CHAPTER 2

"Jeremy, you're going to be late if you don't hurry. You know how Jason is," Candy says as she puts the breakfast dishes in the sink.

"Yeah I know, but I have some unfinished business to attend to this morning before I leave," Jeremy replies as he swoops her up in his arms and carries her up to their bedroom.

"Why Mr. Bolt, what kind of unfinished business are you referring to?" she giggles.

"Candy, if you have to ask, then I must be doing something wrong," he grins. He places her on the bed and removes his shirt, then his trousers and long johns. He lays down beside her and slowly begins to unbutton her blouse, pushing it back off her shoulders. "You are so beautiful. I can't get my fill of you," he says as he begins to kiss her neck and moves down to her breasts. "I love you so much," is the last words said as they lose themselves in each other.

After an hour or so passes and Jeremy has left for work, Candy begins to clean the dishes and do her other housework. She spies the book she has been reading and decides to take a break and read. Since it's close to lunch time, she lays a cold fried chicken leg from last night's supper on her plate, and sits down at the kitchen table and begins to read while she eats. She is so wrapped up in her book that she doesn't hear the front door open and slam shut, or the heavy footsteps coming into the kitchen.

"C-C-Candy!" Jeremy shouts angrily.

The book Candy has been reading goes flying in the air as she screams. Seeing that it is only Jeremy, she says, "Oh Jeremy, you scared the living daylights out of me," as she places her hand over her heart.

"What are you doing home? You have some more unfinished business you need to take care of?" she laughs.

"C-C-Candy, how c-c-could you?" he shouts again as his face gets redder.

"Jeremy, why are you shouting? What's wrong? Who are you so mad at?"

Jeremy squints his eyes trying to get the word out, "Y-y-you!"

"Me? What did I do? I've been here all day by myself. What could I have done to upset you?" she asks.

"You-you-you," he searches for his words.

Candy goes to him and takes his arm. "Calm down and have a seat and tell me what's wrong. I'm sure it's not as bad as you think it is." She pours him a glass of water and sets it before him. He gulps down half the water before setting the glass on the table. "Now, feel better?"

"No, I-I-I don't f-feel better." He stares at her making her feel uneasy. "C-Candy, did you-you-you tell anyone a-about our s-sex l-life? Did you-you say I was a ra-ve-nous h-hungry b-bear that de-devours y-you?"

Candy gasps as she places her hand over her mouth while tears fill her eyes.

Jeremy slams his fist on the table, "T-tell me! Did you or did-did you not, say th-that?"

Meekly Candy says, "Yes. But I can explain."

"I-I don't be-believe it. My own w-wife makes f-fun of me."

"I wasn't making fun of you. I was bragging about what a great lover you were, that you are," she cries. "Jeremy, I was complimenting you. I would never make fun of you. You know that. How did you find out about this?"

"The whole c-camp has done nothing but make j-jokes and gr-growl at me all morning. It was hum-mil-iating. I f-feel like I'm th-that kid in the sch-schoolyard all over a-again, being ta-taunted and laughed at." Tears fall from his eyes.

Candy wraps her arms around him and tries to hold him, but he brushes her off. "L-leave me alone. I-I hope you're ha-happy. I may n-never have s-sex again." He rushes from the house before Candy can stop him. As she hurries outside, she doesn't see Jeremy anywhere. He's gone and she doesn't know which way he went.

Candy is so angry that she runs all the way to the dormitory. Seeing Biddie washing dishes, she grabs Biddie's arm and pulls her outside to a secluded spot.

"Candy, what's got you all in a whirlwind?" Biddie asks.

"Biddie, you know I love you like a sister and I would do anything for you, but you have now ruined that. How could you? I trusted you," Candy answers angrily.

"How could I what?" Biddie asks.

"Oh, don't play innocent with me. You blabbed what I told you about mine and Jeremy's lovemaking. You promised you wouldn't say anything."

"Candy, I haven't told anyone anything. I promised you and I swear I didn't break my promise. What's happened?"

"Jeremy came home a little while ago. He was furious that I said he was a ravenous hungry bear that devours me. Oh Biddie, he was stuttering something awful. He said the men were laughing at him and growling like a bear. He was humiliated. That he felt like that little boy in the schoolyard again being taunted and made fun of. I felt so sorry for him," Candy cries.

"Where is Jeremy now? Still at home?"

"I don't know where he is. He just ran out of the house. I've hurt him so much. He may never forgive me," she sobs.

Biddie hugs her and says, "I'm sure after he thinks about it for awhile, he'll come back and forgive you. He loves you."

"He did. But I don't know about now. Biddie, please go tell Corky to get the men to stop with the jokes. Jeremy has been hurt enough. I've got to go in case Jeremy comes back home. I want to be there for him." Candy hurries back home to wait and wait and wait.