Chapter 33

Sherry rolled out of bed and strolled down the hallway around eleven thirty. Breakfast had long passed. She just wasn’t hungry, but the baby required food regardless of how she felt about eating. She meandered down the stairs in her robe, exhausted from tossing and turning most of the night. The hours of sleep she’d claimed after Dave left this morning were too few. Sherry eased into the kitchen, almost like she was sneaking in. She braced to see Andre. When she poked her head in and found no one there, she relaxed. She poured a glass of milk and decided to sit and enjoy the cold drink with a handful of crackers while looking out the back window.

For five minutes, every noise had her jittery. Finally, her nerves couldn’t handle any more. She retreated to her room, afraid that staying in the kitchen, out in the open, could get her caught in the enemy’s trap. She wanted to avoid Andre indefinitely. He was Madeline’s son, which automatically meant he couldn’t like Sherry. How could he? She was sure Madeline didn’t allow traitors to exist in her world. If Andre showed the slightest kindness to Sherry, he might be tossed into the abyss or eaten alive by his mother. Madeline was vicious, and it was best that Sherry stay away from Madeline and her troops, at least until the baby was born. Sherry took a seat by the floor-to-ceiling drapes and grabbed a book. She wasn’t taking any chances.

After intermittent naps, a chapter here and there, and a few game shows, Sherry was ready to pull her hair out. Being stuck at home without a job was dreadful. Being held hostage in her room in fear of what a teenager might say or do was the absolute pits. Sherry couldn’t think straight, she was so annoyed. They were only one day into the arrangement with Andre, and she was ready to scream. This wasn’t going to work. She called her husband.

“Is Dave in?” she asked his secretary.

“No, he’s not. Who should I say is calling?”

“Mrs. Mitchell.” There was a pause. “Did you hear me?” she asked, wondering why the secretary wasn’t responding.

“Yes, Mrs. Mitchell. Is it Madeline or Sherry?”

“It’s Sherry,” she answered, totally deflated. “Sharon, don’t you recognize my voice?” she said, letting her dissatisfaction speak loudly.

“I apologize, Mrs. Mitchell, but Sharon is out for the day. I’m a temporary assistant filling in.”

“Okay, well, please give my husband the message,” she uttered.

Sherry was wondering how much humiliation one person could take. Her torment was never-ending. Thoughts rushed in like a tidal wave, and her emotions overtook her. Marrying Dave had been the joy of her heart, but each day was proving that the price of this marriage was more than she wanted to pay.

The mood remained long after her book was finished. She watched the clock tick by. She attempted to call Dave several more times with no luck. Sherry sat in the room, alone, until the sun set. She couldn’t wait for Dave to get home, whenever that was going to be. They had to figure out another way. Her sanity depended on it.

Giving up on the day, Sherry decided to go to bed without dinner. The sooner she got to sleep, the quicker morning would come. Dave was certain to be home by then. She’d catch him bright and early and have the discussion he didn’t want to hear. Andre had to go. Just as she was putting on her gown, Dave walked in. “When did you get here?” she asked, surprised to see him. Sherry wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad to see him. Nothing was clear.

“Just got here,” he said, giving her a hug and the usual peck. She wanted him to take her into his arms and caress her, blocking out the distractions and the threats to their marriage. But he didn’t. She had to accept a peck on the cheek and a quick embrace. “You aren’t getting ready for bed this early, are you?” he asked, glancing at his watch.

“Actually I was.”

“Have you eaten?” he asked.

“No . . .”

He took her hand. “Come on down and have dinner with Andre and me. This is our first night together. I rushed home before eight so we could sit down to the table together as a family.”

She didn’t want to. Who was he kidding? They weren’t a family. She screamed within, feeling trapped. “I’m not hungry.”

“But you have to eat for the baby. Come on. Do it for me,” he said, words that would normally have swayed her instantly. Not this time. She was reluctant and was not in the mood to pretend otherwise. Sherry knew he had children when they married, and she thought she was okay with it. The more honest she allowed herself to be, the more Sherry realized she wasn’t okay with him having an existing family. His children hated her, and the feeling was becoming mutual despite her best effort to form a relationship with them.

“I’ll go down with you, but don’t expect me to do much talking.”

“Why not? You’re not feeling well?”

Too bad he couldn’t tell. “You can say that I’m tired, real tired,” she said and left it there.