Chapter Ten
Gone were the hot, humid, sticky night of summer only to be replaced with crisp, cool California evenings best spend cuddling under the comforters with someone you love, and, in a surprising way, this had become easier for Ryan and Marissa to do every night.
The morning after Ryan spent the night for the first time with the boys in the house, Marissa had gotten up early to make sure he and Q got out undetected before the boys woke up. Explaining why Ryan had spent the night in her bed was not a question she was ready to answer. They were successful, too, and the boys were never the wiser.
Thing changed a week later on the night of Halloween. Surprising even Marissa because trick-or-treating had always been a special thing she and boys did alone, Cooper and Garrett had called Ryan on their own and asked him to accompany them while they went door to door collecting candy. They said it was so that their Mom did not get lonely, but Marissa knew better. For one, Garrett wanted Q to be a part of his costume, and, secondly, both boys wanted to show off their new friend to all the other boys in the neighborhood. Marissa had overheard several bragging session where her sons talked up Ryan and how he always played with them to anyone who would listen, something she found adorable. Ryan had been only too quick to oblige, too. Not only did it mean that he would be able to hang out with his favorite ten and eight year old, but he would also get to spend the evening with the woman he had admitted he was in love with, a first for him.
Picking up Ryan's bad habit of being a fan of alpha male action stars, Garrett had insisted that he be a cowboy for Halloween, and not just any cowboy but John Wayne to boot. This is where Q came in, because every good cowboy needs a loyal steed, so Q was dressed up as well as a horse, her saddlebags Garrett's candy bags. Cooper on the other hand had very different ideas for his Halloween costume. Instead of wanting to emulate someone else, he wanted to emulate his own name, so he dressed up as a cooper.
By the time they got home that night, Cooper was asleep in Ryan's arms and Garrett was resting tiredly on his Mom's side, letting her support him as they moved along. Q collapsed immediately in the entry way, not even bothering to move to her favorite couch for the night and refused to let anyone remove her saddle. Out of shape due to her lazy recovery time, she had been unprepared for the vigor of which the Carnahan boys went trick-or-treating.
As Ryan helped Marissa take the boys upstairs and get them changed out of their costumes, Garrett spoke up and practically begged that Ryan spend the night, insisting that he had to be there the next morning when they sorted their candy, another of their holiday traditions. Neither Ryan nor Marissa were going to protest that idea.
They arranged the guest room for Ryan, Garrett helping and suddenly not so tired as he practically talked over himself making plans for the next day. That Saturday he wouldn't have to wait for Ryan to arrive to hang out with them; Ryan would be there when he woke up and would stay the entire day….and night again if he had his way. Marissa, with Ryan watching, eventually got Garrett tucked into bed and then they made a show of Ryan going to sleep in the guest room. An hour later when they were sure the boys were both sound asleep, he crept out of the spare room and climbed into bed with Marissa, both of them waking early to ensure they were not caught.
Once the pattern had been established, Ryan found himself invited to stay over practically every night by either or both of the boys, and soon he and Marissa had their routine perfected. It was only interrupted when Gerry came home. Although he was coming home more frequently, he left right away, only staying a few hours between trips, and luckily, every time he returned, Marissa had warning from his secretary because she had to have his bags packed and ready for the next trip. For almost a month this worked until their Thanksgiving weekend and all the plans the four of them, Marissa, Ryan, Garrett, and Cooper had made came crashing down around them with the arrival of a very grumpy, very sick Gerry, and that day she had no warning.
Marissa was in the kitchen cooking Thanksgiving dinner while the boys were sprawled out on the floor watching The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on tv, loud so that she could hear the music in the kitchen while she worked. As per their agreement, she had handled the meal while Ryan took care of dessert. Marissa hated making pies but loved pumpkin ones to no end, so Ryan had agreed to order and then pick up a few the night before the holiday and he was bringing them over shortly as he joined them for their late lunch.
Excited about the holiday, Marissa had decorated the house. She used cornstalks, Indian corn, pumpkins, and other festive decorations to lend it a celebratory ambiance. Normally Marissa would not do this, afraid of Gerry's reaction. He did not like fuss during the holidays and found it a waste of time to decorate the house for a few days out of the year, but Marissa did not expect him back for another week so she thought she was safe. She was wrong.
Hearing the door open, she tossed her towel aside and scrambled towards the foyer as quickly as she could, eager to greet Ryan before the boys saw him and knowing that his hands would be full and he would need help with the pies. As she came into the room, she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw her husband and not her boyfriend standing there, glowering at her and looking utterly wretched. Unfortunately for her, the boys had also, somehow, heard the door open over the loud noise of the tv and had come running at breakneck speeds into the entry only to be greeted with their displeased father. Gerry did not waste time to begin barking orders and ruining their day.
