Tony is Tired of Valerie's Games

“Calm down,” he said before she could tell him off.  He stood and tilted his head towards the white couple across the street that was now looking in their direction.  “Come on.  Let’s go in the house before your neighbors think we’re arguing and call the cops.  Not everyone in this neighborhood is comfortable around those of us with permanent tans.”  He reached down a hand to help her up.  She stood without it.

Once they were in the foyer, Valerie let loose.

“What makes you think I need your input?  Sherry and I are fine.  I’ve given her a good home and she obviously has a father.  You’re doing fine in your department and I’m doing fine in mine.  Please, keep your opinions about my love-life to yourself.”

Tony just smiled, took both of her hands in his, and stepped towards her.  The scent of jasmine drifted off her skin and made him remember other times they’d stood this close.

“Val, am I out of line to want to be the person to hold you and talk about your plans, to live in the same house with you and our daughter?  I’ve always wanted to marry you.  That hasn’t changed.  So stop pretending like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

She snatched her hands away and walked into the living room – the foyer was much too small, he was much too close, and she couldn’t bear to look into those light brown eyes.  She had to concentrate to slow her breathing.  “We’re not going to talk about this today.”

“Why?  Are you still afraid?”

“Afraid?”  Hell, yes she was afraid!  Valerie thought for a moment and decided it was better to redirect the subject.  She turned to stare at him, stubbornly tilting her chin and sending him a defiant gaze that refused to reveal her nervousness.  “Did something happen today to make you think I would be willing to have this conversation?  Did you get hit on the head with a baseball?  Or maybe you were out in the sun too long.  Whatever it was, you have definitely forgotten who you’re talking to, especially on the subject of marriage.”

“No, Val.  You’re the one who has forgotten.”  Tony wasn’t smiling now; he was just staring at her with a familiar passionate expression in his eyes that she didn’t want to acknowledge.  His words, although softly spoken, told her this was not one of those times to debate with him.  He was prepared to settle this issue that had hung between them for too long.  She walked over to the sofa and sat down, hands resting on her knees.

Tony crossed the room and sat on the ottoman directly in front of her.  He leaned forward and clasped her hands in his.  Hers were trembling.  For a moment, he just sat there, watching the light rise and fall of her breasts as she refused to look at him.  Her scent was intoxicating and an all-too-familiar neediness spread through him.  It made him sick to know that she was still having such a difficult response to him.  Didn’t she know that this relationship she insisted upon was driving him insane with loneliness and longing?  Hadn’t he done all he could over the years to prove his devotion to her?  He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the forehead.  On the cheek.  On the side of her throat where that pulse was beating wildly.  He heard a small sigh escape her as his lips traveled lower, to her collarbone, and then brushed against a thin chain she was wearing beneath her tee shirt.

Suddenly, Val jerked away from him, her eyes wide with panic, her arms guardedly hugging her stomach.

“Val?”  Her body was trembling slightly.  Why?  What the hell was wrong?  Tony stared at her as his mind raced over those past few minutes trying to figure out what he had done.

“Tony, please leave,” came out as little more than a whisper, a desperate plea.

And then he figured it out.  He reached over and pulled the chain from beneath her top.  A filigree ring dangled from it, the pinkie ring he had bought in memory of their first Valentine’s Day.  The swirling heart design was unmistakable.  He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him.  He wanted her to see the confusion that was wracking his thoughts. 

“You don’t wear it where anyone can see it, but you haven’t broken your promise, have you?” he asked bitterly.  No answer.  “Have you?” he demanded.

“No,” she admitted faintly.  “I haven’t broken my promise.”  She closed her eyes for a moment to keep the tears of fear and humiliation from spilling over.  Outside of moving it from her hand to this chain, or removing it on rare occasions, wearing his ring was a promise she had made and kept; and her loyalty betrayed her.

 “Then why have you forced us to be apart?  You treat me like you don’t even want to be in the same room with me; and yet, you still wear my ring?  I don’t understand, Val.”  His confusion was fading and Tony was angry.  He was hurt.  He stood and stepped away from the hassock to keep from grabbing her shoulders and shaking some sense into the situation. 

“I don’t want to do this right now.”

“Alright,” he conceded.  “When?”  Valerie just shook her head and closed her eyes, blocking out the sight of his eyes expressing a myriad of feelings she did not want to see.  She could feel him staring at her and sense the depth of his frustration.  A few minutes later, she heard the soft click of the front door closing and sighed in relief.

The living room was decorated in soothing tones of blues and purples and magentas with large-leafed tropical plants in front of the picture window.  The sun shone into that room for most of the afternoon, making it a calming space.  But as soon as Tony left, it felt icy and empty.  Likewise, coldness crept into the pit of Valerie’s stomach and she couldn’t stop herself from shivering. 

A showdown was coming – soon.  One she had been avoiding for three years.  Well, Tony had finally found ammunition to force her hand.  He’d left tonight, but that meant nothing.   It was clear she had run out of time.  

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