Page 69 of Operation Annulment
Nicole’s voice is quiet. “It was Jess, Kate.”
“Let me guess, David was the husband?”
She nods, and I lean over to clutch my knees. “Carla… Carla is Jess.”
Nicole runs over to me. “Deep breath. What?”
I don’t know how I didn’t see it before. The answer was staring me in the face the entire time. She was gauging my reactions in every session we had.
“I stayed the night with my ex-husband.”
I try to recall that conversation and realize it was right before I found the underwear and perfume in his house. She was trying to get a rise out of me.
But why did he lie and say no one had been there but me?
Why did she stay the night?
“Carla, Nic. Carla is Jess… and I’m supposed to counsel her in fifteen minutes!”
She taps her index finger against her mouth. “You’ve got a log of every session the two of you have had, right?” When I nod, she continues, “Dr. Nicole White is about to become your fairy godmother.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me how my week was?” Jess asks, shifting uncomfortably in her chair.
I rest my hands on the arms of my chair, channeling all of my rage into focused energy. “Are you familiar with chess?”
She shakes her head and laughs. “No, not at all.”
“In chess, the queen can become the strongest piece on the board through a series of exchanges and attacks. Many people mistakenly believe it’s due to the queen’s ability to move all over the board, but that’s not what makes her so destructive.”
She leans forward in her chair, taking the bait. “So, what makes her so destructive?”
I smile. “It’s her willingness to make sacrifices to save the king. In this folder, I’ve documented every visit we’ve had, Jess.”
Her eyes widen in understanding when she realizes I know exactly who she is.
“I hold more than enough information to qualify you for involuntary admission to a mental health facility. So, you see, we have quite a dilemma here. Either you disappear and never contact me or my husband again, or I will use every tool at my disposal to ensure that you never see anything outside the walls of a psychiatric facility ever again. The queen protects her king… at all costs. It’s a lesson you failed to grasp when he was yours.”
She shakes her head vehemently. “You don’t understand what he and I have! You could never understand our bond. You’re just jealous!”
I stand up and calmly walk over to the door. “That’s where you’re wrong. Jealousy would imply that you have something I want, when in reality, it’s the other way around. I know his heart belongs to me, and unlike you, I will guard it at all costs.”
Jess jumps up from the chair and stalks over to me. “He’s going to come back to me… all the signs pointed to it. He could never see in you what he sees in me! You wear second-hand clothing and tape your shoes together—you’re nothing but a basic bitch?—”
I cut her off. “And you’re nothing more than a psychotic bitch who relies on palm readers and tarot cards to live your life. We’re done here. I’ve given you my warning—that’s all you’ll get. I will turn everything over to the court if you even think about going near him. Are we clear?”
She glares at me. “Crystal.”
“Good.” I slam the door shut behind her and sink down onto the soft carpet, working to control my breathing.
My god, did that feel good.
twenty-seven
COMMANDMENT #28: THOU SHALT KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO CALL IT
Kate
Itake in the beautifully set table and debate whether or not to light candles. A quick glance around the house reveals that Nate apparently doesn’t own any candles, so we’ll have to do without.
