Secret Indiscretions (15 page)

“That makes your volunteerism even more meaningful,” Samuel said. “And again, I thank you for your time, Mrs. Mayfield.”

She noticed that he'd now called her Mrs. instead of Ms., after looking down at her ring finger. She felt a battle going on inside of her head, but one thing she knew for sure was that she needed to correct him as she'd done with Stella. “Please call me Geneva.”

“That's a beautiful name,” he said and then paused. “It suits you.”

She blushed. “Thank you. And how about you? Do you have children?”

“No, I don't.” Samuel's smile quickly faded. His eyes fell to the ground, and it was clear that he was uncomfortable. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. His relaxed shoulders had stiffened and his overall body language had changed. But then, within a matter of seconds his mood seemed to shift, returning to its relaxed state. Geneva wondered what was going on in his head.

Samuel crossed his arms and leaned against Geneva's driver's side door. “Actually, my wife and I are estranged. We've had problems in our marriage for a long time, practically from the beginning, and now things have come to a head.”

“I'm sorry to hear that,” Geneva said, surprised by his candor.

“It's okay. It took me a long time to realize that no matter how hard you try, some things just can't be fixed.”

Geneva blinked rapidly, not knowing what to say. She studied Samuel's face, and his assured expression let her know that his mind was made up. She knew that because it was the same expression she'd had on her own face when she looked in the mirror this morning, and that knowledge put her even more at ease with the feelings stirring inside her. And because he'd taken the first step to open up about his private life, she wanted to know more. “So you don't think there's a chance of working things out?”

Samuel shook his head. “As you know, marriage is work, and it takes two people who're willing to put forth the effort to make it successful. At one point, very early on, I was willing, but not anymore. Too much has happened and my feelings have changed.”

Geneva nodded because she completely understood.

“I can't believe I just told you that,” he said. “We've only met once before, and I barely even know you. But I feel very comfortable talking with you, and despite how clichéd this might sound, I feel like we've known each other much longer. It's such a relief to be able to share this with someone.”

Geneva nodded again and this time she smiled, letting him know she felt the same way, too. Then, without another thought, she began to unload her own burdens. “It doesn't sound clichéd, and I know how you feel about your marriage because I'm in the same situation.”

Geneva and Samuel stood in the parking lot, under the late summer morning sun and shared snippets of their personal stories.

Samuel gave her a look of knowing when Geneva told him that her husband had basically checked out of their marriage by neglecting her feelings and taking her for granted. “He stays out late, six nights a week, and on the rare occasions when he's home, he barely holds a conversation without it turning into an argument,” she said, releasing the burden of loneliness she'd been carrying. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Like yours, my marriage has been troubled from the beginning. I've tried my best to make it work, but as you said, it takes two people who want to put forth the effort, and that's not and won't be happening in my case.”

“I don't mean to sound harsh,” Samuel said as he wiped a small stream of sweat from his brow, “but your husband is a fool. You're a beautiful woman, not just physically, but also in character, which is most important. The thoughtfulness you've demonstrated just by volunteering says a lot about who you are, and it's a shame that he doesn't appreciate you.”

“Thank you,” Geneva said.

They continued to share their most private experiences, and with every small detail they revealed, and each minute that passed, it became clear to Geneva that something special was happening between them.

Samuel looked up at the bright sky and smiled. “This is the best conversation I've had in a very long time.”

“Me too. This time last week my mind was in a very different place. I was unhappy and frustrated, and I wasn't sure how I was going to move forward. But today I feel completely different. I'm refreshed and focused,” she said, speaking with the conviction of a woman on a mission. “I know I deserve better, and I'm gonna make sure I get it.”

Samuel tilted his head, unfolded his arms, and looked into Geneva's eyes without blinking. “I believe we'll both get what we want, and when we do, we should celebrate . . . together.”

Her ears could barely believe what she was hearing, but his tone and body language, which were both decidedly serious and sensual, let her know that it was real. Geneva's heart raced fast. She was beginning to see that not only was Samuel a man of great intellect, he had an understated sexy side that was direct and honest, and it made her even more attracted to him.

“I'm curious,” he said, breaking her from her thoughts. “What do you think made you finally decide that enough is enough?”

Geneva brought her right hand to her chin and pondered the question as if trying to answer a riddle. He'd just asked her about something that she'd been avoiding the answer to for a very long time, and it was in that moment that for the first time she admitted the hard truth of what she'd always known deep in her heart. “I got tired of my husband sleeping in other women's beds.” She shook her head and let out a deep breath. “I've turned a blind eye and deaf ears to the truth for years, but now I can't do it anymore. Last week he stayed out all night and didn't even come home. That was the proverbial straw.”

“Some grown men are really just boys in disguise, and it sounds like your husband is one of them.”

“My girlfriend, Donetta, would give you a high five if she heard you say that.”

“It's true.”

