His Missing Wife Jaime Hendricks (popular romance novels .txt) š
- Author: Jaime Hendricks
Book online Ā«His Missing Wife Jaime Hendricks (popular romance novels .txt) šĀ». Author Jaime Hendricks
I always have a fake ID.
Assuming I was branded for life, branded with the truth, branded with what I deserved out of life, I stayed for a few more weeks, until he threw the boiling water on me.
āI understand if you want to leave.ā I say it with a heavy heart. Iāll never have a normal life, with a normal, wonderful man like James. Iām a white trash whore. Thatās why I end up with men who beat me and treat me like shit. Itās all I deserve. Iām branded like fucking cattle.
James tips my chin up to look at him. āWe helped Dr. Matthews get her loan for her dermatology practice. Iāll make a call on Monday. Weāll get you a discount on laser removal.ā
āI canāt afford it, James.ā I need to think about every last cent. Itās going fast.
āDonāt worry about it. Iām here for you. Weāll figure it out.ā He takes my hand. āTogether.ā
We donāt have sex that night. We fall asleep together, and Iām wrapped in his arms. Itās the most freeing, comforting place Iāve ever been in. I feel more like a woman that night than in all my thirty-one years.
So, I jump him the next morning, and itās the best feeling Iāve ever had.
Iām going to marry this man.
22
James
Sunday the weather turned, and fall came in with a blast. The temperature dropped into the midfifties, and the wind howled outside Jamesās windows all day. He didnāt want to go outside, but he couldnāt stay in his empty house anymore. It had become twice its normal size without them cooking breakfast together, or Tessa baking brownies for him, or them reading the paper together in bed on weekends. After walking Candy, he scanned a recent picture of Tessa on the computer and printed out a hundred copies, then went to the local hardware store for a heavy-duty stapler and duct tape. He handed a copy of the picture to every store owner he knew and peppered the light poles in town with her face. M-I-S-S-I-N-G, with Tessaās picture and his phone number, all over town. The cops werenāt doing shit. Nothing but accusations and the runaround. If he had to take this into his own hands, he would.
After he got back, he didnāt even eat. Well, not really. A little bit of the food Evan brought over Friday night was still in the refrigerator, so he picked at it. His stomach turned against him and he couldnāt keep anything down.
Another lonely night in bed, just him and Candy. Party of two. Nights were the worst, without her there, safe in bed next to him. Where was she? Was she hurt? Alone? Cold? Did someone take her against her will? Was she wondering why James hadnāt rescued her? His heart split into a million pieces every time his mind wandered in that direction.
He slept in on Monday. It wasnāt like he had to get up and go to work. Even Candy rested beside him in Tessaās empty spot, likely enjoying the extra daddy/doggie morning. He didnāt want to disturb her, but he slowly pulled Tessaās pillow out from under Candyās head and embraced it. It still had some of Tessaās scentāher shampoo, that coconut oil she liked to use as moisturizerāand he took a deep breath of memories before he got up. After checking his phone, for something, anything to let him know that his wife was safe, he was yet again dejected to find no calls, no texts. Not like heād miss itāhis volume was as loud as it could go. He didnāt want to chance sleeping through something important.
He rose from the bed and went into the bathroom. His reflection was foreign. His gray eyes sunken, rings of worry surrounding them. He looked like heād lost five pounds, all from his face. Hollow cheeks, dry lips, lackluster hair. He splashed water on his face and slapped his leg twice, to indicate to Candy it was time for breakfast and a walk.
Candy followed James downstairs, into the kitchen, and he prepped her mealāhalf wet food, half dry food. He looked at the clockāafter ten. Half the morning was already wasted, yet he didnāt know what to do with himself. It wasnāt like James to be stagnant. He hadnāt heard from Solomon since he was at the station two days ago. Did Solomon do anything besides harass James and smoke cigarettes?
Were they not telling James details because they thought he did something to her?
The phone rang. It sounded different, ominous, like he was in a horror movie and the monster was about to attack. The number flashing on the screen was from the bank and he answered immediately.
āJames. Itās Trey.ā
āHey.ā
āHave you heard from Rosita?ā
āNo.ā He hadnāt, but he didnāt want to omit anything. āWell, I spoke with her on Saturday.ā
āAbout what?ā
I sort of accused her of being involved in Tessaās disappearance. āShe let me know about VistaBuild. That I won the project.ā Yes, he stuck in that dig.
āReally? She told you?ā
āYeah. Whatās this about?ā
An obvious sigh. āSheās not here. Not answering her phone. Andy and Kyle have questions from legal.ā
āWhat do you want from me? Iām āsorting it out.āā Jerk.
āWeāre a little strapped here, James. Can you come in?ā
āOh, so now you need my help. Now that Rosita is gone?ā He knew he sounded antagonistic, but really?
āIām sure I donāt have to remind you about the importance of this entire project to us. To the town.ā
āAnd you havenāt been able to get a hold of her?ā
āJames, not now.ā
James assumed Rosita jumped through hoops every time Trey called. When they were competing for the manager job, everyone worked overtime. James didnāt want to be the first to leave while Trey was in the office. He wanted to show his dedication.
James and Tessa had adopted Candy right before he was
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