Chapter 2

I awoke the next morning at around six, and as I lay in bed, I heard a wagon toddling down the road, and I knew it was Sully. "Outlook Point at dawn," I could hear him say in my head. The sheets were sticking hard to my body, and I knew it was going to be another hot day. Sometime during the night, it got so hot I tore off my nightgown, and I saw it lying discarded next to me. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept without any clothes on. As I turned over in bed, I saw the empty place next to me, and something washed over me. Even thought Robert was not there, it didn't feel any different. If I was to close my eyes and open them again, and he was there, it would still feel the same-empty.

Robert only liked to make love once every few months, and it'd been like that even since we'd been married. I suppose that's normal; I'm not sure. It's not anything that's talked about. I just know that everything my mother has told me deemed to be true. Part of me feels sad: was that supposed to be a joy of marriage? Or was it something that just came with it? When we did make love, it was over fast, rudimentary, and unmoving, and he didn't seem interested. I didn't know if that was how it was suppose to be. My head told me that making love was something that just filled the urge that men seemed to have. But in my heart, I felt like it was to mean something more, much more.

I dressed and got ready for the day. As I was downstairs, I kept staring at the telephone. I wondered if your father or one of you would call. I thought back to the day—a year before— when your father came home and said that we were getting a telephone. He said that he was getting it so I could talk to your grandmother in Boston, but I knew he was getting it because his own father insisted. Not many people we knew had one. They were quite expensive and had only been brought into existence a year before; the only places that had them here were the hotels in town and some of the shops and banks. I remember how proud your father was when we received ours. I couldn't help but laugh at thinking how normal they would be back in Boston.

I quickly got ready and set out to do the chores. I wanted to be ready if Sully was to come for dinner again that night. I had worked hard most of the morning, and I had a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach that maybe Sully hadn't seen my letter; that perhaps it had blown away in the middle of the night. I had a feeling that I might never see him again. It was then, while I was feeding the chickens, that I heard the high-pitched bell of the telephone, and I panicked. I picked up my skirt and rushed into the house through the back door.

"Hello?" Michaela said into the box, as she placed the bell to her ear.

"Michaela? It's Sully."

Michaela's insides jumped again, just like they had yesterday—little stab of something that started in her chest and plunged to her stomach. "How…how did you get to a telephone?"

She heard Sully laugh on the other end. "They have one here at the hotel. The switchboard connected me to you."

"Oh," she smiled.

"I just wanted to tell you that I got your note, and…and I would like to come and meet you for dinner again. But it might be kind of late. The weather's good, and I want to head down to Crystal Lake. I saw it on the way here, and I wanna take some more pictures of that. I wanna get it while the sun is settin'. It might be after nine after I'm finished. And then, I'll want to clean up a bit. So it might not be till nine-thirty or ten. Is that alright?"

No, it wasn't all right. Michaela didn't want to wait that long, but she only said, "That's fine. Get your work done. That's what's important. I'll fix something that's easy to warm up when you get here."

"Michaela," he hesitated.

"Yes?"

"If you want to come along while I'm shooting, that's fine. It won't bother me. I could stop by for you about five-thirty."

Michaela's mind worked overtime. She wanted to go with him. But what if someone saw her? What would she say to Robert if he found out? Crystal Lake was down around the base of Outlook Point. Not many people passed by it during the day. It was also surrounded by many trees, so she wouldn't be that noticeable. Or would she? In less than two seconds, she decided. "Yes, I like that. But I'll take my wagon and meet you there. What time?"

"About six. I'll see you then. Okay?"

"See you then. Bye, Sully."

"Bye."

Hanging the cord back on the telephone box, Michaela leaned against the wall. A smile swept the left side of her face, and she bit her lip. Looking across the kitchen, an idea came to her. She pushed herself off the wall and moved to the cupboards and pulled out a small tin that was sitting behind all the cups and saucers. She pulled off the lid and poured out the money that she had been saving. She counted it up and put it in her pocket. She grabbed her shoes quickly and headed out the door.

……………………………………………….

Elizabeth closed the journal and sat it down on the chair before waking to the kitchen.

"Elizabeth?" Jonathan called after her. "Elizabeth?" Getting up, he followed her into the kitchen and saw her at the sink, looking out the window.

