The Winding Road

By K.L. Christy

After being married to her husband, Richard, for thirteen years, Liza Pillateri sadly realizes the passion they once had is gone. When Liza confirms that Richard only sees her as a mother and housewife, she immediately questions how her life has taken the path it has. To onlookers, Liza’s life is perfect—a prestigious lawyer for a husband, two healthy children, and a gorgeous home in suburban Connecticut. But for Liza, appearances are not the reality, and she struggles to accept the domination Richard has had over her throughout their entire marriage.
Once Liza meets a younger man, she becomes sexually stimulated and hopeful that she and Richard can mend their broken relationship. Desperate to find the same stimulation with Richard, Liza makes an effort to rekindle their passion. But first she has to convince Richard that she is worth it. Time is running out for their marriage, and when deeply hidden secrets are revealed, Liza faces the most difficult decisions of her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.L. Christy
• Release date: Oct 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310102899

K.L. Christy

I love spending time with my husband, Derek, and two youngsters, Jaxon and Liza. I am happiest making memories with family and friends, and it is those memories that influence the stories I write.

Book preview

The Winding Road

By K.L. Christy

Copyright 2013 K.L. Christy

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

To Dad, Mom, Alyssa, Derek, Jaxon, and Liza for believing in my dream.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Epilogue

Chapter 1

The crisp, autumn air reverberated through the slightly opened window creating a soft hum that met Liza’s ear. She sat on their California king-sized bed staring out the wood encased windows at a scene all too familiar to her. Letting out a sigh, she twirled her gold wedding band around and around her finger, never averting her eyes from the window. Thirteen years with the same view of the only minimally changing street below her second story bedroom only complicated her thoughts further. Surrounding her house, the relatively large, colonial styled homes appeared more aged, more dilapidated now than they had in the past few years. Across the street sat the same, rusted 1965 Ford Mustang that seemed destined to rot away in the very spot it occupied every day and every night despite Mr. Simm’s fruitless attempts to restore it. Perhaps she and that Mustang could escape together, but odds were that she would only find another piece of suburbia complete with cookie-cutter colonials like her own. Her luck, the rust would get the best of the Mustang a couple of miles in, ultimately dropping her deeper into her very own neighborhood.

Why don’t you come down to dinner? Richard’s voice, a bit louder than normal interrupted her moment of peace. She tore her gaze from the window so she could meet his eyes; those mysterious, sexy eyes that women seemed to gawk at whenever they were in his presence. I made cutlets, mashed potatoes, and corn.

I’ll be down in a few. She turned back to the window, pinching her wedding band between two fingers. The room seemed to shift a bit as Richard came closer to her.

You know, I really enjoyed the other night. Maybe we could have round two tonight? The words pierced her ears and caused her to begin rotating the band again. A little dessert after dinner?

Sure. Her response managed to be as friendly as she could fake it, but she was certain he wouldn’t notice.

Then I’ll consider that a date. Hurry down; the kids are asking for you.

Once she heard his footsteps descending the stairs, she let out the breath she had been holding while he was there. There was no way she could have a repeat of the other night’s passionless, even loveless, sex. She pushed herself up from the bed and walked slowly over to her closet where the full length mirror stood. On the dressing table sat a picture of them before their two children came along. Liza studied the picture. She wore a yellow sundress that highlighted her tan complexion and dark hair. Richard, in his pale yellow collared shirt, matched her. A good looking couple for sure, and their smiles were glowing. She picked up the picture and dusted off the glass with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. Peering into his eyes, she found an unconditional love. Her eyes revealed happiness too and a love almost as unconditional. She gently placed the frame back onto the table and looked at herself in the mirror. She needed more now—a fact she had recently learned and came to terms with. She would have to fix this; pull them out of the rut they were buried in, and standing in the closet surrounded by hundreds of dresses, pants, shirts, and shoes, she knew how.

