Hope people are still reading and enjoying the story, thank you for comments they mean a lot :) & I still don't own any of these characters (but Alec is completely made up, not a Desperate Housewives character)
"Alec," Bree managed to continue as she cleared her throat, "Did you have a good day at work darling?"
He was standing right in front of her now and as he began to raise his hand she swung her head away and instinctively threw up her arm to protect herself.
"Bree?" His voice was soft and she shakily let down her guard, "work was difficult but you look like you've had a more stressful day here at home love, sit down." He took her hand and led her to a seat at the table still a mess of cards and half eaten scones.
Bree looked into his eyes as he spoke to her; this was the man she loved, the calm tender one. Sometimes she felt like her imagination was going wild and that this was the reality, how could a man so wonderful at times hurt her the way he did? She appreciated these moments in her life right now because they were the only times she felt safe and happy.
"I…I think I'm just a little tired. Maybe I'll have a lie down - I can feel a headache coming on." Bree let go of his hand and began to leave the room.
"What about this mess?" His voice was sterner now, reminding Bree of the man that he could be, so she stopped and turned to face him.
"Oh, well I could clean up here afterwards…" as soon as she'd spoken she regretted it. Alec grew visibly frustrated and Bree was certain she saw the muscles in his fists flex as if preparing themselves.
"Later." He remarked coldly, "don't think I'll be clearing the messes you make you stupid woman, who do you think you are?"
"No, it's just… sorry I can do it now" Bree was uncharacteristically stuttering over her words, not wanting to say the wrong thing.
Just across the road Lynette sat alone in her house thinking. Her youngest children were spending time with Tom and her older ones enjoying their lives so her mind was given peace to think. For years Lynette Scavo had longed for this peace and now she had it, she hated it. All she could think about was her loneliness; time lost with her children, missing Tom and now worries about Bree.
Knowing there were many things in her life that she could not change, Lynette felt that she must do something to help Bree and so she walked back over to the other woman's home.
Just before she knocked on the door, Lynette stopped as she heard raised voices, curiosity taking over she got close to the door and listened…
Bree had begun to clean up the mess under the glare of Alec.
"See, not so difficult is it Bree?" he asked sarcastically. An anger rose in Bree, she had never been spoken to like this, never belittled or humiliated so personally. Nevertheless, she knew she did not have the strength to fight him, physically or mentally, so she carried on cleaning and he shouted at her.
"You think I should cook my own meals now too huh, after all the work I do whilst you sit around here with your god dam neighbours and you wonder why I get so angry!"
He'd grabbed Bree's already sore wrist and pulled her face close to his, "You make me like this!"
"Excuse me." The voice made Alec drop Bree's wrist which she quickly rubbed as they both turned to see who had interrupted.
"Lynette," the name came from Bree in a voice filled with a mixture of thanks and fear.
"Bree, Alec" Lynette greeted suspiciously, "I umm, think I left my purse here so I just wanted to come get it and Bree I would love that scone recipe they were just delicious" the lie was convincing.
Clearing his throat Alec said "I need to go to the store anyway so see you later Bree" he made a point of going over to her and kissing her lightly on the cheek. "see you around Lynette" he added as he walked past her equalling her glare.
When the sound of the car faded away the women stared silently at each other.
"I haven't seen your purse…" Bree started
"I didn't leave it here Bree,"
"Oh but you –"
"What was going on just then?" Lynette interrupted.
"What do you mean? Nothing… just well," she couldn't think of a response, no lie, no truth because she was just trying her best to hold herself together.
Lynette made Bree sit on the sofa but didn't offer to make tea, she didn't want to give Bree the chance to come up with an excuse, she wanted the truth.
"Bree, I've known you a long time now and God knows I've seen you at some low points but what happened at poker today was weird and then I come to check on you and well, that argument looked like it was getting nasty. Me and Tom got into some rows but he never laid a hand on me Bree so if something's going on here –"
"Look Lynette, I'm grateful for your concern but you just caught me on a bad day, you see I've been getting these migraines and with Alec so stressed at work things have been a little… difficult but everything's perfectly fine, honestly." The Bree façade was back in place as she smiled at Lynette.
"I don't want that speech Bree I want the truth, I'm your friend. I don't want you going downhill again."
"If you're talking about alcohol, I haven't started drinking again okay."
"Good, so what else then." She wasn't going to give in to Bree's charms.
"Just because your life has fallen to pieces it doesn't give you the right to start questioning me alright, even I'm allowed a bad day Lynette so don't assume my relationship is as bad as yours or that I'm drinking because that's just not the case!' Bree knew how cruel she was being and hated the hurt look in her friends eyes but she'd rather that have her keep pushing for answers she simply wasn't willing to give.
"Well if that's how you feel Bree I'll go,' Lynette got up to leave but added just before she did; 'but don't say I didn't try to help you. If you can't help yourself with whatever is troubling you then live with it, but don't come running to me because I'll be dealing with my own terrible life!" With that, Lynette left the house and Bree was left to finish off the cleaning and cook dinner for the man she couldn't decipher if she loved or despised more.
