautiful. She reminded him of a doll, some fine china doll that had been dropped. The lines looked like cracks in a perfect face.

"Don't.” He pulled her hand away and tried to kiss her.

"But I'm ugly."

As he looked at her, she tried to turn, hide those marred features from him. Without a word, he touched her chin, guiding her back to face him. Lightly he kissed the jagged scar, then trailed his mouth to her lips.

"You are beautiful,” he whispered before going lower on her body. “Every wonderful inch of you."

He looked at her face and thought tears might be gliding down. It was hard to tell in the shower. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Her face was different now but no less beautiful in his eyes.

"I want to make love to you."

Their kisses mingled in the hot water. She reached down to touch him, guiding his cock as he lifted her, pressing her back against the shower, and entered. There was no need to hesitate. She felt ready, welcoming, and wanting. Their bodies were one and only that way did was he whole.

Twenty minutes later they emerged, their hands pruned and bodies satiated. It took two tries to get dressed because of rising passions. He hadn't wanted Catherine so much since high school. They'd made love more in these last few days than they had during the last three years of marriage.

Catherine wore a pair of faded blue jeans and had pulled out one of his flannel shirts again. Some how the oversized shirt made her look so very sexy. He loved her in jeans, although she'd always preferred slacks and silk blouses to anything relaxed. She tied her hair back in a ponytail, and again left the jewelry behind in the box. Catherine looked perfect.

They left the house, driving the thirty minutes to the construction sight with her head leaning against his arm. He loved her little touches, the sexy glances she gave him. Whatever had happened to bring this change in Catherine, he was eternally grateful.

He pulled up to the small trailer where Irwin stood outside, yelling something to a guy driving a dump truck. The site was busy as usual. Dump trucks lined the exit, hauling dirt from this location to another where the road had to be built up to equal the existing two-lane's surface. Frank parked and opened Catherine's door. He would've preferred leaving her in the car and away from all the dust but he wanted her near him.

"Hi, Irwin. You remember Catherine."

"Yes. Nice to see you again.” Irwin looked at her a moment too long. Frank squelched the jealous impulse. He was being paranoid.

Catherine took the proffered hand, shook it, and quickly grabbed Frank's arm with both of her hands. He liked that. There was no question who she loved, and she had no qualms about showing it. Frank's heart swelled with pride and something more ... hope?

"I've got the proposal inside along with the recommended expenditures."

Irwin led the way, opening the door for Frank and following Catherine inside the trailer. Frank glanced back and didn't appreciate the way Irwin's stare lingered on his wife's backside.

Quickly, Frank went through one folder, signing a bid for the state. Next he went through the added costs. Some were out of the question. One receipt, for lunch at the Yonkers Steak House, had to be something personal of Irwin's. Frank was really starting to dislike that guy.

"You're paying for your own lunches.” He set that receipt aside. “The new harnesses and hard hats are fine. I don't want my men getting hurt. We're not getting a new hydraulic lift. Get the old one fixed."

"The lunch was business. I was out with the Mayor."

Frank's nerves enflamed. He didn't like wining and dining for political gain. His work was excellent and his bids always fair. Kissing someone's ass wasn't going to help his company, especially when the meetings were held with Irwin, who didn't do his job with any finesse.

"You know I disapprove of that."

Irwin's hand balled in a fist. “Fine. At least go out there and look at the lift. I think we need a new one."

Frank stood, grabbing his sunglasses as he did, “I'll be right back, Catherine."

"I'll keep her company,” replied Irwin while moving closer to her, a gleam in his eye.

Catherine's eyes grew wide, and she started to say something, changed her mind, and shut her mouth. Her eyes were two different colors at least. It should only take a few minutes to check that stupid lift anyway.

"Be right back."

He left the trailer, closing the door behind him.

Five minutes passed after Frank had left. Every second felt like an eternity with Irwin's gaze going over her a little too intimately for her comfort. She stepped behind the desk, hoping to gain a little distance from him, and sat in the chair.

"You're looking good.” He sat on the edge of the desk. “Real good."

"Thanks.” She looked around the room, trying to find something to concentrate on instead of this man. On the desk was a pile of papers. She flipped through them wishing Frank would hurry.

"It's been a while. A long while. How about after Frank starts coming into work regular again, you and I hook up like old times."

Her body clenched in repulsion. “I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

He laughed and licked his thick lips obscenely. “You remember. It hasn't been that long. What? A little over a year at most. Right before you and that James guy hooked up, and of course, that accident of yours. What did happen, Catherine? Frank never said, and there was nothing in the papers except something about a gun going off and that dog of his biting the hell out of you."

She had no recollection of a James or Win attacking her or anything to do with this man. And this Irwin also talking about a gun. There was never a gun, but a knife, someone came after her with a knife. Or maybe she had woken during the surgery, and she was remembering the a scalpel. Maybe in the ambulance they went by a car crash. That could be where she remembered the car from. Of course! That had to be it. Somehow that other side of her got Win upset or something upset Win, he bit her, and in the ambulance, they must have gone by a car accident. One so bad that she saw it, and it was so bad she felt like she was involved in it. That would make sense. Then the anesthesia when they operated must have worn off at one point so she got the scalpel mixed up with a knife. She would have to tell Frank. It made perfect sense. She'd check it out with him and see what he had to say. Now, however, she had to do something about Irwin so Catherine scooted back in her chair, trying to increase the distance between them. Then she looked out the small window, hoping to see Frank.

"Come on. Give me a chance to renew your memory. You owe me that."

"Sir, my memory might be a little fuzzy, but I promise you that I will never meet with you.” She tried to keep her voice even but the idea of anyone other than Frank touching her made her nauseous.

Irwin leaned over the desk and ran his hand along her cheek. “Don't play like that. You know you like my dick better."

Catherine became enraged. Without thinking of the consequences, she slapped Irwin across the face. The sound, loud, echoed through the tiny trailer.

It also did not hinder Irwin's advances.

His smile grew wider. “I never knew you liked it rough."

He raised his hand. She saw a different man, a man who hit her all the time, a man who sliced her with a knife, the man from her memories. He wanted her dead. He'd never loved her and this time he was going to kill her. But who was he? Where did she know him from? Did he break into their home? Was he a burglar who surprised them? Was that how she got hurt?

Catherine didn't realize that she'd been screaming until the air ran out of her lungs. As the door burst open, she sucked in air, gasped, and pressed herself against the wall of the trailer.

"What happened?” Frank went to her, petting her back.

"He wanted me to...” She couldn't finish the words.

"Your wife is crazy."

Frank rose, anger bubbling through him. Even the tips of his ears reddened. Catherine's vision cleared and she saw Irwin again, the icky foreman. She realized exactly what was going on, but didn't say a word as her husband came to her defense.

For all Frank's gentle behavior, he was a force to be reckoned with when upset. He reached back then moved fast, almost too fast to keep up with. An upper cut to Irwin's jaw was all it took. Irwin stumbled backward.

"Your wife is a whore.” Irwin started forward but the look on Frank's face changed his mind. “I had her plenty of times."

Catherine's mouth fell open, and torrid bits filled her memory. Mingling flesh, arms and legs, in a hotel room, and it had been Irwin and her. Oh no. She
had
been a whore. There had been others. Different faces filled her mind. The scent of sex and different colognes, different hands, all touching her. Catherine felt hot tears running down her cheeks.

It didn't take Frank a minute to react. He went forward, bloodying Irwin's nose. Irwin swung, but Frank was too fast, giving him another in the gut. Frank opened the trailer door and literally kicked Irwin down the steps.