by SE Reynolds
"Are you okay, V?"
"I don't know. None of this makes sense. Are you sure it was an embrace and not just a thank you hug?"
"Yes, I'm certain."
Misty continues to gaze out the window. Then suddenly, she hurries behind the counter and sits in front of her computer.
"Don't take my word for it, V. See for yourself," she says. "I bet it's on the security footage. I have a camera installed out front. It records all day, every day."
Misty clicks on the mouse. I'm not sure I want to see it. I slowly get up and walk behind her desk. She rewinds the video to 10:32 this morning. I see people walking by her studio front door. I see people walking across the street past the law office, and then I see Joshua and Stacie walking out of the law office front door. He is holding the sign. The sign I tore down and spat on. I wonder if Stacie scrubbed off my phlegm, or did she give the honors to Joshua? He hangs the sign on the door and takes a step back. They both stare at it as she takes his arm. She is looking up at him. I can't make out what she is saying. She's probably thanking him in that whiny pig voice. Thank you for coming to my rescue. I'm so helpless and fat. He takes his arm and pulls her towards him. He hugs her, takes her hand, and they walk out of view. Misty pauses the video and looks up at me.
"I'm so sorry, V. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know…I have to go. I'll pay you for the hour. I just can't work out right now. I'm not feeling well."
"Are you sure? I think a workout may help you destress."
"I can't. I'm sorry."
I leave Misty's and walk slowly down Main Street. I feel like I'm moving in slow motion, and everyone around me is moving at normal speed. I can't get the image of Joshua and Stacie embracing out of my head. He lied to me; he must think I'm an idiot. I wonder what she thinks, what she knows? I hope I run into them; they can't be far. I want them to know, I know. It would give me so much satisfaction, even if it's temporary…I'd see them from a distance. They wouldn't see me yet. They would be too busy chatting while periodically sharing brief gazes. But slowly, I'd come into their view. I would stop right in front of them. They would be surprised and dumbfounded. Joshua would drop Stacie's hand. I would act like nothing is wrong. I would be pleasant, benign.
"What a surprise seeing you two here. Stacie, right, from the studio?" I would ask, pretending to barely remember her. I would turn to Joshua, "How's JJ?" I'd say, subtly reminding him he told me he would be with him all day. I would watch them squirm, stumbling over each other's words. I would pretend I accepted their lies and had somewhere else to be. I would take Stacie's hand.
"Great seeing you again, Stacie. Joshua said we should get to know each other better. Let's plan something."
Then, I would stumble, falling against Stacie, pushing her into the street, letting her fall to the pavement, watching her struggle to get up like a cockroach that landed on its back. And for the grand finale, I'd see a car speeding down Main Street; a Gen Z is in the driver's seat texting on his phone. His brakes squeal as he finally sees a big blob lying in the middle of the road, but it's too late. I hear a crunch, then a pop. His wheels run right over her head causing her brains to burst onto the pavement, just like the puss bursting out of a fat red pimple.
"Whoops!"
Chapter 32 – Joshua
I drop Stacie off at her mini-mansion around 2:00 p.m. I need to get home to JJ. His meds will wear off soon, and I hate leaving him alone unmedicated. He might decide to do a walking handstand in the middle of the living room and fall into Melissa's curio cabinet. The mess that boy can make in an instant is quite remarkable. I hated leaving Fairmont today. I really feel like I belong there. It's a community fitting for a mayor. Some mayors get their own mansion, but not me. I still live in my starter home on Farmer Court. One day, one day. I just have to be patient and stay focused on the goal, to get back on track, to be that guy, to put my own desires that haunt me every day locked up in the same vault where my libido now resides.
