Like a Woman Scorned Read Free

in education.
    “What about your ex-wife?” Alison asked. She decided it was best not to be shy.
    Rick shook his head. “She’s out of the picture. Moved to New York when my son started college.”
    Alison moved a little closer to him. “Well, that’s convenient.” They both laughed, but Alison regretted saying it as soon as the words left her lips. Maybe two glasses of wine was even too many on a blind date.
    “Brenda tells me you are a senior paralegal,” Rick said, mercifully changing the subject.
    “Yes, ten years now.”
    They talked about her work for a while. Rick seemed impressed about the caseload she managed at a large, well-known corporate firm which employed some of the best attorneys around. She was responsible for the initial assignment of casework, based on each employee’s particular skills. Her firm’s “specialty” was entertainment law, which fascinated Rick because he didn’t know anyone else working in that field. Rarely would a law firm in Boston deal with such cases, he explained, as most were handled in New York or on the west coast.
    They got around to making small talk as well; movies, and life in Boston and San Francisco. After a while, Alison noticed the time. It was getting late.
    Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed by Rick’s presence. She had to get out of there. This was not the time to pursue him any further. She had no intention of winding up in a sexual encounter with Rick too quickly.
    He excused himself and went to the restroom. Alison decided to take the opportunity to leave the party. She knew it wasn’t right, and perhaps even a bit rude. But she had his business card and would contact him in a day or so. Brenda would be furious, but Alison could handle that.
    Within a few minutes, she was getting into a taxi at the cab stand around the corner from Brenda’s house.  She escaped, perhaps in the nick of time, and felt relieved and safe from the power of the man she’d just met. His looks, charm, intellect, everything about him had her totally spellbound and she didn’t trust herself.
    As soon as she got home, she sent him a text message:
     
    R, had to leave, sorry, happy to meet u, can we talk tomorrow and get together soon for lunch? Alison
     
    The message to Brenda was more explaining:
     
    B. Thx. Had to leave. Need to talk 2 u asap about Rick. Tomorrow? Luv, A.
     
    Alison undressed in the dark and put on warm pajamas. The light from the streetlamps coming through the shutters was enough to see by. A cup of chamomile tea was in order, so she reached for her largest mug. When it was ready, she curled up on the window seat in the living room.
    There was a full moon out, a harvest moon, and Alison was a mess. Had any man ever had this kind of effect on her before? No. No one. As she saw it, she had two choices: Refuse to see him again, or abandon herself to what could only be a fast-rushing relationship that would sweep her off to who-knows-where. One choice was safe and comfortable, the other more fun but possibly dangerous. When was the last time she had sex? How long had it been since she’d felt any emotions for a man?  She pictured herself as a moth beckoned by a flame.
    Alison normally slept well, but not this night. She tossed and turned, had dreams about a sexual encounter with Rick, and kept thinking about how good it would probably be. She awoke at one point with wet hair and goose bumps.
    The next morning, a shower and clean clothes didn’t do much for her attitude. She scolded herself over a cup of coffee. This was so stupid. Why was she being such a whacko? These feelings of fear were unfounded. What was it all about? At that point, Alison’s rational side emerged to take charge. She decided to take inventory of her emotions.
    The primary issue, it seemed, was a fear of giving herself to someone and losing control of her life, the life she worked so hard to create. She thought about how she built that life, the friends she made along the way, and all the