Brianna Has A Secret

The big white house sat well back from the street and gleamed in the early morning light. It was well maintained with professional landscaping and a large pool set in the back, the water sparkling in the sunshine. A woman worked at the barbeque grill, fanning flames and occasionally glancing furtively over her shoulder. She used barbeque tongs to shove something deep into the fire and fanned the flames with the thick oven mitts she wore until only ash remained. Then she returned to the patio, entered through French doors that were painted virginal white and quickly stepped into the huge tiled bathroom and showered the scent of betrayal from her skin.

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“Hi Honey!” Brianna jumped and the mascara wand slid over her high, perfectly rouged cheekbone. “Bruce, you startled me. You are home early.” She glanced over her shoulder as she wiped off the black mark with a washcloth of soft Egyptian cotton.

“I came to spend some quality time with my girl, if you know what I mean,” he said while sliding his palm down the side her long Audrey Hepburn throat. She shrugged him off but then turned into his arms for an embrace. He leaned into her and nuzzled her hair which was scented with lily of the valley, jasmine and something else that he could not quite identify.

Then she was away from him and across the room where she peered into the mirror and adjusted the dress over her creamy shoulders. “Want to come with us tonight?” she asked while closing the diamond clasp of the pearl necklace around her and allowing it to graze her generous cleavage. She glanced over to where he sat on the four poster bed.

“Do I want to go tag along on girl’s night out with you and four or five gigglers? Thanks but no thanks. I will stay here and watch a ball game while I drink beer and burp.”

Brianna wrinkled her pert little nose. “Nice, Bruce, real nice.” But she told him she understood, gave a quick kiss goodbye and was out the door with a flash of long, lean legs leaving a trail of that elusive scent.

Bruce heard the Jaguar XKR-S roar off into the night and went to the den to begin his solitary evening at home. He contemplated his life and the lovely lady who shared it with him. She was amazing and he was so lucky to have her as his wife. Smiling, he popped open a can of Coors and toasted his beautiful spouse, kicked off his loafers then settled in to watch the game.

Brianna crept into the restaurant while occasionally looking over her shoulder, feeling the shame of her lies. Her heart pounded and she felt the weight of her secrets heavy on her shoulders. And she was always terrified of being caught in the act and embarrassed in public. Was her husband outside right at this moment, watching her awful descent into a world unfamiliar and unhealthy to her marriage?

The Maitre 'D met her in the lobby, bowed respectfully and asked, “Will Madam be dining alone tonight?” His eyes flickered over her so quickly that she was not even certain he skimmed her body but felt the heat of his male appreciation.

She knew she looked lovely tonight, dressed in raw silk the color of midnight-or sin. And those six inch pumps were designed by the sexy mind of Manolo Blahnik himself. Surely that man made love while sleeping and drew his pencil like a caress down a woman’s back and between crevasses, into places secret and usually restricted, unknown and unloved except by an artist.

As she followed the Maitre 'D into the dim interior, the scent of expensive meats and imported breads assailed her senses. Brianna’s nostrils flared and she inhaled deeply and salivated at the thought of the experience ahead of her tonight. She was quickly seated and a linen napkin whisked into her lap while a sommelier appeared with a wine list the size of a telephone book.

“Will Madam care to enjoy an aperitif while deciding on her meal?” he fawned, leaning near for a lightening fast glimpse at her décolleté. Then he drew himself up to his full height of 5’6” and pushed out his chest a bit. She thought he looked like a banty rooster and almost giggled aloud.

“No, thank you. Madam knows what she wishes to enjoy for dinner tonight. I will have whatever red wine you suggest for a rare Chateaubriand steak, your famous garlicky baked potato and asparagus.” She sat back in her chair and stared at him with her glorious peridot eyes almost daring him to challenge her choices.

“Uh, was Madam expecting a guest to join her?” he managed to squeak.

“No, just myself tonight,” her smile gleamed at him revealing snowy veneers. He bowed slightly and crept away, awed and a bit confused.

Brianna looked around as she waited on her food to arrive. Everyone was enjoying themselves and seemed to be at ease. Was she the only person here who carried secrets and lies? She reflected upon her marriage and her handsome husband.

They had met in Normandy and immediately fell in love, knowing they would always be together. The wedding had been magnificent, Daddy spared no costs and the honeymoon in Tuscany had been unforgettable. They built a life that many would envy, with financial freedom, a palatial home and love that grew stronger daily.

They were health nuts, at least Bruce was. Brianna had been a person who considered a tennis game enough exercise for the week. But he converted her and eventually she grew to enjoy their morning workouts. They ran together every morning, burning calories, becoming lean, tanned and glowing as the exercise brought a flush to their youthful cheeks.

And Bruce had been a vegetarian for many years while Brianna had always enjoyed the finest five star restaurants, eating the best Kobe beef, Foie Gras, succulent roast pork and the rarest of steaks. That had been their greatest challenge to overcome as newlyweds. Bruce had lovingly educated Brianna to the health issues faced by people who consumed meats and when routine blood tests showed high cholesterol levels, she conformed to vegetarian eating, eventually becoming vegan. She and Bruce shopped carefully, selecting only the finest organic foods for their kitchen, cooked specifically to retain nutrients and crunch.

Only she secretly craved a rare steak occasionally and the sight of a cheeseburger dripping with juices in a magazine or commercial made her drool. As the years passed, she began to dream of food rich in flavor, drenched in cheese and swimming in gravy. She kept her thoughts to herself however and felt badly for even dreaming of such a thing.

