FirstLineFiction beta

from Contest #6

 

Almost everyone thought the man and the boy were father and son. They both had sandy blonde hair that was cut in a similar style, very short, it was almost a military cut, and brushed to the side. They had light green eyes and both were tall, handsome men. There the similarities ended. Their personalities were polar opposites. Michael had a quick temper and a mean streak a mile wide. Dave was kind and passionate, and always tried to be a gentleman. Dave had married Michael’s daughter, so their only tie was marriage, but because of their physical similarities, many people whispered behind their backs about the uncanny resemblance between father and son in law.

Despite a few obstacles they had encountered, David and Mike soon became fast friends. They helped each other with projects and spent time together when their wives were away. Before long, Michael had hired Dave on to work for him at his church. Michael was the pastor of a small Baptist Church in Portland, Maine, and he was in desperate need of an assistant.

The church had no secretary, Dave’s wife, Clare, used to fill that position, but she had just given birth to their third child, a daughter, and she had decided it would be best if she stayed home with the children instead of spending her days at the church office. Dave was such a help around the church it was only natural to hire him on. Plus, Clare had been doing the work for her father for so long nobody knew their way around that office better than her.

It seemed the perfect scenario. Dave’s position at the church was secure. Even though critics would say the job was handed to him, Dave was a hard worker. Michael and his wife were happy to have the grandchildren so close and wouldn’t have it any other way. Though the economy was in a decline, Dave and Clare were able to purchase their first home with help from her parents. Everything seemed wonderful.

If you were to see Dave and Michael walking down the street on this beautiful, crisp fall day, just a few weeks before Thanksgiving, you would think they were discussing a parishioner, or perhaps a financial issue, but the enormity of the situation was far greater than that.

“I don’t know what to do, Dad.” Dave stared at the ground as he walked, not really seeing anything.

“I could lose my job.” He finally spoke the words that he wished he could ignore. This admission made his stomach roil and his palms sweat.

“I know, Dave. So could I. Let me speak with her. There is no reason to blow this out of proportion. We will just keep it quiet. No one knows, yet, and they don’t have to.”

As they made their way back to the offices, Dave’s face was full of consternation. He kept shaking his head and muttering. At one point, Michael though he heard him say, ‘it’s all my fault.’

“Come, son,” Michael said, as they reached the door of his study, “let’s go to the Lord in prayer.”

Dave nodded silently and followed him.

After they had prayed, Dave felt better, but only slightly. He knew in his heart that he was to blame.

 

 Clare was a good girl. She tried to avoid trouble and always wanted to please her parents. She grew into a beautiful young lady. Curly, red hair fell in cascades down her back and her green eyes sparkled with laughter. She had a great figure, with large breasts and full hips; many young men had tried to woo her. When she met Dave, he was a bit of a rebel and always doing the unexpected. She found him attractive for those reasons, and soon their whirlwind romance had taken flight.

Within just a few months of dating, Clare had lost her virginity to Dave. They had kept that a secret, with her dad being a pastor and Dave wanting to be a minister also, some day, that could really hurt image. They vowed they would never do it again. But sex is a drug. Again and again they found themselves craving each other physically. Dave tried to assure her no one would find out, but Clare was plagued with guilt.

Then, the real problems began. Just after they were first married. Dave had given Clare her first sip of alcohol. Being raised in a pastor’s home, she was told booze was the Devil’s brew. She had never even tried it once in high school. They began casually drinking, when they were out of town on a trip or for a special occasion, but soon, they found themselves turning to it when the other person was away, hiding for fear of discovery.

It was a manageable vice, to begin with, but then one day it was like a switch flipped with Clare. Dave came home to find her scantily clad and near unconscious.

“What’s going on, Clare?” Worry etched his voice. The children were quietly playing, and Dave looked around to see what could be wrong with her.

“You’re so hot.” Clare slurred as she threw her body toward Dave. She began fondling him as she sloppily kissed him.

“Clare, have you been drinking?” She giggled and grabbed his hands and placed them on her large breasts that were spilling out of a low cut halter-top. He examined her. Thigh-high fishnets covered her long, toned legs, and she was wearing one of his favorite pairs of red high heels.  A short, ruffled skirt, reminiscent of a schoolgirl barely covered her behind. She bent over and lifted her skirt, rubbing her thong panties on his crotch. Her attempted to push her away, but after she continued her advances he succumbed and led her to the bedroom.

Later that night Dave tried again, “Claire, what’s going on? I am really worried about you.”

She looked at him with sorrow in her eyes.

“I just can’t take it anymore. I want to escape. I am so tired of trying to be perfect all the time and never seeing you. The kids never see you. I am doing it all by myself. I never wanted this life. This was what you wanted and I’m tired of it.” By the time she finished speaking she was sobbing.

“I’m sorry, babe.” He looked at her for a moment. He had no idea what to do.  She was scaring him. If anyone in the church found out she was drinking it would be over for his chances at being a pastor. Church people never forget. He wouldn’t even be able to move somewhere else and try again. This scandal would follow him.

After that night, they decided they would change some things. Dave would get home on time and help her with the kids, and they would not have any booze in the house, so Clare would not be tempted.

Everything seemed fine for a few weeks until Dave got a strange phone call. His mother in law called the church office in a frenzy.

“Dave, Dave, is that you?”

“Yes, Mom, what’s going on?”

“You need to come here, something is wrong. Hurry.” Dave tried to get her to say more but she wouldn’t. So, he left work and hurried to her house.

“What is wrong, Mom?”

She looked around nervously and said in a hushed voice, “I think Clare has been drinking!” Dave felt his mouth go dry.

“Wh- What makes you say that?”

