That doesn’t explain why the man was holding his crotch like that. Who does that in a public place?” Richard asked.“He has testicular cancer, and I know he’s frequently in pain. So that’s probably why he was doing that. Why are you asking about him anyway?”“Someone’s been sending text messages and flowers to my wife. The texts are sex related and when I saw this picture, I automatically assumed it was him.”“Couldn’t be him,” Vinnie said. “Did I mention that he’s gay?”Richard looked at me with a disappointed expression. I thought for sure it was the lighting man, and this would finally be over. A beep came from my purse, which alerted me that I had a text message. As I fumbled for it, I took out my phone and there was a text from him.“I stare at your picture and imagine what it would be like to f**k you and hear you moan. I think about you all day, and I can’t stop. Your smile drives me insane and your mouth around my c*ck is what I crave and desire.”My panicked face gave it away

As Richard let go of the doors and they started to close, he stuck his hand in between them to stop them from closing, stepped out, and hugged me.“I don’t want to go, Isabella.”“Honey, it’s only for one night. You said yourself not to worry. What’s going on?”“Nothing. I just hate being away from you,” he said as he kissed my head.“I hate being away from you too, but you have to go. Now come on. Put your big boy pants on and go; you’re making things harder,” I said as I broke our embrace and patted him on the chest.“No, Isabella , you’re the one making things harder.” He winked as he looked down at the bulge in his pants.“Get out of here, Jones.” I laughed as he stepped onto the elevator.A couple of hours had passed, and I took a nap. It had been forever since I took a nap without having to worry if Julia was going to wake up. I took the stairs down to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator for a bottle of water. After checking my phone to see if I had any messages, I walked in

Julia screeched and then looked at me and put her hand on my face. She knew I was sad, and I could tell how much she missed Richard. I sat down with her and let her run her hands through the sand. The beach, the ocean, and the sunset, would become as special to her as it was to me.“He misses you, and he’s not doing good,” I heard a voice say behind me.I turned around and saw Denny standing a few feet away from us. I smiled and held out my hand for him to sit next to me.“What are you doing here? Should you even be here?” I asked as I kissed him on the cheek.“I’m fine. Dana drove. She’s in the house, talking to Mason. I don’t want to talk about me. How are you doing?”“I’m okay,” I said as I looked out into the ocean water.“No, you’re not. I know you, Isabella, and you miss him just as much as he misses you.”“I’m so mad at him, Denny. How could he do that to me? How many times do I have to tell him not to keep things from me before it sinks into that thick head of his?”Denny smil

“I will, Daddy, don’t worry,” she responded as she kept looking at the table next to us.I knew those women were staring at my husband and, after all these years, I still had a problem with it. But I’d toned it down, and I didn’t embarrass Richard as much. Out of the clear blue, Julia looked at Richard.“Daddy, those women keep staring at you and that’s rude.”I almost choked on my salad as I started to laugh. Richard looked at me with wide eyes.“I know, Julia. Don’t worry about it. Just finish your dinner,” he said.“Mommy, why do they keep staring over here?”“They keep staring because they think your daddy is very handsome. Now, finish your dinner so we can go see Santa Claus.”Julia smiled as she ate her chicken. Collin was being a good boy and eating his dinner because he was excited to go to the toy store. As we finished eating, the waitress brought our bill and Richard paid. When we got out of the booth, I took Collin’s hand and Richard grabbed Julia’s. As we were leaving, I i

On her knees on the bathroom floor, Isabella Jones viewed parts of the toilet that were never meant to be seen at such short range. Her stomach rolled and heaved like a tiny canoe being swept down a raging river. The tile felt icy against her knees, yet beads of perspiration moistened her brow. Closing her eyes in an effort to hold back the waves of nausea, Hannah drew in several deep, even breaths. That seemed to help a little, but not enough."Oh, God," she prayed silently, "please, oh, please, don’t let me be pregnant." No sooner had the words crossed her lips when she lost what little breakfast she’d managed to down that morning.Her monthly period was late. Over two months late. But that could be attributed to the stress she’d been under these past several weeks. The stress and the grief. It had been nearly four months since Jerry’s death. She ached to the bottom of her soul for him, and would, she was convinced, until the end of her life. She’d loved Jerry for six years, had pla