Broken Lives

by Brenda Kennedy

  I get a text from Emma, asking if I can keep James for about an hour. She said she needs to stop by Cheryl and Danny’s before coming home. I stop by and get James first and then Raelynn from school. A memory returns: Emma once told me I can make dinner for her anytime I want. The kids and I go to the store and I get everything I need to make chicken Marsala, including, of course, Marsala wine. This dish sounds fancy, but it takes only 10 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking time. I use Emeril Lagasse’s recipe, which I found on foodnetwork.com. He rates the recipe level as Easy. We walk through the bakery and Raelynn sees princess cupcakes she wants for dessert. James looks around for something with ninjas on them and is disappointed when he doesn’t see them.

  I decide since we are already at the store, we should get groceries for the week. I have no idea what Emma shops for, so this will be fun. I push the kids in the double-seated food cart and walk up and down each aisle. I know what Rae and I eat, but I have to ask James what he and Emma eat. I get the impression from James that he and Emma mostly eat sweetened cardboard, aka junk food, although he calls it good food, not junk food. This surprises me. Emma seems like the kind of person who enjoys eating pizza but is careful to eat salad with it. I simply cannot imagine Emma with Cheetos dust in the corners of her mouth. I put some of what James wants in the cart.

  “James, are you sure momma feeds you this for breakfast?” I ask, holding up the donuts, Pop Tarts, and the Toaster Strudel.

  “Momma and I like those.”

  We get to the register and I soon realize just how many snacks we have.

  “Rae, did you put extra items in the cart?”

  “No, daddy,” she says, but doesn’t look at me. She is looking at James.

  “James, did you put extra items in the cart?”

  “No, daddy,” he says, looking at Raelynn.

  We all bust out laughing as I continue to unload the cart at the register.

  “That’ll be $265.87, sir,” the cashier says, smiling.

  I cough and clear my throat before getting the credit card out of my wallet.

  “First time shopping, sir?” she asks.

  I look up, smile, and say, “First time shopping with these two together.” I swipe my credit card and enter my pin number.

  “Oh, I understand now. Thank you and enjoy your snacks.” She smiles while looking at the kids in the cart.

  I also look at them and they are laughing. I’ll have to remember to not bring them shopping together without Emma.

  We beat Emma home and I make the kids help carry the groceries into the house, since they picked most of it out.

  “Which one of you guys is going to explain to Emma about all the snacks we bought?”

  “I will, daddy, I’ll tell her you didn’t know what to buy so you bought snacks.” Rae giggles.

  “And I’ll tell momma that you like snacks.” James also laughs.

  “And I’ll tell her that you said this is what she feeds you all day, and that Rae snuck groceries in the cart when I wasn’t looking,” I say, tickling both kids at the same time.

  Emma walks in, smiles, and asks, “What’s going on in here?”

  The kids and I look up and they both take off running. “Hi, Emma; bye, Emma,” Rae says, running past Emma.

  “Hi, momma; bye, momma,” James says, also running past her.

  “Hi and bye to both of you, too. What was that about?” She walks over to me to kiss me.

  I kiss her back before answering. “We went to the grocery store.” I nod in the direction of the counter where all the snacks are.

  She laughs and walks over to the too-full counter. “You bought all this stuff?”

  “Well, I paid for it, but I didn’t put it in the cart.”

  “Alec, there must be $300 worth of snacks here.”

  “Close, it’s $265.87 to be exact,” I say, holding up the receipt.

  “Well, I can tell you what James picked out.”

  “I didn’t realize that you have such a sweet tooth,” I say, looking at Emma.

  “What are you talking about? I like some things, but I am very strict with sweets being in my house.”

  “You mean that you and James don’t eat Pop Tarts, donuts, and Toaster Strudels for breakfast?”

  She stops what she is doing and asks, “Is that what James told you?” She doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Oh, the little booger.” She calls sweetly, “James, could you come here, please?” I almost feel sorry for him.

  “Yes, momma.”

