Part 32 (1/2)
Muriel gasped, but she didn't deny it and Sarah knew they were getting to the root of the problem.
”Have you ever told her?” Sarah asked Dan.
”On our wedding night.” Dan s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably. ”She never answered me and I never made that mistake again.”
Sarah was shocked, to say the least, and knew some blanks had to be filled in. ”How did you meet?”
Dan s.h.i.+fted in his seat again. ”My father owned a construction company and Muriel's was an architect. They joined forces and started building shopping centers. The business became very profitable. I was an only child and so was Muriel and our parents decided we should get married.”
”Because you were sleeping with every woman in Dallas and your father was afraid you'd get some girl pregnant.” Muriel twisted her handkerchief.
”So it was an arranged marriage?” Sarah asked before Dan could retaliate.
”I wasn't a raving beauty like Dan's other girlfriends and he didn't want to marry me.”
”I never said that.”
”I felt it every time you looked at me.”
”Good G.o.d.” Dan crossed his arms in anger.
Sarah had to bring this conversation back to the real problem. ”Muriel, why haven't you ever told Dan you love him?” She threw the question out there and it was dangerous, but the way they were living was more dangerous.
”I, uh, I'm just not able to do that.”
”Why?”
Sarah waited and she thought Muriel would refuse to answer, then her words came. ”Every night as my mother put me to bed she'd tell me that she loved me and I'd say I loved her, too. When I was six, she died. My father was a cold man and I wanted him to hold me and tell me he loved me. He said there was no such thing as love and I was never to say the word again. As I got older, I realized he was just hurting because his wife had died, but still, the damage was done. I couldn't say those words-not even when my sons were born. I was afraid they'd be taken from me, too. I know that's crazy because I've lost Drew and I never told him I loved him. I-I...never...” She sobbed loudly into her handkerchief.
Dan got up and knelt by her chair. ”Muriel, look at me.”
She raised her tear-stained face.
”I married you because I loved you and when you wouldn't say those words, it almost killed me.”
”You loved me?”
”Yes. If I didn't want to marry you, I could have changed my father's mind. I actually gave him the idea because I grew tired of trying to get your attention. The question is, how do you feel about me?”
”I'll leave you two alone.” Sarah got up and left the room, but not before she heard Muriel's choked, ”I-I...love you.”
Sarah waited outside the door. Since everyone had gone home, the offices were quiet and empty. She glanced at her watch. Ten minutes. She wanted to give them all the time they needed. She never dreamed that with a little pus.h.i.+ng so much emotion could erupt. Muriel had been suppressing destructive feelings for so long that it was way past time.
She could only imagine Daniel's childhood, but then, hers hadn't been idyllic, either. Everyone needed a deep, binding family love and she vowed that when Daniel came back she was going to say those words to him every day. First, he had to come home.
Finally they came out of the room. Muriel wasn't crying anymore; her eyes were sparkling with happiness as she stared up at her husband.
”Thank you, Sarah,” Dan said. ”Muriel and I are going home.”
”I'm going to fix my husband dinner,” Muriel said in a proud tone. ”I used to make a good omelet.”
”Could we come back tomorrow?” Dan asked.
Sarah was taken aback. ”You mean, as clients?”
”Yes. Muriel and I need to keep talking.”
”You both could benefit from marriage counseling. I'll see if Dr. Mason can fit you in.”
”No, Sarah, please,” Muriel pleaded. ”I'd feel more comfortable talking to you.”
Sarah hesitated. She was closely involved with their son and they needed therapy from someone who- ”I'm sorry for my cra.s.sness,” Muriel's voice cut through her thoughts. ”I think you're a beautiful, courageous young woman and I apologize for my rudeness to you.”
”Please, Sarah.” Dan added his pleading.
She found she couldn't say no. These were the parents of the man she loved. ”If you come tomorrow at four, I'll be glad to help you.”
”Thank you.” Muriel smiled.
”We'll see you then,” Dan called as they walked away arm-in-arm.
Sarah went home feeling better than she had in a very long time. If only Daniel was here. Please come home, Daniel.
ONE MORNING when she went in to work, Russ was waiting in her office.
”Russ,” she said, startled.
”Have you heard from Daniel?” he asked.
”No, not a word.” She laid her purse and briefcase on the desk.
”Boyd's execution is on Wednesday. I thought you might have heard from him.”
”No.”
”Since Daniel's not here, I'd take you if you wanted to go.”
She bit her lip to still the agitation in her. ”Thank you, Russ. I appreciate it, but I was notified and I declined. It's not something I really want to witness.”
”I understand. Just thought I'd make the offer.” Russ fidgeted and she'd never seen him do that in all the years she'd known him. He was always very self-a.s.sured.
”Is there another reason you stopped by?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets and the toothpick slid to the other side of his mouth. ”I, uh, been talking to my ex. She heard about the shooting on the news and that I was involved and she called. We've been talking without the anger and the tension.”
”That's very good,” Sarah said.
”You see, the big problem in our marriage was my job. She said I brought it home and she wanted us to go to counseling together. I flatly refused. A real man doesn't need counseling. He can solve his own problems.”
”Have you changed your mind?” She had a feeling that this was the reason Russ was here.