Love in Ruins

Love in Ruins XXIV – The Kiss

‘Josh, I can’t see you anymore, please understand.’ Lynn told him coldly over his third phone call that day. The guy wouldn’t give up! She wanted to leave that past behind but he kept on reminding her of it every single time he called. What an annoying man! She thought.

‘Lis, you know you owe me. I helped you break your job contract, helped you cancel your rent, and even packed your things for you. I think you’re being unreasonable with me, you should at least be grateful.’ Josh was losing it. This woman was getting on his nerves.

‘Okay, okay… we can meet, but don’t come to my house. I’ll see you at the airport and then we can have dinner somewhere.’ She sighed.

‘Hey don’t do me any favors! I thought we were friends but honestly Lis, you make me feel cheap.’ He was mad, really mad.

‘Josh, please don’t take this the wrong way. There’s a lot going on, a lot that I haven’t told you. Can you just please trust me?’

‘I’ll arrive this Friday at 8pm, just be at the airport then.’ Josh hung up. He was angry and she should know it.

Great, just great. How would she explain herself to Josh now, if he only knew her name wasn’t even Lis, that she was married, well, separated, and had a child, and a life totally contrary to what he thought she had… her heart raced, what is she going to do, should she tell him the truth or just keep on pretending?

A lovely woman’s voice disturbed her thoughts.’Mrs Stafford?’

Lynn turned around and remembered her, what was her name again? ‘Yes?’

‘I’m Kerry, I’m from Carl’s church, it’s so nice to meet you.’ She extended her hand for a handshake. Lynn shook her hand, smiling but wondering why this woman was there.

‘Oh yes, I remember you, Carl told me you went to youth group together. Nice meeting you too.’

‘Yes, Carl and I were very good friends, well, we still are. I just wanted to see how Lizzy is doing, I’m one of her teachers in our Kids Zone and the children and I miss her so much. We’ve been praying for her ever since this happened.’

‘Oh thank you. Lizzy definitely needs your prayers.’ But what she really wanted to know was how close this woman had become towards her husband lately, now that he goes to church.

‘I brought a card the children prepared for her.’ Kerry gave her a beautifully hand-made colored card. Inside there was a note from every child in church, some of which even had some drawings of Lizzy.

‘This is really nice, thank you again… so tell me about yourself, Carl has never really talked about you.’ Lynn straight to her eyes.

‘Oh we’ve been friends for the longest time, but when he left church, we stopped talking. Just now have we begun talking again… he seems to have changed so much.’ Kerry smiled, she remembered how worldly he was back in youth group.

‘Really? What changes have you seen in him?”

Kerry didn’t understand why the interrogation. She thought the woman would be thankful for the visit… ‘Well, he’s more spiritual now. He’s not so into his own life… I guess I’m trying to say he’s no longer so selfish. Lately, he’s been helping in church a lot, you’d be proud of him.’ Or perhaps she shouldn’t have added that last comment. Mrs Stafford’s face didn’t seem enthused.

‘Do you both work together a lot?’ Lynn’s jealousy was beginning to look quite obvious, but she didn’t care, she needed to know what was going on while she was in hospital with Lizzy all day.

‘Just in church, together with other church members really…’ The room went silent, they were both quite uncomfortable with each other. ‘It was nice meeting you though, I better be going now.’ Kerry shook Lynn’s hands again and left.

What was Carl doing in church if his child was in hospital? He should be here, he should mourn with her. She couldn’t take that room any longer, it annoyed her. Lizzy wouldn’t move, not even for a bit… perhaps Lynn was dying there too. She picked up the phone and called Mrs Stafford, she needed to talk to her, it had been so long already.

‘Please leave your message after the tone’ the answering machine said. ‘Oh hello Mrs Stafford, it’s me Lynn… I miss talking to you, sorry I haven’t been able to see you lately… I wonder if we could spend some time together soon… call me when you can.’ She hang up. What time was it? She looked at the watch and it was still 6 o’clock in the evening, it felt as though the day wasn’t ending at all. Perhaps she should go home tonight, rest in a proper bed, and have Carl spend the night with Lizzy tonight. At least for a day. She’d call him and try that.

‘Hi Lynn, what’s up?’ Carl sounded so happy, what’s wrong with this man?

‘Hi Carl. I was wondering if you could spend the night with Lizzy tonight so I could rest for a bit. Then I’d come back tomorrow.’

‘Sure Lynn, I was wondering when I’d be able to do that myself. I’ll need to be back to work by 10am tomorrow, do you think you could be back by 9.30?’

‘Yes, definitely. Oh by the way, your friend Kerry came here a few minutes ago. She brought Lizzy a card from the church…’

‘Yeah, she asked me about it last week so I gave her the hospital’s address.’

‘Oh and something else, I have an appointment Friday night, do you think you could come and stay with Lizzy then too?’ Lynn hoped Carl didn’t jump into any wrong conclusions.

‘Friday night… I guess I can move a couple of things around.’

‘What do you mean, are you working then?’ She enquired.

‘No, not really, it’s just that I agreed with Kerry that I’d help her with the event they’re preparing for this Sunday.’

‘Oh…’

‘But it’s okay, I’ll help her on Saturday.’

Lynn prepared her things, she tried not to think about it, but it was hard. Carl was spending too much time with this Kerry woman. Perhaps she should start going to church on Sundays, at least show up so the woman would back off. She kissed Lizzy and spoke in her ears ‘I’ll miss you my darling. Mommy will rest tonight and will be back tomorrow. Daddy should be getting here anytime now… I love you.’

Carl was at the door of the room already, as crazy as it sounded, he envied Lizzy at that moment, for she had what he longed for, she had Lynn’s love.

‘Carl, I didn’t even hear you come in!’

‘Don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine mom.’ He went to Lizzy and kissed her. Lynn was still quite close, when Carl stood up, they looked at one another in the eye and for a moment, their passion was obvious. Carl got closer to Lynn and planted a kiss on her lips. She didn’t resist, instead, she closed her eyes and kissed him fervently.

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