Hurt and demoralized, Bryce strikes out on her own and settles in a small town in the northern part of the state. Though psychologically fragile, Bryce becomes involved with a man who may prove to be more controlling and domineering than the husband she was trying to escape.
Out of the frying pan and into the fry?
********************
When I ran away from Jace, my only goal was to get as far away from him as I could.
He had frightened me and become someone that I didn't know or recognize. I loved Jace and perhaps, despite everything that has happened, I still do. Sadly, as much as I wanted to, I couldn't find it in my heart to forgive him. Jace had begun to treat me as his possession, his property and not as his wife. When I found out he had cheated and confronted him, taking on a defensive attitude, he said that he supported, provided and paid for everything that I had, and if he chooses to be with more than one woman than so be it, that was his choice. My role as his wife was to accept his behavior quietly. I could only marvel at the ridiculousness of his reasoning, knowing that everything he said was his feeble attempt to excuse and rationalize his infidelity.
"My father and brothers have always had other women, and they all have happy marriages," he said, almost proudly.
"Isn't that the reason you detested your father while growing up, because of the way he treated your mother?" Jace said nothing, but for the briefest few seconds, a look of sadness flickered across his face.
The morning Jace had left the house and headed to his brother's to get his things; I hurriedly packed two large bags, taking with me only my clothes and other personal items. I wanted nothing else from him. I got into my car and just started driving. I had no destination in mind and found myself heading north on Hwy 5, finally stopping for the night in a little town called Cottonwood. The next morning, I was up early, showered and out the door before nine o'clock. After breakfast at the nearby Denny's I took a short walk before getting on the road again. The downtown area was busy with people heading to work, and I slowly ambled down the street thinking what a lovely place it was. As I paused to cross the street, a bright sign posted on the large outside message board of the Cottonwood Town Hall caught my eye, "Position Open - Library Technician, Library Education District. For more information and application, inquire inside, second floor."
What the hell, I thought as I mounted the stairs heading for the second floor.
To my surprise, I got the job. Granted I was a college graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Library Science, I have a sneaking suspicion that the fact the sign had been up for almost a month with no takers might have swayed the odds of getting the job in my favor.
*****
After about two months on the job, Todd Bentley stopped me in the hall one day and said hello. I had sometimes caught him looking at me, and so I knew he was interested in me. I could feel his eyes on me, but this was the first time he had ever acknowledged me. To say I was surprised would be an understatement, but I managed a stuttered hello. After that, we would always smile and speak whenever we saw each other.
I hadn't known Todd Bentley personally, but had heard of him and knew through office gossip that he saw himself a "ladies man" and had just about made the rounds through the available and willing women in the district. Todd was a very handsome man in his early thirties, nice athletic build, single, smart, and very sexy. Not being totally naive, I knew it was not my sparkling personality, education and good looks but more likely, the thrill of getting someone new into his bed that had attracted him.
I was 5'4" and maybe 115 lbs., slim waisted, full rounded womanly hips, a tight firm ass, and pert, high breasts that Jace (my estranged husband) would teasingly describe as "a good handful".
I think I am a reasonably attractive woman, maybe even above average in looks. Let's just say I didn't lack for male attention when I wanted it. I have large green eyes highlighted by long dark eyelashes, a headful of thick, naturally wavy auburn colored hair that I usually wear loose, falling free about my shoulders, and full pouty lips, that men seem to like.
As time went on, Todd's attentions increased. He would casually touch my hair or shoulders, sometimes even rest his hand on the small of my back letting it slip to my hip or behind when we walked side by side. Some people might have thought his familiarity forward and inappropriate, but I enjoyed the attention. It had been a while since I had enjoyed a man's attentions.
I remember the first time we went out together to the movies. Sitting in the darkened theater, I had let him put his arm around me and fondle my breasts and at one point, I had tentatively reached between his legs and stroked him, marveling at the hardness and thickness of his penis that was quite evident through the fabric of his slacks.
Todd called wanting us to go out again a few days later. I told him I'd love to, but that I wasn't feeling well, maybe it was the beginnings of a cold, and we should play it by ear.
"Well, don't worry about it," Todd had said. "Leave it to me, I'm going to pick us up some Chinese food, and I'll be there in about an hour . . . we'll eat and watch a movie, Okay?"
"Yes," I said, "I guess that would be ok, but I may not be the best company."
"I'll be there soon," he said before hanging up.
By the time Todd arrived, I was a little feverish and irritable. I made myself get up off the sofa and answer the door. Todd saw me and was surprised by my appearance and how uncomfortable I obviously was. He came in, closed the door behind and put the takeout on the kitchen table.
He walked over to me, "how are you feeling? Truthfully, how are you feeling?" He asked.
"Horrible," I said. "My chest is very congested, and it's hard to take a deep breath," I whined with tears suddenly and inexplicably brimming in my eyes and trailing down my flushed cheek. "I just feel miserable."
"Here, you just lay here, and I'll see if I can make you feel more comfortable," Todd told me, his concern evident. After a few minutes, he came back to the sofa with a large basin of eucalyptus scented warm water, a bottle of baby oil and a couple of towels. Kneeling beside the sofa, he handed me two Tylenol and a glass of cold apple juice.