Her day went by slowly and half way through Dean phoned her at the library. He told her he got home safely and he’d see her soon. She felt better and was pleased she could get home by four. The library didn’t stay open late on a Monday. Peter didn’t show and she was pleased.
When it came to closing time, Laura rushed out of the library looking forward to meeting with Dean. He hadn’t told her he wanted to see her, but she wanted to see him. She spent most of her time thinking about him and wanted nothing more than to spend all of her spare time at his house. Over the weekend she hadn’t thought about anything but seeing him again. She wanted to understand why he’d backed off. She loved being with Dean.
Laura stopped as she saw Peter paused by his truck and staring back at her.
“What’s the matter?” she asked and went over to see him.
Peter didn’t do or say anything, just stared at her. The car park was full with shoppers. The noise was a distraction. Laura started to feel uneasy as he simply stared at her.
“You’re starting to scare me with the intense stare you’ve got going ...” Her words stopped when he pulled out her diary. In an instant she understood the look and she reached out to grab the book from his fingers.
“Where did you get this?”
“You dropped it in the library on Friday,” he replied.
Laura placed the book into her bag. Her heart pounded against her chest. She glanced up into his eyes and she knew her thoughts were no longer private.
“You’ve read my diary?”
Peter looked away and Laura, mortified and scared, glanced around the car park. No one looked their way. She stared at Peter and didn’t know what to say. Instead she stormed away, the accusation she saw in his eyes was more than she could bear. Her time with Dean was hers. Everyone took her time. Her parents and Peter, even Dean took her time. The diary was hers and he’d read it.
Instead of getting the message to leave her alone he followed.
“What are you doing with him, Laura?”
“None of your business. Don’t forget you invaded my privacy, not the other way around.”
Laura didn’t want to think about what he’d do with her information. She was scared and wanted to go and see Dean first. Would he call it all off? After his time away and the withdrawal of the past few days, she didn’t know how he felt. She knew he still had feelings for his wife. He wore his wedding band even when they were together.
Peter reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her progress. They then walked for several minutes before stopping on the sidewalk in town. When a car passed them he took her behind one of the main buildings and pushed her against the hard wall.
The privacy for their conversation was welcome. Tears were close to the surface. She wanted to run home and weep. Going to see Dean after he’d told her not to would be a mistake. He hadn’t arranged for her to come to his place and had asked her to wait until he called her. Before he left she was free to go to his house at every chance. Dean was already placing restrictions and she didn’t have the time to think about it.
“How much did you read?”
“All of it.”
She felt a blush spread through her cheeks and she couldn’t stop the outrage. More than her privacy had been invaded, every part of her time with Dean had been shared with him.
“I hate you,” she growled and pushed against his hold.
Peter grabbed her hands and pinned them by her head. She couldn’t move and her frustration at being overpowered was evident as the tears she'd tried to hold back burst forth.
“According to that diary you don’t. You just don’t want me in the way you want, Dean,” Peter said.
She panicked when she saw him leaning down, intent on kissing her.
“I see you as a friend. I don’t want anything else to do with you. Why can’t you see that?” she cried.
Peter stopped and cursed at her. She preferred his curses to his kisses.
“He’d older than you, Laura,” he shouted.
“I don’t care about that. I love him, Peter. This isn’t one of those stupid crushes,” she argued.
He let her go and she rubbed a hand over her wrists. His grip had been tight.
“Is that what you think I’ve got for you? A stupid little crush?” Peter asked.
Laura shook her head and stared at the pavement. “I don’t know what you’re thinking or feeling about me. I love him.”
“He’s using you. You’re a young and beautiful woman, Laura. He can do what he wants. You’re clever, why can’t you see that?”
“Please, don’t say anything,” she asked. “This is my life and if he’s using me, I’ll deal with it. Please, be my friend.”
Peter glanced at the ground before nodding his head. “You’re going to get hurt by this,” he warned.
“That’s my problem. Not yours.”
“You’re wrong. It’s my problem because I love you.”
Laura smiled at his words and rubbed the tears from her eyes. “I do care about you, Peter.” She kissed his cheek and walked home.
* * * *
Laura stayed home and didn’t call Dean. Her brother was watching a film on the television and she sat on the floor reading a course book. Her mother had come in a few hours later with several bags. She didn’t know what was for dinner, but it looked like something special.
“When are you moving out, sis?” Tommy asked.
“I don’t know. Why?”
“I want your room. It’s bigger than mine. Plus, aren’t you ancient?”
“Cheeky, sod. I’m only twenty,” she told him. “Still old enough to do most things.”
Like have an affair with a man older than you.
Laura chuckled and went back to her book. Her mother walked in twenty minutes after her dad came home.
“I invited Dean Riley over for dinner tonight. I want you all on your best behavior,” her mother announced before dinner was ready.
Laura panicked and rushed upstairs. No one in her family paid attention to her. This would be the first time she’d seen him since his trip. Is that why he didn’t arrange a meeting with her? Because he knew he’d be coming here for dinner? Did this have anything to do with him withdrawing from her? All sorts of questions ran through her mind and she couldn’t think of a single reason. Maybe she’d have time to talk with him.
She checked her hair and made sure her shirt wasn’t stained by any grease or anything. Satisfied with her appearance, she paced herself and when the doorbell rang she made her way slowly down the stairs.