by Jaibee

Created on: April 18, 2009

Laura's Wake-up Call

To escape the hot sun that was streaming through the restaurant window, Laura asked the waiter for another seat.

"Where was Danny anyway," she thought looking at her watch for the third time.

It was now one o'clock. He was an hour late, but this time Laura refused to get upset. Instead, she pulled out a magazine and as she thumbed through the pages, she thought of about three months ago when Danny arrived thirty-minutes late to drive with her to Sally's wedding. Sally was her younger sister who was furious when they showed up late. As if that weren't bad enough, Danny openly flirted with the petite dark-haired Maid-of-Honor.

Laura vowed to keep her cool, as she watched him, thinking one day that he'd change if only she could love him enough and not nag him about his behavior, at least not publicly. In private, she told him repeatedly how his behavior hurt her and humiliated her, but it did no good. Danny continued to be late for engagements and flirt with other women in front of her. Naturally, she suspected he cheated on her and that plus his lateness proved too much and now, finally, she could take no more.

The last straw was last Saturday. She and Danny were invited to her parents' home for an outdoor dinner party. He was scheduled to pick her so at four o'clock so they could drive over together. By six-thirty, he had neither called nor arrived. Laura was fuming, but knew in her gut he wouldn't show. At seven o'clock, she got up her courage and went alone. Her older sister, Beatrice, was waiting for her at the front of their parents home and once again she let Laura have it for being with "such a loser" as she said often enough. Beatrice hated seeing her sister with that Danny Blake.

"Laura, where have you been?" Beatrice asked.

"Don't start!"

"Where's Danny?"

Laura got out and slammed the car door. She opened the trunk and pulled out the vegetable dish that she'd prepared. She knew that Beatrice was angry and refused to look at her. She slammed the trunk and started towards the house. Beatrice trailed behind her as they the sound of laughing relatives and music playing.

"How long are you going to put up with him. You're a business owner, for Christ's sake and you've been off work for 2 days. What are you thinking?" Beatrice whispered with indignation, demanding an answer.

"Actually, I'm not waiting for anything. I just wanted it to work out. He used to be more attentive." Laura put the casserole on the nearest table and grabbed a piece of cheese

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