Distant Lover

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Distant Lover Page 19

by Gloria Mallette

Tandi began to pace. “Evonne, I really don’t wanna hear any more of this. Please leave.”

  Evonne sat. “Not until I tell you my side. Not until you hear the whole story.”

  “I don’t care about your side.”

  “Jared was drunk, I was drunk,” Evonne said, ignoring Tandi. “I had a hard time getting him into the house. He fell out in your front yard. I couldn’t leave him there.”

  “So correct me if I’m wrong, Evonne. Wasn’t it a lot easier to let Jared fall asleep on the sofa on the first floor, than it was to get him up a flight of stairs to the second floor?”

  Evonne was stumped. She stared blankly at Tandi.

  “I thought so.”

  “I thought I was doing the right thing. I was trying to be—”

  “Yes, I know. You were trying to be a good friend.”

  Evonne brought her fist down hard on the arm of the chair. “You’re not being fair!”

  “Fair? Excuse the hell out of me, but do I have to remind you, Evonne, that you screwed my husband? Why the hell am I supposed to be fair to you? Am I supposed to be patting you on the back, congratulating you? I think the hell not! From what I hear, you lied on me.”

  Evonne yanked her oversized silk scarf from around her jacket collar. “I lied on you? What about your soon-to-be ex-husband? He wouldn’t lie to you, right? Well, let me tell you something I was trying not to tell you.”

  “More drama. Save it. I don’t need it.” Tandi again took hold of the doorknob.

  “Oh, you don’t wanna hear the truth? But then, maybe you can’t handle the truth.”

  “The question is, Evonne, can you tell the truth?”

  “I can tell you Jared hadn’t even started drinking when he asked me if I wanted him since you didn’t. He started kissing on me before we even got to the bar.”

  That stopped Tandi from turning the knob to open the door. Those words were biting. She wanted to dismiss them and throw them upon the same pile of garbage as the we were drunk crap, but the we were drunk crap was easier to take than dealing with Jared lusting after Evonne sober. She didn’t want to believe Jared had asked Evonne if she wanted him, but he had cheated on her before and maybe he thought this was a way to get back at her for walking out on him.

  “And it wasn’t the first time he propositioned me.”

  For the second time, Tandi released the doorknob. She faced Evonne although inside her heart quivered. She couldn’t believe at one time she blindly trusted Jared.

  “Now do I have your attention?” Evonne asked.

  “So if Jared propositioned you before either one of you was drunk, how did you let it happen?”

  Evonne let out a long, forlorn sigh. “Tandi, I didn’t just let it happen. I guess once I got drunk, I got weak . . .”

  “Or stupid.”

  “. . . Nothing serious happened before that.”

  Disgusted, Tandi shook her head. “This is too unreal. I just can’t believe you let—”

  “But I didn’t! I was drunk.”

  “Evonne, you’re supposed to be my friend. Drunk or sober, you’re not supposed to sleep with my husband.”

  “Tandi, I’m owning up to my part in this. I’m human. Jared was coming on to me. I got weak. I didn’t rape him. He played a major role in this.”

  “I’m sure he did.”

  “Tandi, from the moment you talked about leaving Jared, I was trying to get you to stay and you know that. I talked to Jared. I told him where he had gone wrong. He wanted to talk to you but you wouldn’t talk to him. You left him out there for any woman to take.”

  “Not you! Not my so-called best friend. You’re not supposed—” Again Tandi went to pacing. With all that was going on in her life, she wasn’t supposed to be dealing with this crap.

  “Tandi, I’m sorry. I—”

  “You know what, Evonne?” Tandi pulled up close to her. “Don’t be sorry. It’s no big deal. Look, I have a sense of humor, and maybe one day—maybe not today—I might find this whole thing funny. But for right now, I’m a good sport. You can have Jared. You have my blessing. I hope you both enjoy each other.”

  Evonne sat back. “Tandi, I am not with Jared. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “But you already have.”

  “Just that one time. It hasn’t happened since. Haven’t you spoken to Jared? Didn’t he tell you? It’s the truth.”