"It's like I don't even know her, Jonathan. It's like I don't even know her." She closed her eyes. "She knows what she's doing."

Moving next to the sink, he looked at her. "I never realized how unhappy mother was. She never let on. But to never love father-"

"Oh, I believe she loved father." She shook her head. "It was just a comfortable love. Sort of like James and I." She looked down.

"Sis." His brow furled. "I didn't know that-"

"Please." She held her hand out. "Don't. I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I made my choices."

"Elizabeth-"

"Jonathan, not…not now." She moved to sit at the table. "I don't know if I can read anymore. I can see where this is going."

Jonathan's face turned pale. "You…you don't think that Mother had an affair with him, do you?"

Elizabeth pursed her lips and stared blankly ahead. "She already is…in her mind."

Giving his sister a look, he went back in the living room, picked his mothers journal up, and brought it in the kitchen. "I'll read."

…………………………………………

I took the wagon and drove the ten miles into Augusta. It seemed like it was so long since I've been into town. Augusta had flourished so much in ten years that it could be compared to the likes of Boston, only on a smaller scale. I walked into William Cotter and Sons, and my eyes grazed over all the beautiful dresses. Dresses that I used to wear all the time in Boston now seemed so foreign to me. I thumbed through them all, and a tickle of delight coursed through my body. I knew that I had to pick a simple dress; nothing too fancy. It was just dinner in my own kitchen after all. But I couldn't help but admire them all just the same. I found a beautiful, cornflower blue dress and glanced at the price tag. I sighed, thinking it would cost almost all I had. But I held it up to me in the mirror, and I couldn't help but smile. I wanted it.

I paid for the dress and realized that it was almost five o'clock. I knew that I had to hurry. The entire way home, my mind was in the clouds, and I just enjoyed the silence of nature. As I pulled up to the house, I heard the phone ringing. I quickly jumped out of the wagon, ran into the house, and picked up the phone.

"Michaela, its Sully."

Michaela's stomach tightened as she thought. He can't come; he's calling to say that.

"Michaela, I need t' ask ya somethin'," he told her.

"What…what's that?"

"If it's a problem for you to come out with me tonight, given the town and all, don't feel pressured to do it. I don't care what they think of me around here, and one way or another, I'll come by later."

"Sully I-"

"Michaela," he cut her off. "While I was in town getting lunch, I ran into Mrs. Richardson. Folks weren't to kind to her. And the man at the general store was more than happy to fill me in about the whole…situation."

Michaela rolled her eyes. "Mr. Brays running for town crier next year."

"What I'm trying to say is that I might have made an error in askin' ya to come with me, so don't feel that you gotta. Though I'd love to have ya come along."

She'd been thinking about that all afternoon, but she had decided. "No, I'd like to see you do your work. I'm not worried about talk." She was worried, but something in her had taken hold, something to do with risk. Whatever the cost she was going out to Crystal Lake.

"Great. Just thought I'd check. See ya later."

"Alright." He was sensitive, but she already knew that.

I went upstairs to get ready. I was going to wear the same thing that I wore out to Augusta, but I knew that I sweat too much in the sun on the way out there. So, I pulled the emerald green dress from the closet. It was always one of my favorites, and it fit just right. I think I looked in the mirror more that afternoon than I had in my entire life. I put my hair up in a more fashionable style than I had in years, and for the second time in two days, I dabbed a little perfume behind my ears and rushed back down the stairs.

I pulled a few things out I knew I would need for dinner and set them on the counter. I opened the linen closet and pulled out a white tablecloth my Mother had given me years before. I set two candles out, brought the china out, and set it on the counter. I didn't notice till later, but I hummed happily the entire time. Giving one last glace in the mirror, I picked up my purse and headed for the wagon.

I can't even tell you all of the things that were running through my mind as I rode out to see Sully. I knew everything I was thinking was wrong. But at that moment, I didn't care. I was happy that I was going out to the lake to see another man. I was happy that I was going to have a conversation, and I was happy that I was going to have a nice dinner. In my mind, I felt that I deserved it. And I was going to go and have a nice time.

I rounded the edge of the lake, and I saw Sully's wagon parked under a tree, but I didn't see him. I jumped down and walked around the waters edge. The flowers and trees were in full bloom, and everything looked so beautiful. I figured that he was somewhere close, finishing up, so I sat down on a rock and looked into the water. I was completely in my own thoughts, and I didn't hear him come up.

