Hello everyone. Here is Chapter Three of Choices. I certainly hope you enjoyed Chapters One and Two. Thank you for continuing to read this story.
Thanks Jim.
It is self-edited, so any mistakes are my own. But please don't let any errors you may find distract from the story.
Please read and comment. Your thoughts are welcomed and I really want to know what you think. So now, on to the story "Choices, Chapter 3".
Also, I placed this chapter under LW, although personally I prefer R.
Chapter 3
TOM
Tom lay in his bed after Terri left wishing, wishing he could get her to see. He wished she could see him as the man that could love her through this. But, she was loyal. Loyal to a cheating bastard, but she was loyal none the less.
He couldn't stand Stephen. He was so callous, and egotistical.
How could he possibly love someone else? How could he fall out of love with Terri? She was simply perfection.
Tom fumed.
And then there was Terri. He knew her guilt ate her up inside. Even though his declaration bothered her, she seemed to love cuddling into his ample frame. He loved the feel of her skin pressed against him, but he feared that today would be the last time he had that pleasure with her.
While contemplating, his phone rang; Seamus, from the local tavern, was calling him about his brother. Stephen had gone and gotten himself plastered and needed Tom to pick him up.
Wanting to refuse, but not wanting to endanger innocent pedestrians, Tom resolved to go and get his inebriated sibling.
As soon as he walked in, Stephen in a drunken stupor confronted him.
"Terri's mine." He declared voice slurred and unclear. "She'll never want you. Look at you, you're a slob."
Tom wouldn't respond and Stephen became more agitated. "You think she wants you. You plan on using what I told you to take her from me." He advanced stumbling toward his brother.
"I'll tell her you lied. She'll believe me. She believes everything I say. She's stupid. And you're even more stupid if you think she wants a fat, sorry slob like you."
Tom kept his temper in check, even though he wanted to knock his arrogant brother on his ass, drunk or not.
Tom got Seamus, the bartender, and Otis, another drinking buddy, to help him get Stephen into his car. He drove Stephen home, shaking with fury as he listened to him lament about the unfairness of his life.
Tom refrained from replying, but wanted to cold-cock his selfish, inconsiderate, drunkard of a brother.
Pulling into the drive, Tom helped Stephen from the car and to his front door. He then fished Stephen's keys from his pocket and helped him into the living room, depositing him on the sofa.
"Terri, help!" he called out awaking her from her fitful slumbers.
Terri donned her thin robe and met them in the front room. At this point, Stephen was knocked out. Terri had Tom to place him on the bed in the guest room. They worked together to undress him and then returned to the front of the house.
"Terri." Tom whispered. "Do you need me to stay tonight? I don't trust him. He was out of control" Tom whispered, genuinely concerned for her safety.
"He's in the guest room. You'll have to sleep on the couch," she whispered grateful that he was willing to stay.
Tom assented and Terri brought him fresh linen. However, he couldn't sleep. The woman he wanted was a door away. All he had to do was go to her.
But he knew it was wrong. Her husband, his brother, was passed out down the hall. Then he heard a crash, rushing to her bedroom, he wanted to make sure Terri was alright.
"Sorry," she whispered. "I'm fine. I tripped over the hope chest at the end of the bed. Go back to sleep, Tom."
Being in such close proximity with her, in a place they'd shared such intimacy brought Tom's body to life. He had to be with Terri, and his need could not, would not be denied.
Pulling her into an intimate embrace, Tom began tasting her. Terri loved the feel of his lips on her body, but knew it was wrong.
"Tom, please, we must stop. We can't do this." Terri whimpered as she pushed him away.
"Tom, I... I can't be with you. It's wrong. I never should have..." Sobbing softly, Terri whispered. "Tom, I'm sorry."
Tom was crushed. He knew his chances were slim to none. But he had hope in his heart. But she stood before him tears streaming down her face saying they could not be together.
"Terri, he's not worthy of you. Do you have any idea what your husband is doing?" Tom closed his eyes as he felt his hopes and dreams die a slow agonizing death.
