Through Rose Colored Glasses
an excerpt

Susan's temper flared, “So what, I’m supposed to skimp on our daughter’s wedding because you screwed up?” She paused for a breath before continuing, “I mean, it’s noble and all that you are coming clean and I appreciate this rare moment of transparency, but I’m having a little bit of trouble feeling all warm and forgiving right now.”

She saw Rod’s temper begin to flare as well. His neck was bright red. Dori and Cori just looked at each other and got up from the table. They patted their brother on his back and left the kitchen.

“Is there any wonder why I don’t open up to you?” Rod glared at her. “I am trying to make some changes, Susan. I know I have screwed up,” he pursed his lips, “in more areas than just our finances.” He tried to look her in the eyes, but she turned her head. With controlled gentleness he turned it back.

“Do you still love me?” Rod’s question crushed her. She saw the uncertainty in his eyes; all the insecurity. She knew what he needed to hear, but she didn’t know if she could say it.

Her silence gave Rod enough of an answer. He hung his head. When he raised it up again there were tears in his eyes.

“Will you let me try again? Can you give us a second chance, Susan?”

She didn’t know if she had what it would take to try again, but she was certain she didn’t have what it took to call it all quits either. Not yet.

She slowly nodded her head yes. There were no tears in her eyes, just the subtle nod.

Rod sighed and gave her a slight smile.

“Thank you.” He reached over and squeezed her hand gently. He rose from the table and headed in the direction Dori and Cori went.

Susan sat in her chair perfectly still. She thought of Erik. She’d talked to him every day since their afternoon and evening together a couple of week ago. She knew she was falling in love with him.

She saw her Bible again on the table. She grabbed it in her hands and got up from the table. She walked over to the buffet that held her formal china and linens and opened a drawer. She thrust the Bible on top of a white table cloth. She began to close the drawer, but opened it back up again. She grabbed the Bible in one hand and the table cloth in the other. Again she thrust the book back into the drawer but covered it with the table cloth this time. Then she slammed the buffet drawer shut and left the room.

She hesitated in the hallway. If she headed upstairs, she’d have to pass the guest room where she heard the twins and Rod in conversation. She did not want to talk to any of them right now.

She really had no desire to go downstairs. That was another one of Rod’s sanctuaries.

She grabbed her keys off the hook in the hallway and a jacket from the closet. Without a word to anyone, she quietly slipped out of the house and drove away.