"Go turn that damn tv off and change your clothes before I see you again!" Garrett and Cooper both backed slowly out of the foyer eager to escape their father's wrath but not wanting to anger him by running. Once they were gone from his eye site though, they ran to the tv, shut it off, and quickly made their way upstairs to their rooms prepared to stay there the rest of the day. Stubborn, they both kept the jerseys on that they had worn to the game, jerseys Marissa had a hard time removing from their bodies long enough to wash before they snuck them back on, and just put sweaters on over them in case their father came to check on them. It may be hot, but it was their own form of rebellion against his strict, unfair rules.
Meanwhile, downstairs, it was Marissa's turn to get reprimanded, but this time instead of the intensity of his loud angry voice, Gerry turned his eerily menacing whisper onto her. "I'm tired, I'm sick, and I'm going to bed after you bring me up some soap and a ginger ale. When I get up, every single decoration better be taken down. Thanksgiving has been cancelled."
"But I've already made the food, and the boys were looking forward to it," Marissa began to protest until she saw Gerry's irate eyes flash upon her and his hand form into a fist. Backing away from him subconsciously, she continued, frightened and nervous. "We don't have any ginger ale either, and, because of the holiday,…." Her sentence trailed off as Gerry's hand shot up to her face, grabbing it in a tight squeeze by the jaw and twisting it roughly so that she had to look at him in the eye.
"I'm sure you'll be able to find it." With that, he shoved her face away from his hand, making it turn roughly in the process, before he stomped his way towards the stairs. Speaking to her once again, he did not even bother to turn around and look at her. "I still expect my soup before you leave."
Wordlessly, Marissa obeyed her husband's orders, moving to the kitchen and making him some soup while beginning to clean up the decorations she had set up so carefully and packaging the leftovers from the meal she had prepared all morning. Unable to control her emotions any longer, tears slipped soundlessly down her face; she knew better than to let Gerry hear her cry. Lost in her own pain, Marissa never heard the soft pitter patter of feet approach her from behind.
"Mommy," Cooper asked softly not wanting to startle her but still concerned.
Turning around, Marissa hastily attempted to wipe her eyes as she saw her boys were both on the verge of tears themselves because of their disappointment over their day being ruined and at seeing their Mom upset. "Hey guys." Enveloping both boys in a hug at the same time, the three of them held each other tightly for a few minutes while they took comfort in each other.
Speaking up first, Garrett broke the silence. "Ryan can't come over now, right Mom?"
"No baby," Marissa answered solemnly, "and Mommy has to go and run some errands for your Father. Will you two be okay by yourselves while I'm gone, or do you want to come with me?"
Afraid at the idea of having to stay there with just his brother and father, Cooper started to cry. "No Mommy! I want to come with you."
Ruffling his hair, Marissa smiled at him. "Then you'll both come with me. Go upstairs as quietly as you can and get your shoes and a coat. Mommy's going to finish the soup and take it up to your Father."
Giving their Mom a weak smile, both boys did as she told them to and went upstairs to get ready to go. As she finished packing up the food and turned off the soup, ladling it into a bowl and preparing crackers and juice to go with it, she picked up the phone and dialed a number she knew by heart. He picked up after the first ring.
"Hey beautiful," he answered; Marissa could practically hear the smile behind his words. "The pies have been loaded, Q brushed and looking her finest for dinner, and we're on our way there right now."
"Actually, about that," Marissa began timidly, but Ryan cut her off.
"Let me guess, you burned the turkey," he teased her, his laughter filling the phone line. At the sound of his mirth, Marissa couldn't help but giggle as well. It was amazing what he did to her. In a matter of seconds talking to him made her momentarily forget her concerns and smile.
"I wish," she lamented, the idea of ruining lunch sounding quite appealing compared to reality, "but actually Gerry is home, and he's sick and angry. He cancelled Thanksgiving, so now I have to take care of him and clean up and get rid of all the decorations I put out. He doesn't like them."
"But you worked so hard," Ryan argued, "and what about all that food you made? You and the boys are still going to eat it and celebrate together, right?"
"No, I packed it all and put it away. We'll have you over some night next week after he leaves for leftovers. It's better….easier," she swallowed thickly knowing that she was treading on dangerous ground, "to just do what Gerry says and keep him happy." It didn't work; Ryan picked up on her fear.
