Torn

by Escamilla, Michelle

  “Yes sir. I’ll be down there in a little bit. Do I need to ask for you?” “No ma’am, anyone will be able to release him into your custody. Drive carefully, Mrs. Andrews. I am sorry that we had to call you this early.” He sounded so sincere.

  “Thank you for the call Lieutenant, I really appreciate it.” I hung up and pushed myself to get out bed. I padded to the bathroom to get my hair clip.

  I headed out towards my car, thinking that I should leave his ass down there and see how this story would come up. The lies that would just pour out of his mouth would be humorous. I began my drive down to the police station and wondered what fight he could have gotten into. Liam was obviously was a jerk when he got drunk, but I had never once seen him get into a fight. He and Jason once had a pushing match, but all was in funand games. Now he was getting into bar fights? I felt myself begin to drive a bit faster; I could not WAIT to hear this one.

  I pulled into the parking lot and even though I was in a police station, I pushed the lock button on my remote three times. I walked up the stairs and wasgreeted by a rather hefty officer behind the desk.

  “Can I help you?” He asked, he sounded like he was rather grumpy. “Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Yes sir, I was… my husband was arrested last night and I received a call from Lieutenant Marquez. He said I could come and pick him up, where might I be able to do so?” I could tell my voice was shaky.

  “Follow that hall down that way.” He stood to point in the direction I was to go. “The doors at the end on the left are where you wanna go. I believe Marquez is still here, so you might catch him.” He sat down in a huff, as if standing was not for him.

  I thanked him as I began my descent down the hallway. My heart began to race as I reached for the doors. As I walked in, I saw a good looking officer sitting at a desk. He had the most gorgeous black hair and brown eyes; I told myself if I were to ever be arrested that I needed to request him! I chuckled to myself, thankfully that put my mind at ease and I began to slow my breathing.

  “Excuse me, are you Lieutenant Marquez?” I asked shyly.

  “Yes, can I help you with something?” He asked not even looking up from his computer.

  “I am Ryleigh Andrews; we spoke just a little bit ago. I’m here to pick up Liam Andrews.” The way I said Liam’s name made my stomach cringe. “Oh, yes.” He looked up from his computer and quickly stood to greet me. “Thank you so much for coming down Mrs. Andrews. Why don’t you have a seat?” He showed me to a chair in a waiting area. “I will get all of his paperwork and then I can release him into your custody.” He grabbed a clipboard and added some paperwork for me to sign. “Since it wasa bunch of guys that were arrested and they are all blaming each other, we aren’t sure which one is the main instigator, so we just brought him to sober up and never really put him under arrest.” He explained.

  That didn’t make me feel any better that he wantedme to come and pick him up. I signed the paperwork, which included a copy of the police report, before I could read it I saw Liam being escorted down the hall.

  His head was hanging. I was hoping to get a glimpse of his eyes and find some sort of remorse from him, but he did not even bother looking up. I turned to Lieutenant Marquez.

  “Thank you Lieutenant. I can assure you that you will never see us again.” I said as I signed the last page, pushing the pen into the paper a bit harder. Liam walked a few paces in front of me and headed out to my car. I kept looking at him waiting for that moment where we might get that brief moment of eye contact and maybe that would trigger something. Nothing.

  I could feel my jaw growing tense as I gritted my teeth. I decide the music was a welcome silence breaker. Thankfully it was a “back in the day” night for one of the stations and listening to 90’s music was something to take my mind off the stranger in the seat next to me.

  I pulled up into the driveway and turned off the engine. He and I sat there for a minute; it wasn’t until I reached for my door when he grabbed my wrist.

  “Ryleigh?” He said just above a whisper. “Liam, look it’s an ungodly hour. I am so tired and VERY confused at the moment. I don’t know if I am really ready to talk. The whole way here I wanted you to say something to me, but now I just want to go get some sleep.” I yanked my wrist away from him and got out of the car.

  He sat there for another moment and then followed me into the house. I stomped up the stairs, threw my purse on the floor next to the end table and plopped down into my bed. I looked over at the clock and it was already 5:54, I knew that if I went back to sleep now I was going to end up sleeping all day long. I grabbed my phone out of my purse so I could set an alarm. I had a missed text?