  “Honey, what did you eat this morning for breakfast?” She asks, kneeling down to look him in the eye.

  “Um, we had oatmeal and a banana.”

  “And yesterday, what did we have yesterday?”

  “Uh-oh.”

  “Why would you tell Alec I feed you junk food for breakfast?”

  “I didn’t. I said you and I like those.”

  I think back on what James said and he is correct. “I stand corrected; he did say that, Emma.”

  “James Maxwell, you are in so much trouble.”

  “James, why don’t you go to your room with Raelynn? Your mom and I will put the junk food, I mean the groceries, away.”

  James leaves without saying anything and I hear Rae and him giggle from the bedroom.

  Emma and I stand at the counter and she starts picking out the goodies that James likes and I start picking out the goodies that Raelynn likes. Some things are favorites of both Raelynn and James. Once we are done, we both laugh.

  “Well, it looks like you have been had by both kids.”

  I look at the piles of junk food; the junk food is almost divided up equally.

  “It looks like I’m a sucker.”

  “Please tell me you did buy something healthy we can eat?”

  “I did, I bought fish, chicken, and some fresh fruits and vegetables.”

  “Good, but from now on I’ll shop with you.”

  “Fine by me.”

  We put the rest of the food away and she makes a junk drawer in the kitchen for all of the junk food. She also has to add a junk shelf in the pantry. Once we get dressed, we all drive to taekwondo together.

  As soon as we get home from taekwondo, I start the chicken for dinner. While I cook dinner, Emma sits at the dinner table and helps the kids with their homework. I smile and realize that I like being here. I haven’t cooked for someone other than Rae and me in a long time.

  “What are you smiling about?” Emma asks, as she wraps her arms around my waist.

  I turn around and return her hug. “You, I like being here with you and our kids.”

  “Me, too. This feels so normal. I forgot to tell you that Cheryl and Danny think it is a wonderful idea that we invite your family to James’ birthday party.”

  I look at her and she is smiling. “Ok, I’ll call mom later and let them know what time and give them the directions.”

  “I already did. She is also going to let your sister and two brothers know.”

  After dinner, baths, and bedtime, I help Emma clean up the kitchen. She tells me about Angel coming into work and shows me the pictures from Angel and Mason’s wedding. I smile at how happy James and Emma look. I also smile at how happy I look.

  “I’m going to frame them and put them around the house,” she says, putting the pictures back into the envelope.

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “I think we need to get our pictures taken with Raelynn. I wish she was in these ones.”

  “You mean like a family portrait?” I ask.

  “I did. Do you think it’s too soon? I’m sorry, maybe that isn’t such a good idea.” She looks up at me with a sad smile. “I don’t want her to feel left out because she isn’t in these wedding pictures.”

  I touch her cheek softly. “I think that is a wonderful idea. We need a picture with all of us in it.”

  “Really? You don’t think it’s too soon?”

  “No, I think now is a perfect time.”

&nbs
p; Emma

  I get a pillow and blanket and help Alec make his bed on the couch for the night. I kiss him goodnight and go to bed, alone.

  When I walk into the bedroom, there is a note on my bed with Alec’s handwriting on it.

  Baby, although I am in the next room, I feel like I am miles away from you. Sleep well and dream of me. I love you, Alec

  The next morning, I kiss Alec goodbye and drop Raelynn and then James off at school. I left a little early because I didn’t want to take the chance of being late for work.

  I pull into the parking lot at work and I am surprised to see that I am the only one here. Before I can unlock the office door, someone calls my name.

  “Emma?”

  I turn around and I am surprised to see Molly standing near the corner of the office building. She is wearing a pair of old jeans and a tee shirt. I look around and I don’t see anyone else with her. “Yes?” I say, as I slowly walk over to her.

  “How does it feel to be a home wrecker?” she asks, and I think her words are slurred.

  “Excuse me?” I ask, because I can’t believe what she just said.

