Husband By Request

Would you like a sandwich with that?

No, thank you. This can’t go on any longer.

What do you mean?

I’m talking about the fantasy world you’ve been living in since you first became friends with Maris at school.

Fantasy world?

Yes, the one where I’m your husband and Ari is our baby. That’s fiction, Olympia. Something you thought up in your head that has no basis in reality. You were a friend of my younger sister. That’s all. Because Maris had no guile, she couldn’t see it in you. Neither could my parents, who included you like you were their own daughter. And Maris was killed before you could be exposed for repaying her loving friendship with a lifetime of insidious treachery.

Treachery?

It’s as good a word as any to describe your behavior. You’ve hurt a lot of people, done a lot of damage. Some of it can’t be undone, but thank God that doesn’t include Dominique.

She’s turned you against me!

If you mean she’s helped me see into your disturbed psyche, then, yes. I give her full credit.

With every revelation Dominique felt a lifting of the terrible crushing pain that had plagued their marriage for so long. When the tape came to an end, she’d drenched herself and him in tears.

“It’s over,” she whispered. “Really over.”

He stared deeply into her eyes. “Let tonight be the real beginning of our marriage.”

Her heart was too full to talk.

His beautiful smile swept her away.

“We’re two shipwrecked lovers washed up on a distant shore for life. We have the moon to give us light, the sand to give us warmth. Best of all we have our bodies to give each other joy. Come here to me, my love.”

Dominique hugged both her parents at the same time. “I’m so glad you’re here to see the fun run. After this is over we’ll fly to Zakynthos with Eli and Bernice and fix our own Thanksgiving feast. It’ll be a first for them.”

“After this run, you’re going to need to relax. Your father and I will do the cooking.”

“Andreas will thank you.”

I’ll thank you. For the last week Dominique hadn’t been very hungry. She’d attributed it to nerves, because she wanted this first marathon to go without a hitch.

“I’m so proud of you for organizing all this I could burst.”

“Thanks, Dad. A hundred runners aren’t bad for the first one.”

“It’s fantastic,” her mother murmured. “Darling? I think they’re about ready to start. Good luck. After we can’t see you anymore we’re going to drive to the finish line to join Andreas and his parents. They’re already there with the camera, waiting for you.”

She felt her dad’s probing eyes. “You okay, Domani?”

“I’ve never been better.”

“Sure?”

“Maybe I’ve got a little stage fright. I don’t want to do anything to embarrass Andreas.”

“Embarrass—” her parents cried at the same time.

“You know. Stumble and fall flat on my face. I’d die if I did that.”

Her dad frowned. “You’ve never done it before. Do you feel a little shaky or something?”