Fire In His Eyes (Secrets & Seduction #1)(50)

“Really,” I muttered. “I never would have thought.”

“Yeah, me too.” He wants to spend more time with his grand kids. He’s got two in North Carolina, and another one in Jacksonville.”

“He’s not moving, is he?” I asked. I knew a lot of the younger people in the complex really respected, and looked up to Joe. He was a role model for many, and a good friend.

“Na . . . him and Kat,” he laughed. “But he plans on travelling more.”

“Right,” I laughed. “Well, if they are happy with each other, God bless them, I say.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled. “They are happy . . .” His words trailed off. Victor didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t know what to say after that. “Well, I have to get some laundry done tonight, so I’ll call you . . . some other time,” he ended lamely.

“Okay, bye Victor. It was nice hearing from you.”



On Thursday, I called at seven. Early, in case he decided to go out, and I was worried about him.

“Hi there, Monica,” he answered. “I’m glad you called.”

“Hi, Victor. How are . . .” my words were caught off by what I heard next.

“Who is Monica, daddy?” I heard a little girl say. I held my breath panic striking into the very heart of me.

“It’s one of daddy’s friends, Stacey. One of my very best friends,” he told her. “Go on in and I’ll catch up, okay?” A lump began to form in my throat.

“Sure, Daddy. I’ll go make popcorn with Kat. Hurry up.” I heard her voice trail off.

“Listen, if you’re busy, I can always call back,” I offered.

“No, I have a second. My wife, er, she had a work thing come up, so I got to see Stacey. Normally, I get her every Tuesday, and every other weekend. But once in a while I get her more often. We just came back from dinner, and now we were going to watch a movie,” he explained.

“That’s nice. Well, then you should go,” I stated sincerely. “Don’t keep your daughter waiting.”

“Okay, but I’ll call you after I drop her off at home. It might be a little late though.”

“Sure, okay,” I mumbled. “Bye.”

I was his friend. One of his best. It hurt to hear him say that, but it didn’t either.



It was twelve-thirty when he called. I was tired, watching Lettermen, but still up waiting.

“Hi, Victor,” I said a little sleepily.

“Hey, I didn’t wake you, did I?” he asked worriedly.

“No, I was watching television, just getting tired,” I answered honestly.

“Sorry about that, but I had to drive Stacey home. Her mom lives in Dunedin now, and she wanted to talk a bit, sorry,” he offered lamely. She had moved; he stayed to talk. I tried to keep thoughts of them together out of my mind, but she was his wife.

“Dunedin?” I asked.

“Yeah, she um, bought a house there, and it’s a bit of a drive,” he did not sound happy about it. He was Stacey’s father and I am sure wanted to be as close to her as possible. I didn’t blame him for that.

“Oh, that’s okay.” I said yawning.

“You’re tired, go to sleep. I’ll call tomorrow,” he said and I could here in his voice he didn’t want the call to end.

“Thanks for telling Stacey that I was one of your best friends, Victor. That meant a lot to me,” I blurted out trying to keep the call going on for a while longer.

“I meant it, too,” he said with sincerity. “You are the only person that really knows me and accepts me, quirks and all.” I hurt for him, those scars he had ran deep.

I tried to tease him to ease his hurt. “Yeah, we are a pair of quirky birds, you and I,” I laughed knowingly. ‘Two of a kind.”

He laughed. “It’s hard, Monica, this friendship thing, though,” he said honestly. I could hear the regret in his voice, but he rushed to continue, “But I don’t want to lose it. I missed you so much, and worry about you. I need your friendship.”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “I know, me too, Vic, I feel the same way.” There was a silence. “I gained two pounds, though,” I tried to laugh to get us away from dangerous and painful territory.

“Ooo, two pounds,” he teased. “Good job, Monica.”

“Hey, I am trying.” I whined. And I was, trying to eat more often and regularly.

“I’m glad.” His sigh was audible before he spoke next. “Monica, I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I want to be honest with you from now on, Okay?”

“Okay,” I stammered.

“My wife and I have been going to counseling. The army really encourages us to take counseling, marriage counseling before taking any final measures. It is an eight week program. It’s been a month now. I just wanted you to know,” he said quickly.

The lump was back. “Oh, okay. I hope it is helping.”

“In a way,” he stalled. ‘It’s been, revealing. At least, I know my wife doesn’t see me as a monster anymore. We have another month of counseling.”

“Yeah, well. Good luck,” I managed to get out convincingly.

“Yeah, thanks, but I don’t think it is going to work for Julianna.” He paused searching for words. “She told me tonight she still wants a divorce. She loves me, but just not like a married couple should love one another.”