  “You heard me. I have been watching you playing the wife to my husband and the mommy to my little girl. How does it feel to know that you destroyed my home, my family?”

  “You think I’m the reason you and Alec aren’t together?”

  “Yes, and don’t believe everything he says — he’s isn’t the man that you think he is.”

  A voice calls from behind me, “Emma, is everything all right?”

  I turn around and see Sara getting out of her car. I try to smile at her as I say, “It’s fine.”

  I turn back around to ask Molly what she means by that, but she is walking away. I get a cold chill and walk back to where Sara is standing.

  “Who was that?”

  Oh, she doesn’t know that is Alec’s wife. “Just someone asking for directions,” I lie.

  We work well into lunch and I get a text from Alec, saying he’ll pick the kids up from school. My mind drifts back to Molly and her chilling words. “Don’t believe everything he says — he isn’t the man that you think he is.” I get another chill and run my hands up and down my arms. What did she mean by that?

  I sit at my computer and use Google to search for information about Molly Collins. Several articles and some pictures come up on my screen. I click on the first one and it says, “Nurse arrested for drug abuse.” I look over my shoulder to make sure Sara and Brea are still at their desk. I read it quickly and it says she was arrested while stealing drugs at work. Just like Alec said. I read some more and I see a mug shot of Molly from when she was arrested.

  “Emma?”

  I startle and look up. Sara is standing over me, looking at the computer screen. “Is that Molly? Was Molly the woman who was outside this morning?”

  Brea stands up and walks over to where we are. “Molly, as in Alec’s wife or his ex-wife?”

  “Yes, she was outside when I pulled up this morning,” Sara says, with only concern in her eyes.

  Brea looks at the computer screen, and I suddenly feel ashamed for looking her up.

  “Emma, did she threaten you?” Brea asks.

  I click off the screen and turn my chair around so I can face them. “Do you guys know her, or him for that matter?”

  Brea sits in the chair across from me and Sara sits on the edge of my desk. “I don’t know her at all, but I know him through Vincent. They all play golf and racquetball together. What did she say to you this morning?” Brea asks.

  I look at both of them and I don’t want to tell them what she said. What if he isn’t the person I think he is?

  “Emma,” Sara says, softly. “I don’t know her either, but from what Donovan says, she isn’t a very nice person. If she continues to show up here or if she is harassing you, you need to call the police.”

  “She isn’t harassing me; this is the first time she has confronted me,” I say, honestly.

  Brea looks outside and stares across the street. “Is that her?”

  I stand up and we all walk to the window to look where Brea is looking. Sara doesn’t say anything, I think Sara is waiting for me to speak. “It looks like her, but what is she doing?”

  A car drives off, and Molly puts something in her pocket.

  “Buying drugs is my guess,” Brea says, seriously. “I knew she was in some trouble for drug abuse awhile ago, but I didn’t know she was still around.”

  “She showed up a few days ago at Alec’s house,” I admit. “She called me a home wrecker, told me that Alec isn’t the man I think he is, and said that I shouldn’t trust him.” I continue to watch outside as she disappears behind the building.

  “Listen to me,” Brea says, turning me to face her. “If you are questioning what she said to you, you need to talk to Alec. He’s the only person who can answer your questions. I personally wouldn’t believe anything she said.”

  Sara looks at me and says, “Emma, go home and talk to him. If you have any questions, he is the only one who can give you the answers you deserve.”

  I nod and my nose begins to tingle. “You’re right, I’ll ask him tonight after dinner.” Just the thought of him being anything but honest with me turns my stomach. I look out the window again, and I see Molly stumble across the parking lot. “Do you think people are really dealing drugs across the street from us?”

  Brea and Sara both look out the window, “I hate to say it, but it sure looks like it,” Sara says, walking back to her desk.

  “I’ll call the police department to see if they can monitor the area. We need to put a stop to it before it gets out of hand,” Brea says, picking up the office phone.