"Don't move." Sully set the camera down next to her and put in the plate. "Stay still."

"Sully!" she jumped. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to take your portrait."

"Oh Sully, no." She started to move. "Don't."

"Come on." He held his hand out. "Just for fun. Sit back down."

"Sully, I don't know," she blushed.

"Sit down," he smiled. "The lights perfect."

She hesitated only a second and sat back down on the rock. "What…what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing. Just sit there and look back into the water like ya were doin'."

Putting the plate in, he looked in the box to make sure she was in focus and then turned to look at Michaela once more. She looked beautiful; almost angelic, as she looked in the water. He admired her a few moments, till he went over to her. His hand went to her back. "Can ya move a little bit that way? I want t' get some of the flowers behind ya."

His touch sent shivers up Michaela's spine, and it jolted her from her thoughts. "Oh. Oh, yes," she blushed. "Like this?" She looked to him.

"Perfect," he smiled.

Taking one last look through the lens, he took the cap off, counted to seven, and then covered it back up. "All done," he smiled.

"Do…do you think it will turn out?" She was curious.

"It will look beautiful," he smiled.

Michaela smiled back, his comment causing her to blush. "So what do you have to do?"

"Well, I just want to take a few pictures of the lake, a few of the land. This is mostly for my benefit. I want to remember it just the way it is. I want to be able to paint it some day."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" She looked around.

"Umm…you can carry my knapsack over there, and I'll carry my tripod. I wanna go over to the end of the lake. I think the best view is over there."

"Alright," she followed him.

"I'm afraid this might be a little boring for you. At least other people usually think so. There's not much to do besides watch me," he laughed. "You'll see a lot of fiddling around. But you're more than welcome," he smiled. "In fact, I'm glad you came."

Michaela hung on his last four words. He didn't need to have said them. He could have stopped at welcome, but he didn't. He was genuinely glad to see her, that was clear. "I don't think what you do is boring. Not only are you creating works of art, but you're doing a great service to our country. You're preserving the land for our grandchildren. There's nothing boring about that."

Turning, Sully smiled at her. Never before had a woman captured his heart with mere words. There was something special about this woman. And he hoped he'd be able to find out what it was.

So that was the day I became a photographer's assistant. We spent three hours at the lake that evening. It was nothing short of magical. I never learned so much about one person in a single sitting. Sully was so easy to talk to, and I found we shared many similar interests and hobbies. He showed me how the camera worked, and I was even able to take a picture of a deer that was drinking at the base of the lake. I basked in everything that evening, and wild thoughts crossed my mind. I knew when we were sitting on the ground at the water's edge that something was happening. We were sitting so close, and our shoulders were touching. And I found myself leaning closer to him so the contact wouldn't break. I even surprised myself, when I touched his hand, when he said something funny. We both looked at one another, but neither of us pulled away.

On the way home, he told me about his life in the West, I could tell that is where his heart laid. He wanted to go back to Colorado, I could tell. My heart broke for him, when he told me that his wife died during childbirth, and he was never able to see his baby. No one should ever have to go through that, I thought, no one. Especially Sully. What drew me in was his optimism and charm. Even though horrible things happened to him, he was still able to keep a grasp on life and be a wonderful man. He wasn't full of hate, but full of love.

When we arrived, home I asked him if he wanted to freshen up, and he said yes. I brought him to our room, where the basin was, and he took a bath. I took his clean clothes and laid them out on the bed for him. He had brought dress pants and a clean white shirt. I never thought a rugged man like Sully would bring such nice clothes with him. I held them to my nose for a moment, breathing in his masculine scent. I could hear him washing behind the door and the water dripping in the tub. It was all too much for me, so I went into the kitchen to check on dinner.

The table was already set from earlier before, and the stove was now hot enough to set the stew upon. I opened the range, set the biscuits in, and closed the door. Soon, I heard Sully's footsteps as he reached the kitchen. He was wearing his clean clothes, and his hair was slightly damp. He smiled at me and asked if he could do anything to help. I told him no and that I had everything under control; dinner would be ready in half and hour, and I was going to go take a bath as well. He told me that he was going to get some photographs that he stored in his wagon that he thought I might like.