Being around Stacie has brought back feelings I haven't had since I was a little kid running around the apple orchards in Chester. While the rest of my world was so unstable, Jessie and I found a blanket under the apple trees. Stacie has my back like Jessie used to. She gives me some sort of innocent solace in a world that has been very mean to me lately. Jessie never talked to me again after I called her dog face. She never looked at me or acknowledged my presence. If I passed her in the hallway at school, she would stare straight ahead. I know she saw me out of her peripheral vision. I acted like I didn't care and pretended she didn't exist. Jessie moved away in our second year of middle school. I tried to find her on Facebook after Melissa died, but no luck. I hope she is happy. I hope she met someone that treats her right; I hope she didn't fulfill her legacy of being a baby momma by some ignorant, redneck scum in a wife-beater t-shirt.
I asked Stacie to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony with me tomorrow afternoon. I wasn't sure if I was going to do it. People are used to seeing me with Melissa or alone. I will slowly socialize Stacie with the public. See how they take her. A woman's shelter is opening right outside of Old Town on the end of a very middle-class street. The neighborhood is in an uproar about it. No one wants their property value to decrease. I've received many letters from folks worrying that the shelter will attract criminals and rapists. But I think it's a move I need to make. If I want to expand my base, I have to reach out just enough to the other side. And, I need a woman next to me to do that, a woman that won't lose her cool or send obscenities to the masses if she gets pissed or drunk like Virginia.
The shelter is named after the founder, Elaine Peterson. Elaine was a battered woman that finally decided to leave her husband. She took their two-year-old daughter and stayed in homeless shelters throughout Northern Virginia. Unfortunately, Elaine was raped in one of the shelters by a homeless man. Elaine decided not to be a victim of the man that beat her or of the man that raped her. Instead, she took action and went to the local media to share her story. She formed a Go Fund Me page and promised to use the donations for her cause. I learned of Elaine and her story on the evening news one night. She didn't look like a homeless woman but a woman that had a purpose. Her hair was long and gray, and she had more lines on her face than a woman of her age should, but her eyes were clear. They gleamed of strength, determination, and of if you fuck with me, I will hurt you. The interview was powerful. It wasn't a please pity and feel sorry for me monologue. It was a take-action, self-empowered, triumphant speech. It stuck with me, and so did she.
If you have a child and you stay in a home that's unsafe for you, it's unsafe for your child. You need to leave. You want to, but you don't because you hear about horror stories like mine. I lef; I took my baby girl; I put her in danger; I put myself in danger; I was raped. I could have taken my baby girl and gone back home, but that wasn't a home. It was a war zone for my child and me. So now I'm going to change the story. We need safe shelters for women and their babies. We need a clean, safe environment for women in every town, and I'm going to make sure it happens. I'm asking for donations. I'm not going to use your donations for extravagance, but I will use it for some clean clothes for my daughter, some food for us both, and I'm going to build a place where women like me, like you if you are listening, can go and be safe and thrive.
Elaine should be in politics, I thought after listening to her. I sent an anonymous note to the news station that interviewed her. I gave her contact information to the state domestic violence coalition, the name of the head of the zoning committee in Fairview, and the website that has the forms to apply for non-profit status with the IRS. I also donated $500.00 anonymously to her Go Fund Me account. I wonder if my mom heard Elaine speak, would she have left, taken me with her? I doubt it. She didn't have it in her. She was too broken and way too ignorant to comprehend what Elaine was trying to convey.
When I get home, JJ is sitting at the kitchen table eating a massive bowl of chocolate chip ice cream. I am just in time—sugar an
d no meds, a toxic combination for an ADHD kid. I'd told JJ I was having lunch with Stacie, the woman he assaulted at Benny's, and I'd told him we had become friends.
"How's the ice cream lady?" JJ asks.
"She's good, JJ. She's a very nice lady. I hope one day you can be friends with her too."
"She's too old to be my friend, Dad."
JJ gets up and runs upstairs to his room.
"When your ice cream digests, we are going for a long run JJ," I yell.
My phone buzzes. It's a text from Stacie, my missing puzzle piece.
Thanks again for fixing my sign and for a lovely brunch. I've never been to a ribbon-cutting ceremony. I'll be coming from work, so I will be in business attire. I hope that works?
Yes, it will, Stacie. If all goes well, there will be many more ribbon cuttings in our future. My phone buzzes again, but this time it's Virginia.
