CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Hazel stood at the kitchen sink finishing up washing the dishes from supper. She stared out the window to her backyard watching Hank chop more fire wood. The anger inside her burned a hole in her mind as she tried to push back her feeling of anxiety and depression.

  She had begun to feel the pressure of the fifty years that she had spent with Hank and the deep resentment she was now recognizing. There had been too many discussions of letting go of the hardware store, a cry for him to let it go so they could move to Florida allowing them to join their only child.

  Hank’s obstinate was getting in the way of him the true benefits for such a move. He argued that their lives were right here in Hershel and that he hadn’t worked his whole life just to sell out and move all the way across America to start over. He wanted no part in changing anything that had been their normal life.

  Hazel’s last move was to inform Hank that she had decided that if he wouldn’t sell the business then she would leave Hershel and having no other choice but to divorce him and go without him. His reaction was something that she had not predicted and had no defense for. It was the final straw in her plan to move on.

  Hazel moved from the sink into the bedroom where she had been packing a suitcase for her departure. She knew that the response that Hank had shown when she said she was leaving him would only be replayed. She took the gun on the bed, checked for the second time to make sure it was loaded and laid it down beside her suit case. Her nerves were

  on edge, but she had spoken again to Leland only earlier that day expressing how the love that she once held for her husband had vanished from her heart.

  Leland had offered her reassurance that she needed to make her life her own reminding her that she was half owner in the business. With a soft delicate tone Leland had spoken the encouraging words that Hazel so desperately needed to hear, “ If Hank is no longer part of your life, if you became the sole owner of the business then you would never have to ask permission to sell and leave. Am I right?” his calming voice spoke to her.

  It wouldn’t take much convincing for Hazel to understand the meaning of his words. Remove the threat and gain the prize. She had learned many, many years ago how to load and shoot a hand gun and she wasn’t afraid to do so. There was a surreal easiness in her soul as she looked at Leland and for the first time in months smiled.

  As their conversation ended Hazel turned to Leland as she took a step away from where they had been sitting only saying,” Sometimes you just have to take things into your own hands. I suppose I’ve known for a long while that we would end this way. Thank you for being so kind to listen to an old woman whine about a marriage gone wrong. I know exactly what I must do now.” Hazel halfway smiled at Leland as she had already determined the fate of her situation.

  Leland watched as Hazel made her way back across the street to the hardware store. He smiled as he fully understood that first of his plan was now set in motion. From here all he needed do is let the whispers of doubt build the flames and watch those dominoes fall.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Becca could not wait for her shift to be over. Tonight was the big high school football game and Troy was at the helm of the varsity team. She had waited all summer for this night to finally be here since Troy had spent almost every single free moment that he had planning, watching films of last year’s games, thinking about the potential players available for this years’ champion squad.

  The whole summer had been spent doing nothing but football planning which meant that any free time Becca might have had with Troy to enjoy the young married life was sacrificed for the sake of the team. She had hoped that she and Troy could have had a few days to get away. To decompress from the long days of work and stress that both of them were feeling. That had not happened and she was a little concerned that football was taking over her marriage, but not in a good way.

  As Becca left the hotel to rush home, put together a quick dinner meal, change clothes to something casual and comfortable she worried that she’d be all alone in the stands as she tried to cheer on the team and her husband. There were strands of insecurities floating around her mind as she thought back to the day when she happens to drop by the high school to watch the team practice and encourage her husband in his quest to become a great coach.

  How surprised Becca was when while sitting in the stands in an open stadium one of the senior cheerleaders had coming running out onto the field after the practice was over to congratulate her Troy on his successful practice. The vision of the young senior putting her arms around Troy’s neck and hugging him in a most inappropriate way was more than unsettling to her.

  To make it even worse Becca did not think that Troy resisted as much as he should have at the young girls’ actions. She noted that he did pull her arms from around his neck, but he seemed to just stand there and continued to engage in conversation with her that included a lot of laughter. No matter if it was just an innocent choice on the part of the young girl, it was inappropriate non the less and it heighten Becca’s insecurity to its highest level.

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  Becca was determined to get to the stadium before the cheerleaders were on the field. She planned to take her spot beside her husband and claim her territory. If Troy valued their married and vows, he’ll be so excited to see his beautiful wife there supporting in his strides to be become the head coach of Hershel’s Varsity football team the Cougars . With that thought in mind Becca loaded up Troy’s dinner, her bag with a drink and snacks and headed for the SUV. She’d be so glad to see Troy do well tonight and if the team managed to win, she’d have a wonderful celebration for Troy in private.

  The Hershel varsity team were all gathered in the locker room preparing for the opening home game. Troy had not yet joined them as he stood behind his desk in the coaches’ room looking over his plan, checking the defensive and offenses strategies. He had studied the team that he was up against, each position and each player that he would assign to play. He had a great plan for tonight’s game and if the odds and good luck with some terrific playing was on his side he knew that the varsity team would be victorious.

  The only thing that Troy hadn’t planned was the fact that Kelley Brower was about to make a move on him. That mistake would put him in aa place that he might not be able to dig himself out of. Becca’s worst night-mire would to come into focus and the fall out would be unmeasurable.