Hidden in the back of the closet, she spotted the Cat Woman costume hanging inconspicuously on a hanger between two designer dresses. Liza smirked at the disorganized closet she found herself in. It was the one room in the house that she could keep the way she preferred. The rest of the three thousand square foot house couldn’t be organized anymore than its current state, and Richard wouldn’t have it any other way. Grasping the black leather between her fingers, she pulled gently, releasing it from the home it occupied for thirteen years. She turned to her mirror and placed the costume up to her body, sending shivers down her back. Memories flooded her as she gazed at the costume. After thirteen years, Liza always remembered Richard’s first words to her, My God you are the sexiest woman I have ever laid eyes on. And now, more than ever, she needed to hear words like those again. The only way she knew how to get him to see that she was still sexy, still worth the effort and passion, was to dress up in the outfit she had on the night he spoke those words to her; the Halloween night at Stonebridge he told her she was the girl of his fantasies.

This might just work. This had to work. She owed it to her marriage and to herself to give this an honest attempt. Tousling her hair a bit to give it more volume, she rotated her body to the side and shook her hips ever so seductively. Liza flung the costume over her arm and peered around for the five inch stiletto heels. Amidst the many flats, sandals, sneakers, open-toed and closed-toed heels, she located them and strapped them to her feet. She held the costume to her body once more. Despite her two pregnancies, she believed it would still fit her, her physique in outstanding condition. She credited playing with the kids all day to her muscle tone, and the fact that she never gained weight easily didn’t hurt either. All her friends commented on how she had kept herself looking hot even though her thirty-ninth birthday was just around the corner.

Mommy, are you coming down to eat with us? Hurry up! We’re waiting! Liza’s oldest child, Leah, anxiously yelled up to Liza ripping her from her thoughts. Liza instantly pulled the costume from her body, flinging it back into the furthest corner of the closet. She let out a small giggle at her oh-shit-just-got-caught-in-the-act reaction to her daughter’s demand over the intercom system.

Be right down. Start without me. But she knew Richard would never let that happen. Everyone needed to sit down together for a family dinner as often as they could, especially on the weekends. Because his work schedule was sporadic, he often savored the home-cooked meals he could enjoy with his entire family. Knowing this, Liza hurriedly placed her hair back into a low, untamed ponytail and flattened the front of her sweatshirt with her hands. What if her little ploy didn’t work? She shrugged her shoulders in the mirror before heading downstairs to her family. She had nothing to lose by trying and a whole lot to gain if it worked.

You’re late, Mommy! Leah, at six years old came across as a sixteen year old brat. Ever since she was a baby, she had an attitude that caused Liza angst. Forget the classic terrible twos; no, Leah had other plans in mind. It would not be the terrible twos; instead, it would be the nerve-wrenching ones, horrific twos, and put-my-head-to-a-gun-and-pull-the-trigger threes. She was a handful, and as she aged, it seemed to only get worse.

Here, Mama. Ben, their second child of two years old, tapped lightly on the seat next to his. Such a breath of fresh air after Leah! Liza never wanted children, so when they had Leah with all her difficulties, Liza swore she was doomed as a mother. After much coaxing and manipulation, Richard convinced Liza to have another child, something about his need, his desperation, for a son. So Liza prayed everyday that the next one would be a boy and much easier to handle. Luckily, God listened and delivered exactly what she prayed for.

So guess what, Mommy? Leah’s change of tone from frustration to excitement pleased Liza. Daddy said he would take me to the boardwalk at the beach next Saturday to race him there on our bikes. Do you wanna come with us? Her gleaming eyes were hard to deflect.

You know what, baby, I can’t go next Saturday because I booked two parties, and I have to get the house cleaned up during the day. So my Saturday is just going to be a little too full. But I bet you and Daddy and Ben will have the best time. She could hear Leah’s disappointment, but getting out of the house as a consultant for Tastefully Simple was the relief she sought, and she still liked feeling she could contribute to the family even though her contribution was pitiful in comparison to what Richard’s law firm brought in.

Leah, Richard joined in, we can just take lots of pictures to show Mommy. Liza smiled up at Richard whose tan complexion glistened in the setting sun’s dim light which cascaded through the curtains behind him. He was terribly handsome. His secretaries, Beth and Debbie, just about hung on his every word, always ready to please him with their acute attention to details. Standing at six foot one with dark brown hair and skin that required no tanning bed to achieve its glow, Richard was picture-perfect. He made Liza look pale in comparison, and she too held that Italian glow. He walked with a confidence that demanded all to look at him, even other men, and his impeccable, professional attire hugged his body in the right places hiding his secret belly roll that only few even knew he had.