As I lay in the tub, I realized that he had just been lying in it minutes before, and that seem remarkably sensual to me. Everything about Sully was starting to seem sensual to me, and I blushed. I wondered why I didn't feel that way toward Robert. Part of it, I knew, was because of inertia-protracted custom. All marriages, all relationships are susceptible to that. Custom brings predictability, and predictability carries its own comforts. I was aware of that, too. Maybe that was why I was attracted to Sully. He was different, and I didn't know what would happen. It was that risk I was taking again.

I got out of the tub and dried off. I slipped into my new dress and fashionably pulled my hair up with a sliver clip. I opened my jewelry box and found a matching pair of earring. It had been so long since I'd worn any jewelry. I put on a little lip rouge and pinched my cheeks for color. Again, I looked at myself in the mirror. I smiled, thinking that I hadn't looked that nice in ages.

I slowly walked back in the kitchen, not knowing where Sully was going to be. But as soon as I entered the kitchen, there he was sitting at the table.

Sully looked up as Michaela entered the kitchen, and he was speechless. All of the feelings; all of the longings of a lifetime came together at that moment. And he fell in love with Michaela, a farmers' wife of Augusta, Maine, long ago from Boston.

"W-what's wrong?" she asked.

He moved closer to her. "Y-you look beautiful. If you don't mind me sayin' so."

Michaela closed her eyes, sighing. When she opened her eyes again, she noticed the phonograph was on. "Music?" she smiled.

"Thought it might be nice. You don't mind?"

"Not at all." She walked in the kitchen. "It's nice. It's my favorite." She liked the soft sound.

They both stared at one another, drinking in their thoughts of one another till the telephone rang. Michaela sighed, not wanting to move. She looked at the phone, but her feet didn't move.

"Ya gonna answer that?" he wondered.

"Oh. Oh, yes." She shook her head. She moved across the kitchen to answer the telephone, as Sully sat at the table in front of her. "Hello? Oh, hi Anna. Yes, I'm fine. Thursday night? Well, I don't know. I'll be busy trying to get stuff done before Robert and the children come home. Mmm…Friday. Yes, yes." She was standing by the door to the porch, and he was sitting within touching distance of her. She reached out her hand and began to fix the collar on his shirt. "I went into Augusta this afternoon. I had some shopping to do. "Oh, a photographer huh? He was in town?" Lightly, she rested her hand on his shoulder in the casual way that some women have with the men they care for. In twenty-four hours, she had come to care for Sully.

"Actually, Anna, I was just going to go and take a bath. It's been a long day. Mmm…" As her hand lay on his shoulder, she could feel the muscle running from his neck along his shoulder, just to the back of his collarbone. She was looking down at his hair and saw how it drifted down his collar. "Alright, I will. Tell Steven that I said hello. Yes, you too. I will. Bye." Hanging the bell of the telephone back on the box, she turned back around, her hand still resting on his shoulder. She could feel the warmth of his body through his shirt, and it went though her hand and up her arm.

This mere touch was Sully's undoing, and he boldly took his own hand and covered hers. Pulling her around, he stood up, and now they were standing face to face, and they could feel each other's breaths. "W-would you like to dance?" he asked. "I'm…I'm not much of a dancer though," he added.

"I…I haven't danced in so long. But, I would like too."

Sully took her left hand in his and placed his other around her waist. Pulling her into him slightly, they began to sway softly to the music. At first, they felt awkward, but after a few spins in the tiny kitchen, it all but vanished. Everything worked in an easy kind of way. He moved his arm farther around her waist and pulled her closer. Michaela could smell him, and he could her. They danced slowly, not moving far in any direction. She could feel his legs against hers, and their stomachs touch occasionally. Her breathing slowed, and she felt safe and comfortable in his arms.

Neither of them heard the song end or the static of the phonograph die out; they were too wrapped up in one another. Lightly, Michaela placed her head on Sully's chest, and he brought his arms fully around her. His hands brushed the back of her exposed neck, feeling her soft skin and, her hands dipped slowly in his shirt, feeling his heartbeat. He felt so good to her, and she knew she never wanted it to end. She had become a woman again. There was room to dance again.

