by SE Reynolds
"Sorry about the confusion, Mr. Steadman. I thought the woman was your assistant."
"What are you talking about, Sam?" I ask.
"I'll tell you when we get home, Stacie. No worries, Sam. Have a good night," Josh says.
"I need a beer," do you want one, Stace?" Josh asks as I follow him to the kitchen.
"Are you going to explain to me what you and Sam were talking about?"
"Don't freak out, Stacie, but Virginia was here."
"Here, what do you mean by here?"
"She was here in the house."
"What? How did she get in?"
"Sam let her through the gate, and I stupidly left the front door unlocked."
"You are not explaining this very well, Josh. Why would Sam let her through the gate?"
"Sorry, Stacie, I'm trying. I'm just as freaked as you are. Virginia told Sam she needed to see me, and it was urgent. Sam thought it was Ashley and let her in. Remember I told you Ashley was coming by to pick up some papers that require my original signature, not an e-signature? We needed to overnight them, so they would be on the board of supervisor's desk first thing Monday morning. Well, I let Sam know my assistant would be by and to let her in the gate. He thought Virginia was Ashley."
"Didn't you leave Ashley's name with Sam? That's standard protocol, Josh."
"I was in a hurry to get to the fundraiser. I didn't want to miss Congressman Whitman. I forgot to leave her name. In Sam's defense, he tried to call me back to get it, but I missed the call. He even left a message to call him back with Ashley's name."
"So, did you?"
"Yes, I did, but by the time I called back, Ashley was at the gate trying to get in. Sam told me another woman had gotten through the gates. He thought she was my assistant and let her in. He did ask for her ID and wrote her name in the visitor's log. It was Virginia's name. I told him to let Ashley in."
"You let Ashley go to my house knowing Virginia was here?"
"I didn't realize I left the door unlocked. I didn't think she'd actually be inside the house."
Josh pulled two beers out of the fridge and handed me one.
"Have you seen her lately, Josh? Has she tried to reach out to you? I think it's really odd she would come out here unannounced, out of the blue. Something set her off."
"I don't know, Stacie! What sets off a mentally disturbed person?"
"Josh, don't lie to me. You know how I feel about that. I've been so good to you, protected you, please don't lie to me."
"Protected me? Right, right. I guess something did."
"Something did what, Josh?"
"Something set her off. I ran into her the other day. Maybe a week ago. I didn't tell you because I didn't think it was a big deal."
"Big deal? She hates me, Josh! She is unstable, especially when it comes to you."
"I know, but you and I were just getting back on track, and finally, things were cool with us again. I didn't want to upset you."
"Well, now I'm upset! Tell me everything that happened."
"I was in a hurry, and I had just left Herbert's bank on Main Street.
She came out of nowhere. I literally bumped into her. I almost knocked her over. So, I apologized, and well, I felt kind of bad. The last time I saw her, I told her to leave us alone. I was really mean. She looked kind of pathetic, so I told her I was sorry about everything. She seemed really cool. She said she heard about our marriage, we exchanged pleasantries, and that was it."
"That's it?"
"Yep, that's it."
"Don't you think it's a coincidence she was right there when you came out of the bank, Josh?
"No, not really. Misty's studio is right down the street. Maybe she was coming from Misty's?"
"Maybe she was following you. Maybe she made you bump into her? Don't be so stupidly naïve!"
"Stupid? Wow, I never thought I'd hear you call me stupid, Stacie."
"Oh, stop it! Quit diverting."
"I'm not diverting. I'm trying to tell you what happened. Why, after all these months, would Virginia decide to stalk me? Makes no sense. Maybe I should call the police?"
"I'm not sure they can do anything, Josh. All she did was try to see you. She even gave the guard her name. She didn't break-in."
"I bet she was drunk, Stacie. She used to text me some crazy shit when she was drinking. Maybe she saw me and thought, man, I miss that handsome guy. She probably couldn't get me out of her head. So, she got drunk and wanted to have her way with me."
Josh is grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, please, Josh."
Josh puts his arms around my waist.
"Are you jealous, my not-so-sweet Stacie?"