I hope you are having a great day with JJ. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Maybe we can do another take-out at my house this week, but this time we eat first.
Sex with a crazy bitch? No thanks!
This week looks very busy for me, but I hope you have a great one.
She should get the hint. Virginia may be insane, but she's not stupid.
Chapter 33 – Virginia
This week looks very busy for me. But I hope you have a great one.
I'm sure, Joshua. Very busy, busy with that little—I throw my phone across the room. The front door opens. Robert walks in. Harry is standing at the bottom of the stairs avoiding eye contact like he always does. The sight of his patheticness pisses me off even more, but I suck it up and put my game face on.
"Hey, Cutie," I say, squeezing Robert's shoulder as he walks past me.
I wait until Robert is upstairs. Harry is walking towards his car, but before he gets in, I step outside.
"Harry!" I yell.
He stops and turns around.
"Are you seeing anyone?"
"I don't think that's any of your business, Virginia."
"I was just wondering if you graduated from prostitutes to real women? Do you still have to pay someone to fuck you?"
Harry's mouth closes, and his lips tighten. He looks to see if anyone is around, gets in his car, and drives away. My anger disseminates to a level I can physically tolerate. It's like sticking a needle into a puffy blister and releasing all its painful, pressuring serum. I feel relief, but only for a minute.
I’m not hungover this morning. I wanted to numb myself last night after coming to the realization that Joshua is dumping me for a little twit, but the events of yesterday sickened me. Even the best wine in my house turned me off. My stomach is still upset this morning, so I bring a Solo cup full of crushed ice and Coke with me on the drive to Robert's basketball camp. Robert is quieter than he normally is on a Monday morning, so I try to to breakthrough the teenage wall of armor.
"I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to spend much time together this weekend, Cutie. Maybe your dad will let you stay Friday night, and we can do something fun on Saturday?"
"Can't. We are going camping."
"Since when does your dad camp?"
"Since you left him."
I pull up in front of Power Up Basketball Camp and grab Robert's arm, so he can't leave me with that thought in his head.
"Robert, you have no idea what I went through—"
"What did you go through, Mom? Dad loved you, and you just bailed."
"Maybe you should ask your dad why I left."
"You are the one that left, not him!"
Yes, that's right, Robert. I left him. I left him because he is a disgusting porn-addicted pervert that would rather fuck a dirty prostitute than be faithful to his wife, your mother. I left him because he is sick and weak, and I pray every night that you will not turn into him. I pray that you will be a respectable young man that has a healthy relationship and doesn't take after your disgusting fuckup father.
"Mom, Mom, are you even listening to me. You are the one that left him, remember?"
"What? Yes, sorry. I'm not feeling myself today. Just know it had nothing to do with you. I love you, Robert, more than you will ever know, and that's all that matters. Have a good day, Cutie."
Robert gets out of the car; the expression on his face tells it all. He is full of disappointment and disdain for me. I didn't give him what he needed. I feel a tightening in my throat as I drive away. I want to cry; no, actually, I want to run my car into something; instead, I continue to drive, passing Walton Road. Walton Road is the quickest way to Old Town. As I approach the next light, instead of driving straight to my office, I make a U-turn and head towards Main Street. I pull into the side parking lot next to Simon, Franklin, and Shewster Law Firm. I pull down the visor and slide back the mirror to ensure I don't have an eyeliner smudge or a booger in my nose. I close the mirror, open the car door, and take fifteen steps to the front door of the law firm. I stare at the sign hanging on the door. I turn the nob and hear bells clanking as I open the door. Stacie is standing at the receptionist desk with her back towards me, speaking in her nasally, high-pitched voice.
"Yes, it was wonderful; what an awesome day. I didn't want it to end. He is handsome, so…."
The receptionist sees me before Stacie does.
"May I help you?"
I ignore her.
"Hi, Stacie. Do you remember me? I met you at Misty's."
I enjoy watching Stacie's shitty grin turn into a round little hollow circle.
