The Trophy Exchange Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought.
    “ Saw your girlfriend, too. ”
    Ted knew any protest would fuel Ellen ’ s anger. “ Can I help you with dinner? ”
    Ellen ’ s mouth drew up as tight as a miser ’ s purse. “ You can set the table if you want. ”
    He grabbed four yellow Fiestaware plates from the cabinet. He noticed for the first time the scratches on their surface as he kept his focus away from Ellen and on the job at hand.
    “ If you really want to help, Ted, you can stop seeing that woman, ” Ellen said.
    “ It ’ s work, Ellen. I don ’ t control the assignments. No one asks me which homicide detective I want at the scene, ” he said knowing if they did, he ’ d pick Lucinda every time.
    “ Right, ” Ellen snapped.
    Ted wondered once again about how different his life would be if he ’ d clung tight to Lucinda during those four years at school. How would it be if she stood in the kitchen now? If his kids were Lucinda ’ s kids, too? He opened a drawer to retrieve the eating utensils and placed a fork, knife and spoon by each plate.
    “ If work keeps throwing you and your girlfriend together, maybe you need to get another job, ” Ellen persisted.
    “ Ellen, we ’ ve been over this a thousand times. You don ’ t want to move. I am a cop. I love my work and wouldn ’ t be happy doing anything else. ”
    “ And you love being near your girlfriend, don ’ t you? ”
    “ Ellen, please, Lieutenant Pierce and I dated in high school. That was long ago and before I ever met you. I married you not her. Case closed. ”
    She slammed a plate of pork chops on the table. “ Maybe our marriage should be closed, Ted. ”
    “ Ellen, that ’ s not fair. ”
    “ Maybe I should set you free to run after bad guys and chase after your bloodthirsty, baby-killing girlfriend, ” she spat as she plopped a bowl of green beans next to the chops.
    “ Ellen, that ’ s enough. ”
    “ Yes, it is enough. I ’ ve had enough. Now you ’ re on another case together again, she ’ ll be calling here at all hours. You ’ ll drop everything to rush to her side. I have had more than enough, ” she said slapping down the mashed potato bowl so hard white glops flew out of it and on to the table. “ Kimmy, Pete, ” she hollered, “ dinner ’ s ready. ”
    The kids flew in and scooted into the chairs. As Ted pulled out his seat, Ellen started down the hall. “ Aren ’ t you going to have some dinner, Ellen? ”
    “ I ’ ve lost my appetite, ” she said over her shoulder. The door to their bedroom slammed. The hostile noise reverberated down the hall and made the children squirm. Ted looked at the kids and saw two little furrowed brows, two pairs of downturned lips, two innocents caught in a storm of their parents ’ making.
    Ted served out a pile of potatoes on each plate, making sound effects with his mouth. Then he picked up green beans with his fingers and stuck them like a green picket fence in the white mounds. He etched smiley faces on the chops before slipping them on to their plates. Kimmy and Pete giggled, their parents ’ troubles forgotten.
    Ted put a smile on his face for the sake of his son and daughter but his mind twisted in turmoil. He didn ’ t want to lose his family despite the pangs of regret he harbored about Lucinda. Right now, though, it seemed inevitable. Ellen ’ s hostility escalated with every passing day and still he loved her. But how long c ould that love last under the constant barrage of negativity from her?
    He ’d begged her to go to counseling but she refused. He could not decide if she really felt threatened by Lucinda or if Ellen was just building a justification for the day when she ’ d say goodbye.
     

 
    Six
     
    Ellen sank down in the softness of the quilt on the edge of the bed. She held her body as stiff as if she was sitting in a hard wooden pew. She ’ d regretted her outburst the moment she slammed the door. But pride, embarrassment and hurt kept her cloistered in the lonely