A Beautiful New Life

by Irene, Susan

  “Hey now. Stop that.” He pulled her into his arms. “Look at the time. What do you say we go grab a bite to eat?”

  “I don’t really want to go out. Would you mind going out and picking something up?” She gave him the puppy dog eyes even though she knew he would do anything for her if she asked.

  “Yes, I’ll go get something. What do you want?” He was still holding her brushing her hair with his hand.

  “I don’t care. Maybe some of Patsy’s chicken.” She turned to him and kissed him. “Thank you.”

  He returned her kiss. “I will be right back.” He got up from the couch and walked out the door. He was only gone a few minutes when the doorbell rang.

  “What did you forget your wallet again?” Louise yelled as she walked to the door to answer it. “And obviously your keys too.” She pulled the door open and took a step backward. “Oh!” She did not invite the visitor into the house.

  “Hi, I haven’t seen you in a while and thought I would stop by to see you.” He reached for the screen door to open it. Louise did not want him in her house so she pushed the door open and stepped out onto the porch.

  “Well that was a lie.”

  “Excuse me. What was a lie?” Startled by his frankness, she wondered if she should have stayed in the house with the door between them.

  “I actually saw you just the other day. Yeah where was that?” He stood there with his hand on his chin. “Oh, I remember now.”

  “Jordan will be home any minute now. I think it would be best if you go.” She turned to go into the house but he grabbed her by the arm.

  “Not until you tell me what you were doing in the west woods.” He grabbed her arm tighter as she struggled to get free.

  “I don’t have to tell you anything. Now let me go.” She pulled trying to free herself from his grasp.

  “I hope you aren’t planning something stupid.” He held on tighter as she struggled.

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Oh I think you do.” He pulled her close to him. She could smell the whiskey on his breath. He forced her to turn her head toward him and he planted his lips on hers. She struggled, trying to pull away. He held her tight. “I won’t tell but it is going to cost you.”

  He opened the door and pulled her inside. He threw her on the couch and ripped her shirt open. “I have waited too long for this.”

  “NO! NO! STOP!” She scratched at his face. He grabbed her hands and held them behind her head. The weight of his body held the rest of her down. His mouth was now on her breast. She squirmed under him trying to get out. “STOP! HELP!”

  He pulled away from her. “You would be smart to just give in to me.” His face dripped with blood from her scratches. Outside they heard the crunching of gravel as someone pulled in the driveway.

  “You haven’t seen the last of me yet.” He kissed her hard on the mouth, rubbing her crotch. Then he pulled away and ran out the back door. Moments later Jordan came in and dropped the food he had been carrying, on the floor.

  “Louise what happened?” He ran over to her as she lay half-naked shaking.

  “It…it.” Sobbing. “MARK! It was Mark.” She sobbed uncontrollably.

  “I’ll kill that bastard.” Jordan pulled away from Louise and headed for the door.

  “NO! NO! Wait. He knows.”

  He stopped dead in his tracks. “What do you mean he knows?”

  “He saw us or… I think… just me in the west woods. I think he knows something.” She buried her head in her hands and continued to sob. “I…I’m never going to get home to my kids.”

  Jordan came back over to her. “Shh now. Hey.” He put his hand on her chin and tilted her head up so she would look at him. “Hey. I promise you. I promise you’ll see your kids.”

  He pulled her up off the couch and walked her to the bathroom. He sat her down on the toilet seat and grabbed a cloth to wash the blood off her face.

  “What are we going to do about Mark?”

  “I don’t know. What did he say exactly?” He wiped the blood off her face, while she told him what he had said. It was vague, what he had said, and since he had not mentioned seeing Jordan, she did not think he had.

  “What did you tell him you were doing there?” He now handed her the cloth to clean off her chest. He did not want her to think he wanted to take advantage of her right now.

  “I told him I didn’t know what he meant.” She got up, washed out the cloth, and hung it off the side of the sink to dry. She turned to Jordan. “Do you think he knows?”

