History Repeated Part 5: The Harsh Light of Day

Tess smiled in her sleep as she felt the rush of pleasure run through her body. His hands were on her body. So gentle, but urgently taking what they must.

"Oh, Nick," She moaned.

Her eyes flicked open and she was greeted with the cold light of morning. He wasn't there at all, she'd simply dreamed it.

Nick rolled over in his sleep. After so many years he finally had her back in his arms. As her soft skin glided under his fingers he wondered how he could have ever let her go.

As pleasure passed through both their bodies, he heard his name escape her lips.

In the heat of passion he held her close and murmured her name as well. Her name hadn't passed through his lips for years, it felt good saying it again.

Nick's eyes fluttered open and he sat up, realising it was all a dream.

He felt Sally's eyes watching him, "You saw her didn't you?"

Nick turned to face his wife and was honest, "Yes, I did."

Sally turned away as Nick stood up and put a shirt on. She didn't know whether she should scream or cry. She knew that something had happened between the pair.

"Did you sleep with her?" Asked Sally.

Nick was silent He didn't want to hurt her.

Sally let out a small chuckle. She should have seen it coming. She'd known from the moment they said "I do" that a part of Nick would always belong to Tess. It surprised her that it took him this long to stray.

"Someone put those scratch marks on your back, Nick" Sally continued, "And it sure as hell wasn't me."

The evidence was there. She knew that she hadn't made the markings on his back. Their love making hadn't been that passionate in a long time. That's what made it hard for her, knowing that he felt passion, real passion for another woman.

Nick saw the pain in her face. How could he have been so careless? How could he have let her find out like this?.

"Sal just let me-"

"How long have you been seeing her?" Sally's voice was beginning to rise as tears were brewing in the back of her eyes.

"Sal-"

"How long, Nick?!" She repeated, this time louder. "At least have the decency to answer my questions!" She yelled.

Nick stood silent, not wanting to hurt her anymore than he had done already. He hated himself for this. Why hadn't he just walked away?.

"It was just the once," He told her as he took a couple of steps towards her. "It only happened once, Sal," He needed her to know that. He needed her to know that it hadn't been an ongoing relationship.

"Did you go looking for her?" Tears began to spill down Sally's pale face.

"No, no," He whispered. "Of course not… we bumped into each other in the street," He explained.

Sally turned away. It had been an accident. An accident waiting to happen, she thought.

"I don't want you here, Nick," Sally was brutally blunt. But she couldn't help it. Throughout her entire marriage she felt she was competing with Tess, living up to Nick's high standards. God, sometimes she even wished she was Tess, just so she could make Nick as happy as she knew Tess made him.

Nick nodded. He had to comply with her wishes. There was no point in making things harder on her. They both needed time to think anyway.

"I never meant to hurt you, Sally" Nick placed a hand on her shoulder.

"But you did, Nick. You did! And the worst part about it is that you probably enjoyed fuck!ng her as much as she enjoyed fuck!ng you!" Sally shouted as she moved away from him.

Nick moved back. He figured now was the time to leave. If he stayed any longer he was sure she would hurl a vase or something at him.

"I'll stay over at Drovers with Alex," He said as he grabbed a couple of days worth of clothes and shoved them in his overnight bag.

"Drovers Run. That's a laugh," Sally snarled bitterly.

"If the kids need anything… or if you want to talk-"

"Yes, I'll call, Nick. Now go!" Sally yelled.

Nick picked up his bag and headed out the door, hating himself for the hurt he caused Sally, for the hurt his mess would cause his kids.

"Dad?" Harrison got off the couch and followed his father to his ute. "Where are you going?"

Nick turned to his son, looked him in the eye and said, "I'll be staying with your Uncle Alex for a bit, mate. You think I can make you the man of the house while I'm gone?"

The boy grinned, "No worries!"

Nick smiled. Harrison thought it was such an honour to be left in charge. If only he knew the half of it. Nick took his 10 year old son in his arms and held him tightly, "Look after your Mum and Lib for me."

With that, Nick got in his ute and drove off into the distance, wondering which direction his life would take. He was torn between his family and the love of his life, Tess McLeod.