Clare’s mother was near hysterics, “She just is acting so strange, I don’t know. I just think, I mean, I know I shouldn’t just assume things, but something is going on I-“

“Its ok, Mom, just relax. Where is Clare?”

“She is in my upstairs bedroom. She tried to leave but I convinced her to stay. I didn’t want her to hurt herself.”

Dave made his way up the stairs and tried to think of how he was going to talk his way out of this one. He found Clare curled up on the guest bed. He managed to rouse her and spoke with her in hushed tones. As he descended the stares, he put on his best smile. The one he always used when he was in trouble with his own mother.

“Oh, it looks like she overdosed on some cough medicine. You know how she is. I am going to get her home. Can the kids stay here for a little bit?”

“Sure.” Said Clare’s mom. She didn’t really sound convinced and Dave knew it was only a matter of time before he would have to do something drastic.

 

Today was the day. Finally, after putting it off for more than a year, Dave was sure he had to do something and fast. Clare was now at a point where Dave was not sure if she should be trusted to watch their children. More often than not when he came home she had been drinking, if she was not totally drunk. Dave was also worried about church people stopping by the house and finding her intoxicated.

He decided he should talk to her father. Mike wouldn’t judge them, and he knew Clare better than anyone. After talking for a long time, they had decided that they should confront Clare. Dave thought perhaps if Clare knew he told Mike she would take the whole thing a little more seriously. Dave was a little worried that Mike didn’t realize the extent of Clare’s problem, but maybe it was better that way. They had decided tonight, when they got off work they would go and talk to Clare.

Dave could not concentrate all day. He was worried. For all of Mike talk of prayer, Dave knew in his heart that this wasn’t going to take care of itself.

Finally, 5:00 approached. As the hour finally struck, Dave solemnly got his stuff together. This was going to be a turning point in their marriage. No matter what direction things took Dave could see a fork in the road for them. They would probably have to move, anyway. He couldn’t imagine Clare wanting to live here anymore if her parents knew about this. He was just hoping and praying she wouldn’t react badly.

As they approached the house, lights were on inside. Dave rapped on the door lightly as he found his keys. Suddenly, the deadbolt turned and the door flung open. Clare stood there, silently, for a moment.

“What’s going on?” She said, a little too loudly. Dave could smell the alcohol on her breath. She glared at Mike while she waited for the answer.

Neither man spoke for a moment, and then finally Mike said, “Clare, I need to talk to you about something.”

“What?” She quickly asked, her full lips drawn into a thin line.

Mike hesitated, “I think you know, honey.” Dave pushed passed her and led Mike in the house. The last thing he needed was his neighbors seeing all his business.

As they took their seats in the living room the tension was almost palpable. Michael cleared his throat.

“Clare,” he began, “your recent behavior is not acceptable. You are jeopardizing Dave’s position and my position.  If anyone was to find out what you have been doing we would probably both lose our jobs.”

Clare sat with her head down, tears streaming down her cheeks. No one said anything for a moment. Clare slowly raised her head and through clenched teeth spat, “You have no right to say anything to me.”

Dave was confused. He knew Michael was not her real father, Clare’s mother had her out of wedlock, but he had never heard Clare refer to the situation this way before.

“Now, sweetheart, don’t be like that. Remember the problems you caused when you were a teenager. Listen up. We are going to put this whole thing behind us. Just promise me you will not do it again and we will pray for help from God.”

Clare shook her head angrily. Dave was bewildered by now. As far as he knew Clare was the model teenager and he could not imagine what Michael was talking about. He stared at Clare for a moment, trying to piece together what they could possibly be referring to when Clare rose to her feet. Sobbing, she cried out, “You! This is all your fault! I hate you. You’ve ruined my life. I can’t sleep at night because of you!”

Dave sat quietly. He wasn’t sure what to do. This was so out of character for Clare. She was passionate, but she never said she hated anyone or anything. He decided her temper tantrum must be from the alcohol.

Michael rose to comfort Clare. She snatched her hand away from him and went to Dave’s side. “He hurt me,” she said through tears, pointing an accusing finger at Michael, “he did terrible things to me.” She put her head in her hands and continued crying.

“Clare.” Michael said in a stern voice, “You should not tell lies like that. Your mother and I disciplined you the way we thought was best. We may have been harsh at times but we were never out of line and we loved you-”

“Stop it!” Clare screamed, “That is not what I mean and you know it.” She turned to Dave and dropped her eyes, “He touched me.” She finally managed, not being able to say the words she wanted to get out. Dave suddenly knew what she was talking about. It hit him like a tidal wave. There were so many things she had been so strange about and it all made sense now.

Dave turned to Michael and stared at him as he was digesting what Clare was saying. Michael shifted his eyes nervously back and forth between the two of them, unsure if Dave understood what Clare was saying.

“He made me look at terrible things. He made me do disgusting, horrible things. I-”

“Shhh, Clare, its ok.” Dave pulled her close. “Its all over now. Don’t worry about it.”

“She is lying,” Michael began, “she has always lied, since she was a child. Her mother and I-”

“Get out.” David stood and pointed to the door. “You have to the count of three to get out of my house or I’m not responsible for what will happen to you.” Michael looked in David’s eyes for a moment and realized Dave meant every word. He scrambled out the front door.

 

Looking back, Dave realized this was the best decision he could have made for his family. They moved out of state and found a peaceful home in a rural area in Michigan where Dave was able to work at a plant. He had never seen Clare so calm and relaxed. He knew now she had tried for so many years to hide her feelings behind a shield of perfection. Reflecting on that day that changed everything, Dave wished it had come so much sooner.

 

 

back to Contest #6