Chapter Three
“Hey,” Harvey answered. I heard him saying something in the distance, and it sounded like he was at work. Harvey was manager of a restaurant. In fact, the reason any of us were in this town is because Harvey dragged Natalie there when he wanted to open his own bar. When that didn’t pan out, he tried for manager of the restaurant he was bartending at and got the job.
“Hey,” he repeated, “So how are you doing?”
“Fine,” I lied. Physically I was fine, but mentally and emotionally I was all over the place. “And you?” I was wondering where this phone call was headed.
“I’m tied up right now here so I can’t talk, but can we meet at eleven o’clock somewhere?” How was I going to get out of the house at eleven?
“Sure, how about by the lake?” I suggested.
“See you then, bye.” He hung up. Must be a busy Sunday night.
What excuse could I make up to take me out of the house at eleven at night? It was roughly six o’clock now, and Greg would be home soon. I picked up around the house, making sure I left no traces of my snooping, and prepared a quick chicken dinner.
“Audrey?”
I nearly dropped the knife I was holding. Greg scared the shit out of me.
“Don’t do that!” I yelled, waving the knife at him. He looked at the knife and at me, and I put it down, laughing.I should probably use it on the cheating bastard, I thought.
“You didn’t hear me come in and call to you?”
“No! I was preoccupied with this chicken, plus the microwave is loud. I’m steaming veggies.” Ialso had my mind on your shenanigans.
“Oh. So are you still mad about last night?” He asked, putting his hands in his pockets and offering me the best Greg smile he had. That’s the smile I fell in love with— it could charm the pants off any girl. That stupid smile probably charmed off Natalie’s pants on many occasions.
“I am,” I said, still working that as an excuse to not have to be a loving wife.
“So this will be an awkward, quiet dinner?” he asked.
“Unless you’d prefer to argue.” I carried the food to the table.
We ate in silence, and then I said, “Natalie and Jeanette came over today. They knew nothing about the miscarriage until Harvey told Natalie this morning. I’m surprised you didn’t tell Natalie at work.”
“I didn’t want to tell anyone without discussing it with you first,” He said.
“Well, obviously Harvey would have told her.”
“I guess. How about your mom? Have you spoken with her?” He asked. I tried to answer, but my throat closed up with emotion. If I told my mom I wouldn’t be able to stop crying. She’d start crying with me, and it would upset her for no reason. No, I’d only tell her when I was actually pregnant, and now who knew when that would be. If ever. The thought was so depressing I practically threw my plate at Greg.
“No, and I’d rather we didn’t.”
“Alright then,” he said, thinking the matter settled. After dinner, Greg watched TV, so I sat down with him. I kept checking the time on my phone. 10:00, 10:14, 10:22, 10:37, 10:47. That’s when I went to the bedroom and changed into workout clothes. I looked at myself in the mirror and told myself I was ready for this, whatever Harvey would tell me. I did a little jog out to the living room and announced I was going for a run.
“At this time?” Greg asked, lowering the volume on the TV.
“Yup, I’m in the mood. I’ll stay on the lit paths,” I said heading for the door.
“Be careful,” he shouted as the door closed behind me.
“No, you be careful,” I said to no one. I walked to the path that led to the lake and was already breaking my promise. It was pitch black. My phone’s flashlight was the only thing keeping me from falling into the lake. That and some of the light that would spill over from people’s yards, if they were on. My phone said 10:55, and I walked all the way to the area right in back of Natalie and Harvey’s house. I flashed my phone back and forth to make sure serial killers weren’t lurking in the darkness, ready to attack.
“Psst,” I heard. I pointed my phone toward the sound but saw nothing. My heart had been racing already, but now it was trying to get out of my chest. I was about ready to run back to my house when I saw Harvey at the edge of the darkness.
“Holy crap, I almost died of fright!” I tried to whisper.
“Come this way,” he said, leading me to a bench a few yards away. I put the phone down so it could reflect light on both of us.