It was hot; the humidity rose in the house, as thunder rumbled in the distance, and heat lighting illuminated the sky. He was falling into her now and she into him. She moved her cheek away from his and looked into his blue eyes, seeing her reflection, and he ever so slowly moved over her and kissed her, and she kissed back. They were soft, sensual, feather light kisses. He kissed her cheeks, the side of her mouth, and then fully on the lips. They gave up the dancing, and her arms went around his neck, and his around her waist.

"Michaela…" he breathed into her cheek, kissing her again. He kissed her neck and jawbone and then looked into her eyes. "If you want me to stop, tell me now."

She brought her hands to his cheeks and looked at him in the eyes. "No one's asking you to."

Bringing his lips down to hers, they began to sway again, kissing one another repeatedly. Their noses and cheeks touched. Their stomachs and thighs touched. Their lips touched. They turned around in small circles, totally consumed in one another. Michaela could feel him leading her into the other room. He took her hand, squeezing it into her own and led her into the living room. A small fire was dying, and even though it was hot outside, the fire felt nice. Sully looked at Michaela in the firelight, and he knew he never saw anyone more beautiful. He reached out and slowly pulled the clip from her hair. He watched, as her hair tumbled down her back and cascaded around her shoulders. He didn't know it was so long and beautiful. It was another thing about her that stunned him. He reached out and touched her hair, letting it slip through his fingers. It was so fine and soft, and the scent so intoxicating.

Sully wrapped his arms around Michaela, and slowly they made their way down to the rug. Still kissing, Michaela could feel Sully's hands wandering around her body. Up and down her back. Up and down her sides. Through her hair and on her face. He was invoking such feelings in her that she couldn't put them into words. Boldly, she opened her mouth to him, drawing the kiss in deeper. She could feel his tongue slowly touch her lips and dip into her mouth. Never had she kissed anyone that way or been kissed in return. She was quickly losing herself to him.

She felt Sully's hands move from her waist to the buttons on the front of her dress. He undid the first one and then the second, and before she knew it, she felt his hands touch the flesh just above her breasts, and it made her jump. Pulling away, Sully looked at her. He really looked at her, and he knew. "There's nothin' to be afraid of. I won't hurt you…but if you want me to stop, I will."

She looked at him and swallowed. "I am scared. I'm scared, because I've never felt this way before. And I'm scared that I'll never feel this way again. I…I don't want to stop. But…but you just have to know that I'm not used to this. I…I don't know what I'm doing."

"I've never felt like this either," he told her truthfully. "I want to be with you, Michaela."

Michaela saw such desire in his eyes, and she knew hers matched. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips. "Go…go slow."

He took her hand in his and kissed her palm then the back of her hand. He kissed her on the lips one more time and slowly undid each and every button on her dress, drawing it away from her body. She watched as his eyes roamed, and she wished she knew what he was thinking. She tried to stop her hands from shaking, as she brought them up to undo the buttons of Sully's shirt. "It's okay," he smiled, taking her hands in his, helping her undo the buttons. He drew the white shirt from his body and tossed it aside.

Sully's torso gleamed in the firelight, and Michaela ran her hands up his chest, kissing him ever so lightly. She could feel his body heat, and it made her quiver. She felt Sully's hands on her shoulders, pushing her gently on her back. His body covered hers, as he buried his face in her neck, applying soft, tickling kisses. She ran her hands through his hair, drawing his head downward to kiss her chest. His hands fumbled for the ribbons that tied her camisole in place. Undoing them one by one, he watched as more and more of her body appeared to him. Slowly, he pushed back both sides of her camisole and brought his head down to lightly kiss her breasts.

Michaela's breath caught in the back of her throat. Never had anyone kissed her the way Sully was kissing her. Never had anyone touched her the way Sully was touching her. She moved so her camisole would drop from her body and land with rest of their clothes. Closing her eyes, she boldly reached for Sully's belt and loosened it from his waist, drawing it outward. She unbuttoned his trousers and slowly pulled them from his body, and in a matter of seconds, he was revealed to her. She looked into his eyes, and she knew there was no going back.

Sully's hands were at her waist, and she felt them immerse inside, bringing them down from the inside, so his hands could touch her. From her waist to her hips, and down her thighs and legs he touched, and soon his lips followed. She knew it was the single most sensual experience she ever felt. Their bodies were unclothed and touching, and it was all she could do to bring them closer.

