“She’s right, David,” my mother says in the background.
“Four more days, David. You have to convince Liv you are nothing without her. Emily already laid it out for you. Just finish the work.”
I shut the phone, wondering about Emily. How could she have fooled me?
There’s a side to women I don’t know, but this is part of my discovery. When this is all over, I hope I’m ten times wiser.
52
Day 26
Liv
I’m almost done with my thirty-day wisdom project, and I can’t believe how much I’ve learned about people, but mostly about myself. Call me manipulative, but I must give myself a reward for being such a genius. I need to celebrate. After joining the search for David, I go on a shopping spree.
* * *
I leave my new clothes and shoes inside the garage then head inside, looking like I’m so exhausted. “I’m home.”
David sits on the stairway, his chin resting on both hands.
“What a day. You’ll be surprised how many people volunteered to look for you. There’s even a hash tag trending on Twitter called #SearchforDavid, and people are talking about doing a fundraiser.”
His expression doesn’t change one bit. “Have you ever thought how fucked up we both are?”
I join him by the stairs. “That’s why we belong together.”
“What is it you like about me?”
I brush my knees against his. “You’re you.”
“But you can have anyone you want.”
I flash him a lopsided grin. “Why did you go with Emily?”
He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “You may be beautiful, successful, and smart...” he pauses to gather his breath. “but she made me feel special.”
I release an exasperated sigh. “By fucking you and painting murals.”
“That’s something you’ll never understand, Liv. You don’t know how it feels to have someone love you for who you are, to feel oblivious to everything else.”
“So why are you here? Why did you come home?”
“Because I don’t want Emily to see me this way. I want her to remember the David I was to her.”
Boy, this woman really cast a spell on my David. For the first time, I don’t have the perfect response.
“I thought we rebuilt our connection these past few days, but I’ve come to realize the reason why I wanted to leave you in the first place,” he says. “But it’s okay. I only have a few days to live, and I don’t want to die a bitter man.”
I’m not sure if David is sincere and I don’t understand the emotions I’m going through now. But all I can say is, “As you wish, David.” Rising from the stairs, I stride to the bedroom and shut the door.
He’s not the hero. I am.
53
Day 27
David
Liv tosses The San Francisco Chronicle on the countertop as I chew on my bagel. “Checkout page seven,” she says with conviction.
I flip through the pages and stop as I spot Emily’s face.
“‘Emily Scott accepts seven-figure deal from Penguin to write her memoir, which features her life with David Walters,’“ Liv reads the article title as if I can’t. “I was so right.”
I push the paper aside and take a sip of my orange juice.
“I have a meeting today with James Griffin. He’s going to help me set up a David Walters’ foundation fund.”
I almost choke. “What?”
“What am I supposed to do with people who are donating money for our cause to help find you?”
I’ve lost my appetite and can’t begin to comprehend how far Liv will take this.
“The fund will be used to help find missing people.” She fixes her hair. “How do I look?”
My gaze sweeps over her black pin-stripe suit, and I give her a thumbs up. “Will you ever be going back to work, Liv?”
“Work?” She raises her eyebrows. “How can I work when I’m searching for my missing husband?” Liv heads for the door then comes back. “I need to let Detective Reed know by tomorrow you came home; otherwise, they won’t stop hounding me.”
“What? Why?”
“Because if we’re going as planned, you have three days till you croak.” She winks.
As she leaves, I pull the newspaper and trace Emily’s face.
Women. Why do they have to be so complicated?
* * *
Liv removes her coat and heads for the dressing room as I lie in bed, glued to the TV. “Aren’t you going to ask me how my day was?” she asks.
“My heart goes to the volunteers who contributed to The David Walters’ Fund.”
“Well.” She kicks off her heels and slips on a nightie. “You’ll be thrilled to know we’ve already raised a hundred thousand for this fund.”
I feel sick to my stomach. What has my plan accomplished? Even if I get out of here, I won’t be with Emily. What do I have to look forward to? “What are you supposed to do with this fund when you announce to the whole world I’m alive?”
She curls up on the bed and strokes my chest. “When you’re gone, The David Walters Fund will be the legacy you leave behind.”
My breathing grows rapid. Liv seems to have no remorse about me dying. She talks about it like we’re planning our next meal.
“I know what you’re thinking. Going on a shopping spree is the last thing on my mind. Although I’m a trustee for this foundation, there are a couple of other trustees who make the decisions too.” She nibbles on my ear.
I just lie there, stiff like a log, hating every moment of my life.
Liv leaps on top of me and presses her lips to mine.
“You know I can’t. I’m weak and don’t have any urges.”
“Really? Have you forgotten how strong you were when you pulled my hair?”
I turn to the other side, not looking forward to tomorrow.
“I want you to make love to me.”
All I can do is release an exasperated sigh.
“Or shall I put it more blatantly? I want you to fuck me.”
She’s playing with me, and I’ll let her think that she has the upper hand. For now.