"Tom, what is it that you know? Tell me. I know he told you something." Terri said to her lover.
"Terri, I can't. He has to tell you-" Tom stated before she cut him off.
"Then, if you can't tell me. Leave me alone, Tom. This isn't fair. If you know something, talk. If not, shut the fuck up." Terri growled. "Now get out of my bedroom."
Tom returned to his makeshift bed on the couch. He recalled every word Stephen uttered in his drunken stupor. He thought about what Terri had just said and he made a decision.
She wanted time and space, then he'd give it to her. He had always treated Terri and Stephen with a long handled spoon, what made him think things had changed.
Terri wanted him gone; then he'd honor her wish. After spending the night on the couch, Tom decided to relocate to Vancouver. He joined a construction crew there and took the time he needed to get over the one woman he could never have.
As he left her home early the next morning, he decided to severe contact with her, giving her all the time she needed to either dump Stephen or sort out everything and forgive him.
Tom decided to go on with his life, so he went back to his apartment, called his boss, and took a job offer that he thought he'd never consider. He called his Mom and told her his decision and asked that she let Stephen and Terri know. He still had feelings for Terri but deep down he knew he wasn't really what she wanted.
The next morning, Stephen woke up. Hung-over, head pounding, he recalled some of the hateful taunts he'd leveled at his brother. He felt horrible. Tom didn't deserve that and he needed to make amends.
Getting out of the bed, he walked into the kitchen to find Terri drinking coffee and reading a magazine. Stephen hated himself. He hated the pain he was causing her, but he could not give April up.
His phone rang and he ignored it. He wanted to talk to Terri and then find Tom and apologize. His phone rang again, and Terri stared at him.
"Aren't you going to answer that?" she asked.
"Hello" Stephen spoke into the phone. "Yes, yes sir. I'm sorry. I'll be in shortly."
Looking at his wife Stephen tried to explain that he had to go to work. He had a meeting he couldn't miss. He leaned over to kiss her cheek, and she again walked away.
In his hurry to leave, Stephen left his personal phone. Terri didn't even realize it until it rang. She started to ignore it, but curiosity got the better of her. Reaching into his jacket, she retrieved his phone.
Checking the caller ID, she saw the name April. "Hello," she answered.
"Um, hello. I was trying to reach Stephen. I think I dialed the wrong number." A voice answered sounding confused and unsure.
"No, this is his phone. He had to go in to the office and accidentally left it. I can tell him you called if you want to leave a message April." Terri replied seething inside.
"Um, Ok. Would you ask him to call me back?" Sighing she continued, politely. "If you don't mind me asking, who are you and why are you answering his phone?"
"Of course, I'm Terri, Stephen's wife." Terri whispered saccharinely sweetly into the phone. "I'll give him your message, April." Then she hung up and angrily flung the phone across the room.
Stephen had just left the meeting with the board on the budget when Marge, one of the secretaries told him he had an urgent phone call.
Not knowing what to think, Stephen rushed to the phone. "Hello," he answered frantically.
"You sick, selfish bastard. You stay away from my daughter. How dare you use her like this in some sick game. If you come near her again, I will personally end your days on this earth." Edith, April's mother hissed into the phone.
Stephen's heart froze. Something had happened to April.
"Edith, please tell me. April is alright." Stephen pleaded.
"No thanks to you. You arrogant ass." Edith continued angrily. "You see after April called this morning and spoke to your wife. She called me, crying. I never liked the idea of her moving in with you, and now I hate that I let that happen."
"She is removing her things from your apartment as we speak and she will return the keys to the manager post haste. We never want to see your sorry ass again. Stay the hell away from my daughter." Edith added emphatically and hung up.
Stephen tried to call back when he realized that the only way they would have talked to Terri was if she had his private phone.
He had to keep his cool. He couldn't leave work yet. He'd messed up two accounts and was now being watched closely.
Soon five o'clock came and he was headed home to deal with his angry wife. He was furious. She had no business answering his phone.
Storming into the house Stephen screamed for Terri. But there was no answer. Only a note. She'd left him and was filing for divorce.