  “I don’t know.” He sighed but his shoulders remained tense. They walked out to the living room and Jordan went and picked up the bag of food he had dropped. They went to the bar and sat down to eat. Louise sat picking at her food.

  “Are you okay? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” Jordan just sat there wanting but afraid to touch her.

  “No, what am I going to say? Oh I’m planning to escape and this idiot saw me and tried to rape me to keep him quiet.” She slammed her fist on the counter.

  “I guess that wouldn’t be a good idea.” He reached for her again but held back. “I…I… just. I just don’t know what to do. I…I.”

  She turned to him, took his arms, and wrapped them around her. “Just hold me.” They walked to the bedroom and Jordan held her as she slept hoping his secure arms would keep the bad dreams at bay.

  They woke the next morning and got dressed for work. Normally on a nice day, Louise would walk the quarter of a mile to work, but Jordan insisted on taking her and then he would pick her up at the end of the day.

  “No I’ll be fine to walk. Look I made pepper spray to carry with me.” She held up a small spray bottle with a reddish liquid in it.

  “What is that?”

  “Water and cayenne pepper.”

  “Well I still think I should take you into work. I don’t want that bastard close enough for you to use that.” They were standing at the bar drinking their coffee.

  “I’ll be fine Jordan. Besides, we need to act like nothing is wrong. If he said something to anyone they might get suspicious if we change our habits.”

  “Good point.” He put his coffee cup down, came around the bar, and pulled her in his arms. “I…I just don’t want anything to happen to you. I love you so much.”

  She reached up and took his face in her hands. “I love you too. I’ll be fine. I promise.” She kissed him on the lips.

  “Don’t make promises you don’t know you can keep.”

  “I keep all my promises.” She kissed him again and pulled away. “I have to get going or I’ll be late. I love you.”She walked to the door, turned and blew him a kiss as she headed out.

  She arrived at work without incident. She sat at her desk and pondered over what Mark actually had seen and more importantly, what he thought he knew. Even if he only suspected them of planning to escape, if he said anything, it would not be good for them. They not only had to finish their plans, but now had to plan a counterattack if Mark opened his mouth.

  “Good morning Megan. Did you have a good weekend?” It was Edith strolling in at exactly 8:13 as she has every morning since Louise started working there.

  “It was nice, real nice. I actually got some yard work done. How about you Edith? How was your weekend?” She turned in her seat to look at her.

  “Not bad, Joe and I went camping out in the west woods. We got snowed on.” She shivered from the memory of the cold.

  “The weather did turn rather quickly this weekend.” She turned back to her computer. “That must have been the place for everyone this weekend.”

  “Why do you say that?” Edith walked over and was now leaning on her desk.

  “What?”

  “Why did you say that must have been the place for everyone this weekend?”

  Louise just sat there. She thought she had said it to herself. “Oh well I went up there too. I didn’t camp though. I just wanted to check it out. I wish I knew you had b
een there I would have stopped by your campsite.”

  “You were there by yourself?”

  “Ya, I heard about it the other day and I got this feeling over me that, that maybe it was something I’d enjoyed doing. So I went up there to check it out.”

  Edith now pulled her chair over and sat down next to Louise. “Are you getting your memory back?”

  Louise turned to her computer and sat there. She did not think about that being the wrong thing to say. She was trying to avoid confirming Mark’s suspicions.

  She turned back around and faced Edith, tears flowing from her eyes. Edith pulled closer to her and rubbed her back. “Talk to me, what is wrong?”

  “Okay you know how I wanted to get my memory back. But then I…I. Oh I don’t know what to do. I think I’m in love. No I know I am.”

  “Well that is a good thing. Right?” Edith continued to sit there with hand on her back.