Then one day she was at a tavern with a new client who was in town only for one day. He ordered a burger and onion rings while she got a green salad with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. After they ate, he signed the contracts and left while Brianna reviewed the paperwork. He had left half his burger and her sleeve almost fell into the plate so she reached out to move it away. As she passed it in front of her face, the aroma just was heavenly. Before she could stop, she took a bite from it and closed her eyes in ecstasy. Then she quickly gobbled the rest of it, set the empty plate across the table and wiped her greasy lips with her napkin. When the waitress appeared, Brianna was innocently perusing her papers.

“Are you all finished, Ma’am? Shall I bring the check now?” the young woman asked.

“No, I think I will have something more substantial. The salad really didn’t fill me up. Bring me a Reuben and a large order of fries please.”

After that day, she never looked back and would sneak burgers from drive through restaurants; Goliath sized steaks from family places in nearby towns and piles of pulled pork from odd little places featuring pictures of cute little pigs. She always felt guilty and was concerned she would be caught. But as time went by, Brianna became more confident and tired of cheap meats. She began to frequent classier establishments that offered a relaxing atmosphere and fine wine. She grew bold and would secret Black Forest ham in the depths of the refrigerator, grabbing a handful to enjoy in the laundry room or on the patio.

On this night, she had made plans to eat at a new upscale place that had recently opened a few towns over. She enjoyed the huge steak that was usually shared by two people, drained her glass of great wine and made her way outside. As Brianna sat in her luxurious car bought by her husband as a birthday gift, she thought of him and wept. Bruce would be so disappointed if he knew her dirty little secret.

And it grew more difficult to get out alone. Recently they had been at an art gallery and ran into a friend she had used as an excuse. When Bruce innocently asked how she was feeling, Brianna had to quickly step in and change the subject. Perhaps it was time to confess and tell Bruce about her double life as a carnivore. He loved her. He would understand and help her and might even decide to loosen up and eat some meat himself occasionally.

Later that night as they lay in bed, Brianna brought up the subject of their diet plan. “Honey, are you content being a vegan? Do you ever just crave something more?”

Bruce drew away and looked down at her. “No, do you? I love how we live and feel better than I ever have. My energy level is high and my health has never been better. Do you feel the need for more variety?”

Brianna sighed. “No darling, not at all. I just wondered that’s all.” And she drew him back down into an embrace that made him forget everything else.

Two weeks later, as the couple was jogging, Brianna tripped over a stone and twisted her ankle. After the doctor inspected it and declared it just a sprain, he suggested Brianna have her yearly physical while she was there. A few days later, he called and asked her to come in for a consultation.

Brianna and Bruce went into the office feeling a bit apprehensive. They had expected to receive a glowing report. After reviewing the blood test results with the doctor they left and went to their favorite vegetarian restaurant where they shared a plate of tabouli, roasted red pepper hummus, Romaine leaves and celery sticks. He spoke in a trembling voice, “I just don’t understand how your cholesterol levels can be so high, over 200! And Dr. Canon was talking about clogged arteries, stroke risk, heart disease and surgery. How can this be happening to you?”

She determined at that moment to never eat another bite of meat. She had almost killed herself by her duplicity and caused her husband pain and worry for her. He was so sweet and always put her first. How could she have done such a terrible thing? Why, if he found out now it might ruin her marriage. What if he left her over this? She would not take the risk ever again. She stroked his wrist and turned his wedding band round and round with her fingers. “Don’t worry! You have my promise that I am going to be here for a long, long time. Darling, I am going to be just fine. I just have that inherited gene I suppose. I will eat more fiber and include more cardio exercise in my routine. You are stuck with me for many more years.”

He kissed her, and buried his face in her hair. “What is that scent? You always smell like flowers and something almost smoky.” She gave a tremulous laugh.

“Actually, I am going to be wearing a new scent from now on. The old one is all gone now.”

They chatted a while longer and Bruce left to return to work. Brianna strode outside and took a deep breath of fresh air. She had barely escaped catastrophe today and had hurt her beloved husband for no other reason than selfish indulgence. “Well never again”, she vowed, “Never again.”

Across town Bruce climbed out of his black Mercedes SLS AMG and walked out of the parking garage into the light. He blinked in the bright sun and stopped for a moment to look around. There was his office building down the block, several businesses and Joel’s International Deli. Suddenly he knew what would relieve this stress and hurried into the small storefront. Taking a deep breath, he took in the scents of ham, roast beef, pastrami and many other delicacies that made him salivate like Pavlov’s dogs. He walked up to the counter.

“What will it be today?” asked the ancient little old man behind the counter.

Bruce looked guiltily over his shoulder then ordered a Dagwood.

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Ingredients:

½ cup cracked wheat (bulgar may be substituted if desired)

½ cup chopped onion (green preferred)

1 med cucumber, chopped with seeds removed if they are large

1 med tomato chopped

2 tbsp lemon juice

¾ cups boiling water or vegetable broth

3-4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup mint leaves finely chopped

½ cup parsley finely chopped

¼ tsp allspice

Combine boiling water and wheat, stir well, cover and let rest for 20 minutes. Add the vegetables and mix well. Stir in oil, seasonings, lemon juice, parsley and mint. Serve chilled with celery, carrot sticks, crackers or any fresh, crisp vegetable.

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©®Tue Oct 04 17:49:43 UTC 2011

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