  Sitting because she was literally drained of her strength, Tandi didn’t know what to believe. “I’m not speaking to Jared.”

  Evonne breathed a soft sigh of relief. “I guess I can’t blame you, but, Tandi, I need to tell you this also. Jared called me last night, three times, and asked me to come over.”

  That bastard! Tandi fixed her eyes on a single square of dull, badly scratched parquet flooring in the center of the room. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why hearing that upset her. She didn’t want Jared anymore. She had Brent. What Jared and Evonne did together or apart shouldn’t still be annoying her.

  A fleeting self-satisfied smirk touched Evonne’s lips. “Jared said he had tried to talk to you, but since you had closed him out altogether, he saw no reason to hold back his feelings for me any longer.”

  Tandi felt like a deer caught in the hypnotic light of an oncoming car. As much as she didn’t want to listen to another ugly thing about what Jared was doing, she felt like she had to. She stared at the square, unable to blink.

  “I told Jared I couldn’t have anything with him because you were more important to me.”

  Tandi looked up. “That’s almost funny. Evonne, no one is as important to you as you, yourself. That I’m sure of.”

  “I won’t dispute that. I like me, but, Tandi, you’ve been like a sister to me. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you . . .”

  Tandi privately smirked.

  “. . . When Jared cheated on you, I’m the one who talked you into giving him another chance. Would I do that if I wanted him for myself? And what about that day when we met at the restaurant? Didn’t I try to make you see what you were doing? I didn’t want you to leave Jared, remember?”

  All of that was true. Evonne had always tried to keep her and Jared together.

  “I would never knowingly betray you, Tandi. You have to know that about me. Think about how Jared betrayed you in the past. I swear, I didn’t know he had any feelings for me, and I, certainly, have never encouraged those feelings.”

  Fighting back tears, Tandi sniffled. How had she been so fooled by Jared?

  Evonne went and sat next to Tandi, taking her hand. “I am your friend, Tandi. I told Jared I could never be with him, that you meant more to me than anyone on this earth, more than my own sisters. What happened really was a mistake. I was drunk. I was weak. But I’m not now. I turned Jared down because I don’t want him. I want our friendship back. Can’t you try to forgive me?”

  Tandi’s resolve to hate Evonne seemed to dissolve. Evonne wasn’t totally blameless, but she had gotten caught up in Jared’s web of charm and persuasiveness. Hadn’t Jared, with that same charm and persuasiveness, gotten her into bed on their first date? Like Evonne, she had been weak. She wanted Jared the minute she laid eyes on him. Maybe Evonne had wanted him like that when the alcohol weakened her sense of right and wrong. Maybe it wasn’t fair to shut Evonne out of her life when, ultimately, it was Jared’s betrayal. He was the one who had taken a vow of fidelity to her, not Evonne.

  “Tandi, I’m here for you. I will always be here for you.”

  Wanting to believe Evonne meant what she was saying, Tandi was willing to forgive Evonne but she wasn’t altogether sure she would ever trust her around Brent or any other man who might enter her life. At this moment though, with all that was going on in her life, she needed a friend and next to Daina, Evonne was it.

  33

  Whatever his role as father had been before, Jared realized it was minimal compared to what it was now that he had MJ three days a week while Tandi dealt with her father’s illness. As s
trange as it was, in the past month, he felt more like a daddy and not just a father or breadwinner. Getting MJ ready for school, making sure he was fed, making sure his homework was done, and checking his clothes was the new job Jared found himself immersed in. It was a lot to contend with, but he was learning. He had assumed that taking care of MJ would be a breeze; after all, MJ was potty trained. Not so. He was responsible for MJ’s every need, and that was substantial. Belatedly, he could see why Tandi had been asking him to help her. If she were speaking to him, he would humbly apologize to her.

