From This Day Forward

by Shannon Myers

  I called David and he answered on the second ring, “Hey, did I wake you?”

  “No, I’m up. What’s wrong?”

  “I came home from dinner,” I paused and swallowed the lump in my throat, “And the back bedroom window was shattered.”

  “Beth, was anything stolen? Please tell me you’re not in the house right now.”

  I bit my bottom lip and stared at the glass on the carpet. I couldn’t very well tell him that I suspected it was someone I’d been intimate with. I did a cursory glance around the room and walked back to the living room.

  “No, it looks like everything is here and yes; I’m still in the house.”

  “Beth, listen to me. I want you to go get in your car and lock the doors. I’m going to call Mike and see if he can’t head that way. Have you called the police? Maybe he’s on shift tonight.”

  “Not yet.”

  “Okay, I want you to call them the minute we hang up. I’m going to pack up my stuff and I’m coming home.”

  I was going to protest, but I was really shaken. I needed my husband.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Several police officers showed up within ten minutes. I closed the front window, before changing into sweat pants and a tank top. Looking back, I should’ve left everything as it was, but I was shaken up and nothing I seemed to be doing was rational anyway.

  Mike was there within five minutes. He and David grew up together and were inseparable. With his surfer boy good looks and witty personality, it was hard to believe he was single. He wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and sat next to me on the couch while the two officers checked the house and yard.

  The female officer walked back inside. She was petite with beautiful long red hair and a face that made it clear she didn’t take any crap from anyone. She glanced at Mike and then sat down on the ottoman in front of me. “Mrs. Greene, you’re sure nothing has been taken?”

  “No, I don’t think so. I didn’t notice anything of value missing. I just came home and the back window was shattered.” My teeth were chattering together so hard that I feared they might chip.

  She looked at Mike, “Detective Sullivan, could I have a word?”

  Mike reached over and placed his arm across my shoulder, a protective move that I greatly appreciated. “Anything you’ve got for me can be said in front of her.”

  The other officer walked back in with something rectangular in his hands. He held it up for me to see, “Does this look familiar?”

  My heart leapt into my throat, “That was the frame for a picture from our wedding day. Where’s the picture?”

  Mike interjected, “Did you dust that for fingerprints?”

  The officer gave him a pointed look, “We did and recovered nothing. It was right outside that back window. We’ve checked everywhere inside and out and cannot find evidence that anyone was here,” He turned back to me, “We didn’t find a picture. Just the empty frame.”

  After assuring me that they would file the report and follow up on any leads, both officers left. Mike got up and went and grabbed two beers out of the fridge. I took a sip and placed mine on a coaster, while trying to calm my mind.

  Whoever was inside my house knew enough not to leave anything behind. I wasn’t even sure what kind of crazy I was dealing with in this case.

  “Elizabeth, are you okay?”

  I snapped back to reality, “Yeah, just trying to figure out who would’ve done this and why.”

  He took a drink of his beer. “Yeah, it’s not normal by any stretch of the imagination. It’s like it was done just to prove they could get in, unless something scared them off.”

  I nodded, an icy cold was wrapping around my gut. This person wanted to scare me—but why?

  I began crying and Mike pulled me to his chest. “Hey now, it’s going to be fine. David’s going to be here in the next couple of hours. Just relax; you’ve been so strong dealing with this.” I placed my head on his shoulder and tried to calm down.

  He ran his hands up and down my back as if he was trying to warm me up. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. He smells so good—like shaving cream and cologne. He smells like David. With that thought, the tears come back full force.

  Why don’t you go try to get some sleep and I’ll stay on the couch until David gets in.”

  I nodded and stood up, “Thanks, Mike."

  He gave me a sad smile and I went into the bedroom, closing the door behind me. The overall stress from the evening seemed to be rearing its ugly head and I barely made it to the bathroom. Why do I hold stress in my gut? I splashed cold water on my face before rushing over to the toilet and emptying my stomach.

  My stomach had just finished its revolt and I lay with my face against the toilet seat when I felt a cold washcloth against the back of my neck. I glanced up to see Mike.

  “You’ve had an incredibly stressful evening and now you’re sick?—you poor thing.”

  I managed a weak smile, “Pretty sure you would’ve preferred to spend your evening in a more relaxing manner.”

  “Not when my best friend’s wife is in trouble. Let’s get you into bed.” He helped me up and into bed before going back to the couch. I really needed a do-over for the last year.

  My cell phone chirped in bed next to me. I put my glasses back on and saw that it was from Lauren.

  “Hey would you be interested in trying out a class at the gym with me tomorrow?”

  I smiled, “As long as it doesn’t have the potential to kill me…sure.” I debated whether or not to tell her about the break-in, but my eyes were heavy and I soon fell into a fitful sleep.

  I awoke to David closing the bedroom door behind him. He climbed in next to me and pulled me into his big warm body. “It’s okay, Beth. I’m home now.”

  I nestled my head in the crook of his arm while hot tears ran down my face. I was so scared.

  Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me.

  I managed to stifle my sobs, “David?”

  He leaned down to me, “Yeah?”