54
Day 27
Liv
I’ve managed to convince David to have sex and don’t care if I did everything as he lay there, tired like a withered rose. I wanted to feel him inside me since I’ve forgotten how it felt to have sex with David after so long.
As we both release, I collapse beside him and hold David in a tight embrace. David is my husband. The whole world may be interested to hear Emily Scott’s story, but she only shared a few moments with David. I shared a whole lifetime with him.
“We need to rehearse your homecoming story,” I whisper.
“No need to sensationalize it, Liv,” he grunts.
It’s the story of a lifetime, like the prodigal son who returns home to his father. Everybody in America is rooting for David to come home to his beloved wife. I beam as heat emanates inside me. This will be a miracle of all miracles.
“Here’s we’ll tell them. A homeless man found you wandering about in Crissy Fields. You were attacked and robbed by a jogger who stole your watch and wallet, which explains your bloody shirt. You called me, and I picked you up and brought you home.”
“Yay! We’ll both get to be prom king and queen.” He claps his hands and shakes his head. “Have you ever thought of writing a book? You’re such a good storyteller. How many lies will it take you to finally face the truth, Liv?”
I ignore him. “Everyone including the press, will want to get a piece of you, but of course, I’ll tell them you need to rest and we need our privacy.”
He forces a nod.
“Don’t you see, David? You’ll come out a hero. You provide hope to every family who has lost a loved one. And I will be the happiest wife.”
“Not for long.” He faces me. “We still have a deal.”
“I know, I know. You better get some rest. We have a
big day tomorrow.”
David doesn’t realize this will actually be my reigning moment.
55
Day 28
David
I barely got any sleep last night. After Liv manipulating me into having sex with her and rehearsing her fabricated story, I can’t wait till this is over. She belongs in jail.
Liv left for the hospital. She’s going to talk to her boss about going back to work soon. The bills have been piling up, and she needs to act normal before my homecoming. I’m glad she leaves me alone, and I’m dying to get out of the house.
It’s time I call Ruby.
She answers after one ring.
“Do you think I can at least see Emily today?” I ask her.
“How foolish can you be?” Ruby darts back. “Two more days, David, and it’ll be over.”
“I need to find out if Emily still loves me.”
“Forget about Emily. Your emotions are going to cloud your vision. Rehearse what you need to say to the press and everyone who cares about your status.”
“You sound just like Liv.”
She passes the phone to my mother. “David, I miss you. Everything will be fine. You need to be patient.”
Her words are comforting and encouraging, but deep inside, I know she’s hurting.
“I miss you too, Mom. This will end soon, and we can put this behind us.”
“Be strong, David,” she cries. “I’ll see you soon.”
I can’t take away the misery I’ve caused my mother, but I promise to make it up to her.
After I hang up, I hold the phone on my chest. Before I can move on with my life, I need to know the truth. I pace around the room, gathering the courage to call Emily. She answers after five rings.
“Emily,” I breathe hard. “It’s me.”
All I hear is her heavy breathing.
“I’m still pushing through with my plan. Two more days. I need you to trust me.”
“David, David, David. For a man who is older than me, you’re quite idealistic.”
I rub my chin, hoping she’ll give me a chance. “Is it true you’re writing a book?”
“I’m not obliged to tell you anything.” Her tone is laced with sarcasm.
“You told Liv about our special moment at the skate park, when you showed me the mural and shared about your mom’s death.”
She chuckles. “Boy, your wife has you wrapped around her fingers. She’s still your commander up until to the very end.”
It’s as if she kicked me in the stomach. I hate that she thinks I’m a loser. “I get it, Emily. I guess Liv was right. You used me to achieve fame, and someone as high and mighty like you doesn’t want to be with me.”
“Stop making this about me when you got me in this mess in the first place,” she accuses.
From the sound of her voice, I can tell she still cares.
With head bowed, I lower my voice. “For what it’s worth, I’m deeply sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. You probably think I’m a pathetic loser, but when this is done, you’ll understand why I did it this way.”
She doesn’t say a word.
“Just so you’re aware, tonight Liv will inform the press I’m home. Tomorrow we’ll celebrate her birthday. The day after is when I will pursue my goal.”
“What if everything goes wrong?”
“Failure is not an option.” I share with her about the hidden cameras and Ruby’s assistance.
“What time will you do this?”
“Eight at night. The cops and press will come… I hope you will be there.”
A moment of silence crosses between us.
“I hope everything goes according to plan, but I must confess I can’t be a part of it,” she says.
Emily sniffs, and I wish she still felt the same about me. Even if we don’t get back together, what matters is that we’ve made peace.
“I understand, Emily. I wish I met you in a different circumstance. I wish you the best.”
Not waiting for her reply, I focus on moving forward. Freedom is the only thing I yearn for now.
56
Day 28
Liv
David is waiting by the stairs. The potassium chloride is ready, just need to store it in a safe place. I hang my coat on the rack and set the keys on the ring.