  Tandi called the house on the days MJ stayed with him, but she’d only speak to MJ. If he answered the telephone she’d say, “May I speak to my son.” After the second time, he simply called MJ to the telephone and after a while, he left the phone answering to MJ when he thought it might be Tandi. After talking to Glynn, he finally accepted that there was nothing he could say or do to make things right with her. Her anger was too deep. And he couldn’t blame her. Sleeping with Evonne was unforgivable. Hell, he was disgusted with himself. He could only imagine how bad it was for Tandi, and he was just beginning to see how badly their breakup was for MJ who was always worried about Tandi if she was late calling him. No longer was MJ interested in playing with his PlayStation. He didn’t want to go over to any of his friends’ houses, he refused to go to karate practice, he only wanted to stay home. MJ’s appetite had increased and knew no bounds, yet he gained no weight. Jared didn’t know if it was growing pains or stress.

  The days he picked up MJ after school should have been fun, but MJ was often sullen.

  “What’s up, buddy? You feel okay?”

  He shrugged.

  Jared nudged him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Sean told everybody in class that Mommy don’t live with us anymore.” MJ turned his face toward the window. He was quiet.

  “MJ, don’t worry about what other people say. You know and I know that your mother loves you no matter where she lives.” He continued driving toward his office, but he kept glancing over at MJ. He saw the tears streaming down his face onto his jacket. While he felt badly for him, he didn’t know what to say to make him feel better. Maybe the office was the last place either of them needed to be. Using his cell phone, he called Marci.

  “Hey, it’s me. Anything I need to know about?”

  “Mrs. Glautman just called saying she wants to accept the settlement offer Coles Pharmaceuticals made. She said she doesn’t want to stay in court for the next three years. I told her she needed to talk to you. I know how you feel about settling so low, Jared.”

  Again, Jared glanced at MJ. His tears weren’t letting up. “Marci, call Mrs. Glautman back. Tell her that I’ll wrap up her case by the end of next week.”

  “Jared, are you sure?”

  “It’s a good offer. Anything else?”

  “Well, you had a few other calls, and I told them you’d be back by three-thirty.”

  “I won’t be back today,” he said, glimpsing MJ as he lay his head on top of his backpack sitting in his lap. His crying was silent but no less disturbing. “Marci, I’ll be in first thing in the morning. Take care of those calls for me. Have Raoul call Coles and get them started on the paperwork.”

  “But, Jared—”

  “I have to go,” he said, ending the call. Making a right turn, he headed for home, all the while trying to figure out what he could do to comfort his boy. That was something he never really had to do. That was Tandi’s job. He thought hard about what she would do, but he couldn’t call to mind any occasion since MJ was past the toddler stage where he saw her comfort him. That’s because he hadn’t been around. Unsure as to what to do, he lay his hand on MJ’s head to let him know he was there for him.

  Once home, MJ raced up to his room and, again, because he still didn’t know what to do, Jared sat, helplessly, at the top of the stairs, listening to MJ cry until he cried himself out. After a while, in the silence, Jared dozed off.

  “Dad.”

  Jared awakened immediately. “Yeah, MJ.”

  “Dad, if you and Mommy never get back together, we’ll never all live together again, will we?”

  “No.”

  “Will you get another wife?”

  “I can’t say, but I don’t think so.”

  “But you might?”

  “Right now, I don’t see it.”

  MJ seemed to visibly relax. Jared slid over and patted the empty spot next to him on the step. Once MJ was seated, he slid closer to him until they were touching along their thighs and sides. He put his arm around MJ’s shoulder and held him.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I miss Mommy being here.”

  “Me, too.”

  “She won’t marry somebody else, will she?”

  “I don’t know.”

  They sat quietly, each with his thoughts.

  “Dad, is there something we can do to make Mommy wanna come back home?”

  “MJ, I wish I knew.”

  After a moment’s thought, MJ said, “I know. Tell Mommy I’m sick. She’ll come home.”

  “Your mother would be mad at us if we lied to her about you being sick.”

  “It’s not really a lie; I do feel sick. My stomach hurts.”

  “That’s not really being sick, MJ. When I think about how unhappy I made your mother, mine hurts sometimes, too.”

  “It does?”

  “Yes, but after a while, maybe yours won’t hurt so bad.”