  I don’t know what or how much he told you, but I am sorry. It was from Caleb! How did he know about Liam? If he was in any shape involved with the fight, I was going to flip my lid. This morning was enough drama to last me an entire month, year even! He text me 15 minutes ago, did I want to text him back and start more drama for myself?

  “I just came up to get a pillow and blanket. I’ll sleep down on the couch.” His hands were in the door frame. “You can sleep in here. I am setting an alarm for 10 though, we really need to talk, get your car and I don’t want to spend the day sleeping.” I shivered at the sound of my tone. I had so many emotions running through me, I almost thought I should justspend the day sleeping and wake up on Monday morning and not have to see Liam for the week.

  “Okay.” He crawled into bed and I could tell that he passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow. I laid there and tried my hardest to fall back asleep as well. Unfortunately, the sound of Liam’s heavy breathing and the millions of thoughts and emotions running through my head; it wasn’t going to happen.

  I quietly grabbed my phone and slipped out of the bedroom and headed down to the living room. I turned on the television really low and flipped the dozen infomercials that were trying to sell me everything from workout equipment to cookware. I checked my phone again and re-read Caleb’s message. I quickly sent him a message back.

  What do you know about tonight?

  I waited for about 5 minutes and then my phone buzzed.

  Call me if you can

  I dialed his number.

  “Hey. Why aren’t you trying to get some sleep? It’s still really early.” He said groggy. As if he was trying to get some sleep. “I should be asking you the same thing. I have so many things going on right now. I’m really hoping that you’re not going to tell me that you are somehow involved in this.” I was trying really hard to be quiet. I headed to the back patio so I wouldn’t risk Liam waking up and coming down to see me on the phone.

  “Well. Uh. I wasn’t necessarily involved per se. I was down at the bar.” He began.

  “Caleb!” I said a little louder than I had intended. I looked around me to make sure that I didn’t wake any of the neighbors and that Liam wasn’t coming down the stairs. “Ryleigh, listen to me first. I wasn’t actually involved, I’d been down at the bar watching the baseball game and meeting up with, Jonathan Franklin- remember him from high school? We were having some beers and at 10 p.m. or so this guy comes in with a red head on his arm. I’m not sure if it was at that point or when I saw him standing right next to me ordering drinks that I spit my beer out. Ryleigh, I was in shock that I just met this douchebag not a few hours ago with you and then I am sitting at the bar and he has this other woman on his arm! Where were you?”

  “I actually was at home. He was supposed to be at work.” I briefly answered.

  “So, here he is standing next to me and getting a little too affectionate.” He paused. “Sorry maybe I should skip the details.”

  “No, It’s okay. Just tell me everything.” I interrupted and began to tear up.

  “Ryleigh, I don’t want you to be more hurt than you already have been the last few days.” I craved to feel his touch. “Thanks, Caleb. I really do appreciate you looking out for me. Go ahead, continue.” I said wiping my eyes.

  “Anyway, he was there a
nd Jon asked me if I knew the girl. He thought that I was staring at her, I wasn’t really was staring, but I think was looking over in complete shock. I told him about you, went on about your scumbag husband and how you caught him. Then I proceeded to tell him how that scumbag over there, he’s your husband but that the chick that he’s with is NOT you.” He paused for a moment, possibly waiting for me to react, but I sat in silence.

  “So, Jon and I, both were watching Liam and this girl. He was oblivious as to who I was. He didn’t even look over at me. Ryleigh, I promise to you that I didn’t do anything.” He said desperate for me to believe him. “Jon and I hung out for a bit longer and at some point when I went to the bathroom, he headed over there to play pool with him. I knew it was a bad idea, but I didn’t want Liam to know that I was there. I knew that it would only stir up problems and with the way that he was pounding the drinks down, he was only going to beef up his act.”

  “So if I remember correctly, Jon was never a small guy in high school, you just watched him play pool with Liam? I know you didn’t want to start drama but… I don’t know.” I began to gnaw my nails again. I would be lucky if I was going to have any nails by the end of this weekend.

