Chapter 7: Don't Say Never
Chapter 7:
Luis couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed, his wife in bed with another man and not just any man, but his best friend Hank. He never imagined that Sheridan could ever destroy their marriage, by having an affair. Luis would admit there had been some difficulties in their marriage lately, but it was nothing the two of them couldn’t overcome together. He rushed toward the door as quickly as he could.
He couldn’t take this, he wasn’t ready to speak to her. She had betrayed him and he couldn’t face her and have to look in those beautiful blue eyes and let her see all the anger he was harboring within. If he stayed he feared he would regret it. He no longer knew the woman he had once married. So many unanswered questions reeled in his head, but he couldn’t do it now. He was in to much pain, it felt as though Sheridan had taken a knife and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest. The pain was more than he could bear and what was worse was the anger that bawled inside him
He finally reached the door and turned the knob. He could hear her coming closer towards him as she raced down the stairs.
“Luis please don’t go” He hesitated for a moment. He couldn’t deny her request or could he. He was torn between the love he had for this woman and the anger he felt now. He froze and was unable to move. He couldn’t look at her. It would just remind him of her betrayal.
“Luis please let me explain. It’s not what it looks like..” Sheridan said trembling. She had began to cry and Luis was furious.
“What does it look like then? How could you Sheridan? How could you do this to us?” Luis asked angrily.
“I can’t deal with us. I have to leave.” Luis said as he headed towards the door.
“Please Luis….Please don’t leave me…Just let me explain..” Sheridan cried as he reached the door.
“I love you” Sheridan said barely above a whisper. She was on the floor practically begging for Luis to come back and let her explain.
“I love you too, but its clear you didn’t love me as much as I love you.” Luis said solemnly with a rather neutral expression on his face.
“Luis…please…” Sheridan begged. Her hands were shaking and she was trying to stop herself from crying so she could talk to Luis.
“Goodbye Sheridan” Luis said sadly as he looked one last time at his wife and walked out of her life.
He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. He began to fight back the tears that formed in his eyes. Little tears trickled down each cheek. What was he going to do? His wife had slept with his best friend and betrayed him, lied to him. He reached his car and opened the door. He stepped inside and slammed the door shut. He felt a fit or rage come over him, he could kill Hank right now. How could he sleep with his wife? But what hurt more was Sheridan’s unfaithfulness.
He placed the key in the ignition and started the car. He placed his hands tightly around the steering wheel. Trying to control himself and all the anger that was eating at him. He drove off cruising down the street as fast as he could. Sheridan watched as he sped off leaving skid marks on the road. She cried even harder because she knew she had ruined the best thing that had ever happened to her – her marriage with Luis.
Luis was driving fast and was unaware that he was being a hazard to other pedestrians and drivers on the road and sidewalks. But he was just too angry right now. As a police officer, he knew he was responsible for the safety of others and he wasn’t doing his job. He had broken countless laws in the past twenty minutes, and abusing his power as an officer of the law.
He didn’t know where to drive to he couldn’t go back home. She was there and the man she had slept with. Ugh he couldn’t bring himself to stop picturing them together in his bed – with HIS wife. Finally, he decided to stop of at Grace’s bed and breakfast and spend the night there. Where he could come down and deal with this affair in the morning. But one thing he knew for sure, his marriage was over and there was nothing Sheridan could say or do to change that.
Luis saw the flashing neon sign, “Harmony Suites” and he headed into the motel parking area. He quickly parked his car in the nearest convenient spot and headed into the motel lobby. There he spotted the motel manager checking out a tourist most likely. After the lady had taken her baggage and headed out, Luis approached the counter.
“I’d like a room please for the night.” Luis said in angered tone of voice.
“Would you like a room on one of the upper leaves or on the ground floor.” The manager asked politely.
“I don’t care” Luis hissed. “Just get me a room anywhere.”
“Yes sir.” The man answered nervously, afraid that Luis would explode with rage at any moment.
“Right away sir.” He headed into the back to grab a key from one of the slots.
“Here you are sir, room 202. Just head right up the stairs and to your left. Is there anything else you need sir?”
“No thanks” Luis muffled trying to control himself as he headed towards the stairs.
When he finally reached his room, he placed the key into the doorknob and violently turned it open. Once he was inside he threw his key on the table and looked around the room. How was he going to sleep tonight after what he witnessed. He sat on the king size bed and placed himself in a comfortable position. Perhaps a cold drink could ease his pain. He headed to the mini bar and opened the refrigerator. Luis grabbed an ice cold beer and twisted the cap off. He placed his lips on the edge of the bottle and then took several huge gulps. The cold taste of beer trickled down his throat as he swallowed more. Luis drank so much at once, that beer dripped down his shirt.
Three beers later, he had fallen asleep on the king size bed. His hair was ruffled and his clothes had been scattered on the floor. But that night the alcohol didn’t ease his pain, because he had haunting nightmares of his wife Sheridan making love to his friend Hank.
Several times that night he awoke from his thoughts of his former best friend and wife together in his bed. He would arise covered in sweat and gripping the sheets closely to his chest, like a child having a vivid recollection of something so frightening you had to open your eyes not to see it. Luis’ world was turned upside down that night and the images burned in his mind and remained there imprinted for the months to follow.
To Be Continued…