  “But…but what if I’m already married.” She sobbed harder. The sobs were real. She thought of how Arlin had betrayed her. She had given her whole life to him. She had not got over that betrayal yet and she knew she would not until she got a chance to confront him.

  “Well it’s not like you’re getting married. Right…so…well…you don’t remember. You can’t be blamed for that.”

  She forced a smile through the tears. “I think Michael’s going to ask me to marry him.” She had to work hard to get the right name out. She did not talk about him much to other people and always feared if she did, she would slip and call him by the wrong name.

  “Really?!”

  “I think so.” She was laughing now, the tears dissolving. “I’m…I just…aahhhh. I don’t want to get my memory back now. There I said it. Every time I get that feeling of, you know deja vu, I think I’m getting my memory back and my heart aches. I can honestly say I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I get a warm feeling right here.” She points to her chest. “Whenever I see him, think about him, touch him. That’s love isn’t it?”

  “Oh my, yes young one, that’s love.” She stood up, pulled Louise out of her chair, and gave her a big squeeze. Giggling as she pushed her chair back to her desk, Louise could hear her say, “We have a wedding to plan.”

  Try to top that one Mark. Louise thought as she went about her day and was too glad to see it end. She got up from her desk and turned to leave when she saw Mark talking with one of the custodians. She quickly looked away hoping he had not noticed her but from the corner of her eye she could see him heading over in her direction.

  “Hey Megan.” He shouted from across the room. “Can I have a word with you?”

  “Not really Mark, I’m just leaving. It’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” Ever since she got the job and moved out of the dorm, he would show up from time to time, wanting her to check on some residents. Edith had told him over and over that it was not her job but he still insisted. That was his excuse to continue to see her but Louise knew though that was not the case this time.

  He grabbed her arm. “I don’t think it can wait at all.” He whispered, putting his face too close to hers.

  “Are you leaving Megan?” Edith yelled out over the cubicle wall.

  Mark let go of her arm. “Yes ma’am do you want to walk out together?”

  She came over to Louise’s side and saw Mark.

  “What the hell happened to your face?” Edith gave him a ‘what brawl did you get into this time’ look, but before he could answer, Edith was jumping in her spot.

  “Did you hear the good news? Michael and Megan are getting married.” She was giggling and had a hard time containing her excitement for the young couple.

  Mark just stood there, jaw to the floor. He turned and scowled at Louise and dashed off. She only hoped that this bit of news did not push him over the edge and he blabbed to someone about seeing her in the woods.

  “Well I guess he didn’t take that news very well.” Edith took Louise’s arm and they walked together. “You know he always had a crush on you.”

  “Ya I know.” Her stomach was churning afraid of what she might find at home when or if she arrived there.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “What are you doing? He came up behind her, put his arms around her, and nibbled on her neck.

  “I am making your favorite dinner.”

  “You are. And why would you be doing that?”

  “Because you asked me to marry you.”

  “Oh I did, did I?” He turned her around to face him. “So did I give you a ring?”

  “Not yet, it’s a long story. I’ll tell you during dinner.” She tried to turn back around to finish tossing the salad but he pulled her closer to him. He slid his hand in his pocket and pulled it back out.

  “Well if I was to get you a ring, would it look like this?” He held up a solitaire diamond ring.

  Louise did not know what to say. She had never expected that to happen she was after all already married. She just stood there looking up at him, tears starting to glisten in her eyes.

  “It’s not real. I hope…maybe this was a bad idea…but you said…”

  “It’s okay. I really didn’t expect it.” She stood there the salad now forgotten.

  “I know that’s what was so perfect about this. If you had your memory back, there was no way you would accept my proposal. I was trying to counter Mark’s story.”

  “Wow we were on the same wave length today. That’s what I meant when I said you ask me to marry you. Well actually my story was I thought you were going to ask me.”

  “You know if it was a different time…” He pulled her to him now his arms round her waist.