  “Believe me, I know. I really wanted to go over there and kick Jon’s ass for even going over there. But I sat at the bar keeping a watchful eye on him. They just played pool, but after they played several games the ante was raised. Turns out Jon and the red head were eye fucking the entire time, Liam apparently got jealous as soon as he caught them. Here is where the bar fight started, they both were throwing punches back and forth.

  “The bar manager somehow got involved and Liam decked the poor dude. He then said he was going to call the cops and have him arrested, told me to get my friend out of there. At that point, someone had already called the cops. We couldn’t get out of their before they showed up, Jon had a bloody lip and the start of a black eye and obviously we were questioned. A couple of people got involved into the questioning and were pointing fingers on who started it. So they let Jon go, which by the way the red head went with Jon, not that you care. I’m really sorry, Ryleigh.” He apologized sincerely.

  “Caleb, it isn’t your job to watch him or make sure that someone else doesn’t kick his ass.” I let out a heavy sigh. “I appreciate you telling me though. Heand I do have to talk today, this really has got to end and I didn’t even where to begin. His ass getting arrested might be a great place to start.” I didn’t even know what to say after that. We sat in silence fora moment longer.

  “Ryleigh, you mean the world to me. Liam doesn’t deserve you, he really doesn’t. I know I said I would share you if that is what I could get, but now, Ryleigh, he doesn’t deserve a single hair on your head! If it could have been me kicking his ass in the bar tonight, I would have done it in a heartbeat!” He said tensely.

  “Caleb, look…he’s my husband and things are so messed up right now.” I paused for a moment. “I don’t know what I am going to do or what is going to happen.” I sighed again. “Ugh! I am a mess right now and things need to be sorted out really quick. Caleb, I really need to fix things here first.” I could hear his heavy sigh on the other line.

  “Look, go get some sleep. Talk to him, do what you have to do. I can’t let you go, though. I still want to see you tomorrow night. Can we still do that?” He voice sounded desperate. “We should talk in person; so of course, we are still on for tomorrow.” I yawned. “You’re right; I should get a little more sleep. Today is going to be the longest day ever and one that I am going to dread. I will call you later or even tomorrow during my lunch, okay?”

  “Yeah, hey if you need anything let me know.” He said reassuringly.

  “Thanks again, Caleb. Good ni- oops, morning.” I tried to laugh but came out as another yawn. With that, we both hung up. It was a nice cool morning out, but the sun was beginning to ascend and the heat was right behind it. I headed back inside to find the morning news on as I laid down on the couch. My eyes were quickly getting heavy and I soon began to fall asleep.

  Three and a half hours of sleep felt like three and a half minutes. I didn’t hear my phone alarm but looked at the clock on the wall but sat up quickly when I saw it was 10:30. I could smell bacon and hear pans banging around in the kitchen. I pushed off the couch to find Liam cooking a massive breakfast. My phone was lying on the kitchen table, had I not brought it back into the living room with me?

  “Did my alarm go off?” I asked rubbing my eyes. “It was going off for a little bit, not sure for how long. I came downstairs to hear it on the table so I just shut it off and decided to make breakfast. I called a tow truck to bring the car here so we don’t have to go down there and pick it up. Coffee?” He was talking to me as if nothing had happened.

  “Yes. Big cup.” For someone who minored in English, my sentences were that of a cavewoman. He handed me a cup and slid me the creamer. “Smells good.” “It’ll be ready in about 2 minutes. I figured it’s nice out this morning; we could eat on the patio. Go grab a seat and I’ll bring it out.” He gave me a kiss on my head and went back to cooking. Had I not known about his recent occurrences with his harem of women, I would say that this was the perfect morning. I opened up the back door and sat down on the chair.

  Liam placed a plate in front of me; loaded with eggs, toast, bacon and some fruit. I was actually impressed; he had not cooked for me in a few years.

