One & Two
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CHAPTER ONE
“ Stop it Eddie! You’ re scaring me,” Tanya yelled, pushing the imaginary brake peddle on her side of the pickup. The big, silver F-250 barreled down the service road of the north freeway, flying past the blur of colored neon lights. Interstate 45 spanned the length of Texas from Galveston to Dallas. This section of freeway, just east of Houston, had every food franchise, retail outlet and bail bondsman you could imagine.
Here we go again, Eddie thought.“ What? I’ m driving the way I always drive,” he said, as the Déjà Vu sensation passed. Tanya had suggested they take separate cars out to dinner, Eddie said,“ No way!” and offered her, her choice of dining establishments. She was losing her appetite. The evening sun glared through the window. Tanya couldn ' t see where Eddie was looking. His eyes hidden behind a pair of Costas del Mar, mirrored sunglasses. She wondered if he was eyeing the traffic or the legs of the blonde in the sports car which he seemed to keep pace with.“ Are you watching the road?” she asked.“ I’ m a professional driver. I’ m always watching the road. If I drive aggressively, it’ s just a habit,” Eddie stated as if that put his jerky outing into proper perspective.“ Habit? What, so now you’ re Mario Andretti drafting a Porsche? Better change lanes and cut off the mini-van about to get to the red light ahead of you,” Tanya said, her manicured nails digging into the leather arm rest. " Once, I would like to make it to a restaurant for dinner without feeling like I’ m about to toss lunch.”
Eddie braked. The truck slowed.“ I’ m sorry. I’ m a thoughtless jerk who loves you enough to slow down. Look, I’ m going the speed limit,” he grinned, placing his hand on hers. Tanya’ s knuckles were losing some of their tense whiteness. His fingers laced with hers. He glanced at the diamond ring he had given her seventeen years ago and knew she deserved to have a bigger stone gracing her delicate finger.“ So, where are we eating?” Choosing the most expensive restaurant she could think of“ Del Frisco ' s Double Eagle Steak House comes to mind.” Eddie paused,“ Mmm... O... K... That sounds good to me...” Eddie knew he’ d easily drop two to three Franklin’ s at Del Frisco’ s. In his mind, bigger rock or phenomenal filet, sated spouse or couch night, he was the winner on this trade up. His better half simmered. Eddie turned on the radio, he hated the silence.
Eddie found a parking space and ran around the truck to open her door. She knew she couldn ' t stay angry with him for long. As Tanya stepped from the vehicle, he pulled her into his arms.“ I love you and I would never hurt you,” he said, holding her tight and kissing her deep. Tanya didn’ t want to kiss him back. She didn’ t want to give in but it was impossible. There was no way she could look into his sad eyes, whenever he upset her, which from the beginning happened daily, and stay pissed off. The recklessness Eddie exhibited, when they first started dating, was exciting. Tanya’ s life had been very predictable, that is until Eddie stepped in and swept her off her feet. She thought when they had their first child, a baby girl who he cherished, he would grow up. Eddie was now thirty-seven going on seventeen.
Stepping from his arms, she walked toward the steakhouse. He bounced after her. Tanya felt like she was in high school on a first date every time they went out together. His enthusiasm for life was contagious and it never waned. Eddie pulled open the large wooden door. The sound and smell of food being prepared erupted from within. He started to enter ahead of her, paused, turned, donned his most charming smile and escorted her past his out-stretched arm. She poked him in the ribs as she passed. He bent down and was kissing her neck as the hostess said,“ Table for two?” Tanya nodded. Eddie was busy and ignored the lovely, young auburn, haired girl that escorted them to their table.
The booth awaited and Eddie still had his face buried in Tanya’ s black, silky, shoulder length hair. She struggled to break his grip as people began to stare.“ Enough!” she laughed and punched his shoulder.“ Why do you do that?” she asked.“ So I can prove my wife beats me,” he said, sliding in next to her and pulling up his sleeve to show the red mark left from the blow.“ No one would believe you for a second.” He cowered.