  “I-I’m glad you’re home.”

  I awoke the next morning to find David making us breakfast in the kitchen. Mike was gone and I’d already missed four calls from my mother. I kissed him good morning and then gestured to my phone, “I need to call my mother back. I’ve missed several calls.”

  He nodded at me and went back to scrambling eggs while I stepped out onto the back patio. She answered by the second ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi Mom, it’s me. I saw I missed some calls from you.”

  She snorted sarcastically, “Yeah, I was just calling to chat, see if you wanted to grab lunch—why do you think I was calling, Elizabeth? I find out my daughter is cheating on her husband and she can’t even be bothered to explain herself!”

  I cringed and lowered my voice, “Mom, I-I know how it must seem, but it’s over—I told you that last night. It was a horrible mistake.”

  “We raised you better. David is a good man—how could you do that to him—after everything he’s been through?” Her voice was getting louder and louder the angrier she got.

  “Mom, please—I’m sorry. I’m trying to be a better person. I’m not that person. I’ve been seeing a therapist and I really think she can help me work through this.”

  “Oh my God—David has remained so strong throughout losing his dad and nearly his business and you—you run off and have your little ‘therapy sessions’, but don’t think twice about sleeping with another man during this time. I don’t know who you are anymore.”

  I gasped more from shock than hurt. Everything she’d just mentioned, I’d thought about myself. She, however, wasn’t through with me yet.

  “And let me be the first to say that when David finds out about this, which he will, no one will think unkindly of him if he leaves you. I’ve held my tongue for far too long—but you have brought this on yourself. You go out of your way to make yourself difficult to love with these dramatics. Your father and I
supported you with your anxiety issues, but this—this behavior is nothing more than a temper tantrum. Adults don’t do that, Elizabeth. They don’t run out and sleep with another man because their spouse is taking too long to grieve.”

  I reeled back from my phone as though I’d been slapped. My mother was never harsh like this with me. She was many things, but never harsh.

  I wiped my tears and put the phone back against my ear.

  “—that’s what happens when you rely on your spouse as your source of happiness. You end up disappointed when they inevitably slip up and then you end up trying to find a new source of happiness. If you would just choose to be happy and not make it contingent on another person, your life would be so much better.”

  I sighed and said sarcastically, “You’re so right, Mom. If I could just choose happiness, my life would be rainbows and sunshine—like anyone would choose to live like this!”

  I hit the ‘end’ button and sank down in the patio chair.

  “What the hell was that?”

  I jumped about three feet in the air and turned to find David standing behind me with two plates of food in his hands. Oh God—how long has he been standing there?

  “I-she-I—you heard that?” That was smooth.

  “You’re damn right I heard it—attacking you for going to therapy? That’s a low blow. I know you want to be happy—you can’t let your mom make you feel bad about yourself.”

  That’s right—wait. What?

  He set the plates down roughly and turned back to me. “Is she always like this to you? Judging you? Making you feel bad about yourself?”

  Moment of truth—if I lie, I’m ruining the relationship with my parents. If I tell the truth, I’m going to lose the man I love.

  I brushed some more tears away. “She has a hard time understanding me, I think. She means well, but she thinks it’s nothing more than ‘temper tantrums’. I don’t know, maybe she’s right.”

  Well, I did it. I threw my mother under a bus and watched as it bounced over her body. Some daughter I am. In my defense, I didn’t really have a lot of choices if I wanted to save my marriage. I glanced at David through tear-stained lashes.

  “What do you want to do, Beth? Do you want to continue to allow her to determine what’s best for your mental health?” He brought his fist up and placed it against his mouth as if doing so would hold back his anger.

  “I don’t know. I think I need some distance right now.” Inwardly, I sighed. I’m sorry, Mom. But if I’m going to keep David from finding out, I have to keep him far, far away from you.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  David and I ate our breakfast in silence. I sipped my coffee, wishing for something stronger while I dealt with thoughts of my parents.

  “I brought in some help to finish that job down in Midland. I’ve decided that I need to stick with local jobs from now on. I won’t be bidding on any out-of-town work.”

  I’m jolted back to reality by his words. I stared open-mouthed at him while holding my coffee cup to my lips.

  “Is this because of what happened last night?”

  “No. Beth, you’re the most important thing in the world to me. I’ve been traveling all over for work and I just miss the hell out of you. I had already set this in motion when you called me to tell me what had happened.”

  It’s exactly what I wanted to happen, but I was worried it wouldn’t last.

  “Haven’t we tried this before—after Mexico?”

  He looked over at me, while he tried to find the right words to say.

  “Look, Beth—I know that the jobs here have been smaller, but I want us to start a family. If we’re ever going to be able to do that, I’ve got to be here for you. I can’t leave you to deal with all of it on your own.”

  I was floored—sometimes I wondered if he couldn’t read my mind. I just felt like I didn’t deserve this man. He became animated, gesturing with his hands as he talked about the future. As I watched him, I heard my mother’s words come back to haunt me, “And let me be the first to say that when David finds out about this, which he will, no one will think unkindly of him if he leaves you.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and covered his hand with mine. I couldn’t imagine my life without David. I stood up and climbed into his lap before pressing my lips to his mouth and down his neck.