  I text Alec and tell him I’ll pick the kids up from school. When we get home, the house is clean and the blankets Alec used to sleep on the couch are folded and put away. Music is coming from the kitchen, and the house smells delicious.

  “Yay, daddy’s making spaghetti,” Raelynn says, skipping through the house, carrying her book bag.

  James and I both inhale deeply. “Smells good, huh, James?”

  “I’m hungry, momma.”

  “Go put your book bag in your room and wash your hands. I’ll see how long before dinner’s ready.”

  “Hi, Alec,” James says, walking past the kitchen to get to his bedroom.

  “Hi, James, how was school today?”

  “It was good, thank you.”

  I walk into the kitchen and Alec is bending down to kiss Rae. He is dressed in a pair of jeans and a plain brown tee shirt. Behind him on the stove are two very large pots with steam coming from them. He stands and looks at me and a smile automatically forms on his lips.

  “Put your book bag up and wash your hands, Rae. Dinner will be done very soon,” he says, never taking his eyes off mine. He saunters over to me and kisses me sweetly. “How was your day today?”

  I kiss him back because I can’t help it. He is so sweet and sexy. “Interesting,” I say, honestly. “How was your day?”

  “I had a good day. I cleaned the house and made dinner for my favorite family.”

  “It smells delicious. Pasta?”

  “It’s homemade marinara sauce; I hope you like it.” He stirs the pot of sauce and lets me lick the sauce from the wooden spoon.

  “Oh, Alec, this is delicious.”

  “Good, it’s almost ready. I hope you’re hungry.”

  “I’m starving; let me get washed up and then I’ll set the table.”

  “Just get washed up, and the kids and I will set the table.”

  We have dinner together and share the events of the day. Alec is quiet and listens to the kids tell their story.

  “What did you do today, daddy?” Rae asks.

  “I actually went to the house today and got the rest of our clothes, some personal items, and your toys.”

  I didn’t notice any other toys in James’ room. Rae must have put everything away. My stomach turns just thinking about the conversat
ion Alec and I will have this evening.

  “Emma, are you all right?” Alec asks.

  “I’m fine, sorry. Just a little preoccupied, I guess.”

  Once the bedtime ritual is completed, Alec and I sit outside on the lanai. I have hot tea and he has a beer. He moves his head side to side and massages his shoulders.

  “We were supposed to go look at bedroom suites this evening. I forgot all about it, I’m sorry.”

  “That’s ok, you seemed to have something on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?”

  I take a deep breath and say, “I had a visitor at work today.”

  He leans up and rests his elbows on his knees. “Do I know who it was?”

  “Molly was outside the insurance company this morning when I pulled up.”

  “Emma, did she hurt you?” Alec leans further up in his chair and cracks his knuckles.

  “No, she didn’t hurt me.”

  “What did she want?” he asks, searching my eyes for the truth.

  I just look at him. I don’t know what to say to him.

  “Emma, what did she say?”

  My nose tingles and I close my eyes. “She told me that I’m a home wrecker and that I’m the reason you two aren’t together.”

  Alec scoots closer to me and holds my hand. “Emma, you know that’s not the truth. You have nothing to do with us not being together.”

  “She also told me not to believe everything you say and that you’re not the man that I think you are.”

  He leans back in his chair and downs the rest of his beer. “What did you say about that?”

  I can see the hurt in his eyes. “Sara showed up, and when I turned back around Molly was walking away.”

  Alec leans up in his chair and takes both of my hands in his. “Emma, I need to know. What do you think about what she said?” he says, stroking my hands.

  “Alec, I don’t know. I didn’t even know you were married until last week. Now I’m being accused of breaking up your marriage and she tells me you’re not who I think you are.” A stray tear slides down my cheek. “Why would she say something like that to me?”

  “I don’t know. I told you that up until last week, I thought she was dead. I honestly believed that. Because I am a doctor, Molly felt that I should have been able to help her. I wish I could have helped her. Emma, I wanted to help her and God knows I tried to help her. But it was useless. You can’t help someone who won’t help themselves.”