He continued to kiss her, because he could tell she was enjoying it. He knew that she had been neglected through the years, and it broke his heart. He knew hers had been shattered, and he would do anything to make her feel safe and loved. He hovered over her, and he saw her smile. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone look more beautiful than you do at this moment. I want to remember you like this for the rest of my life."

Michaela positioned her body under Sully's and wrapped her arms around his back, pulling him down to her. And he knew it was her invitation for more intimate contact. He drew his hands down her waist and rested them on her thighs, slowly pulling them apart. "Slowly…" Michaela closed her eyes before feeling Sully's lips touch her again.

Sully felt her breath quickening against his lips, and he knew she was still a little scared, but he wanted to please her. He wanted to show her what she'd been missing. He wrapped her leg around his waist, as he slowly entered her. He heard her gasp, and he quickly started to withdraw from her, but her hand pushed his backside into her. "Don't stop," she breathed into his mouth. "I'm…I'm alright."

His hand began to caresses her thigh, as he started a slow, loving rhythm. She basked in the feeling of his chest moving slowly back and forth from her stomach to her breasts and back again. Not only did she feel him inside of her, she felt the pictures, she felt the exotic lands, she felt the music, she felt Boston, and she felt home. His thrusts soon became quicker, and she moved with him, and before she knew what was happening, her hands grasped the rug beneath her. "Oh. Oh, Sully…" Her feet pinched and curled, and she wrapped her other leg around his waist, bringing him in closer and deeper. "Oh God! Oh...Sully!"

"M-Michaela…" He rolled onto his back, bringing her on top of him. Her legs framed his hips, bringing waves of pleasure to Sully. "Michaela...God, Michaela, I've waited forever for you." He sought her lips, arching himself up and then tumbling back onto Michaela's body. They kissed over and over, never tiring of the feeling.

Sully was breaking the routine of hammering sameness she had felt for the past fifteen years. She would never be able to explain what she felt during the time her and Sully made love. And the only word that would come to her mind would be magical. Everything about him was magical. He took her to magical places that you could only admire in his photographs. Places that you couldn't grasp with your mind or only feel with your heart.

Sully rolled on his side, taking Michaela with him, both vainly trying to catch their breaths. "I knew it…I knew it would be like that for us." Sully squeezed her closer to his body. He felt her quake in his arms and sniffle. He turned to look at her face in the firelight, as the tears were falling from her eyes. "Michaela, what's wrong? Did…did it hurt?"

"No. No" She shook her head. "Sully." She took his hand. "I've never felt that way before. Never. I felt everything I knew you were suppose to feel. I knew there was more. I knew it."

Sully nuzzled himself into her body. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, and they watched the fire die out together. It was a long time before either of them spoke.

"Take me someplace, mmm…right now." She brought her hand up to stroke his arm. "Take me someplace you've been. Tell me about it."

He thought for a moment, kissing her neck. "How about Boston?"

"Uh-huh." She shook her head smiling.

"Beacon Hill," he murmured.

"Tell me about when you were there. Where you went. What you did."

"Well, I got off the train at Boston North Station. I was really tired, but I wanted to get something to eat. I stopped at the little café, you know the one down by the common?"

"Mmm… The Gatehouse."

"The Gatehouse," he remembered. "I sat down. The one little table in the corner under the umbrella. I had coffee there."

"I've sat there Sully. I used to read at that table for hours by myself. I would often gaze down at the common."

Sully looked down at Michaela and had the need to kiss her anew. His kisses were soft, lightly grazing her face till they claimed her lips. Over and over they kissed, the feeling new each and every time they touched. Pulling back, Michaela looked at him. "Y-you made me forget my story…"

Sully and I made love over and over that night, and I had thoughts of him that I didn't even know what to do with, and he read every one. Whatever I felt; whatever I wanted, he gave himself up to. And in that moment, everything that I knew to be true about myself, up until then, was gone. I was acting like another woman, yet I was more like myself than ever before. We laid in the bathtub together in the wee ours of the morning. Never did I think of making love anywhere but in a bed behind closed doors. Sully changed all that. I let myself be free, not thinking about tomorrow or the day after. I was living in the moment, and in that moment, I was in love with a man that had captured my very soul. I was in love. I was in love with a man that wasn't my husband.