  “Come back to bed with me?”

  He responded by picking me up and carrying me back into the house.

  Afterward, I feathered kisses across his neck as he dozed. Then, as I lay my head on his chest and listened to his heart beating, I thought—this is my husband. Mine. I realized how right my life was in that moment.

  I went through the next few weeks constantly looking over my shoulder. I was so afraid that my mother would pop-up behind me, but my cell phone remained quiet as far as she was concerned. David confronted them and she didn’t rat me out, but a part of me was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  I left work one evening to find Landon waiting by my car. “Hey Elizabeth, long time no see.”

  “Landon—what are you doing here?”

  He shuffled his feet as though he was contemplating his answer, his eyes remained on the pavement, “I just missed you and needed to see you. Katya left.” At that, his eyes teared up, and I felt my walls begin to crumble. I couldn’t do this. Not again.

  “Landon, I’m sorry to hear that—but I’ve got to get home to David. I’m sorry.”

  He held his hands up, “I get it—I do. I just wanted to see you.” He pulled me into him and whispered, “Plus that skirt and I have history. You know I can’t think clearly when you’re wearing it.”

  I glanced down at my black skirt and the May air suddenly felt a little too cool for me. I pulled away from him and wrapped my arms around myself to stop the shaking. “I’ve got to get home, Landon. Good to see you.”

  He nodded sadly and gave me a forced smile. “Take care, Elizabeth.”

  I went into full-blown panic mode once I arrived home. I began cleaning while waiting for David to get home and when that didn’t work, I moved into the kitchen.

  David arrived an hour later. “You’ll never believe what happened today. I actually met with a prospective client who wanted me to build an addition onto his existing office for—get this—free! I could have a small sign in the front flower bed that said Greene Construction. He said it would be great advertising.”

  I laughed and turned down my Florence + the Machine Pandora station as he came into the kitchen where I had the oven going and various pots bubbling away on the stovetop.

  He took it all in and then walked into the living room as if looking for evidence. “She was here wasn’t she?” Seeing my confusion he elaborated, “Your mom—she must’ve been here. The house is beyond spotless, you’ve got to be cooking for no less than fifty people over there, and you’re listening to Florence—you’re stressed or upset.”

  “Actually, no—it was just a long stressful day at work.” David sat down on a bar stool at the island as I began chopping vegetables. “You want to talk about it, Beth?”

  I smiled at him, “No, but I’d take a drink.”

  He poured me a glass of champagne as I began layering the squash, zucchini, and onions in a baking dish with a little more force than was necessary before taking the glass from him.

  “Thanks. I just want to finish this and go to bed.”

  “Wait, what? Are you trying to get me into bed?—because I will totally let you.” He grinned wickedly at me as he made his way towards me.

  I swatted his arm then sprinkled parmesan and pepper over the veggies before placing the dish in the oven and answering, “I can always be persuaded, but let me finish this up first.”

  He wrapped his arms around my waist and nuzzled my neck, “I wanna take you out.” Sensing my confusion, he amended, “Tomorrow—not tonight. I made arrangements with Jess so you can get your hair done and then she’s going to take you shopping for something to wear. Then, the
four of us are going out.”

  I turned to him, my shock evident. “The four of us? Who else is going? What’s the occasion?”

  He laughed at all my questions, “Well our anniversary is next weekend, but I don’t need an occasion. You’ve been an amazing wife who’s had to put up with a lot with me being gone. You deserve this—and Lauren and Mike are coming with us.”

  I fought against the surge of guilt and images of me with Landon, “I agree. A night out is exactly what we need. Jess didn’t want to join us?”

  He kissed my cheek. “You know Jess doesn’t normally work Saturdays, but for you she was willing to make an exception. I invited her, but she had plans already. Now, that’s settled,” he lowered his voice to a sexy growl, “I’m ready for my cooking lesson.” I was giddy as he picked me up and set me down on the island.

  The next morning found me sitting in Jess’s chair as she decided what needed to be done. She jumped off of the small stool she’d been sitting on and came over to me. She was in full hairdresser mode at this point and it seemed best to just sit back and let her sell me on her ideas, “What are you thinking you want—extensions? Yes, I am going to make you look so fabulous,” seeing the wide-eyed worried look on my face she clarifies, “you’ll look classy, I promise. We’ll just lighten you up a bit and then give you a little length.

  She spun me around to face the mirror once she finished and I barely recognize the woman staring back at me. The simple hairstyle was gone and I now had long layers thanks to the extensions. She’d worked some magic alright.

  I began tearing up and Jess stopped me, “No waterworks. This is fun and now, David wants you to go buy a sexy little dress for your night out!”

  And that is how I came to find myself in a swank boutique dressing room, trying on dresses that were beyond expensive, and drinking the complimentary champagne like it was water. When I say complimentary, I mean that we went to the liquor store and purchased several mini bottles and smuggled them in to the boutique in our purses. The only thing missing from my “rock star experience” was a straw.