A week has gone by since Steph has moved to the Valley. If it wasn't for the unexpected friendship of Tiffany and Darcy, she would have killed herself. Tiffany, especially, has made her transition a little easier. Steph begins to look forward to the shopping and work out excursions with her new friend. Darcy, on the other hand, is friendly, but seems distracted and is obsessed with having trysts with other men. The woman's bold talk makes Steph a little uncomfortable at times.
Life in the new house on Shannon Road has been better than expected. Adam treats her kindly and they have even made love normally. So, as she changes into her shorts and t-shirt, she thinks that maybe things will be ok after all. She makes a mental note to herself to look in the paper for a hiring law firm.
Tiffany and Darcy pick Steph up outside the house and they roll down the road that leads them to the gym. Darcy is especially chatty today.
"Josh, you know β the pool guy? He stopped by yesterday," she says excitedly. "As soon as he came into the yard, I swear he had a hard-on!"
Tiffany laughs politely but Steph says nothing. She is still shocked by this woman's behavior. Never in her wildest dreams would she have considered cheating on Adam, although some of the things he's made her do...
Darcy's voice brings her back.
"So I ignored him the best I could," she continues.
"Why did you do that?" Tiffany asks.
"Why do you think? I'm not going to let this young hottie think he can just have me whenever he wants. Why, I would never get rid of him!"
"But don't you want him around?"
"Yes, but only when I want a fuck!" Darcy tosses her hair back with her perfectly manicured nails and navigates a hard right into the gym parking lot. The all shift in their seats as the minivan bumps to a stop. "Besides," she says, not missing a beat. "I have set my sights on something better."
The other two women look at her as they grab their purses.
"What do you mean by that?" Steph asks.
"Oh, something more...challenging." Darcy says, winking at Tiffany.
Tiffany shrugs and they go inside for their work out.
***
The day is uneventful for Steph. She does secure a newspaper and reads the job section while dinner simmers on the stove. There is no shortage of jobs for her and suddenly the Valley seems ripe with opportunity. She can't wait to share this with Adam.
But when her husband comes home, his mood is black and she becomes timid around him. She doesn't ask what is wrong and he doesn't volunteer any answers. Instead she tiptoes around him and serves him dinner. He eats and responds to her small talk with grunts. Then he spies the want ads.
"What are you looking for?" he asks.
"Oh, just seeing what the job market is for lawyers down here," she says. "Looks like a lot of corporate law."
He looks up and there is a scowl on his face. "Don't tell me you want to go back to work?"
She shrinks a little at his gaze but still answers. "Well, yes, I can't just sit home forever."
"No wife of mine has to work. I make plenty of money for us to live here. Am I not giving you what you want?"
"Adam, of course you are. It's just...I want to do something."
"What's wrong with hanging out with those two blond bimbos? You seem to have no problem filling your days with them."
"Their nice women, Adam," she says, anger rising. "But I didn't go through all those years in law school to spend my days getting my nails done or shopping."
"Don't take that tone with me," he says, pushing back from the table.
"I'm sorry, dear; I just want to work again."
But he's not listening anymore. Adam stands up and pulls Steph right out of her chair so that they are face to face. "I'm a CEO now. I won't have my wife working. It's time you meet the other executives' wives and go shopping with them."
Steph trembles in his strong grip. His hand is firmly around her arm and it hurts.
"But Adam..." she persists and although she knows this is fruitless, she can't help it.
"Fucking bitch!" he yells as he pushes her against the wall. "Don't you ever listen?"
They've crossed the line now and she waits for the punishment that always follows. Adam grabs her by the hair and forces her to her hands and knees. He's taking his belt off and the tears start. She knows not to fight it.