Another Notch in the Beltway Read Online Free PDF

Might as well critique every inch and get it out of the way. Her complexion, once glowing, pale pink, smooth, and vibrant, was now sallow, age-spotted, and dryly wrinkled. The skin would call for more drastic action than a trip to the salon. She doubted she’d do anything about it.
    Pulling up her once-firm chin, Corrine thought maybe she could duct tape it behind her ears and into her hairline. No one ever touched her, no one would know. She laughed at herself. It was either that or sob.
    She allowed her shoulders to slump. This was a private moment of reflection. Corrine had been doing that a lot lately. Wondering where her youth had gone. Wondering where that hopeful, vivacious, twenty-five-year-old bride had disappeared. Her eyes glanced involuntarily to an eight-by-ten wedding picture that was on the antique maple highboy and shook her head wistfully.
    Corrine Kennedy had not been a stupid young woman. She held bachelors and masters degrees in education from the University of Virginia and had a Phi Beta Kappa key in the back of her jewelry box. She’d guarded her virtue for her wedding night, thinking that the man who married her would value her all the more for being a virgin. She was every bit the high society debutante. But Miss Kennedy’s strategy in picking a husband had been less than sound. In choosing her husband, she had been, quite simply, dumb as a rock.
    Her father had introduced her to Byron Maxwell, the son of one of his business associates. He came from a long line of bankers. Byron’s father’s family owned Virginia Bank and Trust. She’d been immediately attracted to his handsome features and almost pretty face. He had seemed taken with her, too. Byron told her he was ready to settle down. He was ten years her senior, and she had believed him.
    Corrine reasoned that he’d had plenty of time to sow his wild oats and would be a faithful, companionable husband, if not a loving one. In her social circle, it wasn’t about love but about perpetuating power and money. Looking back, she should have gotten a purebred dog.
    Footsteps. Sitting up straight and squaring her shoulders, she let go of her thoughts.
    Byron Maxwell caught her eye in the mirror. They still shared a bedroom and a bed—perception is reality. But she was certain the household staff knew the truth.
    As was his habit, Byron approached her, giving her a chaste peck on the cheek. She leaned away from contact.
    â€œThat St John knit looks lovely, dear,” Maxwell simpered.
    â€œCan we cut the pretense, Byron? There’s no one to see or hear us. We hate the sight of one another,” she spat bitterly.
    â€œIf you’d tried a little kindness, Rin, it might get you further in the long run. You know the old saying, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
    â€œBut I don’t want to catch any flies. They’re dirty, disease-carrying creatures. Much like yourself, Byron.”
    He had no retort. Corrine thought he was too stupid for one. If Morris wasn’t around to tell him what to say, he said nothing.
    She continued. “Anyway, I tried kindness for the first ten years of our marriage, and all it got me was misery and pain, two miscarriages, two difficult pregnancies, and two dysfunctional children. Progeny who take after their father. In Carter’s case,
took
after his father is more appropriate.”
    Despite the harsh words, sadness crossed her face, but just as quickly the mask was back.
    â€œYou wanted children as I recall, Rin.”
    â€œYes, I foolishly thought they would bring us closer, bind you to me in some way. I was obviously wrong. And as you may recall, I had no input on the second one,” she said darkly.
    â€œI’m sorry you feel that way, but living with the Ice Princess for the last thirty years has been tough.”
    â€œLiving with a philandering hypocrite of a husband has been no picnic either. You think I wanted to make love with you