Chapter 20
[Addison]
But does he believe me? Have I convinced him of my sincerity?
Can he feel how my heart is racing, not out of love for him, but the need to escape?
Gently, Michael sets me down on the couch, propping me up against some pillows that he gathers from the nearby cushions. Wi gentle hands, he repositions my body, laying my leg out straight in an attempt to make me comfortable.
Now that he believes I want to be here, his entire mood has shifted, his brittle anger melting away. It almost feels like how thing were before Evelyn came back into our lives.
Walking to his lounge chair, Michael reaches down, his eyes never leaving mine as he picks up the discarded divorce agreement.
“We won’t be needing this anymore now,” he smiles at me with renewed hope as he takes my carefully prepared packet and tears it to shreds. I do my best to smile warmly back at him as I pretend that it is what I want as well even though I’m internally screaming in outrage.
If he doesn’t love me anymore, why is he so determined to keep me tied to him?
The main door opens. Jayson and Evelyn walk in hand in hand, her arms weighted down with bags of food. They are laughing and smiling, my son grinning up at her like she is his entire universe.
“Thank you so much for picking me up at the store, Michael,” she grins, not noticing me lying there on the couch. “And bringing Jayson along from school! Such a nice treat to have you both waiting for me. I…”
Jayson, spying me first, frowns and pulls on Evelyn’s hand to draw her attention. “Mama Evelyn, look!” he points with a disappointed frown.
My son doesn’t want me here.
“Oh, you’re home,” my husband’s mistress smiles benevolently as if this were her house and I was an unexpected guest.
“She just got out of the hospital,” Michael informs her as she walks into his arms and gives him a sideways hug—a movement so automatic that you’d think they were the ones married for years. “And she wants to make things right. I was hoping, maybe you two could take a moment to talk after Dr. Greene comes.”
“If that is what you want,” Evelyn demures, smiling sweetly. Michael leans over, giving her a gentle kiss on her brow in gratitude, just like he had kissed mine a moment before.
How could he be so affectionate with someone else right in front of me and our son? Doesn’t he care what I might think? How I might feel?
Michael looks pleased with himself and his world as he looks at Evelyn and Jayson standing side by side, me on the couch behind them as he suggests we have a family dinner, “All of us, together.”
Chapter 20
“But Mikey, you know I don’t cook,” Evelyn flutters her eyelashes. “I never learned. I’d hate to disappoint you.”
“I’m sure that Addy won’t mind cooking for everyone, now that she’s home,” Michael assumes, not bothering to
direction for confirmation. He had to carry me in from outside after falling and now he thinks I can stand on my
to make dinner?
“Well, I guess that would be okay then,” Evelyn agrees. “As long as Addy tells me what to do, I’d be grateful to help.”
+25 Bo
my
ng enou
“You are an absolute angel,” Michael praises her and I feel sick as he goes on and on about how perfect she is, and so gracious.
“I’ll be upstairs,” Michael announces as he heads to the den. “Let me know when Dr. Greene gets here.”
As soon as Michael is gone, her kind demeanor disappears. Turning towards me with a satisfied smirk, she asks me if I need anything.
“I don’t want anything from you, Evelyn,” I state curtly, “although I would like to speak with my son.”
He buries his face in her skirt, ignoring me.
“Jayson,” I call out to my son. He has disappointed me with how he’s done Evelyn’s bidding, but he is still my little boy. Yes, I’m angry, yes, but I also know he is a child and deserves another chance. “Can I speak with you?”
“No,” his words are muffled as he presses his face into Evelyn’s leg. “Go away.”
Evelyn’s smile twists from sweet to toxic as she glares down at me triumphantly. “He doesn’t want to speak with you,” she sighs. “I’m sorry, Addison, but you know how he can be.”
Better than you ever will, you lying family–stealing whore.
“Shall we get you an afterschool treat, Jace?” Evelyn holds up a shopping bag full of cookies and candy and my little boy’s face brightens as he turns his back on me.
“You’re the best, Mama Evelyn,” Jayson’s face is aglow with love. “I wish you could become my new mama now, I’m tired of her.”
My heart sinks. “Jayson…”
“I want Daddy to divorce her, so you can live with us forever.” His little voice sings as he holds her hand and they walk into the kitchen. “And I never want to see her again. She’s terrible! I can’t wait for you to be my mama. I can’t wait to meet my new little brother.”
When he looks back over his shoulder, his eyes are dark with hatred.
There is nothing left for me here other than lies and pain.
The kitchen door closes behind them and I am finally alone. Taking a deep breath, I steel myself as I swing my legs around and attempt to put weight on my bad leg. Biting my lip, I manage to stand, my red and swollen ankle throbbing. Swallowing my pain, I push myself, making it to the front door, which hadn’t latched all the way when Evelyn had walked through a moment before. Prying it open the rest of the way, I do not make a sound as I slip past.
Chapter 20
Quietly, I close the door behind me and look out towards my escape.
+25 Bon
We live away from the main city in a neighborhood of designer homes on tree–lined avenues. Not very many cars‘ squint, I see a couple of cars in the distance. If I hurry, I might make it in time to flag one down.
tas I
Cautiously, I skitter down the steps toward the road, my ankle hitting the last step hard enough to make me scream out in pain.
“Addy!” Michael calls from the house.
Oh no! he heard me.
Darting behind a tree I hide as he pulls open the door and screams my name. The door closes and I wait, listening to see if he’s
gone. Cautiously, I peer around the large oak, my hands sliding along the smooth bark.
My husband’s standing right there, on the other side of the tree just a few feet away near a row of hawthorn trees.
Holding my breath, and squeezing my eyes shut, I pray he doesn’t notice me as he searches the yard.
“Addison! Addy! Where are you?”
A car zooms past, its lights flashing, briefly shining in my eyes. Did the driver see me?
Behind me, I hear the door open and slam closed. “She’s gone!” his voice booms. “Did she run through here?”
I don’t wait to hear Evelyn’s response.
Taking a chance, I scoot around the tree and dash as quickly as I can towards the street.
Bright lights flash, blinking twice as a dark car approaches. Blinded, I can’t see the driver as he stops, gets out of the car, and
scoops me into his arms.
