The sound of the engine running was what kept him awake the entire drive home. Strange that it wasn't the thought of his wife pacing in front of the door, unable to sleep because she was worried for him. Stranger still that it wasn't his thinking over what his excuse would be this time. A late night out with the boys? No, she would call their wives and ask about it. An extra shift at work, perhaps? Would it work, he wondered.
His red pick-up truck turned into their driveway where he left it to cool. Making sure it was secure, James opened the front door as quietly as possible. Maybe Penny was asleep and wont have noticed his extended absence.
Pennsylvania was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. She had a distraught look on her face. "James, where have you been?"
He paused like a deer in the headlights. For some reason, his mind couldn't think of an excuse. His silence told Penny all she needed to know.
"Please, James. Just tell me you weren't where I think you were," she pleaded. James wanted to comfort her. He wished to take her into his arms and whisper to here that everything was okay, and after, they would go upstairs and he'd make love to her. Everything would be alright.
But he couldn't lie to her. James couldn't hold her knowing another had just been in his arms; couldn't tell her everything was okay when it clearly wasn't.
"James…. How could you?"
"Penny, I‒"
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU CHEAT ON ME WITH YOUR OWN GOD DAMN COUSIN!"
As he tried to reason with her, she pushed him away and ran. In the night, Penny ran away, and James hoped she was safe.
Not that he had the right to know any longer.
Dear Penny,
Jack bought our old house a few months ago, and I went to visit him today. It brought back some painful memories, you know. I didn't want to ever relive them again, but when I look back, I can see the memories from a new perspective. I can see just how wrong I was to treat you as I did, but I can't apologise for the way I felt about Victoire, only my actions. I don't have much time left before I must be off, so I shall keep this quick.
I'm sorry.
Love,
James