LETHAL OBSESSION by Carey Regenold Page B

"Well,
ladies."  Gene pasted on a politician smile and clapped his hands
together.  "What do you say we all go grab a bite of some of this delicious
fair food?"                                 
          Any
women still under the pavilion dispersed quickly, each finding excuses to go
elsewhere.  The ladies manning the bake sale were all staring in Gene's
direction. An uncomfortable silence had fallen so thick that Gene felt his neck
hairs stand on end.  Both Ellen and Martha were looking at him as he tried to
swallow his nervousness and appear as if all was normal in his corner of the
world.     
          Then
Ellen totally surprised him.  She stepped forward reaching for his and Martha's
hand placing them together.  With a sad sweet smile, Ellen spoke softly. 
"Treasure each other always.  You don't know how precious togetherness is
and how quickly it can be gone. I do."  She leaned over and kissed Gene's
wife on the cheek.  "I'm so glad to have met you, Martha. I really need to
be somewhere so I'm going to pass on the fair food, but the two of you enjoy." 
          With
one last smile and a wave, Ellen turned and was immediately swallowed up by the
crowd. Gene stifled the urge to mop his face with a bandana. Cautiously his
eyes slid to Martha, but she seemed to be smiling.  He breathed a sigh of
relief.  Thank you, Jesus, he thought. At least she was happy.
          "What
a nice woman," Martha murmured.  "I wonder what she meant?"  She
turned questioning eyes to her husband.  "Ellen seems so young to have
tragedy in her life.  I will say a prayer for her in Church this Sunday.  How
do you know Ellen, Gene?"         
          He
shifted his weight. "Yeah, well, you know how it goes, Martha."  He
put his arm around her shoulders steering her in the direction of the food court. 
"I work with the public, Babe.  A lot of people cross my path. I don't
recall the incident specifically, but that's not important right now. She's
right you know.  You and I are so lucky to have each other and our son."  
          "Oh
Gene, I love you."                      
         
          Ellen
was walking like the devil was after her.  She wiped furiously at tears as she
tried to sort out her feelings.  Gene had manipulated her into believing he was
available.  That made him a liar and a cheat.  He said he loved her, another
lie.  Apparently he wanted sex and was adept at throwing out some damn good
lines.  She had fallen hook, line and sinker so how stupid does that make her?
          So
now what? So now nothing as far as she was concerned.  Gene Stone wasn't worth
her tears.  He had helped her once.  She repaid him with her friendship and
almost her body, end of story, debt repaid.  Lying bastard, Gene was no better
than Robert Danville angling for a woman to satisfy his needs.  Ellen thanked
her lucky stars she had possessed the sense to stop Gene when they were in his
bed yesterday.  Gene had brought her to that cabin for a reason.  Now she knew
why. He came very close to using her and getting another notch on his belt. 
Just the thought of it made her sick.                                                    Out
of breath, Ellen didn't realize she was walking so fast.  A picnic bench was
empty just up ahead.  She looked behind her feeling confident Gene wouldn't
dare follow. Ellen sat down and tried to relax, allowing the aromas and sounds
of the fair to permeate her senses. She could smell funnel cakes frying
somewhere.  Suddenly Ellen was starving.  A hot, sweet, sugary funnel cake
covered with chocolate and whipped cream just might be the answer to all her heart
aches, at least for now.
          Scouting
out the eateries Ellen found the right one and got in the line.  Taking her
sinful treat back to the table, she sat down and dug in.  As she nibbled