Caught In Deception

First and Last Anniversary

"Look, Gary, man, you got to learn to accept rejection. They don't want to do the merger. Besides, you are a billionaire. You don't need that merger or any other company." 

"Hunt, Hunt, Hunt. It's not about what I have or need. It's about what I can't have and want. So I'm not going to be happy until they say yes."

Hunter only shook his head in return, knowing that to continue this conversation would only mean going in circles, "Okay, I'm running late. It's my anniversary. I have to get home."

"Your anniversary? Your anniversary is on Sunday, right?"

"Well, you see, me and Shayla like to celebrate the whole week," Hunter shyly replied. 

"Mmm, that's…different. Cool man. You sure know how to spoil them." 

"Man Shayla, she's everything. She's worth spoiling. But look, first thing tomorrow, I'll call Mintz and convince him to change his mind."

"Sure thing, you get out of here and tell Shayla I say happy anniversary," Gary smiled. "But I'm not sending my gift until Sunday." 

Hunter and Gary Laugh. "Good night, man," Hunter said, closing the door.

Hunter excitedly pulled out his key remote to his new two-month-old Mercedes Benz, his first luxury car. 

He managed to acquire another multi-million dollar deal for Price Inc. The advances, along with the perks, are just one of the many reasons for working at Price Inc. 

Happily heading home to his wife, he thought about the new beachfront property that he had purchased with the loan he got from Gary. If he closes the Mintz deal, he knows the bonus will give him most of the money to pay him back, and they will be homeowners of a house that Shayla loves.  

Only fifteen minutes left before arriving home, and Holland couldn't wait to see what was in store for him tonight.

_

Shayla is preparing a romantic candlelight dinner.  She lit a candle placing it in the window. Whenever Holland saw that little candle in the window it was a signal, letting him know how she was feeling inside. She was ready for love.  It's the week of their anniversary. She and Holland decided that instead of celebrating one day, they would celebrate the entire week. Shayla brought sexy lingerie for each night. Tonight she wore Holland's favorite color, mauve.  

"Hey, Ma," she answered her phone quickly after the first ring.

"Hey baby, I was calling to talk to you about moving. Your daddy was so upset this morning he couldn't stop you from marrying that guy, but he's not about to let him move you to another state. Baby, we don't trust him." 

"I'm doing what's best for my marriage, isn't that what you taught Sherise and me? To work hard at making our marriages work?"

"Yes, but we are still not quite over who you married. All Holland does is blame us, the neighbors, my friends for his discontent! Mind you. Those people aren't doing him a thing!" 

"Ma, that's it. They're not doing anything! Including being cordial!" Shayla paused to calm her nerves. "Look, I know you want me to be happy, and I am so happy with Holland. He makes me smile on the inside and out, and I want to make him happy too. He's sacrificed so much this past year, and it's only fair that I think about his needs and desires too." 

"I'm telling you, I don't trust him, and your father isn't happy at all. I see it on the news all the time. Shayla, rich people, can make you disappear, and you'll never see your family."

"Mom, you watched too much television. That stuff isn't real. Besides, Holland is not rich. He's just well off and has an excellent job."

"But he knows some wealthy people. It's all the same-,"

"Shayla, this is your dad. I won't let him take you. It'll have to be over my dead body! You hear me, girl?!"

"Dad! Stop being irrational. I'm a grown married woman now. Can't you be happy that I'm happy?"

"I'm serious, Shayla. Here's your Mama," Her father ended in a stern tone before giving her mother the phone.

 "Look, mom, try to calm dad down," she tried to reason. "The minute I get settled in the new house, we'll fly you, dad, and the family out for a visit."

"Okay, baby," her mom replied solemnly. 

"Are you going to tell me Happy Anniversary?"

There was a pause before her mother begrudgingly said, "Happy Anniversary. I'm only saying this because I want what is best for you." 

"I know. Would you please try harder to give Holland a chance? He views my family as his family, especially since he's not very close to his family except his younger brother. 

"See, why isn't his family close to him? That's another reason I don't trust him. If your own family doesn't like you, that says a lot."

"Mama, that's so insensitive."

 "Well, I'm going to try harder to be nice to your husband and convince your dad because when my grandbabies get here, I don't want no excuse for you two to have for not bringing them over."

"Now that sounds like my mama!" Shayla laughed. "Anyway. Let me go so that I can get dinner ready for my husband."

"What are you cooking? Some foreign dish again?"

"No, he eats whatever I cook and doesn't complain. I'm filleting some fresh fish."

"Well, you're a good cook like your Mama. He should be happy. I love you, baby. Be good." 

"I love you too, Mama. Give Daddy a hug and kiss for me. Bye."

She placed the dinnerware on the table and two wine glasses with a bottle of chilled wine. Just when she went to light the candles, she heard the doorbell ring.  Shayla put down the lighter and looked at the clock.  It couldn't be her husband this soon, so she went and grabbed her robe so she could answer the door.

"Who is it?"

"Is this the Hunter residence?" 

Before opening the door, she replied, "Yes, it is Mrs. Hunter speaking." 

"Mrs. Hunter, this is officer O'Connor. Can we speak to you, ma'am?"

Shayla had no idea why they would want to talk to her. But she tied her robe up and opened the door. 

"Good evening Mrs. Hunter," He said, showing her his badge.

"Yes, how can I help you? Unfortunately, I don't have much time. I'm in the process of preparing dinner right now."

"Can we come in, Mrs. Hunter? It will only take a second." 

"Sure, have a seat," Shayla said as she took a seat across from them.

"We have some disturbing news," the officer started. It was the sound of his tone and the look on his face that began to unhinge her. 

