Oh, God. Was that why I’d teased Micah, hoping for a spanking?
It hadn’t felt like that. Not with the safety nets he placed around us. But maybe some part of me missed getting punished. Missed the snide insults and the threatening tones, most of them leading nowhere but occasionally driving into a wealth of pain.
At least I understand now why I freaked out when Micah made his casual threats that first night. My overreaction fits perfectly into my narrative now that the large missing piece has finally been found.
No wonder he abused my trust and turned me into a sideshow for his revenge. I must broadcast a signal that tells everyone how little I’m worth.
The spiral of introspection comes to a grinding halt when my phone rings, buzzing urgently inside my bra. I pull it out to see Marigold’s number on the screen, and I answer, glad to hear a friendly voice for a change.
“I’m so sorry about you and Micah,” she blurts. “If I’d known Gabriel was going to pull that stunt, I never would’ve passed him your number.” I search for an appropriate response but before I can say anything she squeals, “Did you hear?”
“About…?” Since she’s already addressed my news, I’m not sure what else could be so pressing.
“Gabriel and Brianna. They’ve run off together. To Sydney, Dad reckons, though that’s just a guess.”
“They…” I can’t finish the sentence. Wouldn’t have the faintest idea of where it might lead.
Gabriel.MyGabriel.
Dad’sBrianna.
“But he can’t stand her!”
The moment I say the words, I understand his vehemence towards her for what it was. A smokescreen to paint over his attraction. All that time I took comfort in him not fawning over her and it was just another lie.
My ex-boyfriend and my stepmother. Sounds more like a hot new category on Pornhub than real life.
Marigold tries to be respectful, but she’s bubbling over with the gossip, and I can’t blame her. The juiciest things to happen in our narrow world have just occurred on the same day to the same family.
I remember Micah’s amusement when he said his family could give the daytime soaps a run for their money. Looks like mine just joined the club.
I ask, “Did he tell you himself?”
My friend’s voice grows a tad more hesitant. “It took a while to believe he was serious,” she says cautiously. “But yeah. When he told me today, they were leaving, it wasn’t a complete surprise.”
Whatever she’d seen to tip her off, it can’t have been serious. Otherwise, she would already have confided in me, even if it hurt.
Now, I can’t even manage to feel that. Today has had too much already. After the heartbreak, the revelations, I can’t absorb any more. It’s only mid-afternoon, but I want to curl into bed and stay there until the worst day of my life ticks over into just another day. Hopefully a less eventful one.
I chat with Marigold for a few more minutes but she’s so excited and I’m so low that soon our conversation flags. “Call me tomorrow, yeah? I’m worried about you,” she says just before she hangs up.
After everything that’s happened today, those are the words that almost make me cry.
I don’t want to talk to my father this early. Not with so many memories still to process, to fish up from the deep. But I picture him arriving home only to find that his new wife has left, barely after he got her out of the container. No matter what else is going on, I love him. I need to remind him that someone does.
Not that you could tell that from my opening remarks. “Hey. Heard I’m not the only one to lose a spouse unexpectedly today.”
My dad growls into the receiver, not appreciating my sense of humour. “Did you know about this?”
“Not beforehand, no.” I pause for a long moment. “How did you find out?”
“She left a note for me. Want me to read it?”
Ugh. I know my preferred answer, but he clearly wants to share. “Sure, go ahead.”
“I’ve left with Gabriel. We’re in love. My keys are in the bowl.”
My keys.The inanity of the last sentence tickles my funnybone for a second, and I bite my cheek to stop the spurt of laughter. Hard enough to taste blood. “That’s…”—hilarious—“terrible.”
