Forbidden Dance: Will She Forgo Her Marriage for a Lifetime of Happiness? Read Free Page A

reason not to.”
    How comforting, Kyle almost sneered. “My father said something happened, she drove away, and threatened not to return.”
    “Your father takes care of your wife in your absence?”
    Kyle groaned. He wanted to disappear from this man’s all-knowing sight. He seemed to cut a powerful punch to Kyle’s guts. Alero despised his parents for reasons he failed to understand. She often told him she hated the way they interfered in their marriage.
    “I only wanted my family to keep an eye on her, but she resented it.”
    The man nodded with his lips pressed together. “Aha! We’re getting somewhere. Young man, when you have lived as long as I have, you learn to keep your family far away from your marriage.”
    Kyle turned to face the man, but he stared ahead. “What do you mean?”
    “I pray you win your wife back. Don’t think the road to a successful marriage is paved with gold, and the fine things of life.” He paused. “A woman is like a tender bud. She needs your constant attention, complimentary remarks, and many other little things you probably have taken for granted for her to blossom and remain by your side. Hope for the best, my friend.”
    Kyle shrank back in his seat. His score card was freaking red! He had failed his wife. It was so simple to see after the frank discussion with a man he barely knew.
    “I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping Alero away from my work. I was scared to lose her,” Kyle mumbled. Even to his ears, his words reeked of selfishness. He swallowed and downed the half-full glass of burning liquid.
    “Never mind, there’s hope for you,” the stranger encouraged.
    For a long period, Kyle curled into a ball and brooded. The man let him drown his sorrow in silence.
    As the plane prepared for landing, the man removed the scarf around his neck.
    Kyle’s jaw dropped open. “You’re a priest?” No wonder he felt as if the man could see his soul. The priest collar had stayed safely tucked away beneath his muffler.
    “Yes sir, and so I am. A retired clergy. Here, take this bible. I have scribbled my name and address on the inside, somewhere. If you ever need to talk, come over to see me. My darling wife, Aileen would be delighted to cook you a meal. We’ve been married, forty-five years.” With that last remark, the clergyman disappeared.
    Kyle’s trembling fingers clutched the holy book. He felt too stained to even hold the book. But he didn’t have the heart to thrust it aside. The old man could have been an angel, he sure acted like one.

Four
     
    An hour later, Kyle was on his father’s doorstep.
    His dad opened the door. There was a scowl on his face and a young boy by his side.
    “Hello dad.”
    “Welcome home, son. Geez! You stayed away so long this time. Are you working for the US president?”
    He left his father to shut the door, while he walked straight to the second living room, where he knew his parents watched daytime TV.
    His mother was on her feet beaming from ear to ear. He hugged her and pecked both cheeks.
    “I’ll get you a drink, Kyle. What a joy to have you home.”
    His heart thudded in his chest. There was so much he wanted to know.
    “Where did my wife say she was going dad?” he asked, facing his father who was settling the young chap in the newly created play area at the far end of the huge living space. “I trusted you to take care of her. What happened?”
    “Here,” his mother pushed a glass of scotch into his hands.
    “Dear mum, I need a clear head right now. Where’s my wife?”
    “She left,” his father answered. For the first time, the indifference he had often detected in his dad’s voice turned to relief.
    Kyle ground his teeth. “Please forgive my stupidity. I don’t understand. Gone where? Tell me where she is. I want to go get her.”
    Wyatt straightened his bulky self.
    “Sit down, Kyle. Allow your father to explain,” Lydia intervened with a small smile.
    His mum had never pretended to care much