The Other Mrs Hayes

by Ross Richdale

  "So it was no coincidence that you just happened to be in the Countdown car park last week?"

  Stacey shook her head.

  "So you or your husband are shareholders in Hayes and Hayes, Accountants? Is the firm involved in something unlawful?"

  "You don't know?" Stacey gasped.

  "Know what? I only know you pretended to be a stranger but in reality you were trying to find out about me." Tears appeared in her eyes. "I hope I wasn't a disappointment."

  "Anything but ... please call me Stacey." She reached out and squeezed Jessica's hand. "Can you bear with me for a moment?"

  Jessica shrugged.

  Stacey walked to the door where the office manager looked up. "Laurie, I want you to get Doug McCann on the line and if possible create a video link. It is important!"

  A few moments later, Stacey's desktop computer flashed on with a surprised looking Doug staring at her. "Your secretary said it was important for you to speak to me," he said.

  "Oh it is," Stacey replied. "I am in my office at Lexington Avenue School and guess who is also with me?" She turned her linked iPhone to show Jessica sitting across the room.

  "Oh shit," Doug gasped. "How did she find you?"

  "Ask her, Doug. She is right here watching you." She turned to her guest. "Jessica, this is Doug McCann the private investigator I told you about."

  Doug recovered from his surprise quickly as he grinned across at Jessica who was on the iPhone's transmission view. "Hello, Jessica. I am Doug McCann from Phoenix Investigations in Auckland. I have been employed by your mother, Chelsea Cromble to investigate your husband, Brendan." He glanced up at Stacey who switched the iPhone's camera back on herself. "I think everything needs to be told, Stacey. Can you provide support for Jessica if she requires it?"

  So it was Jessica's mother who hired Doug! "I can and I will," Stacey replied.

  "Give me ten minutes to cancel an appointment and I'll be back. Okay?"

  "Yes." She switched on her intercom. "Laurie, I want refreshments brought in for my visitor and myself and want no interruptions until further notice. Understand!"

  "Will do," Laurie replied. "Coffee or tea,"

  Stacey glanced at Jessica who whispered that a white coffee would be fine. She looked up miserably and brushed tears from her eyes. "Now Mum's involved. What is this all about, Stacey?"

  "I knew Doug was working for a female client but didn't know it was your mother. I think he should explain. All I can say is that there is nothing that you have done that is wrong. Like myself we are innocent victims, I guess the word is."

  "Victims!" Jessica replied. "Victims to do with what?"

  "I'll let Doug explain."

  Luckily Laurie arrived with the coffee and some muffins. However, the following few moments were like eternity before the iPhone chirped and Doug appeared on the computer monitor again.

  He focused his eyes on Jessica and smiled slightly. "I need to be frank, Jessica," he said. "Please though, do not blame Stacey for anything you are about to hear. She was as surprised about the events as you will be. Understand?"

  "What is it?" Jessica appeared apprehensive. "Just tell me what's wrong."

  STACEY GUIDED JESSICA over to a small couch across the office and sat beside her as Doug explained the whole situation. Jessica's lip dropped and tears rolled down her face. She looked transfixed as Doug continued in an empathetic voice to explain how her mother had hired him, what he had discovered with even extra details that Stacey had not been told.

  "So that's the situation at the moment," he concluded. "I did recommend to your mother that I should approach you but she disagreed."

  "So you're using your own initiative again?" Stacey asked.

  "There is a clause in our licence that allows client confidentiality to be overridden. An example is when a client has an unlawful reason for employing our services or, as in this case, the people subject to our investigation are likely to be affected by any outcome of our investigation."

  While Stacey was talking to Doug, she took her eyes away from Jessica for a few seconds. When she glanced back she noticed that her companion look a ghastly white.

  "I don't feel too good," Jessica stuttered and attempted to stand up. However, instead she sort of wobbled and collapsed onto the floor.

  "Jessica!" Stacey gasped stepped over to the unconscious woman lying on the carpet.