Forcefully, he pushed her for a reason, "and why's that, Marissa. What would he to do you if you didn't listen to him? Would he hurt the boys?"
"It's not that bad," Marissa dismissed his concerns, lying through her teeth and feeling guilty about doing so. "He'd never hit the boys, and you already saw how bad it gets with me. He just yells and glares, all bark and no bite."
"I still don't want you around that," Ryan insisted, "or Garrett and Cooper. Why don't you come and bring the food and spend the day at my place?"
"I can't….if Gerry suspected," her voice trailed off as she picked up the tray and made her way upstairs. "Listen, I have to go. I have to take Gerry's soup in to him. I'll call you when I can." She went to hang up, but his voice stopped her.
"At least bring the boys by and let them stay here with me. They deserve to have a happy Thanksgiving." He stopped talking to hear her reaction. When she didn't say anything, he continued. "We'll watch the games together."
"Okay," Marissa finally agreed. "They'll be ecstatic, and I'll pack up the food and bring it with me when I drop them off, but I have to go," and before he could say anything else, she shut the phone off and pushed the door to Gerry's room open and took his lunch to him.
Soon, they were on the road, Marissa to find ginger ale for her demanding husband and the boys on their way to Ryan's, but only after Marissa took the time to put a thick layer of cover-up on her face to mask the bruises that were already forming from Gerry's rough handling. No matter what, when she arrived at Ryan's, she could not let him see the evidence of her husband's abuse. She knew that he would not tolerate what he did to her, and the idea of the consequence of Ryan finding out scared her more than facing Gerry.
Five days later, things were looking up. Gerry was feeling better and was flying out for an extensive trip to Asia. He expected to be gone at least three weeks, perfect news to Marissa who had not seen Ryan since Thanksgiving when he dropped the boys back off at home later that night. Sure, they had talked on the phone, but she ached to be with him and could only imagine what he was like. This was the longest they had gone without each other since they had first met. Even when they were not involved yet, the other was still there.
On top of her husband's departure, it was also rainy that day in Newport Beach, and because Ryan was currently working on another outside job, he could not go to work and they had made plans to spend all day together, in bed, at her house. Then, once the boys got off from school, they would pick them up together and go out to the movies. The day was going to be perfect and Marissa could not wait.
By the time she got back from dropping the boys off at school, the rain shower had turned to a storm, the rain battering against her from every direction and soaking her despite the umbrella she carried from the garage to her house. She was pleased to see Ryan's truck already parked in the garage, so that meant he was already waiting for her in the house. The thought of him there just made her move even quicker.
Not wasting time searching the ground floor, she made her way up to her room where she knew he would be waiting for her. The door was open, so she walked in soundlessly, dripping cold rain water all over the carpet on her way. Taking her soaked shirt off, she dropped it on the floor before she took off her pants and made her way over to him as he stood in front of the window looking out at the tempest brewing in the harbor clad in only her lingerie. Wrapping her cool arms around his waist, she kissed up his spine, feeling his body relax under the soothing touches of her silky lips.
"It feels as if it has been forever since I felt your hands on me," Ryan whispered to her, the silence of the house and outside world demanding serene voices from the passionate lovers inside. "We can never go that long again, do you hear me."
Giggling, Marissa moved away from him and went towards the light switch by her door. "Stay where you are; don't turn around yet. I don't want you to see me like this."
"Like what," Ryan asked, curious, as he turned around and elicited a glare from Marissa. "You look amazing."
"No, correction," she complained. "I look fat." Laughing self-deprecatingly, she motioned towards her body emphasizing where he should be looking although he did not need any encouragement to stare at her exposed body, his eyes taking her in hungrily. "I've finally fallen into the trap of the happy housewife, you know, the old wives tale where the wife, once she's happy puts on weight. Funny thing is, it took having an affair to accomplish it."
"You're not fat, Marissa," Ryan corrected her, moving swiftly to her side and enveloping her in his arms, lifting her up and throwing her over his shoulder to carry her to the bed. "You're as light as a feather." She just rolled her eyes at his dismissive nature.
"You're biased," she argued. "Besides, even if you agreed with me, you'd never say anything because you don't want to risk annoying me and not getting to make love."
"Maybe so; maybe no," Ryan teased her before taking off his own shirt. He was too eager to begin to waste time arguing with her. "Besides, if I'm really going to judge this for you, I think I need to see you completely naked." And with that, her lingerie melted away under his skilled hands as well.
