She Never Knew

by CJ Simpson

  Darryl often reflected on his childhood, cursing the fact that his father couldn’t keep his act together and disappeared from his life. He resented that Michelle seemed to be following in his mother’s footsteps, working at a fast food joint for meager pay. He hated the fact he had so little time to spend with his son due to his long work hours. Most of all, he was desperate for a better life.

  On a weekend where Michelle had taken Jared to see her parents, Darryl decided to stop in the office to see Vivian. He knew she worked on Saturdays and wanted to talk with her about ways to improve his qualifications for advancement in the company before he approached his boss. Since he was hired on the basis of her promotion, Darryl hoped she would offer him some insight.

  He called Vivian but got her voicemail. Rather than leave a message, Darryl decided to head to the office. He had brought with him a list of questions so that he would appear prepared and knowledgeable. He prided himself for taking the initiative and was anxious to talk with her.

  When he arrived, Vivian wasn’t in her office, but it was obvious she was somewhere in the building. Her lights and computer were on and her purse was on the floor next to her desk. Darryl decided to wait and sat in the chair across from her desk. After fifteen minutes had elapsed, he got up and walked down the hallway to where the senior management offices were located.

  As he advanced, he heard low moaning sounds coming from the end of the hallway. All of the office doors were shut except for one. Unable to decipher the sounds, he slowly approached the partially opened door. When he peeked in, he choked back a gasp at what he saw.

  The dim glow from the office’s computer screen emitted just enough light to where Darryl could identify two people lying on the floor in a passionate embrace. One of them was Vivian!

  He jerked his head back and quickly retreated back to the elevator of his department. It wasn’t until he reached his car that his heart rate began to slow down. He was confident no one saw him, but he was also very disgusted. Was this how Vivian was promoted? Is this why senior management wanted Darryl and his crew to double their efforts in meeting sales quotas so he and Vivian could play together?

  Angry and defeated, Darryl drove home. He crumpled the list of questions he had and threw it the trash. Was this what professional people did at work? Was deceit part of the game in advancement? Any respect Darryl had for Vivian went into the trash can as well. He felt used and betrayed by the one person at work he trusted the most. That trust had been shattered and Darryl didn’t know what to do about it.

  His outlook on life changed that day. When he called his wife that night, he shared with her what he had seen. Michelle suggested that he find another job, but Darryl disagreed. It had finally sunk in that no matter where he worked, there would always be things that people did he wouldn’t agree with. Looking back at his former places of employment, he wondered if there was such a thing as having a perfect job. Sure, he had lied about his age when he worked for the church, but did that really count? He only lied so he could save up some money and help his mother.

  When he returned to work the following week, he avoided Vivian like the plague. Every time she passed through his department, Darryl made sure he was on the phone or pretended to be on the phone with a client. He wanted nothing to do with her anymore and no longer sought her advice. He knew he had to open the lines of communication with his boss instead. It was difficult because he couldn’t be away from his station, and the only time he could talk to his boss was when he was on his lunch break. His boss also often traveled so that made it even harder.

  It was a few weeks later when Darryl decided to approach his boss. He waited until after hours and came prepared to discuss his thoughts about his job. When he knocked on Matthew’s door, he was invited in and the two had talked for over an hour. Darryl was pleasantly surprised at how easygoing his boss was and became hopeful about his future at that point. Darryl didn’t let on what he knew about Vivian’s indiscretion as he knew Matthew thought very highly of her. In fact, that was the meeting in which he had told Matthew how much he too admired and respected Vivian’s dedication to the department. He was amazed at how easy it was to lie to his boss, but if doing so would lead to a promotion, then Darryl had no choice. At least, that is what he believed.

  The following week was when his boss had brought up the suggestion that Darryl attend online classes in order to qualify for a significant promotion. Darryl really didn’t want to go back to school but he learned quickly how to play the game from that day forward. He learned what he would need to do to promote himself.