  A knock came at his door as Troy looked up speaking loudly, “ Come in.” he said as he thought it was one of his players.

  With a surprise look on her face, smiling like she just got away with the greatest secret ever in stepped Kelley Browser with her pom-poms in hand. She smiled brightly at Troy as she began speaking in a soft, somewhat alluring voice, taunting to a state of concern, “ Coach, I just wanted to come by and wish you and the team good luck.” She said, taking a step closer to Troy’s desk.

  Troy looked at her knowing that she shouldn’t be here and this could jeopardize he whole coaching position. With quick thought Troy stepped out around the desk walking beside Kelley trying his best not to make any contact as he opened the office door, “ Thanks Kelley. That’s very considerate of you. I’ll see you down on the field.” Troy said without any excitement at her being there.

  “ So, is your wife coming to the game tonight?” Kelley asked with a coy grin.

  “ Yes, of course Becca will be here I’m expecting her at any moment. She’s bringing me dinner. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot to do before the game. Thanks for thinking of the team.” He motioned for her to exit his office trying to be a polite as he could.

  Kelley took the hint turning to leave but not before she could say one last thing, “ You know you’re too good for Becca. My sister remembers you both from high school coach. You need someone that can really support your needs. Think about it.” With that Kelley left the Troy’s office shaking her pom-poms as though she had just won a trophy.

  Troy believing that that was the end of such foolishness turned back to his work and waited for Becca to arrive. He had not forgotten about her older sister who had been an adversary of Becca’s when they attend Hershel. It was no surprise that Kelley’s sister, Renee had probably put her up to this. Becca and Renee were never friendly and at every turn Renee had done everything that she could to come between Troy and Becca. Kelley apparently was taking over the challenge.

  After arriving at the high school Becca made her way to the coaches’ office down in the basement area of the school’s building. She walked down the long tunnel that led to the office space . As she rounded the curve of the tunnel she met up with Kelley as she was leaving Troy’s office. Kelley couldn’t help but say something to Becca if only to make her feel threaten, “ Hi Becca. You on your way to Coaches office. He’s there waiting on you, I just stopped by to wish him good luck. You know, for the game tonight. He’s so wound up. He really needs someone to loosen him up. You know?” she spoke in her most flirty way as though she knew something that Becca did not.

  Becca just looked at Kelley with cold eyes feeling the implications of her thoughts. It infuriated Becca that that little twit of a girl would speak to her that way. Kelley spoke about Troy like she had every reason to know how he was feeling. Becca burned with fire as she continued to make her way to Troy’s office.

  The office door flung open as Becca entered with a huff. She hadn’t wanted to upset Troy tonight. A win for the team was a win for him as well and Becca did support Troy one hundred percent, but there was that small unsettling feeling that she could not keep still in her mind.

  Troy looked up standing as soon as he saw her, “ Hi sweetie. Boy, am I glad you’re here. Troy told her as he stepped over to greet her with a quick kiss.

  Becca smiled at him brushing his bangs from his eyes sitting the divided plastic plate on his desk, “I brought you some dinner. I made meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Oh, there’s a yeast roll too. Do you have something to drink?” she asked politely.

  Troy lean over giving Becca a soft kiss, smiling at his beautiful wife, “ Yeah, I’ve got a Sprite. How about you? Did you eat already?” Troy inquired.

  “ I ate a small bit before coming. I’m fine, I’ll probably grab a hotdog later during the game.” Becca replied hesitating to ask the question that was bugging her. She caught herself speaking even though she had hoped to let it go. Apparently, she wasn’t feeling secure enough to just let her fears lay, “ I ran into Kelley in tunnel just now. She seemed very happy about the game tonight.” Becca was saying not looking at Troy fearing that he would notice how uncomfortable she really was.

  Troy put his folder down and walked around the desk taking Becca in his arms, squeezing her tightly to his chest. He hated that Kelley had come down to his office in time to run into Becca. He knew deep down inside that she had planned this move if for no other reason than to deliberately to upset Becca.

  He pulled Becca close to him whispering to her, “ Don’t let that little girl upset you. We’ve left our high school years behind us and we are together. I married you because I love you and to this day Rennee has not gotten over it. It’s the first game of the season. We should be excited for our future. Right?” Troy said trying to reassure his wife.

  Letting out a long breath Becca held onto to Troy for a long time before pushing away and smiling back at him, “ I know it’s silly of me to worry. I know you love me and you’re right. We are at the beginning of our lives together and Renee is not part of our plan. Okay, you need to eat. So, eat.” Becca responded feeling much better.

  For the rest of the time before Troy needed to join the team, he and Becca enjoyed their private moment. They both were excited about the game knowing that if victory came to the home team it was the beginning of a great opportunity and career choice for them both.

  Life seemed so good at this moment, but when you least expect it the evil trails of unplanned hatred rise up. It is the time when the negative life forces mount against the good of people’s best laid plans. As the master’s prize champion was at play in the town of Hershel so was the master’s surprise plan of destruction.

  Sometimes good over comes evil, but only after evil has played its hand taking all good things to burn in the hell fire eternal.