Chapter 1

It had been more that two years ago when I had last been through this door. My home's door. Even if I knew what was waiting for me behind that door I felt a bit nervous. At least I thought that I knew, as I had had some hired help to find out things as much as possible. Most importantly, I knew what was not waiting me behind that door. My ex-boss, my nemesis - the sole person behind my two-year banishment and torture. The man I had once considered my friend but who had then made me a cuckold. Now I had used my new resources to make sure he would be chasing ghosts for at least a week. Far, far away. With no real possibility to contact home, or anyone else.

And then, without warning, a flashback was inside my head. It sent me back to that morning more that two years ago when I, for the last time, had walked out of that door.

It was a nice spring morning when I kissed my wife Hanna goodbye. This two week separation would be my final favor to my current employer. After that, I would give my two-week notice and we would start on looking a new place to live. When my mother had been alive she had made sure that I should 'pay our debts' by working for these people. But enough was enough, and now it would be time to do something new. Since we both were young and had our degrees, it should not be difficult. And we both had plans for studying some more.

The kiss I received by the door was almost enough to stop me from traveling, but only almost. There had not been much sleep last night, since we both made our best to make sure that we had memories that would last at least those two weeks. The cab driver had to wake me up at the airport. I was too exhausted even to be embarrassed. Luckily I was able to catch a few more hours of sleep after boarding the plane and during the flight south across the Caribbean.

A quick check with my old keys confirmed to me that I could enter my old home just as I had been able to do it more than two years ago. The locks had not been changed, and nobody had ever bothered to take away my keys. I was not supposed to never need them again. I opened the door and stepped in.

It seemed that Hanna had been working in the kitchen since there was a sound of clinking glasses I could hear coming form that direction and suddenly she was by the door looking at me. She looked older, maybe a bit strained but so did I for sure. But the pictures I had seen did not do justice to her. She still was a real beauty, with her blonde hair framing that oval-shaped face. My heart hurt like hell as I noticed that I still loved her. How could I not?

"Hi, honey, I'm back. Sorry that I took a bit longer than planned, but there was nothing I could do about it."

Hanna and I had became an item during our last year in high school. We both had been dating before, but once we started going out together there was no question that we belonged together. We had same kind of witty humour, we tolerated or even liked the films the other one wanted to see, and we really were compatible in bed. Or wherever we decided to have sex. We went to college together, and supported each other during the rough times. So it was no wonder that we decided to marry during our final year at college. We had lived together ever since. Once reason for our quick marriage was that both her parents were terminally ill because of lung cancer caused by asbestosis. They were happy to see their little girl married before it was too late. My mother had been equally happy for us but she had also made sure that I'd come to work for the company that helped her to pay my education. Since Hanna had liked the area, and she had no problems finding the job as a schoolteacher, we agreed. That was more than three years ago.

I have to give her some credit for not fainting or throwing a tantrum. But she did have to take a hold on the jamb next to her when she gasped for breath.

"You ... You aren't supposed to come back. You started a new life down there..."

"And yet you are still married to me. Besides, did you ever try to contact me in any other way than calling my mobile?"

"I did. Or he tried. I mean he said he tried all the ways possible, but you did not want to talk..."

At that point we were interrupted by the voice upstairs. I forced a reassuring smile to my face when I looked at Hanna.

"Why don't you go and get OUR daughter, before she starts crying. I think it is time for her to get to know HER daddy. After all, it is MY name written in the birth certificate, isn't it?"

I saw her flinching. I had not been able to keep the emotion out of my voice. It just hurt way too much. I took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Hanna, that was totally uncalled for. I just want you to know that I'm willing to accept the situation, and I do really want to learn to know her, and love her. Please."

She looked at me like she did not really know if she should believe me or not, but finally she turned and took the way upstairs. I could feel some tension leave my body. It could have been much worse. Of course, it could have been much, much better, too. This was not going to be easy for either of us. Not easy at all.

It was a few minutes later when Hanna walked down the stairs carrying an adorable little girl. Emily Lorraine. Her second name being the same as my mother's was meant to be the final insult. I should have hated the little girl and all that she presented to me, but looking at the blond hair and the blue eyes made my heart lurch. How could I hate a one year old child because of something she had not done? I did not hate her mother, either, even if her actions had shattered my heart into small pieces. I took some steps towards them, and smiled to the little girl.

"Hi, Emily. It's time for you to get to know your daddy."

I do not know if it was my comment or the hidden message that I knew a whole lot more than I should have known which shocked Hanna more. Whatever the reason she might have dropped Emily if I had not been close enough to catch her.

"Oops, Emily! It seems that your mother likes to play a little."

My comment worked, and the shy little girl in fact giggled a little when I lowered her to the floor. She rushed behind her mother, but she smiled when peeked at me from her safe haven. I took Hanna's trembling hands in mine.

Chapter 2 »