  During the first few months when he was enrolled in online classes through the University of Millstone, Michelle saw subtle changes in her husband. While he was doing well in his courses, it was Darryl’s job that affected him negatively as a person, as a husband, and as a father. He became increasingly distant from her and Jared in his quest for recognition at the corporate level. She didn’t know exactly what he was looking for, but she didn’t like it. It got to the point where Darryl was no longer the man she married, the man she loved. He barely made time for Jared and that upset her more than anything. Her pleas for him to change fell on deaf ears. He was on the path to self-destruction and Michelle felt helpless to do anything about it. He would become angry with her when she brought up the fact his own father was never around for him. Did he want to set that example for their son?

  As Darryl stared at Tyler, he wondered where the little boy’s father was. For the last three days, he had been hiding in various places in the wooded development. He had almost gotten caught the first day he camped out in the woods. His former instructor had just left her neighbor’s house when Darryl was taken by surprise. He was amazed that neither she nor her son saw him standing behind the house. He had run to the rear of the property and dived to the ground. When he peeked through the bushes, he could see her frowning, looking directly at where he was crouching. But apparently she didn’t see him, for she went back into her house.

  Darryl knew he had to be careful so he brought his binoculars in order to see Kat up close. He noticed she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, so perhaps she wasn’t married. Heck, perhaps she was divorced. After all, who would want to marry someone like her? Why would anybody want her when she treats people like garbage?

  An hour later, Darryl sat in his car, a safe distance from where Kat, Daniel, and Tyler sat under a tree at the park. He had followed her from the house but almost lost her because he had parked his car on the other side of the development. He had managed to keep her in sight, all the while keeping a safe distance. He didn’t want to confront her in public. No, he wanted to wait for the perfect moment in which to make his presence known.

  Through his binoculars, Darryl presumed that Daniel was not the boy’s father. He had seen the man pull up in a truck and the little boy run up to him. If he had shared custody with Kat, why wouldn’t he simply pick him up at the house? No, the man had to be her boyfriend. Besides, he had heard the boy call out the man’s name and it didn’t sound like Daddy.

  Darryl was about to drive back to his motel room when he observed what appeared to be an argument between Kat and her boyfriend. The man appeared annoyed at something Kat had said and when he abruptly stood up, Darryl couldn’t help but chuckle. Way to go, he mentally praised the man. That’s right, tell her how you really feel. When he saw the man leave in his truck, he watched the expression on Kat’s face with amusement. This is what happens when you alienate people. Not only do you treat your students like garbage, you treat the men in your life the same way.

  Bored and hungry, Darryl decided to call it a day. He had made a lot of progress since he arrived and he deserved a treat for his efforts. Yes, a celebration was in order. Besides, it was hot and humid outside and he was thirsty. As he drove back to the motel, he practically salivated just thinking about the twelve-pack in the mini fridge waiting for him. When he returned to his suite, his cell phone vibrated in his pants pocket. He frowned when he saw t
he identity of the caller.

  “Hello?”

  “Where are you?” The voice on the other line hissed. It was Michelle and she had come home to surprise him. She wanted to give their marriage another chance and left Jared behind with her parents so the two of them could work things out. However, when she saw the enormous amount of trash and cockroaches and broken beer bottles lying around and everything else he had done to their house, she knew her husband had gone off the deep end. When she had called him at work to tell him she was home, she learned that he was no longer with the company.

  Michelle had been outraged and packed up the rest of her things. Nevermind the fact that she had vowed to love him for better or for worse, her mind was made up. There was no going back. When he told her he simply went out of town to clear his head, she refused to listen. She had had enough.

  Darryl’s face was beet red and he had the look of murder in his eyes as he roared like a rabid lion. It was time to advance to the final step of his plan.