  She pulled him closer and kissed him, quieting his attempt to explain. No explanation was necessary she knew how he felt, because she felt the same way. Dinner was now forgotten, as he swept her up and carried her to the bedroom.

  The next morning came too soon. They both woke hungry and went to the kitchen to see if any of the forgotten dinner was salvageable. It was not so they got dressed for work and went to Patsy’s for breakfast.

  Patsy greeted them at the door and even though there were empty tables, she made them wait a moment before seating them. When Patsy finally led them to their table, they saw the reason for the wait. Patsy had put one of her nice dinner tablecloths down with candles and flowers in the middle of the table. Word surely traveled fast after Louise’s talk with Edith yesterday.

  “Congratulations Megan. Sorry but Michael told me yesterday the news that he was going to ask you.” She hugged Louise close. Louise felt bad for being so deceitful to such a nice lady but she knew for her protection she had too.

  “Thank you. I must say I had my suspicions.” She glowed as any new bride to be would glow. She was playing her part well. They sat and enjoyed the special treatment from Patsy, but breakfast went too fast and they both got up and headed to work.

  At work, the celebration continued with Louise’s desk decorated in wedding graffiti and Edith singing ‘here comes the bride’ every time she passed her desk. It was fun and made the workday go by fast. The mood everyone was setting regarding the false nuptials made Louise want to get home to Jordan. Why could she not have met him years ago? Would her life be different today if she had, or as Jordan likes to say it, was it fate that brought them together now that if they had even crossed paths before they would not have even noticed each other. She walked home enjoying the warm weather and hoped to finish making Jordan his dinner tonight.

  “Help! Hel…”

  “Stop squirming you bitch. I warned you.” Louise relaxed long enough for him to loosen his grip on her and she grabbed her spray out of her pocket and sprayed him in the face.

  “Aaaahhh, you fuckin’ bitch.” He squeezed his eyes tight and she pried his hands off her wrist and ran like hell. She did not stop running until she got home. She ran in the house, locked the door, and sat in front of it with her spray waiting for him to follow. The door handled turned and as he came in, she sprang to her
feet and sprayed. She missed and he grabbed her.

  “What the hell was that all about? What happened?” Jordan saw the bruises starting to form on her wrist.

  “He attacked me after work...on my way home…he surprised me.” She was bawling. “I wasn’t paying attention and he surprised me…I sprayed him.”

  Jordan pulled her in his arms. “It will be okay. It has to be.” He stood there by the door holding her, trying to calm her nerves. When she quieted, he led her to the kitchen and they made dinner together. They sat close to each other holding hands while they ate. They did not want to leave each other, not even for a moment.

  “You know, we don’t even know what Mark thinks he knows. I really don’t think we need to worry too much about him. If he had gone to them, they would have been here by now. Word traveled fast about our engagement. Besides, he was always a loose cannon. You’re not the first person he attacked, but he’s the Mayor’s nephew so they let him be so long as no one gets seriously hurt. And what you did to him wasn’t serious. It has been said that the Mayor is hoping someone puts a real hurt on him because he is getting tired of his antics.”

  “So you think we’re in the clear.” She held his hand tighter not wanting to relax and lose a moment with him.

  “They’ll probably watch us for a while, but yes, I think we are in the clear.”

  “So all that love making was for nothing?” She was trying to relax as Jordan had.

  “For nothing? I will show you for nothing.” He grabbed her, flipped her over his shoulder, and carried her to the bedroom.

  The next morning they got up and headed off to work. Megan was going to walk but Jordan thought it best that he take her. “It’ll look better if you felt he was a real threat because he might hurt you.”

  “So then shouldn’t I go to the police about him attacking me?”They got into his car now and Jordan pondered what she had said.

  “I didn’t think of that. We probably should have gone last night.” He slammed his fist on the steering wheel.

  “It’ll be alright. If they question us about that just tell them that I didn’t want to and begged you not too either.” She rubbed his arm. She hated seeing him this frustrated.