  "There is a problem. I'll get back to you," she almost spat at Doug, clicked him off and shouted out. "Call an ambulance, Laurie. Jessica has collapsed."

  By the time the ambulance arrived a quarter an hour later, Stacey, with Laurie's help had lifted Jessica into the sickbay and had applied a wet facecloth to her face. She was semi-awake when the Wellington Free Ambulance crew took over, placed her on a stretcher and Stacey was allowed to accompany her for the trip to Wellington Regional Hospital.

  "She has just had some shocking news," Stacey told a doctor a few moments later.

  The doctor was efficient and listened to the baby as well as her heart. "That could do it," he said. "Her heart is racing but the baby doesn't seem to be affected. I'll admit her to the prenatal ward for observation overnight but I'm confident that there are no more serious problems. Can we contact any relatives?"

  "Her mother lives in Auckland. I can call her."

  "And partner?"

  "No," Jessica whispered from the bed. "Please don't tell Brendon."

  "Make me her next of kin," Stacey added without hesitation.

  "Sisters are you?" the doctor replied.

  "You could say that." She turned to Jessica who lay there staring at her. "Is that okay, Jessica?"

  "Thank you, Stacey?" She held out a shaking hand that Stacey squeezed.

  "It's the least I can do," she replied. "Now who can I contact in Auckland? Will Carla be okay?"

  Jessica nodded. "She's staying with Mum. My return flight was tomorrow but I booked nowhere for tonight. I can call her later."

  "I'll do it," Stacey replied. "I'll stay with you until you are admitted and return for you tomorrow."

  "But your work?"

  Stacey smiled. "You are my priority at the moment. If my school can't operate for a few hours without me being there, I'm not a very good principal am I?"

  Jessica smiled, closed her eyes and the doctor reassured her that a laxative had kicked in and she was asleep naturally.

  "SO YOU'RE BRENDON'S legal wife?" Chelsea Cromble stared at Stacey in the video link. "Doug only told me about you yesterday. Came as I shock, you know."

  Stacey saw an older version of Jessica on the iPhone screen. She would be about fifty with a few strands of grey in her hair, was dressed well and seemed genuinely worried about her daughter.

  "I guess I am," Stacey replied. "That doesn't concern me at the moment. It is Jessica who needs our support."

  "I'm flying down in the morning. When will she be released from the hospital?"

  "Usually it is about ten in the morning unless she has a relapse and is kept in longer."

  "I'm still coming down."

  "And Carla?"

  "She can come too. Can we meet?"

  "Of course but not here at my home. Brendon's in town and could return there at any time. Come to Lexington Avenue School or I can meet you at Wellington Hospital."

  "I always knew he had an evil streak," Chelsea muttered. "I'm sorry Stacey, it must be as big a shock for you as for Jessica."

  "It was but on hindsight was not unexpected."

  "How?"

  "Oh just his behaviour at times. I suspected that he could be having an affair. It happened once before we were married."

  Chelsea frowned. "Damn the man, all men!" She sounded bitter for a moment before staring at Stacey. "Thank you. Putting yourself out for a stranger is appreciated."

  "No problem," Stacey replied. "See you tomorrow."

  She clicked off just as a car pulled into the drive. Brendon had arrived. Forcing a smile onto her face she walked to the door as she usually did to
welcome him home.

  Inside though, she felt as cold as ice.

  CHAPTER 3

  Stacey woke up and immediately glanced at her watch. It was three-twenty am. But what had awoken her? She glanced across the double bed at Brendon who was sound asleep. She grimaced and thought back to the argument they had had the night before over some little thing nothing to do with her knowledge about Jessica. As usual, he had gone all moody which had suited her for the last thing she needed was sex with him that night.

  She was about to roll over and go back to sleep when the landline phone in the kitchen rang. My God, it would have been her iPhone that had awoken her! She leaped out of bed and tore through to the phone.

  "Stacey Hayes speaking." She was in the habit of using her full name on the landline at school.

  "Hello Stacey," said an unknown female voice. "This is Charge Nurse Liz Pigott at Wellington Hospital speaking. Don't be alarmed but I am calling about Jessica Hayes who has you listed as her next of kin."