"No, I am not jealous," I say as I pull away from Josh's embrace.
I'm beyond jealous. No one will destroy us. No one, not even Josh himself, will destroy us.
"I think we should just ignore it, for now, Stace. I'm sure she will wake up tomorrow and be ashamed of herself. If anything happens again, we can always get a restraining order."
"Okay, Josh, I'll let this one go, but please do me a favor," I say as I slowly walk towards him. "Please don't let Virginia or anyone else threaten what we have. It's just you and me forever. We share everything, your future, I mean, our future is so fragile. I wouldn't want it to be all ruined by an indiscretion. We share so much, so many special times, so many inside jokes, little secrets. I'm not sure what I would do if—"
"Don't worry, Stacie, I understand completely. It's just you and me as long as we both shall live, remember?"
"Exactly, Josh, exactly."
I leave Josh in the kitchen and go upstairs to our bedroom. I google Virginia Barnes. I find only one Virginia Barnes that resides in Fairview. Her contact information is listed, including a phone number. Wow, that's easy. I need to remind myself to block our address and contact information from being listed like this. I call the number, and a woman answers.
"Josh, is it you?"
"No, Virginia, this is his wife. I know what you are up to. I know you are stalking my husband. He doesn't want you. He only feels pity for you because you are a pathetic drunk. He told me how you were stalking him in Old Town last week."
Virginia tries to speak, but I don't let her.
"Shut up, Virginia. I'm not interested in what you have to say. Go to bed. Sober up. Leave us alone. If you don't, I'll take legal measures to ensure you stay away."
As soon as I hang up, a text comes through.
Watch your back, you little fat pig; you never know when a little bee will sting you in the ass ending your pathetic existence. Better yet, make it easy for me and go kill yourself.
I get another text from Virginia. This time it's a picture of me in only my bra and underwear. Oh my God, where did she get that? That's at Misty's. I thought I was alone in the changing room. If I weren't, I would've changed in the bathroom stall. Oh no, I wasn't alone. Someone came in and went straight to the bathroom. It must have been Virginia. She is evil. Joshua has underestimated Virginia, but I haven't.
Chapter 50 – Stacie
"Happy Birthday, Stacie, time to wake up."
The whispers lure me awake. I open my eyes and find Josh standing at my bedside, holding a tray.
"Is this what I think it is?" I ask.
"What do you think it is?"
"Is it breakfast in bed?"
"Yes, Young Lady. Sit up, time to eat."
I scoot myself up and lean my head on the headboard. Josh places the tray on my lap. It's decorated with croissants, eggs, bacon, a mocha latte from the Coffee Bean, a single red rose, and an envelope labeled Sweet Stacie.
"I feel like I'm in a movie, Josh. This is just perfect, just wonderful."
"The movie just started. Stay tuned."
"Josh, I'm sorry for being so hard on you about Virginia. I know it's not your fault. I just get so worried that something will happen to us."
"Stop it, stop it, Young Lady. I understand more than you know. Today is about you and not Virgin
ia."
Josh takes the envelope off the tray and hands it to me. I open it. It's a gift card.
The Pampered Duchess, December 4, 12:00 p.m. 90 Minute Relaxation Massage.
"A massage? I've never had a massage before, Josh."
"It's not just any massage, Stace, but a massage you can have in the privacy of your own home."
"Oh? Are you sure this is not one of those massages with a happy ending?" I wink.
"Ha! No! It's a legitimate massage; get your head out of the gutter, miss. They will be here a few minutes before noon to set up. They bring everything. You just need to relax, have your breakfast, and enjoy your day. I have more surprises for you later."
"More surprises? Can you give me a little hint?"
"Now, now. It's no longer a surprise if I tell you. I've been planning this for so long; if I tell you, it will ruin everything."
"As long as you are part of the surprises, then that's all I need to know."
"Of course!"
Josh kisses my forehead and walks towards the bedroom door but stops before opening it. He turns to me; his expression drastically changed; he looks so solemn.
"Is there something wrong, Josh?"
"Stacie, if you hadn't met me, what would you be doing on your birthday today?"