Before taking Ben up on his offer to sit next to him, Liza made her way around the kitchen with ease, taking out the necessary utensils to serve the chicken, salad, mashed potatoes, and corn Richard had prepared. Richard stood attending to the last two pieces of chicken cutlets frying in the pan. Here goes nothing! Looking forward to dessert tonight, Mr. Pilleteri? She walked by him, making sure to gently touch her backside to his front.

Good. He seemed disinterested in her now, a cold tone in his one word response. The costume would hopefully change that.

Dinner was served and eaten rather quickly, and she wasted no time cleaning it up while Richard ran the kids’ baths. As she cleaned the dishes, wiped down the counters, and prepared Richard’s coffee and lunch for the next day, she reminisced about their short lived courtship which began the night she wore the costume. Their second date was the usual, dinner and cocktail drinks, then a walk down by the beach in Milford.  He grasped her hand, and she reciprocated, his hand consuming hers.  Sitting at one of the benches, they talked for at least four hours about his childhood, his upcoming graduation, his likes and pet peeves.  She recounted some of her memories, seemingly very different from his.  She had a very middle class upbringing; her basic needs were met and even some wants every now and then, but her family was never one to dabble in extravagant dinners or vacations like his.  She went to a local college for the standard four years and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in finance from which she never landed a worthwhile career.  He on the other hand had big plans for a very worthwhile and fortunate career that she could tell early on he was passionate about.  Her naivety about the grandeur in life appealed to him, and he yearned to show her the beautiful places she had never gone.  And so their next dates were romantic weekend get-aways, elegant cruises, and sightseeing all over the world. He proposed to her six months after meeting her when he finished law school, moved her into his brand new custom built house, and they married a year and half after that. Their courtship moved quickly, and Liza always regretted that. Once it ended and they were married, his passion for her dwindled.

For so long now, she had wanted to show Richard what they could have again, but her docile personality put a road block up. Screw it! That road block was being set for demolition tonight, and the Cat Woman costume would be a perfect mask for her to try it out. That way if she failed she could blame it on the character, not herself; an easy way to bandage a possible blow to her self esteem.

While Richard showered, she hurried into her closet to get herself into the costume and fix her hair and make-up. She wanted the whole experience to be sexy, not just the outfit. Taking a few strands of hair, starting with the front and making her way to the back, she softly curled each piece and then put her fingers through the ringlets and shook them up, giving her hair volume and that just-got-off-the-beach wavy look. With her eyeliner, she carefully drew a thin line at the top and bottom lashes, making her chocolate eyes pop. A dash of bronzer to the tops of her cheekbones, and the confidence she had thirteen years ago came flooding over her. She sashayed out of her ordinary sweatpants and oversized sweatshirt, gladly throwing them off to the side. She would pick them up later. Leather in hand, she stepped into the zip-up costume. Hunching over just a bit, she grasped her breasts and pushed them into the cups creating cleavage and plenty of overspill. One last tousle of the hair, and she was ready. Before exiting the closet, she contemplated how she would make her entrance. Be in bed waiting for Richard to exit the bathroom, or wait for the shower to stop and Richard to be in bed? She settled on the latter. Besides, she wanted to give him the full effect, and walking out of the closet and up to the bed would be more effective for that.

When she heard the shower stop, she knew Richard generally needed about five additional minutes to brush his teeth, get dressed, and comb his hair, always in that order. He typically wore only boxer briefs to bed which outlined his package quite nicely. Though he didn’t have chiseled abs, he still had a relatively sexy chest and torso, free from any hair except for the happy trail that ran from the end of his belly button to his happy spot. His arms and legs were toned with outlines of his muscles that were emphasized when he moved or lifted something. He didn’t care for the gym or any scheduled fitness routine, though he did lift free weights a few times per week, and he ran or rode his bicycle just about every day. She couldn’t wait to put her hands on his biceps and squeeze as she sat straddling him. She allowed herself to envision the passion that would ensue, causing her insides to pulsate in the anticipation. Putting her hand to the door knob, she pushed down, unlatching it. Stepping confidently out with one leg, she tried to find where Richard lay amidst the darkness. So, typical; no lights, not even the muted glow of the television.

Baby, she coaxed, holding her breath, giving life to the words in her mind.