“How about you? What made you come to your decision?”

He began to speak without hesitation. “The night before the open house I was sitting in my den, eating dinner alone, as I'd done countless times, and I knew right then that my marriage was over, and that there was something better for me. The next day I felt the same way and later that evening my feelings were confirmed.”

“What happened?”

Samuel paused for a moment and then smiled. “I looked across the room and saw you.”

The blazing sun and stifling humidity couldn't match the heat that Geneva felt from Samuel's words. She was taken aback and didn't know what to say.

“I'm doing it again,” Samuel said, “telling you things that I wouldn't normally dare mention, but what I just said is completely true. And I have to confess that after the open house I read over your application”—he winked—“because I wanted to know more about you.”

“Really?” She was flattered, and she found his open admission irresistible.

“Yes. I was confused about your marital status. You were wearing a ring like you are now, but you left the space for name of spouse blank, and you wrote your friend's name down as your emergency contact.”

Geneva looked down at the embellished jewels on her sandals, trying to focus on anything other than the desire and excitement she felt building inside her. Samuel had just told her that she was the reason he felt hopeful, and alive, and free. He hadn't said those exact words, but she knew that was how he felt, and again, she knew because she felt the same way.

“I hope I haven't offended you,” Samuel said quietly. “You're a volunteer, and I apologize if I'm putting you in an uncomfortable position. I just felt compelled to express this to you.”

“No,” she said softly. “I'm not offended at all, so please don't mistake my silence for discomfort. Actually, I feel quite the opposite.”

“Now it's my turn to say, ‘really?'” Samuel said with relief.

The fact that he was still smiling made Geneva feel comfortable, and more at ease. Even though she was riding high on the excitement of her and Samuel's connection, she was cognizant enough to know that the parking lot in front of the school wasn't the best place to have the type of soul-revealing conversation that her brief chat with Samuel had turned in to.

“Thanks again for walking me to my car,” Geneva said. “I'm glad we were able to talk, and on that note, we should probably end our conversation, because from what I've been told, there are probably teachers looking out their classroom windows right now, wondering why you've been outside talking to a volunteer this long.”

“Excellent point, and you're right.”

After he closed her door, Geneva rolled down her driver's side window and fastened her seatbelt. “I enjoyed our conversation, Samuel.”

“So did I.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a business card. “Please keep in touch.”

Geneva took the card and placed it in the outer compartment of her handbag. “Thank you, Samuel. I definitely will.”

As she drove off and headed down the street away from the school, Geneva had a smile on her face that she could hardly contain. But little did she know that before the sun went down tonight, her smile would be turned upside down along with life as she'd known it.

S
amuel walked back into his office with purpose in his step and a happy look on his face that he hadn't felt since becoming principal at Sandhill. It was amazing to him how one person could make such a huge difference in another person's life. He knew it was a stretch to say that Geneva Mayfield was the sole reason why a wake-up call had sounded loudly in his head and heart, giving him the impetus to make a long-overdue change in his life, but the plain truth was that she was a big part of why he was sure that it was time to end his marriage.

As Samuel sat at his cherry wood desk, trying to concentrate on the small mountain of paperwork that had already accumulated in the far left corner, his mind fought to stay focused on his tasks at hand instead of on Geneva. He was disappointed when he confirmed that she was indeed married, but it didn't deter him, especially given what she'd told him about her situation at home. Her marriage seemed just as bad as his, and he knew by the look in her eyes that she was determined to make a drastic change. She hadn't gone as far to say that she was going to leave her husband, but she didn't have to. The subtle words she'd spoken let Samuel know what she intended to do, and unless he was very wrong, he also knew that she was interested in him.

He replayed their conversation in his mind and smiled to himself as he remembered the joy he'd seen in Geneva's eyes as she described her experience reading with the children this morning. The fact that she didn't have children of her own was puzzling to him because she was clearly the caring, nurturing type, thus the reason she was volunteering at Sandhill. Everything about her excited him. He'd taken notice of how sexy she looked in her vibrant, yellow-colored sundress that hugged her in all the right places, and how her short, shiny black hair was perfectly coiffed, giving her a stylishly edgy look. When she smiled, it felt brighter than the sun that had beamed overhead, and it made him want her right there in the parking lot.

“Damn,” he whispered to himself. He was aroused just thinking about Geneva. Samuel looked down at his crotch and saw the bulge forming in the front of his cotton twill pants. The effect Geneva was having on him was undeniable. “If she can make me feel this way from one conversation, I'm in trouble.”

Samuel shook his head, baffled by how a womanizing idiot like Geneva's husband was lucky enough to marry a beautiful, smart, and kind-hearted woman like her. Conversely, he was equally baffled by how a nice guy like him had ended up marrying a disengaged, cold-hearted, and emotionally unavailable woman like Vivana. “My wife and Geneva's husband should get together because they deserve each other,” Samuel said.