“How was work?” He folds his arms.
“Aside from the sympathetic stares from everyone, my boss agreed I can return soon.”
“Good. You’ll be better off without me, not to mention a wealthy woman with an objective.”
I try to hide my grin, knowing I made use of my props, and it’s time to rise above. David doesn’t provide any use for me anymore. He served his purpose, and I don’t want his disappearance to be overtaken by my status of being the good, martyr wife―the hero.
David follows me to the kitchen as we gear up to call the press.
David slips into soiled clothes and I smudge his face with mud from our backyard. His chin feels scruffy beneath my dirty fingers. David greases his hair with oil. I practice my tone of voice while David slaps my cheeks to make them flushed. Chopping onions helps me tear up. Voila! We’re ready to do our charades for the media.
I make one quick call to Detective Reed, send a text to Chuck to gather his crew over, turn on the lights in every room, and have David lie down on the couch with a blanket.
There’s a knock on the door.
Detective Reed wraps her oatmeal-colored sweater around her neck when she greets me. After drying my cheeks, I embrace her tight. “He’s home. It’s a miracle.”
Her gaze scans the hallway before facing me in time for Chuck and his crew to arrive. She shakes her head. “I can’t believe it. How did you hear?” she calls out to Chuck, who instructs his crew to bring in the lights.
“Do you mind?” He blocks her way and shakes my hand. “Hello, Liv. You must be so relieved David’s home. Where is the lucky man?”
I escort them inside, and they peer into David’s eyes. “He’s still weak.”
“You have to take him to the doctor. He might be dehydrated,” Detective Reed says.
“I checked his vital signs. He’s fine. He just needs to rest.”
The cameraman focuses the camera on David then toward me while Chuck requests I sit beside David and relay to the whole world what occurred. Detective Reed listens intently.
Tucking a strand around my ear, I bow my head as tears stain my cheeks. “After I arrived from work today, I received a phone call from a man who said he believed he spotted David. He provided a description and told me to meet him at Crissy Fields.” I dab my cheeks with a Kleenex. “At first, I thought this man was lying, but I still needed to check. Right when I saw him, I knew it was David.”
“Did David say what happened?” Chuck asks.
“He’s still having trouble remembering, but he recognizes me and his home.” I squeeze David’s knee.
“This is indeed a miracle that doesn’t happen everyday. Olivia, did you honestly think David would return?”
I slowly lift my head and face the camera. “There were days I thought I could never survive, but I reminded myself of that four letter word hope. It’s because of hope David returned. It’s only through hope we prolong ourselves to keep going another day.”
“You’re such an inspiration to us.”
Heat emanates in my cheeks as I smile widely. “I want to thank everyone who supported me during this time. I wouldn’t have made it without you. Oh, and I almost forgot. Tomorrow is my birthday. This has been the best birthday gift ever. David came home for my birthday.”
David blinks and smiles. To me, it looks forced, but hopefully no one else will notice.
“Wow! Happy Birthday! This indeed calls for a celebration. What’s next for David and Olivia?”
“For now, we would like to request for our privacy as David regains his strength.”
“Thank you, Olivia Walters.” Chuck shifts toward the camera. “There you have it. David was lost and i
s now found, a powerful story of hope that shouldn’t be forgotten. We hope to catch up again with the Walters couple next time.”
The lights go off.
“You don’t know how much you’ve boosted my career,” Chuck says.
“You’re welcome.” I escort him out.
Detective Reed trails behind. “Something doesn’t fit,” she says, her gaze toward David.
“Let’s just be happy David is home.”
She shakes her head. “I’m going to try and sleep on it.”
“Good night.” I hold the door ajar.
I always have to win. Just wait for the surprise I have waiting. Two days from now, I will shock the world.
Olivia Walters will be a name you will hear among whispers, a name that will bear headlines, a name that will never be forgotten.
57
Day 29
David
Liv sets the table with matching balloons, her birthday cake, and the ribs and steak we just finished grilling.
“Let’s dig in,” she says with a twinkle in her eyes.
Although the phone doesn’t stop ringing off the hook with reporters requesting interviews, I’ve never seen Liv so peaceful. She portrays an angelic face as we savor our food.
When we’re almost done, I set a small box on the table and push it slowly toward Liv. “A present for you.” I pretend to take ragged breaths.
Raising her eyebrows, she opens the box like a little kid when she receives a new toy. Flashing upon her is the silver watch she gave me back in college when we started dating, the very first gift she gave me. She stares at the watch like she’s lost in space then affixes her gaze upon me with tear-filled eyes.
A moment of silence crosses between us, and it’s only during this period do I feel that she truly loves me. Our gazes lock, and we rip off our clothes, the plates crashing onto the floor. She spreads her legs, and I’m thrusting inside her. I can’t seem to control myself, and neither can she. We go on for a long time before releasing into ecstasy.
Thirty Days of Red Page 14