Page 12 of Unexpected Union

The woman glanced at Audra.

“Same with you?”

Audra shrugged, she had no intention ofgoing into detail about her relationship with Mitch. The womanobviously thought they were in the same situation.

“Is it a genetic thing with men, do youthink?” she offered.

The woman laughed. “I’m Molly Harper. Thegray-haired man at the desk on the right is my husband, Bill. Wehaven’t had a vacation together in three years and the last one wasa combination business trip to Chicago. I loved the place. I doubtBill remembers anything but the airport. Maybe it is genetic. I’llhave to look into his DNA. In the meantime, I plan to salvage atleast the rest of the day.”

She pushed open the door and marched over tothe desk.

Audra watched, amused. It was easier to feelthat emotion when it wasn’t her husband.

Slowly she shifted her gaze to Mitch. Whatwould he do if she marched in to salvage the rest of the day?Probably fall off his chair in shock. Then argue with her as he’ddone before.

A moot point. She had no intention of everagain becoming enamored with Mitch Wells.

Audra watched as Mitch frowned at the coupleat the next desk. Clicking off his phone, he closed his laptop andstood gathering the papers. The argument grew louder. Looking up,he spotted Audra through the glass wall.

In only a few seconds he’d pushed throughthe glass door.

“Did you get everything done?” sheasked.

“Everything that was sent. I can read it atthe cabin.”

“Success,” Molly called as she and herhusband came into the hallway. “Good luck with yours.”

Audra smiled at her over her shoulder andwaved.

“What was that about?” Mitch asked.

“They’re here on vacation and she’s a bitmiffed he’s spending time on work. If you’re ready, I’m gettinghungry. You’d said we’d be leaving a while ago. Next time, if thereever is a next time, I’m bringing a snack.”

He glanced at his watch and nodded.

As they headed back to her car, Mitch asked,“What did that woman mean, good luck with yours?”

“She thought you were my husband and workingaway your vacation time.”

He was silent for a long moment, his eyessearching hers as if looking for something he couldn’t find. “Andwhat did you tell her?”

She shrugged. “We didn’t exactly stop tochat. She mentioned it in passing before storming into the room toget her husband. I guess she was tired of being ignored.”

“Ignored?”

“What do you call it when her husband bringsher here and then leaves her for business? I’m fed up with men whocan’t relate to needs of others. Men who are so self-centered andselfish that only their own desires count. Men who ignore theirwives to the detriment of everything they once thought to build.Why marry in the first place, just to get a cook andhousekeeper?”

Her temper erupted as all the old hurts andinsecurities rose.

“Whoa, time out. What touched your hotbutton? I didn’t marry you to get a cook and housekeeper.”

She glared at him. “And why did you marryme? Why sweep me off my feet if I was only to become anencumbrance, something to be shunted aside while you spent yourdays and nights slogging away at work?”

“You’re going to have a lonely old age,” shemuttered as she settled behind the wheel of her car.

He turned his head. “Did you saysomething?”

She shook her head. She wasn’t out to savethe man, just bring some order and focus to her own life.

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