Page 26 of The Liar I Married
I need to stay positive, so this week, I’m trying to live a normal life. I’ve pushed John’s antics to the back of my mind and stepped away from any involvement with the mysterious other family. Instead, I went to my grandmother’s house and helped Mom pack up Grandma’s clothes and we sent them to Goodwill. My grandma had often spoken to us about what to do when she, as she would put it, “left the building” and keeping busy is helping to some degree. Maybe Alex is right and I’m just oversensitive about people going about their day-to-day lives. I want to believe it’s over but it’s only two days since Alex spoke to the man in the studio garden, and another vehicle is following me as I drive to the tennis club. I try to fight it but paranoia creeps back into my life like an unwelcome friend.
I complete my usual maneuvers, just to be sure, but there he is, following me around the block. I stop at the curb and he drives past me and pulls in just ahead. I stare at his vehicle, convinced he’s going to get out, walk toward me, and shoot me or something. Panic grips me and I grab my phone and, hands trembling, I call John. I know he hates me disturbing him at the office but I have no choice.
“What is it, Jessie? I’m on my way to a meeting.”
I sink down low in my seat trying to hide and fix my attention on the driver’s door waiting for it to open. “There’s a manfollowing me. It’s been happening for the last couple of weeks. He followed me to the bookstore, the bistro, and the art studio. I’m on my way to the tennis club and he’s been tailing me since I left home.” The phone slips in my sweaty palms. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Why would someone want to follow you? Jessie, you’re just being paranoid.”He blows out a sigh.“I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. It’s a gated community; it’s not like we have serial killers lurking around.”
His complete lack of compassion stings. “It’s not a coincidence. He’s always there watching me.”
“Jessie, you need to calm down.”His footsteps come through the speaker and the sound of a door closing. He’s obviously too embarrassed to let anyone hear our conversation.“You’re letting your imagination get the better of you. We’ve spoken about this before, haven’t we? Maybe we need to go to the doctor and explain. Maybe he can refer you to a psychologist or give you some meds to calm you down.”
I need support and he dismisses me as if I don’t matter. “It’s not my imagination. I can see him right now.”
“Look, I can’t deal with this right now.”I hear the squeak of the wheels on John’s office chair; he’s obviously at his desk.“I have a meeting, we’ll talk about it later.”He disconnects.
I stare at the phone in my hand with a mixture of anger and helplessness. Why didn’t he believe me? Why is he always so dismissive? I start the engine and complete a J-turn and go back the way I came. I keep my eye on the rearview mirror, but no one is following. Is the man real or am I losing my grip on reality? I know it’s not the same man as before but then why are two different men following me? My mind races with questions. As I drive, I use the Bluetooth to call Alex. “I know you’re going to believe I’m losing my mind but someone is following me again and it’s not the same person as it was before.” I clear my throatwaiting for the same reaction as I received from John. “Can you think of any reason why someone would follow me?”
“You’re speaking to an author who writes mysteries, so yeah, I can come up with a hundred reasons why people could be following you.”Alex sounds concerned.“Can you put a timeframe on when this first happened?”
I nod as if he’s sitting beside me. “Yes, about a week or so after I joined the art classes.”
“Ah, I see.”Alex clears his throat“Give me a few minutes; I need to look into something. I’ll call you right back.”He ends the call.
When I arrive home, the housekeeper is in the kitchen, preparing the evening meal. She’d collected the girls from school and they are playing in their room. I go and see them and then head into the office and close the door behind me. A few minutes passes before Alex calls me back. “Did you find out anything?”
“Yes, unfortunately I did.”His tone is solemn.“The new landscape gardener doesn’t exist. I called the community manager’s office and they don’t have a new gardener. Add the fact that this started after you met me. I figure, you’re being followed by two private detectives. I’d say, someone believes we’re having an affair.”
Speechless, I’m unable to utter a word. “Why would John believe I’m having an affair?”
“Have you done anything different to make him think so?”Alex sounds interested.
I hate to admit I’m having problems in my marriage but I trust Alex. “John is never home. He spends most of his time in his apartment in town. I very rarely see him. I became so lonely that I moved into the spare room. I couldn’t stand having the empty space beside me night after night and not knowing if he was spending his time with Ms. Lawson.”
“Does he know you’re sleeping in the spare room?”
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I’ve lost weight and have dark circles beneath each eye. “Yes. He came home twice very late but didn’t say a word. I don’t believe he noticed I was missing.”
“Oh, he noticed.”There’s a rasping sound as Alex scratches his beard.“Then I show up with you when you go to see your father. So he decided to find out rather than confronting you. I imagine he is very confused at the moment, because there can’t be any proof whatsoever that we’re more than acquaintances. The next time he decides to come home, maybe you should ask him why he has sent private detectives after you. If he mentions me in the conversation, maybe you should remind him that you’re allowed to have friends and not every friend is a lover.”
Anger flares. “I called him at work today and told him someone was following me and he told me I should see a shrink.” I shake my head in disbelief. “When all the time he sent the men to follow me. What kind of husband does that to someone they’re supposed to love?”
“A very jealous one, I’d say.”Alex sighs“I have an instant solution that won’t affect our friendship. Just tell him I’m gay.”
Suddenly a great weight lifts from my shoulders and I laugh like a loon. “Alex, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“My pleasure. I’ll see you at the studio tomorrow. I’ll be there by nine. Sleep well.”He disconnects.
Everything Alex said fits. I’m being manipulated and the sad thing is it’s by my own husband.
TWENTY-NINE
1 MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT
John has been coming home every night for the last two weeks. Not that I see much of him as he gets in around ten, showers, and then falls into bed and goes to sleep. I haven’t been able to broach the subject of him hiring a private detective to follow me. Although, I’m not so afraid of them now and make a point of ignoring them but they’re still there. I decide to sit up and wait for him. We need to have this out once and for all. A key turns in the lock and John comes into the kitchen. He does a double take when he sees me sitting at the table, nursing a cup of coffee. “There you are. Have you eaten? Can I get you anything?”
“Coffee would be nice. I’m not hungry; I grabbed a meal at the bistro.” John drops his briefcase on a chair and sits down opposite me. “I didn’t expect to see you waiting up for me.”