  Stacey felt herself turn cold. "Yes," she replied. "What's happened to her?"

  "Can you come in, please? Jessica is about to awaken and a friendly face and moral help would be appreciated."

  "Of course but why?"

  "She almost had a miscarriage and has had an emergency Caesarean delivery. She has lost a lot of blood but will recover."

  "And the baby?"

  "He is only a little premature and is quite a healthy little fellow weighing in at just under three kilograms," replied the nurse.

  "So it's a boy?"

  "Yes."

  "I'm glad you called and I'll come at once," Stacey replied. "Her mother is flying into Wellington from Auckland with her four year old daughter in the morning so can also be there later."

  After instructions about where to go, Stacey clicked off and ran through to the bedroom. She was almost dressed in the semi darkness with only the hallway light on when Brendon sat up in bed.

  "What's wrong?" he asked.

  Stacey glowered at him. Thoughts flooded through her mind. Should she tell him she knew all about Jessica and he had a son? Common sense though, prevailed. This was not the time to bring this up but she had to say something!

  "One of my staff members has been involved in an car accident," she lied. "Remember Hannah Jones?" This was a fictitious name but Brendon didn't know all the teachers at her school.

  "Isn't she that young blonde girl?" he muttered. Oh, he could lie too!

  "No. She's that English girl from London over here as an exchange teacher. She has no family in New Zealand so I am really responsible for her."

  They actually had an exchange teacher on the staff so her reasoning would be plausible.

  Brendon nodded. "Okay, you'd better go then. I hope the accident wasn't too serious."

  "Not life threatening but apparently she needed an operation. I don't know the full details." She grabbed her iPhone and purse. "I'm not sure how long I'll be. See you later."

  "Right," Brendon replied and lay back on the bed. "Switch off the lights as you go."

  "Why not?" Stacey retorted. His somewhat callous comment made anger swell in her throat. However, she swallowed her pride and said nothing before she headed out the door.

  IT WAS ALMOST DAWN before Stacey jerked up and realised that she must have dozed off. Jessica was staring directly at her.

  "Who are you?" she whispered.

  Stacey grimaced but took Jessica's hand. "Stacey," she said. "Remember, you visited me at my school and I came into the hospital with you."

  Jessica just stared at her, swallowed and burst into tears. "I had a caesarean section," she wept. "The doctor told me my little boy is in an incubator and I can see him soon. "

  "I know," Stacey replied as she reached for a button to call the nurse.

  Liz Pigott arrived, immediately tended to Jessica and offered her a drink of water before turning to Stacey. "Jessica may be disorientated for a while but will make a complete recovery."

  Before her, Stacey saw a young mother whose whole life would be affected by the news about Brendon. Damn the man! She had no idea what she intended to do about the situation but her feelings went out to Jessica so she placed her own worries aside to help her companion.

  ''Do you want me to get Brendon? I can if you wish.''

  ''Like you, I kind of guessed.'' Jessica sniffed back tears and took a tissue the nurse handed her. ''You know, I tricked him into getting me pregnant. Told him I had a three month birth control patch but it was just a band aid.'' Tears flowed down her cheeks. "No, I don't want to see him but will you call Mum?''

  Stacey glanced at her watch. It was almost six and dawn had arrived. ''I'll do it now.''

  ''Use my phone. It's Memory 2.''

  Stacey saw the mobile on a side cabinet, picked it up and pressed the key. It rung several times before a sleepy person answered.

  ''Hello, Chelsea speaking.''

  ''Stacey Hayes here.''

  "What is it, Stacey?'' the worried voice asked.

  She told the news that Jessica had had an emergency Caesarean but she and her baby boy were both well on the way to recovery. "I'm here at the hospital right now. I think she would like to speak to you.''

  ''Mum,'' sobbed Jessica. ''I've had my baby...'' She listened for a moment before really repeating everything Stacey had already said... ''No Mum, I have not told him... Stacey's here, Mum. She sat with me all night...l don't know why she's so nice to me. ... Hell, I don't know, Mum... No I don't want to see him.'' Tears began to flow again. ''Bring Carla down Mum. I want to see her.''