"I don't know, Josh. Probably the same as last year. I'd have the usual birthday dinner with my family. My mother would be doting over my sister and her son, pretty much ignoring me. Oh but, she'd briefly take her attention off them just so she could subtly remind me I'm another year older, and my biological clock continues to tick, tick tock tick tock. And, to make sure I completely understood her subtle reminder, she would inform me I only have two good years left. This year it would have been one good year, but she can't do that to me this year, Josh. Don't let her do that to me. We can spend some of my birthday making a baby. If you want to know what my birthday wish is, it would be that, and of course, spending it with you. I have you, Josh; no matter what, I'll always have you."
Josh puts his hands in his pockets and nods.
"Yes, it would seem so. So much has happened over the last six months. It seems like years. I remember the first day I met you at Benny's. You seemed sad to me, sitting there in the corner of the store, all alone and wounded from the ice cream boat. But regardless of your state of mind at the time, you managed to be friendly and kind to me. Although I could tell, underneath it all, you were lonely. I felt sorry for you, Stacie. I really did. But within months, you evolved from someone I just felt sorry for to a good friend I trusted and eventually to a woman that knows all my deep dark secrets. And, with each evolution, each metamorphosis of Stacie Shewster, you slowly took a little piece of me until you had all of me. I underestimated you that day at Benny's. You're no longer a lonely little thing; you're a strong, empowered fortress."
"A fortress, Josh?"
"Yes, a fortress, you know, protecting me from outside influences, making sure I am safe within our confines." Josh stretches out his arms as if he’s showing me something grand. "I put a lot on you over these last six months, Stacie, and, instead of just supporting me, you took care of me. Now, it's my turn to take care of you."
Josh turns and leaves. I feel a chill in the room. My hand quivers as I carefully pick up the rose from the tray and sniff it, but the scent is faint. My yard is filled with rose bushes because of this. Roses are beautiful, and yet their scent is unassuming and hidden underneath layers of petals. Bees find it hard to navigate to them, so they find another flower more fragrant. Roses are one of the world's little mysteries. Occasionally, I will find a dangerous little bee nestled deep inside a rose. The bee must be one of the few drawn to its vague scent, pulling it deep inside, so deep it's hard to recognize. Ironically, the rose naturally keeps me safely at a distance with its stinging thorns. Josh is right. I have changed so much in such a short amount of time, but he hasn't underestimated me at all. He has overestimated me. He thinks I'm so strong now. If only he knew, I would die if he ever left me. If he walked out the door today, I would just die.
After breakfast, I take a hot shower. I'm not sure what to wear for a massage, but I'm sure I should be clean. I put on my robe and underwear. I get a call from Sam. I hope it's not Virginia posing as a massage therapist. Sam knows better after last night's performance.
"Happy Birthday, Mrs. Steadman!"
"Thanks, Sam."
"Jane, from the Pampered Duchess is here to see you. Should I let her in?"
"Yes, please. Thanks, Sam."
"I'm truly sorry about last night, Mrs. Steadman."
"It's okay, Sam. If you ever see that woman again, please call me directly."
"Yes, ma'am. Have a wonderful day!"
I rush to meet Jane at the door. When I get to the top of the stairs, I see Josh standing in the foyer.
"I thought you left?" I ask.
"No. I'm waiting for JJ to finish taking a dump. Oh sorry. TMI."
"That's okay," I laugh. "The massage therapist is here. Can you let her in, Josh?"
"Where should I tell her to set up?"
"In the study, it's a bit more private, and I really don't want her in our bedroom."
"See you later, Josh; I love you."
Josh walks out of my sight.
"Josh!"
He walks back into my sight, and I repeat, "I love you!"
He responds by blowing me a kiss.
Ten minutes later, I'm greeted by Jane in the study. She is a short, stout woman with dark hair pulled back in a low ponytail. She looks like she is from a country in South America, maybe Peru.
"Happiest of birthdays, Ms. Stacie. I'm Jane," she says with a Latina accent.
"Yes, Jane, what a wonderful day it's been already."
Jane asks me about my pain points.
"I really don't have any. Maybe my shoulders."
"Yes, that's not uncommon. When we are stressed, we hike up our shoulders, causing our neck to tighten along with other back muscles. I will pay close attention to them."