  “This looks and smells delicious! Thank you.” He grabbed my hand before I could grab my fork. “I have to find ways to say I am sorry.” He kissedmy hand and went back to his plate. “Well, rather than finding ways to say sorry, there is one thing to do; actually say sorry. Then when you are done with that, you can tell me what the hell happened.” My stomach suddenly lost its appetite. I dropped the fork and stared at him. Waiting.

  “Ryleigh, I am so sorry. We got done early; we all decided to go have a beer…”

  “Liam, cut the bullshit! I know everything.” I was livid. He was going to completely lie again.

  “What?” He asked astonished. His eyes looked as if he were a deer in headlights. “Yeah, I know. I saw you. That night you were going to pull an ‘all-nighter’. You seemed to have mixed up my name for, is it Amber, because after you called me drunk and proceeded to call me a ‘nag’ you texted her or someone else and told them that ‘you wanted to do dirty things and that SHE would never have to know’, so yeah, I decided to come find your ass. I walked in on you making out with some woman in the bar! Liam, what the fuck is going on?” I could feel the tears pricking up but fought them back. I didn’t want to show him my hurt side, but rather my pissed as hell side.

  “Oh shit, Ryleigh. Baby…” Liam tried to reach for my hand again, but this time I folded them up against my chest.

  “Please, Liam, don’t ‘baby’ me or butter me up. Just fucking tell me what the hell is going on and tell me the damn truth.” I seethed. “Alright. Truth. I met Amber a few months ago. She was the waitress at this restaurant that we had gone to a couple times for lunch. I love you more than anything but for some reason; I found her very attractive the more that we talked. We hadn’t done anything; well we kissed a couple of times.” He let out a loud sigh. “I am so sorry! I told her a few weeks ago that I really needed to knock it off and that we needed to end it. She was upset, but she agreed. We went in there after one of our meetings and she happened to be our waitress.” He got down on his knees beside my chair.

  “You slept with her, didn’t you?” I didn’t even want to look at him. My eyes stayed fixated at our iron patio table.

  “Ryleigh, I’m so sorry.” He repeated, desperately.

  “Just answer the damn question, Liam.” I said coldly.

  “Yes.” He whispered. “Then who are the other two women? I saw you making out with a brunette at the bar when I went down to get you and guess what? The waitress said Amber had left and you just happened to be making out with a brunette! Fuck, Liam! How many God damn women are you with? What happened to bei
ng married to JUST me?” I was no longer able to keep my tears from spilling. They began to drip like a faucet had been turned on.

  “Ryleigh. I have only slept with Amber. There was Myka; she was the brunette at the bar. She happened to be Amber’s roommate and friend. We were all having a fun time, the guys were enjoying the ladies company and it was just supposed to be for fun but got out of hand with a playful kiss. Amber said she was done, which I tried all night to tell her. Myka just was doing it for the attention. Kellie, she is with the office. We met up last night, I did go into the office for a bit and got a few things done but she said that everything was taken care of and will be ready to be presented. We hit up the bar next door and she was flirty all night. She knows I am married, but she didn’t seem to mind.” He paused taking a sip of coffee.

  “We ended up meeting this guy. He wanted to play pool with us, but she wanted to back out and let it be the guys. This guy and her, they were flirting and I just didn’t want him to get the wrong impression and think that she was just going to go home with him. I told her that she needs to be careful and that he might get the wrong idea she got pissed at me. I think he heard me, but either way he and I got into a fight. The bar manager came over but got in the way at the wrong time. I accidently hit him instead of this guy. I somehow am the only one that gets arrested.” He said confused.

  I suddenly felt like there was a major weight lifted off my shoulders after he told me what was going on. I know I wasn’t to be feeling relief, but that is how I felt.

  “Ryleigh. What are you thinking right now?” Liam said grabbing my hands away from my chest. “That I don’t know what I’m going to do right now. The fact that you FINALLY came clean with me really makes me feel a lot better. But, Liam, you cheated on me. You took my trust and you shattered it. The fact that I have no idea who you are and I am MARRIED to you, hurts me the most.” I stared at him dead on. “Right now, the only reason I am looking at you is tell you straight to your face, I don’t know if I really want to be with you anymore.” I got up from the table and went back inside.