Beau Novel – “I… I’ve been having an affair.”Eric held up his hand. “It didn’t mean anything. It’s over. I’m sorry.” Brenna shouted, “Who is she?” Eric shook his head. “Liz,” he murmured. “Liz? My best friend, Liz McCallister?” “Brenna, we can work through this—” Eric stopped when Brenna slapped him across the face. “No, we can’t. I want nothing to do with you from now on,” she stated firmly. But he showed his true self when he told her she was the one who had to leave. The house belonged to him before they married, and her name wasn’t on the deed. Returning to the present, she inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled. “That’s nothing!Let’s start over again.”
With a rumble of the engine, Beau McCallister pulled his truck to a stop beside the back porch. He climbed out and bounded up the steps, his boots thudding against the wooden planks. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the house as he entered through the back door. “Liz? Is Eric here?” he called out, hanging his hat on a peg before striding toward the living room. “Liz?” He made his way toward the bedroom, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the quiet house. The door opened and his wife emerged, pulling the door closed behind her. She hastily tied the belt of her robe. “Hi, I didn’t expect you home yet. How’s your dad?” “Surgery went well. He should be able to go home tomorrow or the day after.”
Beau replied, taking in her disheveled appearance. “Why are you in your robe?” “Uh, I was going to take a shower.” “I see.” A frown creased his brow. “Is Eric here?” “Eric? No. Why?” Liz looked confused. “His truck’s outside.” “It is?” Her surprise seemed genuine, but something nagged in Beau’s gut. He headed toward the bedroom door, but she placed a hand on his arm to stop him. “Let’s go downstairs. You can tell me how everyone is.” Her voice was calm and even. Beau took a deep breath and grasped her arms, moving her aside to open the bedroom door. “Beau—” But he had already stepped inside and glanced around. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw that the bed was unmade. Turning to face his wife, he could feel his anger rising. “Why isn’t the bed made?” “I, uh, took a nap.” Liz’s voice faltered slightly. “You never take a nap. What is going on? Where is Eric?” “I don’t know,” she whispered, her eyes darting away from his intense gaze.
Without another word, Beau stormed toward the bathroom and flung open the door. His worst fears were realized when he came face to face with his closest friend standing there. “You want to tell me why you’re in my bathroom, Eric?” Beau’s voice was cold and controlled, despite the anger simmering beneath the surface. “Beau—” He turned to face his wife, his eyes blazing. “Are you sleeping with him?” “Beau—” Eric began, but Beau cut him off. “Shut up. I’d love to hit you, but I don’t think I’d be able to stop, and neither of you are worth going to jail for. You might as well tell me because it sure as looks like you’ve been screwing my wife. How long?” Neither Liz nor Eric could meet his gaze. “How long?” Beau demanded, his voice rising in volume. Beau’s fists clenched at his sides as he stared at the two people in front of him, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. Silence hung heavily in the room before Liz’s sobs broke through.
Eric’s eyes were fixed on the floor. Beau could feel his heart breaking into a million pieces, knowing that ten years of marriage were now tainted by infidelity. “Get out,” he said through gritted teeth, pointing to the door. “Get out of my house. Ten years down the drain.” “You’re never home,” Liz shouted, her own anger rising. “Do not put this on me,” Beau snapped back. “Well, it is on you! I’m always home alone—” “Apparently you’re not,” Beau interrupted, glaring at Eric before walking toward him and stopping inches from him. “I trusted you. What about Brenna? Don’t you care how much you’re hurting her?” “She doesn’t know,” Eric admitted in a small voice. Beau let out a bitter laugh. “Well, she will. You can bet on that. You’re going to tell her, or I will.” His jaw was set in determination as he gave one last look to Liz and Eric before storming out of the room. He descended the steps and burst out of the back door, needing to escape the suffocating atmosphere inside.
The cool evening air hit him like a slap in the face, but it was nothing compared to the betrayal and hurt coursing through his veins. He wanted to yell and punch something until his knuckles bled. But instead, he took a deep breath and walked away. Away from the house that once held his happy marriage, now shattered into pieces. – Saturday morning, Brenna Lawrence walked into the house, feeling the warmer air and letting out a sigh. “Mom? Dad?” she called out. “In here, honey,” came her father’s response from the living room where he was watching TV in his recliner. Brenna sat on the sofa. “Where’s Mom?” “At your grandmother’s.” “Is everything alright?” “Yeah, your grandmother needed some yarn, so your mom went to get her some then took it to her.” “Oh, okay. I think I’ll go for a ride,” she told him. “Alright, just have one of the guys saddle your horse,” he said. “Dad, I can do it myself.” “I know you can, but that’s what they’re paid for,” he replied.