"Yes, Virginia, I remember you."
"Oh, good. That would be so awkward if you didn't. I decided to pick up a croissant and a coffee at the Coffee Bean down the street on my way to work. Have you been there? I'm sure you have. It's the only coffee shop in Old Town. Anyway, I thought, why not take Joshua's advice. So here I am."
"Joshua? Advice?"
"Oh, sorry, Stacie. Joshua Steadman, my boyfriend. He told me on Saturday how the two of you have become friends, and I should get to know you too. I really don't have many girlfriends. Dating a busy mayor, well, it's like a doctor's wife; I have a lot of time on my hands. So, I thought, why not find a new friend? And we both have Misty in common, so here I am."
I stop talking and watch her reaction as she absorbs my words, one by one, festering in her head, causing each little Joshua bubble to burst. I'm enjoying this way too much.
"Josh didn't tell me you two were—"
Josh? Did she just call him Josh? I feel heat forming in my cheeks.
"Joshua would never want it to get out that we are fucking, I mean dating, Stacie. It's a small town, and he is the mayor. Besides, you know how politicians are?"
'Yes, yes, I guess so."
Poor Stacie, she looks so destroyed. She has no more bubbles left to burst. I think my job is done here.
"I wish I could chat, but I have to be in court in a half-hour, so um…I need to get ready. Thanks for stopping by, Virginia."
"Sure, my pleasure. Let's have drinks one evening, just us girls. Have a great day, Stacie."
I open the door to leave. The sign that I spat on rattles against the door as I turn towards Stacie.
"Joshua told me you were vandalized the other day.
You really should get a security camera. Misty has one across the street—"
"She does? Maybe it has footage of who did it?"
Shit! I didn't think of that! Shit!
"Maybe? Have a nice day."
I leave Stacie's and immediately cross the street to Misty's. She is in the back with a client, but I don't care.
"Misty, do you have a sec? It's important!" I yell towards the back. Misty turns and holds up her forefinger.
"One second!"
"What the hell, Virginia! I'm with a client. Can't it wait?"
"No, it can't! The video of Josh and Stacie, does the footage get saved forever?"
"Yes, unless I delete it, it's there; why?"
"In case I wanted to look at it again."
"Why would you want to
look at it again?"
"I just need to see it one more time. I want to make absolutely sure they were really together."
"What more do you want to see, V, them fucking?"
"Will you just humor me, Misty. God!"
"I'm busy right now, V. Come back later, and you can torture yourself all you want."
"Please, Misty, I'm a wreck. I just need to see it again."
"Okay, okay. Sit down," she says, directing me to the chair in front of the computer.
Misty reaches over me and clicks on different folders. She opens the June folder. MPG files display, each with a different date.
"You need to get a grip! He's with someone else, whether you like it or not. But here, if it will help, have at it. I have to get back to my client."
I wait until Misty is on the other side of the studio. I click on June 28 and fast forward to 4:35 p.m. There I am. I see myself walking across the street. I see a car stop abruptly to let me pass. I see me yank the sign off the door without any hesitation, spit, and walk away. Wow, I look like one very pissed-off bitch. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I had just escaped from the loony bin. What this video doesn't tell you is the back story of why I was forced into temporary madness. It doesn't tell you about a little twit named Stacie who passively-aggressively lured a very confused, grieving mayor away from a real woman, a woman who could have made him so happy. I right-click on the video and select delete. A message pops up. Are you sure you want to delete this file? Yes, I definitely want to delete this file. If only I could delete Stacie Shewster this easily.
Chapter 34 – Stacie
I lied to Virginia. I don't have to be in court, but I couldn't listen to another word she had to say. Joshua is playing the field. I'm still on first base, and well, Virginia, I'm sure he has made more than one home run with her. I feel so stupid. I don't know if I should go to the ribbon-cutting today. Josh made it pretty clear to me yesterday he wanted to continue seeing me, but maybe I misread everything. I don't get why Josh wants Virginia and me to become friends? None of this makes sense.