He thought about how his brother had tried to warn him, and again, he wished he'd listened. But he knew he couldn't continue to lament about the mistake he'd made. What he needed to do was correct it, and that meant asking Vivana for a divorce.

Samuel pushed back from his desk and scrolled through the contacts in his phone until he found the number he was looking for. He called Jerry Butler. Jerry was the parent of a former student and had become a close personal friend over the years. He and Jerry golfed, played poker, and made an annual trip to see their favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, play each year. Jerry was also a family practice attorney, and had offered his services to Samuel on more than one occasion after seeing what type of marriage he and Vivana had.

Jerry picked up on the first ring. “Hey buddy, how are you?”

“I can't complain.”

“Margie and I were just talking about you last night while she was getting Chris's things ready for school. If it hadn't been for you, my son wouldn't be the student he is today. I can't believe he's in middle school now.”

“Wow, time sure does fly,” Samuel responded. “They grow up fast.”

Thinking about his friend's son made Samuel reflect back on the first time he'd met Jerry. Jerry and his wife, Margie, had attended an open house at the school the year after Samuel had become the principal. The two men hit it off right away, and became quick friends. Years later, after Samuel married Vivana, he'd hoped that being around the Butlers would inspire his new wife to join him in his desire to start a family of their own. But Vivana never took a liking to the blond-haired, blue-eyed family. Samuel reflected back on the disastrous outing he'd arranged for all of them to go hiking in the mountains at a retreat that catered to families.

Vivana had ruined the entire weekend. She'd pissed Jerry off with her constant complaining about her disdain for the great outdoors. She'd alienated Margie by making snippy comments whenever the woman tried to engage her in polite conversation, and she'd frightened little Chris by yelling at him for playing with bugs along the hiking trail. A few days after they'd returned from the trip, Margie confided to Jerry, who in turn told Samuel, that she'd caught Vivana flirting inappropriately with one of the hiking tour guides, and that she'd even given him her number. When Samuel confronted Vivana, she'd flown into a rage, claiming that Margie had made up the story out of jealousy. From that moment forward, Vivana wanted nothing to do with the Butlers.

“So what's going on?” Jerry asked. “I hope you're not calling to cancel on me.”

“No, no. I'd walk through a hailstorm before I did that. It's not every day that a man gets complimentary tickets on the ten yard line to see the Cowboys play at home, courtesy of his well-connected lawyer friend,” he said with a laugh. “What I'm calling about is a bit more serious.”

Samuel proceeded to tell his friend that he'd finally had enough, and he wanted to end his marriage. He explained how Vivana had grown increasingly distant and cold and that she was hardly ever home. He even confided that he and Vivana rarely slept together, or did anything else as a couple. “Vivana and I were fine until we said ‘I do,'” Samuel told him. “I don't think I ever really knew who she was, and by the time I found out, it was too late.”

“I've seen this a million times,” Jerry said. “And I've got to ask, do you think she's having an affair?”

Samuel switched the phone to his other ear as he breathed out heavily. “It's possible.”

“Now let me ask the same about you.”

“No, I'm not.” Samuel instantly thought about Geneva and the very real feelings stirring inside him. “For now, I'm good.” He knew that Jerry would catch his drift.

“Okay, this is good information to have. We need to talk more at length, but from the little you've told me we can file under grounds of alienation of affection, indignities, and abandonment, which will pretty much get you out of paying alimony. Hopefully she won't try to contest it, but if she does, we can subpoena character witnesses on your behalf.”

“I knew I did the right thing by calling you, even though I wish it was under different circumstances. I tried to make it work, but I can't anymore.”

“I can't say that I'm surprised,” Jerry said. “You hung in there a lot longer than most would have.”

“Too long. But I'm about to change that.”

“Well, you've come to the right place and you know I'll help you.”

After Samuel scheduled an appointment to meet with Jerry this Friday, he hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair. He knew that divorces could be messy, and he also knew that Vivana had the kind of personality that was ripe for drama. That mixture alone could cause problems, not to mention the headache and distraction it could present. But he didn't think things between them would become contentious because deep down he knew she would likely welcome the chance to break free of being married. The only thing she'd want was money, which if he had to pay, he saw as a small price in exchange for his happiness.

The determination he felt earlier when he walked into his office was now multiplied by ten. He was a man on a mission with a new goal. His first order of business was to get through the rest of what was already shaping up to be a hectic workload. After that, he planned to find a way to speak to Geneva again before the day ended. He didn't want to let the sun go down without hearing her voice because he'd made up his mind that he wasn't going to waste another day living with regret.

Samuel felt a combination of excitement and lust rush through his body. He'd gotten his mojo back and he was ready to put it to use. The calm, steady, and reserved part of him was still there, but the strong, fearless, and daringly bold side of him was ready to make an appearance. “Just hold on, Geneva,” he said to himself. “I'm coming for you.”