"Ma'am, Mr. Hunter was in a car accident on Highway 1 around 6 pm."

"Hunter?" Shayla cried. "What hospital is he at?" She asked, jumping up off the sofa. 

"Mrs. Hunter, I'm sorry to inform you that he didn't survive the accident. The car exploded almost immediately from the impact."

"Wait, what're you saying? So you can't be talking about my husband?"

The officer lowered his eyes, feeling regret at having to tell the young woman such awful news, "I'm so sorry, ma'am." 

"No! No! No!" She screamed, collapsing back onto the sofa. Her cries broke the heart of the officers. 

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hunter. Is there anyone we can call to come to be with you?" 

Her ravaged moan echoed through the room. She was broken and devastated. 

Then they heard her gasping for air. 

"Mrs. Hunter! Mrs. Hunter?" The officer yelled as the other quickly called an ambulance.

~~~~~ 

 That day Shayla was supposed to celebrate her wedding anniversary. Instead, when she heard the tragic news that her husband had died, that awful, shocking news resulted in her becoming comatose, which resulted in her being admitted to the hospital for nearly three weeks.  

When she finally became conscious, she heard people talking but couldn't open her eyes.  

She needed to open her eyes to see where she was. Surely then, she would remember what brought her to that confusing place. And it would answer all the confusing questions flying around in her mind.

'Eyes Open!' 

Nothing happened, so finally, she relaxed and said they would come open when they were ready. 

She could hear her mother's voice, "Look! Her eyelids fluttered! Nurse, come quickly! Her eyelids fluttered."

Someone was feeling her wrist. Something was squeezing her upper arm.

"Her pulse is elevated. I believe she is coming out of the coma," the nurse said.

"Oh, please! Let it be so! I have prayed so hard for my baby to wake up," her father pleaded. "Come on, baby. You can do it. Return to us." 

Shayla wondered where she had gone, that she needed to return? Then, finally, her eyes began to obey her brain's command. They opened just a mere slit. She rolled them from side to side before she saw her mother and father standing next to a kind-looking man in a white coat. 

The man stepped closer to the bed. He had a warm expression on his face, "Can you tell me your name?"

"Shayla Hunter."

"Where are you?"

She let her eyes wander around to make sure of her answer, "at a hospital?"

"Yes, you are correct." 

"Do you remember anything that happened?"

Tears came to her eyes, and she nodded yes to the doctor. 

"Okay, you don't have to talk," he reassured her. "Get some rest, and we will check your vital signs in a little while." 

~~~~~~~~~

Within a few days, Shayla was released from the hospital and sent back home. 

Her mother stayed with her the first few nights, but she was ready for her mom to go home before long. She couldn't breathe or shed a tear without her mom wanting to admit her back into the hospital. So she had to pretend to be okay so her mother would feel comfortable enough to go home.

Her mother finally left. "Thank Goodness!"

The recurring dreams wasted no time attacking her again and again. Bringing back the passion she had shared with him, an all-consuming passion she had never shared with any man except for the man who was her beloved husband. Shayla couldn't imagine this world, this life, without him. Yet, the more she told herself he was dead, the more she questioned, was he really dead? 

She asked herself as if to convince herself it wasn't a cruel joke. 

"Someone must have killed him? He would never leave me. He was too careful to make a mistake. Yes, that had to be what happened." she fell back into sobs.

The more she denied that his life ended, the more the dreams occurred. 

Her memories of how they met, how desperately she missed him, they could not easily be dismissed. 

It got terrible when she could vividly see his face during her dreams.  

His tall, slender, stately appearance riveted her attention. He had deeply tanned skin contrasting with his startling close-cut dark hair, and just thinking about him and how and why she lost her precious friend and lover,  anxiety-filled all her waking days. Feeling physically sick and severely bitter at any given time was her reality. 

Shayla considered seeking a professional counselor, but her family and friends wouldn't understand how a love so new could run so deeply. 

Shayla had to stay alive because that's what her husband would want her to do. But the effort it took her to live, the hurt, and that anger never went away. It just subsided enough to allow her to function.

And even doing that was like a whole new life skill. Functioning? What was that? After she fought so hard to build a life with a man she never dreamed of marrying. After she sacrificed familial relationships to sustain the relationship she'd built with her husband., all of that, simply to lose him, to lose him in a way she could never get back.

Functioning.

What was that?

~~~~~~~~~

 Shayla worked hard and quickly to put her shattered life back together. Eventually, she moved to the beachfront property Holland had purchased. They had hope to start their family in this home. But, finally, the tragic news that her husband was killed in a horrible accident before he could even live in their house and on their first anniversary was almost too much to bear. 

Shayla had difficulty accepting that his car malfunctioned, causing him to crash, and it instantly exploded. Why? The car was only two months old. But she hoped the police would investigate it further. 

Shayla couldn't even give her husband a proper burial because there were no remains. That was almost the hardest to accept. 

The deep grief was overwhelming, and the constant reminders were heartbreaking. Yet, Shayla's life without her husband would never be the same. There was no one better. He meant the world to her and was the perfect husband. 

He showered her with so much love and affection. He would send her flowers, even when it wasn't a special occasion. Yellow roses were her favorite, or he would send his favorite choice, Bird Of Paradise arrangements. 

They both loved the beach so much that's why Holland purchased that beachfront property. It was where their family would begin. But that all was taken away in a blink of an eye.

 But now, there would be no family, just her, no man in her life.  She would live there and try to start a new life. Shayla moved to a new state to a quaint little town right off the Pacific coast. 

The way Holland had planned, but now that she's living there all alone. New dreams and strange things started to occur, and she didn't know why?