Duplicity - A True Story of Crime and Deceit by Paul Goldman (surface ebook reader txt) 📗

thing, I thought, as I began a feebleattempt to capture the emotions of a more traditional wedding, the“feeding of the bride and groom.”

Our drive home was quietas the three of us, this new family, sat contentedly in ourthoughts, reliving the day’s events. We headed to our new homein Jupiter Lakes,to the house I had purchased only three months earlier. This househad recently been built. Even more, the community ofJupiter Lakes was alsofairly new, and set amid a scattering of lakes that nearlyoutnumbered the plethora of families who had also decided to callit home. The schools were also significantly better in this area ofPalm Beach, especially compared to the ones servicing my oldcommunity of Boynton Beach. As I drove through the quiet, windingstreets of Jupiter Lakes,I watched as families washed their cars, playedgames, and lived as I was now going to live. For the past fewmonths, Johnny and I visited the house on weekends, painting theinterior and putting up blinds. I never really felt part of theneighborhood, though, part of the community. Now, I had a realfamily, like all my neighbors.

By the time we pulled into the driveway, Iwas full of pride and anticipation of the beginnings of my newlife. I lifted my slumbering son out of his car seat and carriedhim inside. Laying him gently on his brand new bed, neatly madewith Micky Mouse sheets and a soft green blanket, I changed himinto his pajamas, careful not to wake him, then stole away toprepare our own bedroom.

While Audrey was still downstairs, I beganthe process of arranging all over the room the countless candlesI’d purchased a few days before. The window sills, the dresser top,and every conceivable place that would not be considered a firehazard was alight with the luminous glow of the candles. Tocomplete the effect, I carefully scattered rose petals over the bedand quietly backed out of the room. I was determined to make thistime everything it should be, and nothing like our first encounterin the car. Closing the doors behind me, I turned to face Audreywho was by now coming up the stairs.

“What are you up to?” shegrinned.

Nothing at all!” I smirked. “How about a dipin the Jacuzzi before we call it a night?”

“That sounds wonderful,”she agreed, and we headed out to the backyard where a moonlessnight awaited us. Slipping into the water, a wave of intoxicatinghappiness washed over me. We both laid back, staring up at theblack sky, and whispered about the day’s events.

“What a day,” I began. “Mylife finally makes sense. My business is doing great, and now Ihave a beautiful wife and a big family. Johnny now has brothers anda sister.” I turned to her and watched her look at the sky. “I loveyou, and I love your kids. I couldn’t be happier.”

“And we all love you too,honey,” Audrey replied, still gazing upward. I sighed and followedher eyes, searching out a star. The hot water began to exhaust me,and I suggested we head inside, not wanting to tire toosoon.

We crept back into the house and I felt theexcitement and anticipation of what was to come overtake me. Istepped in front of her and slowly opened the bedroom doors toreveal my secret setting. Anxious to see her reaction, I wassurprised to find that she was already peeling off her bathingsuit, something I had imagined doing for her. I stepped toward her,eager for an embrace, but was forced to wait while shematter-of-factly draped her bathing suit over the door, completelyindifferent to my advances or to her own nudity. I pulled her intome and caressed her face with my hands, leaning down to softly kissmy bride. Audrey was now pressed against me, finally allowing me tofeel the warmth of her body, the body I had been desiring for solong. The tangles of her wet hair entrapped my hands like a web,and I waited for her to relax and surrender herself to me.

She stiffened.

For an instant, a dark cloud of uneaseflitted across my mind. I felt like I was kissing an unwillingstranger. Her teeth were clenched. Her hands barely touched me whenI moved my mouth from hers and kissed her neck. Her skin, stillwarm and soft from the jacuzzi, contrasted with the coldness in herresponse, and that made me wonder if she really wanted me, but Icontinued to explore her body with my lips, determined that ourlovemaking would be everything I’d imagined it would be. After afew moments, my persistence seemed to pay off and we both becameswept away in the heat of the moment.

Afterwards, I lay in thebed, exhausted and exhilarated, wishing Audrey would just lie withme a little longer, snuggle and talk about our new life together,but I watched her quickly retrieve her nightgown and hurriedlydress herself. She went into the bathroom, and a few moments laterreturned. She slid into the bed next to me, and as I reached forher, she whispered in my ear, “I'm so happy, Paul,” kissed me onthe forehead, turned over, and went to sleep. She's probablyexhausted from the excitement of our wedding day, I thought, and Ifell into a fitful sleep.

I awoke the next morning to face my bride whowas still sleeping. Her hair, dry now and curly, cascaded over thepillow. Her lips were parted in a slight smile. Ah, my angel, Ithought, and I carefully inched away so as not to wake her.

Carried by the excitement of our first fullday as a family, I bounded down the stairs to get started on abountiful breakfast, replete with scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, andtoast. The sounds and smell from the fryer wasted no time inrousing Johnny and the two of us hopped around the kitchen, settingthe table, playing a game of catch with the oranges, and hummingalong with the radio playing very low in the background. Shortlythereafter, my new wife came into view, slowly making her way downthe stairs, already dressed for the day with her now tamed hairpulled sharply back in a ponytail.

“How did you sleep... ,honey?” I asked, catching myself before I called her “Mrs.Goldman,” as I had intended. Perhaps I could