Breathe

By Jacqueline Pouliot

Aria is in an unhappy marriage but, through a humiliating incident, meets India. At first she fights against the connection but as she embarks on a new life after divorce, she finds India and her daughter increasingly a part of it.
Sooner or later, she has to face the truth of her feelings!
The very romantic, beautiful story of Aria and India by Jacqueline Pouliot.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326407803

Book preview

Breathe

Breathe

Jacqueline Pouliot

"I brought you some something close to me

And left with something new

I can see through your head

You haunt my dreams

But there’s nothing to do but believe

Just believe

Just breathe

Another day

Just believe"

(Breathe – Telepopmusik

(Written by Angela McCluskey, Stephan Haeri, Fabrice Dumont)

EPUB Edition

Copyright © 2015 Lulu Press

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-326-40780-3

Also by Carmenica Diaz, writing as Jacqueline Pouliot

The Wedding

Dancing Barefoot

Dominique

Click!

The Artist

The Weakness in Me

Lighthouse Beach

My Brother’s Guest

Voyagers

Visit the Blog http://jacqueline-pouliot.tumblr.com/

Download a free copy of My Brother’s Guest

and follow the free weekly serial Stumblin’ In.

The Scent of an Affair

Aria was a bad mood that had stayed with her for days. Depression was the word for it and those dark feelings became even blacker when she saw Heather striding down the corridor towards Aria’s work station.

The pit of her stomach turned over as she realised, intuitively, something was going to change. For the past three months, Aria had been holding onto her life, trying to resist change, even though, deep down, she knew change was inevitable.

Heather was a determined soul, obsessed with doing what was right. Aria envied Heather's black and white view of the world. If only life was that simple!

There was a steely look of determination on Heather’s face so Aria, with a plummeting heart, knew she was about to face an unpleasant experience.

Heather has a bee in her bonnet about something! Just listen! Just get through it, just like you get through everything else!

Aria quickly bent over computer and, using her favourite creative software, tried different tonal shades in the copy title of the magazine advertisement she was working on.

Heather tapped on the wall of the work station and said briskly, ‘Aria, we need to have a chat.’

‘What about?’ Aria said, not raising her head. ‘Is it about the layout for the lingerie editorial?’ she stalled. ‘I’ll get onto that…’

‘No. It’s not about work.’

‘Oh…’ Reluctantly, Aria raised her head. ‘Well, maybe we can catch up tomorrow…I have this deadline…’

‘Aria,’ Heather said firmly, ‘we both know you avoid any form of confrontation. Well, sometimes you need to face things head on. We need to talk now, let’s have a coffee.’

Aria knew she would not be able to avoid the talk. Sighing, Aria stood up and slipped on her coat. Heather handed Aria her handbag and the women walked to the elevators.

Ten minutes later, they were seated in the coffee shop around the corner from the Henderson Building.

Heather was nervous and that worried Aria. Nothing was said until the coffee was brought to their table.

‘Thank you,’ Aria said to the waiter and looked expectantly at Heather.

Heather took a deep breath and did not prolong the agony, beginning  with began with, ‘Aria, I’m your friend, right?’

As far as Aria was concerned, that was a good question. Was Heather her friend? In reality, we are acquaintances that see a lot of each other, Aria silently reasoned, because we work in the same office, but friends? Aria didn’t really think so, although, at that moment, she couldn’t name another friend.

‘Yes,’ she answered unwillingly.

‘Well, someone has to tell you.’

‘Tell me what?’ Aria asked with a sinking heart.

Heather looked around the café and leaned over. ‘Jared is having an affair.’ She adopted a sympathetic look and waited.

‘Oh,’ Aria said. An affair? It was a silent exclamation and she was desperately trying not to show anything to Heather.

This was what she had been avoiding for some time. Sure, things had not been that great between husband and herself, but an affair? Sadly, she instantly believed it was probable Jared was involved with someone else. She had always known subconsciously, just did not want to face the reality of a marriage failing.

Reality pushed its disturbing presence through the thick wall Aria had built around herself. Suddenly, many things made sense! With chilling starkness of thought, Aria realised Jared was having an affair and, she painfully knew, it wasn’t the first!

‘Is that all you can say?’ Heather asked through pursed lips and Aria wondered if that was disappointment in Heather’s eyes.

Was she expecting wailing and gnashing of teeth?

‘How do you know?’ Aria asked at last.

‘I have a friend who works at the same office as Jared.’

‘This is second hand?’

Heather became defensive. ‘Apparently it’s common knowledge. They’ve been seen together in a restaurant every lunch hour this week! And they’re the last to leave at night. We all know what that means!’

"Do we? I mean…’ It sounded flimsy as far as evidence was concerned but it didn’t matter. Aria now knew her husband was involved with someone else! It was clear and inescapable. Certain! How had she avoided it for so long?

Am I such a coward?

‘Has he been coming home late?’ Heather prodded.

Aria didn’t want to acknowledge that. Yes, Jared had been out a lot and Aria had been secretly happy as that meant she had more time alone.

Alone. Aria was not dismayed with the idea of being by herself. Something was missing in her life and she wasn’t getting anything from her marriage. She had allowed herself to be led into marrying Jared but it wasn’t love. Aria knew that. Perhaps love didn’t exist! Maybe this was all there was! Maybe everyone’s marriage was as dull and remote as hers?

Aria found herself thinking about the latest argument they had endured. It had been huge but arguments were rapidly becoming the norm for them now. And Aria didn’t know how to change.

We argue a lot now, she thought miserably, the happy times are definitely gone and we don’t seem to know what we can do about it. Then, an awful thought struck her. Maybe he doesn’t want to do anything! Maybe he has found what he needs with someone else.

Then, the ultimate question. Did she want to do anything about it?

‘Yes, a bit late,’ Aria admitted reluctantly and Heather pounced.

‘Have you seen any lipstick or smelt someone else’s perfume?’

That was an awkward question because, simply, Aria did not notice much about Jared anymore.

That’s another sign, she thought ruefully. I’m not that interested in him either. Was I really ever in love with him?

‘Not really…no.’

‘How are things with you two?’ Heather asked sympathetically and Aria knew she was asking about their sex life.

‘Okay,’ she lied. When was the last time they had sex? She tried to remember but couldn’t. It didn't matter to her as sex was a dull duty. ‘Who is she, this other woman?’ Aria asked to divert Heather.

‘My friend tells me she’s a designer, hasn’t been with the company long so nobody knows that much about her, but she’s American.’

‘American?’ Aria asked weakly.

‘Or Canadian,’ Heather said dismissively. ‘Anyway, she’s gorgeous.’

‘You’ve seen her?’

‘Well, no, I haven’t but that’s what my friend says.’ Heather leaned over and said, ‘My friend is a guy!’

‘Oh,’ Aria said softly. ‘He said she was gorgeous?’

‘No, he said she was fucking beautiful but