“I’ll be fine,” she insisted. “Alright, but if any of them are in the barn, let them do it for you.” “If it makes you happy, then sure,” she agreed with a smile. Her father grinned back at her. She got up and smooched his cheek before making her way to the kitchen. After putting on her jacket and beanie to protect against the chilly weather, she stepped outside onto the porch, taking in a deep breath of the crisp fall air, one of her favorite things about this time of year. She jogged down the steps and crossed the yard to enter the barn. Not seeing anyone else around, she headed toward the tack room. However, before she could reach it, she saw a cowboy walking toward her from the opposite end. She couldn’t make out who he was, but she didn’t think he was one of the ranch hands. She hesitated as he strode toward her. “Brenna?” asked a deep voice.
Brenna mustered up the courage to look at him and was surprised when she recognized him. “Beau?” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?” he replied in surprise. “This is my parents’ place. Are you here about the stolen horse?” she asked since he was wearing a protective vest with livestock agent embroidered on it under his coat. “Yes ma’am,” he confirmed. “Your dad phoned the department.” “I knew he called about it, but he didn’t tell me someone was coming out. Have you found anything?” “I just got here. I was on my way to the house.” “I didn’t see a vehicle.” “It’s out at this end.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “I see. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going for a ride.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Yes, ma’am. Enjoy your ride.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head playfully. “Beau, we’ve known each other for years, you don’t have to call me ma’am.” He chuckled and apologized for the habit. “How are you?” he asked her.
“I’m fine. You?” she replied. “Same.” “I remember you saying you didn’t work weekends.” “I don’t, but since I finished a case yesterday, my boss told me about this one. I wanted to get started on it right away. Officially, I’m not on duty,” he said with a grin. “I see.” Silence filled the air, and she struggled to think of something to say. It had been two long years since their spouses had an affair, leading to their respective divorces. Beau had always been kind in her eyes, and his handsome looks were just a bonus. Standing tall with his dark hair peeking out from under his hat, he was truly a good man. Unlike Eric Phillips. She cleared her throat before speaking again. “Well, it was nice seeing you. I’m going to head out.” “Enjoy your day,” he said. “I’m hoping to.” She smiled and headed toward the stall her horse was in. “Are you living here now?”
Beau asked, stopping her in her tracks. She turned to look at him. “Yes and no. I live in the apartment above the third barn. I love my parents, but I don’t want to live with them.” She grinned. “Sometimes, the barn even seems too close.” Beau huffed out a laugh. “I understand that. According to the file, your dad sold a good bit of his land recently. Do you know who he sold it to?” “John Callaway. Supposedly, he wanted more, but dad wouldn’t sell any more. He didn’t like the fact that Callaway wanted to develop the land, so he kept a hundred acres so no one could build close to the ranch. I know that Callaway also purchased land from the Palmer ranch, since it butts up to ours.” “Yeah, I’m familiar with Callaway. Okay. I’m going to speak with your father. You have a safe ride.” “I will. Have a good day.” “I’ll try,” he replied with a smirk.
She smiled at him before walking toward the tack room. She couldn’t help but glance back at his figure, admiring his long stride. As she looked down at his long legs, her grin widened when she noticed his well-worn cowboy boots. He may be a livestock agent, but he was a cowboy at heart. However, her smile quickly faded as she thought back to the day, she discovered Eric’s affair with Beau’s wife and her best friend, Liz. The memory was forever burned into her mind… “Brenna, we need to talk,” Eric had said when he entered the house, and she knew by the look on his face that it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation. “What about?” Her heart sank as she saw him avoiding eye contact. “I… I’ve been having an affair.” Brenna gasped in shock, and he held up his hand. “It didn’t mean anything. It’s over. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? You’re sorry? You should be more than sorry. How could you do this to me?Who is she?” she demanded. When he didn’t answer, she shouted, “Who is she?” Eric shook his head. “Liz,” he murmured. “Liz? My best friend, Liz McCallister?” “Yes.” “Get out and never speak to me again. My lawyer will be contacting you,” Brenna yelled, feeling a sharp pain in her heart. “Brenna, we can work through this—” Eric stopped when Brenna slapped him across the face. “No, we can’t. I want nothing to do with you from now on,” she stated firmly, holding back tears as she headed for the bathroom. She refused to let him see her cry. But he showed his true self when he told her she was the one who had to leave.
The house belonged to him before they married, and her name wasn’t on the deed. Returning to the present, she inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled. Not only had he lied about ending the affair, but the two cheaters were now living together. She couldn’t help but hope that Karma would one day come back to bite them. She moved out of the house a few days later, and he had Liz move in with him. To say she’d been destroyed would be a huge understatement.