Page 14 of Two Wrongs

“Lawyers aren’t cheap,” I tell her and drink a large gulp of coffee.

“You work until close, and then get up at seven to be at the office by eight. There’s no way you’re getting enough sleep.”

“Trust me, I wouldn’t be sleeping much either way,” I tell her. “I can’t get the image of Liam with that woman out of my head.”

“Donovan can give you a few nights off. Go to a movie with a friend. Be young. You’ve got the rest of your life to work too much.”

“I asked him for the hours. I’ve tried calling my best friend, Audrey, but she’s been too busy. I think I’ve only talked to her for about five minutes combined. The rest of my friends all moved away after graduation,” I admit.

She pushes my phone toward me. “Can’t hurt to try again.”

Maybe she’s right. There were many times I was too busy when she wanted to do something. Nights when I was still wrapped up with Liam and didn’t want to let anyone else into our bubble.

“I’ll try,” I promise and take my phone and coffee to go, before I remember what I came in here for. “Still need me to go to the pharmacy for you?”

“Oh, can you? I asked my grandson, but he’s showing a house today, and I really need my blood pressure medicine.”

I smile at her. “It’s no problem. I’ll go get ready and get them for you.”

* * *

The phone ringsseveral times as I try Audrey again on the short walk through the back yard. I’m about to hang up when she answers the phone out of breath. “Hello?”

“Hey, Audrey. Is this a bad time?”

“Uh, hey, Wren.”

My eyebrows crunch together. The way she said my name seemed a bit off. Her breathing increased, and it sounded like there were some grunts in the background.

“Oh, ew. Did you answer the phone while you’re having sex?”

“I’m waiting for an important call,” she dismisses.

“And you think it’s a good idea to answer it while getting railed?”

“We’re not all old married people. It’s not like it’s a job, I’m waiting to hear about a house I’m trying to rent.”

“Well, I won’t hold up the line then.” I hang up before she can throw another barb my way. I really need to talk to my best friend, but more and more that person seems to be an octogenarian who likes to garden.

“And this is why I work a lot,” I mutter to myself.

The sucky thing is, Donovan didn’t need me tonight, and since it’s Saturday I don’t even have work at the office to distract me. Dolores is right, I do need a hobby.

I put more effort into getting ready. It became a habit over the last several months, thinking if I were more attractive, Liam would pay attention to me. Now I just want him to eat his heart out. There’s also a bit of curiosity at the way Griffin seems to react to me now, and I guess I like poking the bear.

Standing in front of the mirror after my shower I lift a lock of my dirty blonde hair. My style can best be described as long. That’s it, just long. Audrey once told me I looked religious, which I’m pretty sure was an insult.

What did I want? For so long I’ve approached my personal grooming thinking about what Liam would like. Do I like the clothes I usually wear, or do I wear them because I thought he preferred them? Suddenly, it isn’t enough to walk away from my marriage, I need to say goodbye to the girl I was, so I can become the woman I’m meant to be.

* * *

“Hey Mr. Palmer,”I greet the pharmacist. He’s been the pharmacist here my entire life, and probably when my parents were young as well.

Palmer Drugs is one place to go to learn all the town gossip. That’s why most of the teenagers drive out of town to a large chain store to get contraceptives. The few who didn’t plan and came here ended up having a serious talk with their parents when helet it slipwhat they were buying in the store.

“Hello, Wren. Lovely to see you. I’m so sorry to hear about your divorce. Can’t say I’m surprised, though. Couple been married as long as you and Liam are usually trying for a family by now, and that boy has been buying condoms in bulk for months. I’d hoped you were both considering college. Damn shame.”

My smile is brittle, and I feel all eyes in the store staring at me. Like I said, if you want the town gossip, hang around the pharmacy. Anyone who hadn’t figured out Liam has been cheating on me knows now. By this evening we’ll be the talk at every dinner table.

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