Page 121 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“Actually, I worked for Eric’s company, but...but I’m not cheating on my husband, not with Björn or anyone else. I just got married about four months ago. I love Eric, I’m happy and...and...”

María hugs me and I close my eyes. My nerves are at a peak when I notice the cockatoos staring at us and smiling. What a bunch of bitches. And then my blood boils, and I recover as quickly as a tsunami.

“Since when is that rumor circulating?”

“I heard it yesterday for the first time.”

“And it came from those cockatoos, right?”

María nods. I raise my chin, and, not thinking twice, I head directly toward them. I thought I had made things clear, but since they don’t seem to get it, I’m going to have to repeat myself.

I don’t care if I come off like a slut.

I don’t care if they think I’m the worst.

Nothing matters to me except that they stop telling lies about me.

“I don’t like you, and you don’t like me. We both know that, right?” I say to the lead cockatoo. She doesn’t move; she’s cowering. “Well, I want you to know I like you spreading rumors about me even less. Therefore, if you don’t want to have a serious problem with me, tell me who’s the goddamn person talking shit about me, or I swear you’re going to lose some teeth today,” I hiss right into the lead cockatoo’s face—Joshua’s wife, I believe. My face is right up to hers when I see Norbert exit the car out of the corner of my eye.

“Judith,” whispers María. She’s embarrassed.

The lead cockatoo turns as red as a tomato. Her little friends step back. They’re leaving her on her own. Now that’s friendship!

Seeing she’s been left with no support, she tries to get away from me, but I won’t allow it. I grab her arm forcefully.

“I told you to tell me who’s telling you those lies.”

She’s scared and trembling. “The...the young woman who sometimes comes to pick up the little Chinese boy.”

I close my eyes: Laila!

My blood boils, and I suddenly understand everything. Laila has been poisoning Eric in London. I open my eyes.

“My son has a name. It’s Flyn.” I let her go. “And, for the last time, he is not Chinese! And, yes, I worked for my husband’s company, and, of course, I’m not involved with Björn. For your own good, I hope that rumor dies, or I swear I’m going to make your life impossible. Understood?”

“Mrs. Zimmerman, what’s wrong?” Norbert asks.

The cockatoos quickly move away in terror.

Poor María is on the verge of fainting.

“Thank you for telling me, María. I’ll see you another time.”

Norbert’s disconcerted because he knows I’m about to collapse.

“Take me home, please,” I tell him. “I don’t feel well.”

21

When I get home, I throw up.

Between crying and vomiting, I can’t catch a break!

Worried about me, Simona offers one of her infusions, but I reject it. The smell alone makes it worse. She should call Eric so at least I’ll know what’s going on with him.

My head explodes, and she makes me lie down. Exhausted, I fall asleep. When I wake up a couple of hours later, I’m angry, very angry, and I call Eric. He picks up on the third ring.

Hallelujah!

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