Poppies- Chapter 33-
By: Deena Thomson
Tags: Fiction Series, Fiction, Novel, Writing, Fiction Writing

Seated comfortably inside, Joanna took tiny sips from her glass. Careful not to get intoxicated. The wine tasted good and seemed to give her the courage she needed.

He watched her, admiring her long, slender face and graceful neck. Her skin had a healthy color to it, as though she had been in the sun. It was golden with a warmth to it.

“How is it that you and Mara-Joy look so different?” he asked, still staring at her. Joanna glanced at him beside her and relaxed into the couch, closing her eyes.

“Are you saying you don’t like the way I look?” She smiled, very well aware of his eyes on her. “I definitely like your looks.”

Joanna felt him move closer to her.

“It’s just that you two are so different both inside and out. It’s like you didn’t come from the same factory or something.”

Joanna’s eyes fluttered open. Her heart started to race and she felt panicky.

Why was she feeling trepidation?

She sat up and gulped down the remainder of her wine.

“Many siblings don’t resemble each other. My grandparents are all dead so I don’t know what they looked like. I am sure there is some deceased relative that my sister resembles.” She reached for the bottle. Chad got to it first and refilled her glass.

She sipped back a healthy amount.

“That’s true, she does look a lot like your Uncle,” Chad said as he refilled his glass. He hadn’t thought Joanna would be so sensitive about the subject.

“I really don’t feel like talking about my family right now.” The mood had changed and she was beginning to feel uneasy as if she wanted to run away. “Let’s talk of more pleasant things, shall we?”

“Like what?” he asked, closing in on her. “What would you like to talk about, Joanna?” He slid his hand onto her knee, gently caressing her leg.

Joanna eyed him cautiously.

“What are you doing, brother-in-law?” she asked, eyeing him over her glass. Heat rushed to her face. This was too easy.

“I don’t really know,” Chad pulled back. “All I know is I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since you were here last.” He stood up and walked around the spacious living room, wine glass in hand. “I am very attracted to you and that is dangerous.” He looked at her still face. “You are very beautiful.” Chad turned away and looked at a picture of him and Mara-Joy on their wedding day.

“I made the biggest mistake of my life that day,” he said, more to himself than to her. “Remember how you told me off?” He chuckled and took a drink “The sad part is you were right, partly. I was a slave to her beauty. It really was that simple, but it was more.”

“The pregnancy?”

Chad turned around, surprised.

“Yes. The pregnancy. The child who never was. The beginning of my nightmare.” He drained his glass and poured himself another. “You never think of the repercussions of adolescent lust. All I thought was that I was sleeping with the most popular girl in our group. She was mine when everyone else wanted her. She was like a trophy. I was a fool.”

“How is that?” Joanna speaking low asked. She was not enjoying what she heard. She clasped her glass tight, anchoring her in place.

“Mara-Joy is no one’s trophy. You are her trophy. Her toy. Her puppet to do her bidding.”

Chad’s face had turned a deep red. His glass was empty again. He reached for the bottle but it was empty. Joanna stood up and reached out her hand to him.

“I feel so trapped with her and I don’t know how I can escape.” Chad’s voice broke full of emotion, his face becoming purplish red. “I can’t even stand to look at her.”

Joanna remained quiet standing before Chad’s turned back. She had no idea how tortured Chad’s life had become. Feeling pity for him, she embraced his defeated frame.

He easily fell into her arms and began to sob. He was larger than her. Her slim arms grasped him tight as he began to shake with emotion.

They remained like that for a while: neither talking, just holding each other.

Reluctant Chad finally pulled away from Joanna’s embrace.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, embarrassed, wiping his eyes. His brown hair had fallen boyishly onto his forehead. Joanna smoothed the hair back out of the way.

Chad took her hand from his hair and kissed the underside of her palm.

Electricity skyrocketed through her body.

“You should stay away from me, Joanna,” Chad breathed into her hand.

“Why is that?” she whispered, her legs turning to liquid.

“I’m your sister’s husband,” he said as he raised his lips to her wrist,” and I have been known to be unfaithful to her.”

“What are you suggesting?” Warmth flooded her veins.

“I have no love for my wife, but I feel a great need to be near you.” He lifted his head and looked into Joanna’s fevered face. “If you stay, I can’t promise you anything.”

“Do I need promises?” She ached to be in his arms.

“You deserve promises.”

“Do you want me to go?

“You’re just a kid. I can’t do this to you.” He grabbed her shoulder roughly.

He wanted her, but how could he?

Joanna flung herself into his arms embracing him with a passionate kiss. Chad’s arms encircled her waist, holding her in place. They melted into each other, starved for one another.

Joanna unlocked her lips from his, panting.

“I am not a kid.”

“No, you are not,” he said, embracing her once again.

Chad drove Joanna home, but this time he dropped her off a block from her house. They lingered, kissing one another for a few moments until Joanna had to pull away.

“Will I see you next Friday?” Chad asked, feeling desperate. They had spent the evening kissing, talking, and touching. Never had he felt such desire. But it was not because he was so attracted to Joanna physically, though he was. He enjoyed her company. They had laughed a lot talking about the many things they had in common.

“Yes,” Joanna smiled through the open window at him. “But I have to go before my parents kill me.”

“I will be counting the days.”

Joanna blew him a kiss and ran off.