Jane's massage table reminds me of a portable buffet table my mom would set up on Christmas eve with all my favorite Christmas foods like sausage balls and shrimp cocktail. Mom made sure I had all my favorite foods but then discouraged me from eating them. Don't overindulge, Stacie. Maybe your New Year's resolution will be to not overindulge. Yes, it's very similar, but Jane's table has thin padding of cushion on the top with a round hollow headrest attached to the end of it. On the mahogany desk, Jane has spread out a towel with a couple of bottles of oil and a small tub of cream laying on top of it: Essential Relaxation Oil, Aroma Therapy Oil, and Moisture Lift Face Cream. I'm glad she has the wherewithal not to put the bottles directly on top of the wood.
"I will step out while you get undressed. Please get under the sheet and lie face down."
Jane steps out of the study and closes the door. I feel a little uneasy being naked in front of a stranger, even if it's a woman, so I leave my underwear on. I still feel uncomfortably exposed, but this is a gift from Josh. He's trying so hard. This day isn't just about me. It's a reset for us both. Even if this massage turns out to be a miserable experience, I will tell Josh it was wonderful, a perfect choice. I follow Jane's directions, and a few moments later, she returns.
"I'm at your mercy, Jane, be gentle with me."
"Of course, Ms. Stacie. Let the relaxation begin."
I close my eyes and let happy thoughts swirl around like little mini daydreams passing through each other. I see my handsome Josh holding my breakfast tray like a butler. I can still taste the buttery croissants with the raspberry jam. I see the beautiful rose left on my tray. It's a true symbol of love, and I can hear Virginia whispering in my ear,
"Go kill yourself, you fat little pig…."
“Gasp!”
I lift my head up and see Jane over me.
"Everything alright, Ms. Stacie?
"Yes, Jane, sorry, just had a bad daydream, that's all."
Forty minutes later, Jane ask
s me to turn over. She lifts the sheet and turns away while I quickly flip over onto my back.
"May I suggest a forehead and sinus massage, Ms. Stacie? I have a facial cream that opens up your sinuses and moisturizes your face without clogging your pores. It really feels amazing."
"Yes, please."
I wouldn't dare say no; I'm at Jane's mercy.
"Okay, you got it. Huh?"
"Is there something wrong?"
"Not really, Ms. Stacie; I just realized I have a different facial product than I usually have. I normally use the Daily Hydrating Eucalyptus product. Instead, I have another. It's from the same product line. I have Moisture Lift instead."
"Well, I could use a lift. I'm one more year closer to forty."
"Well, you don't look it. You have wonderful skin. I must have picked up the wrong product when I was at our headquarters. All our products are wonderful. This one doesn't have the Eucalyptus, but it has a little caffeine in it."
"Caffeine?"
"Yes, caffeine stimulates blood flow, gives you a quick boost."
"Whatever you say, Jane. Let's try it."
Jane steps away for a minute and comes back with a thin cloth that she lays gently over my eyelids. Jane's fingers are cold and moist from the lotion as she rubs her thumbs into my temples, slowly making her way over my eyes. The coldness is very soothing. I take a deep breath, but before I can exhale, I feel a tickle in my throat. I know this tickle; it's not a postnasal drip tickle. It's a warning.
"Stop, stop," I say while I still can.
"What's wrong, Miss Stacie?"
"I need my EpiPen!"
I try to swallow, but I can't. I try to cough, but I gag instead.
"What is it? You’re turning blue!"
I feel the death lump forming in my throat. It's like a rock blocking the only opening of a dark cave, but instead, it's blocking the last seepage of air I have left from passing through to my lungs and to my brain. It's too late. I can't answer Jane. It's too late. Jane's words turn into echoes in my ears. She is talking on her cell phone. Echoes of she's choking; she needs an EpiPen is coming out of her mouth. I can't believe it's come down to this. This is my dumb luck. Oh my, Josh, we never finished. There's nothing else to do now but let go. I'm picking up my baby bumblebee. Won't my mommy be so proud of me? I'm picking up my baby bumblebee; oh no, it stung me.