Quot;Do you want me to leave?" Canton asked as Randi passed her.

Quot;No. I want you to stay, Canton," Randi said sternly, setting her jaw and spine for a fight. She walked out to the space between the cottage and main house before calling Shannon's name. He turned at the sound and walked over to her.

Quot;Blake said I'd find you here," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness.

Quot;I'm helping Canton paint," Randi explained unnecessarily, as her clothing and skin was splattered with mocha color.

"Look," he began, a hand moving to the back of his neck as nerves began to settle in. "Things kind of got out of hand the other night."

Quot;Kind of," Randi said, the bruises just now beginning to fade.

"For that I'm sorry." He managed to look her in the eye. "I mean that. I'm sorry and it shouldn't have happened."

Randi said nothing, only stood with her arms crossed over her chest, wondering where this would go and if it was the right time. She needed to finally make the cut; it was only fair to Shannon, to Blake and to herself.

Quot;I want you to come home, Randi. I'm fine with your renewed friendship with this woman. I mean, you're a happily married woman now. The past is the past. I hardly think I have anything to fear from some lesbian." He stepped towards her, placing large hands on her shoulders.

She looked up at him, trying to hide her contempt. "Leave Canton out of this, Shannon. She doesn't have a thing to do with it and has just been an innocent bystander in my messes."

Shannon's brows fell. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm unhappy Shannon and have been for a long time. Long before Canton ever came back into the picture."

Shannon was struck dumb for a minute. "What? What are you saying? I thought you were happy."

"No, you thoughtyouwere happy and to hell with me. Honestly Shannon, I'm not even so sure how happy you've been."

Shannon glared over at the cottage and thatwomanhe figured was in there. He dropped his hands from Randi's shoulders and dropped his voice, not wanting to be overheard. "What kind of whack job shit has that woman been feeding you?"

"Damn it!" Randi exploded, taking a step back from him. "Does nobody realize I have my own goddamn mind that Idooccasionally use?"

Shannon stared at her, stunned. "Randi listen-"

"No!" She got in his face, fed up. "You listen to me. I don't want to play the happy housewife anymore and I want a divorce. Do you get that? It's whatIwant," she thumped her own chest to emphasize her point. "Me, Shannon. Not you, not my parents, not Canton Landis.Me." She took several deep breaths to try and calm herself down. "I want my own life back, Shannon and most importantly, I wantmeback. I've been living my life for everyone else. When is it my turn?"

Shannon didn't know what to say. He hadn't been expecting such an explosion and certainly hadn't expected the content of that explosion. Feeling numb and overwhelmed, he nodded and walked back to his car, starting it and driving away.

Randi was trembling, fear and relief mixing to create a near-shattered mass. It was only when she felt strong arms support her that she allowed herself to crumble, though she didn't cry. Where Shannon was concerned, she had no more tears left to shed. Finally she felt strong enough to stand on her own two feet and pulled out of the hug, scrubbing her face with her hands.

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 8977