  She clicked off and accepted another tissue before focusing, wide-eyed on Stacey. ''So why are you being so kind to me?''

  Stacey smiled. ''Why not?'' This was all she could think to say.

  BRENDON ROLLED OVER in bed and reached out for Stacey. He always enjoyed having sex with her in the morning. Sure, she was more conservative than Jessica but for traditional sex she arose to the occasion and often as not had an orgasm. Afterwards she'd say nothing but have a shower before heading off to that damn school.

  Nobody was next to him! He sat up and swore. Damn the woman! She was probably still at the hospital trying to act as a mother for that pommy teacher. Why they allowed those class conscious English teachers into New Zealand with their snobby accent, was beyond him... mind you they were better than the Asians who ran just about everything else in the city.

  "Stacey, are you there?" he called out.

  Silence!

  He swore again, had a shower and was having some toast and a coffee when his mobile rang. Probably some damn farmer wanting to know why his latest tax return hadn’t allowed him to claim his new BMW as an essential business purchase.

  "Hello. Brendon Hayes speaking."

  "Oh you are a snivelling little bastard," said a female voice.

  He felt a shudder run up his back for he instantly recognised that it was Jessica's mother. Why would she be calling him at this time of the day?

  "Jessica's not here at the moment, Chelsea. Can I give her a message?" he said in an enforced calm voice.

  Chelsea sounded more than angry. The woman could be hysterical at times.

  "I will say this once, Brendon," said the icy voice. "I know all about your double life and your wife or shall I say wives..." She laughed but it was a sadistic sound. "Oh yes, I know about Stacey, your first wife I guess you call her but this call is about Jessica, my daughter."

  Brendon swallowed bile as he frantically attempted to think what to say. "Go on," he muttered.

  "She's in Wellington, and right now is in the maternity ward at Wellington Hospital. She almost had a miscarriage. The shock of meeting Stacey brought it on! You have a son, Brendon."

  A son! Jessica hadn't told him the baby's sex but he guessed that she knew what it was before he was born. But why did Chelsea mention Stacey?

  "She knows about Stacey?" he asked.

  "Oh yes. Your world is tumbling down my son-in-law." Again there was that
sadistic laugher. "But of course I'm not really your mother-in-law, am I? Your marriage to my daughter was a sham but let me remind you that this is not South Africa and bigamy is a crime in New Zealand."

  "I can explain..."

  "Don't bother. However, if you have a gram of decency in your bloodstream, you'll get along to visit Jessica right now. I know you're in Wellington and I'm flying down there this morning..." Her voice rose an octave but he gave up listening.

  Oh hell, it wasn't a teacher Stacey visited at the hospital, it was Jessica! She never let on. Oh, she was always a calm calculating bitch but this came as an unexpected turn of events. He'd vaguely anticipated that this could happen but over the last few years had become complacent. He grimaced and admitted he enjoyed their sex life.

  "Did you hear me Brendon!" Chelsea practically shouted in his ear.

  "I did," Brendon lied. "I'll get across to the hospital straight away. Are you looking after Carla?"

  Chelsea's voice calmed down. "Yes. She's coming down to Wellington with me but I advise you to stay away from her. And get yourself a good lawyer Brendon. You'll need one!"

  The mobile went dead.

  BRENDON REACHED IN the cupboard and poured himself a stiff whisky, something he never did at this time of the day. With his nerves calmed a little he sat down and decided what he needed to do next.

  That's it; he'd make a clean break! Damn them all, they were more trouble than they were worth as was the company; the bloody place was just about bankrupt anyway! He reached for his second mobile, one he always kept in an inner pocket of his suit and punched in a number.

  "Hello," said a slightly accented girl's voice. "Reyna Aquino speaking."

  "Reyna," he said in as smooth a voice as he could conjure up.

  "Brendon! Why are you calling me at this time of the morning? I thought you were heading back to Auckland today?"