  Chapter 32

  Kat quickly scanned her guest room to ensure nothing was out of place. Fresh sheets were fitted on the bed, the furniture was dusted, and a beautiful arrangement of lilies was displayed on the bureau. In the adjoining bathroom, plush royal-blue towels were stacked neatly on the two-tiered wall rack. On the corner of the bathtub sat a lovely signature collection of body care products. The airy room had an ocean theme and its walls were decorated with paintings of sea shells and antiquated cottages. It was bright, cheery, and complemented the bedroom, which was painted in pastel colors. Any guest residing there would experience a slice of paradise as the room offered a breathtaking view of the creek behind the house.

  When she was finished with her inspection, Kat went downstairs and joined Tyler on the couch. He had the Pointer in his hand and was following the words in the book he had on his lap. When he looked up at his mother, he smiled.

  “Mommy, look.” Tyler pressed the tip of the Pointer on the first word of the sentence on the page. A mechanical voice said the word out loud. He gently pressed each word in succession until he reached the end of the sentence. Next, he repeated out loud the entire sentence.

  “Wow! That’s amazing!” Kat praised him. She had bought these books because she knew how much Tyler enjoyed reading before bedtime. The Pointer books allowed him to learn sight words and read simple beginner sentences as much as he wanted to.

  She rubbed his back as she watched him navigate the Pointer on various pictures. The automated voice proceeded to explain what those pictures meant and how they related to the story. It was a fun way to learn how to read and Tyler was fascinated by the books.

  “Mommy, is Aunt Mary going to be here soon?”

  “She sure is.” Leaning forward, Kat peered at the grandfather clock standing in the foyer. “In about a half hour or so.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Me either!”

  Kat rose and went into her kitchen. She had a whole chicken in the oven and saw from the temperature that it would be ready in a little over an hour. Earlier, she had prepared homemade French-braided bread, a recipe her mother used years ago. It sat on a cutting board, cooling to room temperature. There was nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread wafting in the air.

  Kat recalled that when she was a little girl, she and her sister would devour the breads soon after they were removed from the oven. One time, their mother had hidden a loaf in the basement freezer, but the girls had found it. She had saved the bread to give as a gift to someone who had been in the hospital. After scolding the girls and telling them it took hours to bake, she had laughed in the end. “But it’s so yummy!” Kat recalled saying to her.

  Smiling at the thought, Kat removed dinner plates and salad bowls from the cupboards and set them on the kitchen table. She was anxious and needed something to keep her busy until her sister arrived. As she folded napkins, the doorbell rang.

  “Mommy! Mommy!” Tyler called from the other room, jumping up and down in excitement. “I think Aunt Mary is here!”

  Kat reentered her living room and saw through the front door that her sister had arrived. Taking Tyler’s hand in her own, she opened the door to see Mary standing there with a big smile on her face. She wore a navy blue short-sleeved cotton sweater with cream-colored pants. Her blond hair sported a sleek bob with strawberry highlights that complemented her facial features. A purse casually rested on her shoulder as she held several large shopping bags.

  “Hi!” Mary stood there, beaming at Kat and then at her nephew. “You must be Tyler!” He smiled shyly at her, remaining close to his mother.

  “Hi, Mary!” Kat stared incredulously at her sister, tears forming in her eyes.” Her sister hadn’t changed much over the years. She looked down at Tyler and said, “Honey, this is your Aunt Mary.”

  “I know, Mommy. You showed me her picture, remember?”

  The two women laughed as Mary bent down to hug Tyler. Then she hugged Kat tightly. “It’s so good to see you again,” she whispered.

  “It’s so good to see you too!” Kat said, not wanting to let go of her sister. Finally, they pulled apart and Kat waved for everyone to enter the house.

  “I take it you found the house okay?” Kat asked, smiling radiantly at her sister.

  “I did, except I almost took a wrong turn back there.” Mary laughed as she set her shopping bags on the floor. “What a gorgeous place you’ve got here, Kat.”

  “Thank you. It’s been home to us for about six years now.” Kat turned to see that Tyler had gone back to reading his books. “Michael and I discovered this little gem together.”