Baby? he questioned, his tone unreadable.

She followed his response over to where he lay in the bed, covers up to his chest. She stood before him looking sultry, desperate for his touch. Mentally prepared for this moment, she now yearned for the physical release she sought. Reaching out for the desk lamp, she found the cord and pulled, allowing a soft glow to permeate the darkness and cast a beautiful light onto her body. Remember this?

What are you doing? he chuckled somewhat awkwardly and reached his hand out to hers. His eyes however appeared embarrassed by her, and she winced inside at his reaction.

Shaking off his comment, she pursued him further, teasing, Don’t you like it, Batman. Her eyes held his gaze until he broke the hold.

He chuckled again, sitting up against their headboard. I don’t understand what this is all about. Liza, what’s going on? He didn’t wait for a response before his chuckle turned serious. You need to take that off for God’s sake. Seriously, what are you doing?

What the hell! Not even Cat Woman could get him to play along with her. She forced herself to giggle to protect herself from anymore shame. Oh nothing, just found it lying around, that’s all. She turned from him without making eye contact and made her way to the bathroom. Unzipping her costume in frustration, she peered at herself in the mirror. Was there something wrong with her? No, God damn it; there wasn’t! But there was something wrong with him. Tears tried to make their way to her eyes, but she demanded they stop. She was too old for tears. The costume and stilettos, now thrown to the floor, were replaced by her typical gray sweatpants and t-shirt, complete with socks. She gathered her hair into a messy bun, and secured it there with an elastic.

Liza, come out here. She could feel his presence through the bathroom door but decided to ignore his first attempt to mend her scorned heart. But it wasn’t just her heart that was scorned. It was her body; it needed that passion. Quickly, she grabbed her make-up wipes from the vanity, and began removing the eyeliner and bronzer. So much for that effort! She threw the used wipes in the garbage can beside her.

Be right out. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing exactly how burnt she felt. And she certainly would not allow him to strip away any more of her womanhood than he already managed to take. She waited until she heard him get into the bed before she opened the door. This time she welcomed the darkness that hugged their room. Getting into bed, she made sure to be as far over onto her side as possible. The touch she so desperately wanted from him ten minutes prior was now the furthest thing from her desire. She knew that if he reached out to hold her, which would be an absolute surprise to her seeing that he seldom made that attempt, his touch would only serve his need to acquire her forgiveness.

Luckily for her, he stayed on his side of the bed, wrapped in his comforter. Love you.

You, too. She let the words out but wondered what they meant to her now, wondered what they meant to her thirteen years ago. The word love, she surmised, was overrated and overused. Though she did love him at one point, it seemed that tonight showed her his unwillingness to meet her halfway, and that let down caused her love for him to fade deeper into the background of her life. Why couldn’t he just play along with her? Curling up her knees, and turning to the left, she looked out into her room. Hidden by the sheer curtain covering her windows, the light of the moon glowed dimly over the night sky. Her body tightened as her pillow drank up her silent tears.

Chapter 2

Liza was relieved that Richard left for work at his normal five thirty a.m. She couldn’t imagine what she would say to him after last night, nor could she stand to even look into his eyes after the humiliation he caused her to feel. In some ways, she never saw it coming. She never pictured the moment as anything other than erotic, passionate, and even in a strange way, a reconciliation of the mundane couple of years passed. She honestly thought he would throw himself at her and they would connect again. But connecting was furthest from the truth of the situation and the only throwing he did was of her under a bus. Last night taught her something about her husband that she had not quite accepted: he didn’t need her in the same ways she needed him. His lack of action and attention to her showed her how content he was with their arrangement. They had children together; he worked; she cared for the home; they had scheduled sex; life was good. From her perspective, the situation was vastly different, and she questioned now whether that gap could ever be bridged. She also questioned whether or not Richard even knew how she felt. How could he not know? It would take a real moron to not empathize with how she must have felt last night standing there, vulnerable, dressed in a Cat Woman costume looking sexy as hell, while her husband flat out rejected her. Holy shit! What if he did understand how she felt but simply didn’t care? Perhaps their perception of their relationship wasn’t as vastly different as she anticipated it was.

Mommy, wake up; I have to get to the bus. Leah’s maturity surprised her as she jumped up