Before they knew it, they were both completely naked and wrapped up in each others bodies. There was no need to rush; they had all day, so they took their time, exploring each others bodies with their hands while their lips teased, taunted, and tasted the other, savoring the fact that they were once together again.
Although their flirting and foreplay was enjoyable, it had been too long for both of them, and this did not satisfy them for long. Taking initiative, Marissa pushed Ryan down on his back and threw her right leg over his torso, straddling him seductively, lowering her body so that her breasts would tickle his chest and her mouth could take his in a sensual dance.
"I do believe this position looks familiar," Ryan tormented her, pulling his lips away from hers to speak. "Do we want to reenact the first time?"
"It was one of my favorites," she played along with him, reaching for her bedside drawer and pulling out a box of condoms. Taking one in her hand, she applied the protection and then went back to flirting with Ryan. "And, if I remember correctly, you liked it as well."
"No complaints here," Ryan agreed with her, pulling her body down to his again and capturing her mouth in a heated, fervent kiss. Letting his hands travel to her breasts, he caressed her softly, massaging her gently and adoringly. Taking her by surprise, he entered her, causing her to moan out softly and immediately raise her body so that she was vertical in the air, arching her back and throwing her head in ecstasy, just as she had their first time and making Ryan smile broadly as he took in her perfect, supple body…a body that was all his.
Just as they both approached the pinnacle of their ardor, a bitter laugh sounded throughout the room and Marissa pulled the blanket up to her body and cowered down into Ryan's chest, her eyes closed, tears streaming down her face immediately.
"I never thought you had enough guts to have an affair, Marissa," Gerry taunted, moving towards the bed and looming over her. Just as he went to grab her arm, Ryan shifted his body instantly so that he was in front of her.
"Touch her and I'll break your arm so bad you'll never be able to raise it to another woman again."
That stopped Gerry dead in his tracks and he backed away from the bed and shuffled back to the door but did not leave the room.
"You really do offer a full service, don't you," he taunted Ryan. "You not only remodel the homes of men better than you but you fuck their wives as well. Fun's over; I caught you, now get the hell out of my house and let me deal with my slut of a wife."
"I'd watch your mouth if I were you," Ryan warned, "and I'm not going anywhere while Marissa and the boys are in danger."
Before Gerry could retaliate, the anger practically leaping from his eyes, Marissa interrupted their battle of wills. "Gerry, what are you doing here? I thought you were going on another trip."
"Flight was delayed, bad weather. Obviously you two geniuses didn't think of that one, did you? And what is this about my sons?" He turns his glare on his cowering wife. "You let him near my children?"
"Our children," Marissa corrected him, his attitude towards the boys sparking her anger and masking her fear. "And they needed someone to act as a father figure to them." Before he could say anything else, she pushed right on. "I want a divorce Gerry. I was going to wait until after Christmas for the boys' sake, but I can't do this any longer. I can't hide my relationship with Ryan, I can't keep this from the boys, and I can't pretend to be your wife for one moment longer. I want out."
"Oh, there's no doubt in my mind I'm divorcing you, and don't think you'll get a cent from me."
"I don't want your damn money, this house, my car, hell, you can keep my clothes for all I care," Marissa spoke evening, not even caring enough to yell back at him. "All I want is my freedom to love and be loved for once in my life. I went from my mother controlling me to you, and I deserve more."
"And who's going to love a weak, ignorant slut like you," Gerry mocked her, laughing at her face and infuriating Ryan.
Sensing his aggression, Marissa grabbed his hand and held it tightly in her own, that small embrace calming him down enough so that he did not get up and physically confront Gerry. "I will. I do," Ryan confessed, moving his eyes from Gerry to Marissa and lightly taking his free hand to stroke her cheek offering her some comfort as well and bringing a small smile out of her face.
"Well, that's beautiful, a Kodak moment, but have fun supporting yourself, Marissa." His beeper goes off distracting him for a moment. "Shit," he cursed out loud before looking back up at the couple still wrapped in a sheet on his wife's bed. "My delay has been lifted, I need to get to the airport, but when I get home you and every trace of you better me out of my house!"
As he turned away, Marissa sighed a breath of relief, while Ryan's slowly started to relax the tension in his body, but just as they were about to discuss what had happened, Gerry came back into the room with one final word.
"And do not even think about taking my kids. I'll arrange for care for them. Goodbye Marissa." He turns to Ryan smirking at him. "She's your problem now."
His cackling could be heard all the way through the house, echoing off of the high ceilings and filtering its way back into the suddenly cold, dismal bedroom where the secret lovers sat exposed, nervous, and utterly uncertain.