  “Ah, I remember you mentioning that before—uh, when you two were dating.”

  “It’s given me much comfort over the years. The schools are great, the ocean is two miles away, and it’s a perfect place to raise children.”

  Mary gasped as she spied the view of the creek behind the house across the living room. “Oh, how beautiful!” She walked over to the windows and admired the beauty of the sun shining its reflection on the water. “The sky looks like it’s on fire!”

  “We’re pretty spoiled out here.” Kat smiled. “Are you thirsty? Would you like something to drink?”

  “Actually, I would love a glass of water.” Mary’s eyes continued her scan of Kat’s living room, finally resting on the portraits of their parents mounted above the mantel. She stepped over for a closer look and said, “They made a handsome couple, didn’t they?”

  “They sure did.” Kat responded. “I miss them an awful lot.”

  “Me too.”

  As Kat went to fetch them water, Mary strolled over to where Tyler was and sat down on the couch next to him. He was reading a new book and she watched him navigate through the activities with ease.

  “You’re pretty good at that,” she said.

  “It’s really easy. See?” He proceeded to show Mary what he had demonstrated to Kat earlier. Pleased by his welcoming reaction to her, Mary pointed to a picture of a cat sitting by a window.

  “What happens when you touch the cat?” she asked.

  Tyler applied pressure on the cat and the mechanical voice explained that the kitty loved to sit by the window and watch the birds fly. When the cat meowed, Tyler giggled.

  Smiling, Mary pointed to another picture. “What does that one do?”

  Tyler pressed the picture and the sound of a dog could be heard barking. The puppy wants to play outside, the mechanical voice intoned. Squealing with giggles, Tyler continued to press on various pictures to hear their sounds.

  “What about this one?” Mary pointed to a jack-in-the-box. When Tyler pressed the picture, they heard a loud boing. He began to laugh hysterically.

  Kat entered the living room, carrying a tray of hors d’oeuvres. She had made a garlic and herbed cheese ball from scratch. It was placed in the center of the tray, surrounded by an assortment of crackers and grapes. She set the tray on the coffee table and looked at her son and sister in amusement. �
�What is so funny in here?”

  “Mommy, listen.” Tyler pressed the picture of the jack-in-the-box again and waited in anticipation for what was about to happen. Boing! The jack-in-the-box is wound up!

  All three of them laughed. Kat was happy to see that Tyler was receptive to having Mary there. It was obvious from the look on her face that she was glad she came. She turned to her sister and handed her a glass of water.

  “Thank you.” Mary accepted the glass and took a sip. “He’s really something with these books, isn’t he?”

  “He loves them.” Kat sat down and curled her feet underneath her legs. “Whoever invented these is a genius. The nice thing about these books is that they’re not just stories. At the end of each one are activities kids can do to learn how to read words that share common letters, like bat, mat, fat, cat.”

  Mary leaned over and whispered something into Tyler’s ear. Wide-eyed, he looked at her in wonder, and turned to where the shopping bags sat in the foyer. “Go ahead, honey. Get the red bag and bring it over here.”

  Tyler jumped off the couch and ran into the foyer. He picked up a large red bag and carried it carefully back to the living room. He set it on the coffee table and looked at his aunt.

  “Take a look inside.” Mary prompted, leaning forward.

  Tyler reached in the bag and pulled out a Pointer adventure pack of the universal solar system. Gasping, his jaw dropped as he stared at his present.

  “It’s the solar system!” Tyler gasped in wonderment as he held it up, inspecting every inch of the package. He looked at his mother, then at Aunt Mary. “Can I open it?”

  “Yes! Hurry up!” Mary laughed, her heart warmed by the look of delight on her nephew’s face.

  “All right!” Tyler peeled off the tape and removed a thick board from the box. It was folded in thirds and when Tyler spread it out fully on the coffee table, he stared at his new treasure in awe.