  “Do you love Mommy?”

  He squeezed MJ. “With all my heart.”

  “Me, too.”

  They sat thus in their silent thoughts. Jared about Tandi, the wife and lover he had hurt and lost; MJ about the best mother in the world.

  Jared had an idea. “What say we go out for cheeseburgers?”

  “Okay.”

  “How about afterward we go to the movies?”

  MJ perked up. “Can we?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “It’s a school night. Mommy—”

  “We won’t tell her. It’s a special night—boys’ night out. We need to unwind. You with me?”

  “Yes!”

  “Good. Go change into a pair of jeans. I’m gonna put on a pair myself, and don’t forget your denim jacket.”

  Buzzzz!

  “Who could that be?” Jared asked, looking down at the front door.

  MJ jumped up. “Want me to get it?”

  “I’ll get it,” he said, standing. “You go change.”

  “What we gonna see?”

  “Whatever you want, as long as it’s not violent or full of sex.”

  Buzzzz!

  “What I want to see is scary,” MJ said, running off to his room.

  “Make sure you hang up your clothes and turn off the light,” Jared said, going down to see who was at the door.

  34

  Jared’s first instinct was to slam the door in Evonne’s face.

  “I just wanna talk to you for a minute, Jared. That’s all. One minute of your time.”

  “No,” he said, closing the door.

  “Please, Jared.” Evonne quickly put her hand up to stop the door from closing. “I’ll only take a minute.”

  Jared glanced behind him up the stairs. If he didn’t hear Evonne out, she would take up more time begging him to. Jared stepped outside, pulling the door up behind him. “Make it short.”

  “Jared, I know I was very blunt about my feelings, and I’m sorry if I shocked you, but I had to let you know how I felt. I thought we—”

  “There is no we, Evonne. I want nothing to do with you.”

  “Okay, I understand that.”

  “Good, then there’s nothing else to say.” Behind his back, Jared turned the doorknob.

  “Okay, but please. Just give me one more minute. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. I want you to forget what I said. I’d like to still be your friend.”

  “We’re not friends, Evonne. We’ve never been friends. Now, I have mo
re important things to deal with.” He started back inside and was about to close the door.

  “I spoke to Tandi,” Evonne blurted, stopping Jared.

  Jared stepped outside again. “When?”

  “I went to see her the other day.”

  “She actually listened to you?”

  “Yes, but she was very unforgiving. I tried to get her to at least forgive you, even if she could never forgive me. I told her you loved her, that you would do anything to get her back.”

  He was skeptical, but asked, “What did she say?”

  “She said she wants nothing to do with either one of us. She . . .”

  Jared closed the door.

  “ . . . said that we deserved each other and that she would never forgive us.”

  If only he could talk to Tandi himself.

  “Jared, Tandi said she didn’t love you anymore and that as soon as she could, she was filing for a divorce.”

  What was he, stupid? He was wasting his time listening to a woman who had tricked him into making love to her, and who couldn’t keep her lies straight. “Remember your lie, Evonne. You told me weeks ago Tandi had already filed for a divorce.”

  “But that’s what she told me. I was only repeating what she said. Look, I tried hard to get her to give you another chance, but she wasn’t interested.”

  “I have to go. MJ’s waiting for me.”

  “Oh, he’s here? I’d like to see him,” Evonne said eagerly.

  “I don’t think so.”

  The door suddenly opened. “I’m ready, Dad.”

  “Good. We’re out of here.” Jared patted his pocket for his house keys. They weren’t on him.

  “Hi, Michael Jared,” Evonne said cheerfully.

  “Hi, Miss Evonne. We’re going to the movies. It’s boys’ night out.”

  “Oh, that’s nice. What’re you going to see?”

  “Evonne, I’m sure you have somewhere else to be. Don’t let me keep you,” Jared said. “MJ, I have to get my keys. I’ll be right back.” He rushed back into the house, snatched his keys off the hall table then, feeling the urge to go to the bathroom, raced to the back of the house. He wasn’t going to change his clothes as he had planned, not with Evonne lurking about.

 

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