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Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree

By Angela Pisaturo

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Chapter One

The Epiphany

Last week Julia would have been ecstatic about John’s promotion and last week she would have been planning their farewell party, inviting everyone that was prominent in the business. She would have catered from the best in the city and enjoyed every minute of it. She glanced over at the coffee table there staring her in the face as if to mock her were business cards and brochures of various communities and real estate brokers that the firm used to transfer employees to their new locale.
Life can change fast, too fast for her liking. But then again, it was better that she found out now about John's intentions than after they had settled in California.
Julia shook the dark thoughts from her mind, then she put on her jogging clothes and sweat band, heading for the elevator, for the morning run.
She sprinted two blocks down to Central Park West. As the adrenaline flowed through her body, scenes from her life played out in her head like a Lifetime TV movie. She craved real love, so what was wrong with that? Now the thing she feared most—being alone, came upon her. As she sipped her coffee, she thought about her relationships with the men in her life. For John Sorento she was the perfect trophy girlfriend; the one who would help him succeed. For Dad she was the family black sheep, the embarrassment. "Oh well, for now I need to get to work. I'll deal with John later."
“Think about it, Julia. You could have maids and cooks and anything else your heart desires.” John pointed his finger at her as if he was giving closing arguments in a courtroom.
“What makes you think I care about having status and please keep your voice down, everyone in the office will hear you!” Julia snapped.
John rolled his eyes as he spoke, “well, it’s not like your some gourmet cook or..."
Julia’s neck veins pulsated. “Oh, so you want a good cook—do you? Well go get yourself one!” She walked across the room and gazed out the window onto the city streets, muttering to herself, maybe he should take Jenna with him to California if cooking is what he wants.
"What was that?" John furrowed his brow.
"Nothing to concern yourself with."
Then John sat on the sofa and fixed the investment projection reports on the coffee table, straightening things out somehow calmed his nerves.
“Tell me what you said." He took a cigarette from his gold engraved case, lit up and blew out a puff into a large smoky ring. Julia turned away from the window and faced him.
"That’s good, John. Go ahead and smoke because you know I hate it.” She put her hand to her mouth and coughed in an effort to prove a point.
“I’ll do what I please when I please!” Then he left Julia’s office, slamming the door behind.
Julia sat down in the leather back chair by her desk and took a few deep breaths. She felt the pressure rising in her cheeks.
Then she spotted the paperweight John brought back from his last trip to the West Coast and in a fit of rage, she threw it into the waste paper basket. “Why did I think John passed for husband material, I must have been out of her mind.” She needed to cry and she did not want anyone, especially her boss seeing her in a vulnerable way. I didn’t win the Executive of the Year Award last year because I’m a weak female—I can hold my own in this world.
Julia took a deep breath, straightened out her suit jacket, brushed her hair, and left for the Ladies Room. She hurried down the corridor, eyes facing downward. On her way to the restroom, she ran into Jodie Morgan.
“Julia, what's the matter?” Jodie’s eyes bugged out, she could not wait to hear a juicy story.
Julia blurted out. “It's none of your business!” She rushed to the bathroom, Jodie on her heel.
“Oh did you lose that big merger deal?” Jodie forced a look of concern.
“You'd love that wouldn't you?”
Jodie placed her hands on her hips. “Well, don’t get angry with me because your sales ratings have been falling lately." Then Jodie patted Julia on the back and walked out of the Ladies Room.
Chills ran down Julia's spine. "That woman has an evil streak.

Dinner was grueling. She would have preferred having her wisdom teeth yanked out of her mouth; it would have been less painful. John was his usual charming 'fake' self. He made small talk and joked with the waitress as if nothing had happened. As soon as they reached her apartment things changed.
“We need to talk. I just don’t understand you; most women would kill to be in your position right now.” John slammed the car door with such force it made the car windows rattle.
Julia kept her cool until they were inside her penthouse apartment, but as soon as the door opened she lashed out at him, speaking in a slow deliberate tone as she stared John in the eye. “Are you done putting me down, because I−”
“Putting you down? I never do that.” John furrowed his brow.
“You always do that! You are…you are… ooh! How could I have wanted to marry you?”
John winced. “Well, you’re no walk in the park either, Julia.”
“It’d be like living with my Dad.” Julia looked shocked that she said that. Her heart began to beat in rapid motion then a wave of nausea came over her.
“So that’s what you think?” John stood frozen.
“No, John, no, I mean that…I’m not sure what I mean.” Julia gasped.
“No you meant it all right.” John’s face turned red.
Julia’s cheeks flushed, she didn’t mean to say John resembled her Dad, but it was true. Then she got up from the sofa and walked over to John by the dining room window.
“What do you mean…marry? We never made any definite plans, Julia.”
She pushed away from his grip and sunk down onto the love seat and sobbed. How could he have not thought about getting married? She knew she had brought it up more than once. Had she assumed too much—built this whole marriage thing up in her head?
“Julia, I thought we agreed I needed to be established first. My whole future…our whole future depends upon my success.” John pleaded.
“Your whole future depends on it. Why didn’t I see this before?” Julia’s jaw dropped in surprise.
“See what?” John threw his hands up in frustration.
Julia got up from the sofa, walked over to the kitchen counter to grab a bunch of chocolate kisses from the candy jar. She needed a chocolate fix fast.
“John, I’m not going with you. I’m sorry."
“Why not?” He shouted.
“I don’t want to live with you unless I have a wedding band on my finger.”
“What will I do without you, Julia?” John’s voice quivered.
Julia’s eyes narrowed. “Well I’m sure you’ll figure out something. Here’s an idea—how about taking Jodie Morgan to California. She’s been sniffing after you for years.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? She’s the one who started those rumors that I had a thing for her. She’s nuts!”
“Didn’t she go on that business trip with you to Japan last year? Julia’s stare cut through him.
“Yeah, but it wasn’t my idea, it was Mark’s. Is that what this is all about—Jodie? Why would you think I’d like Jodie Morgan?” John’s face twisted in disgust.
“I don’t know; it just seems you won’t make a commitment to marriage. Maybe there’s another girl, John.”
“There’s nobody else, Julia. I haven’t any time for a wife and family right now. You need to understand that.” John’s cold stare sent chills through Julia.
“I do understand and that’s why it’s over between us. Please go and enjoy your new life. She fought to hold back her tears.
John built his entire life on image and looks. The Alfa Romeo sports car, Armani suits, sweaters and jeans, the 1.5 million-dollar beach house in South Hampton, New York spoke volumes about John’s priorities in life.
“Listen, you’re under a lot of stress right now. Think about it. Okay?” John gave Julia a peck on the cheek then went to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee.
“John, didn’t you hear me say goodbye. What are you trying to do?” Julia began to cry. John put his arms around her. Julia pulled away.
“Julia, are you sure about this?”
She turned her gaze away, “Yes, I am.”
“You realize if I leave I won’t come back?” John waved his hand in anger.
“I understand that, John. Now leave!” Julia raised her voice to fever pitch.
John got up from the love seat, and made his way out of the front door and Julia’s life forever.

https://www.amazon.com/Under-Shade-Banyan-angela-pisaturo/dp/1547109742

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