She glances out the window. “The police won’t let you see him?”
“No. He’s not allowed to have visitors yet.” I sniff. “Why has he not called me yet?”
“I don’t know, love. I don’t know.” She glances at my stomach. “But you have to stay calm. Think of your baby.”
“I don’t know how.” I drag a hand down my damp cheek. “How can I be calm? They arrested my husband for the murder of a teenage girl.”
She’s right, though. The last thing I need is for the baby to be stressed. I’ve prayed so hard for my baby. It would kill me to not make it to the finish line again.
“You have to try, Viola. You have to.” She guides me through a quick breathing exercise that doesn’t do much to calm me down.
I close my eyes and draw in a deep breath, then I exhale through my mouth.
Behind my closed lids, I force myself to believe that the misunderstanding will be cleared soon, and Alex will be set free. Holding on to that hope will keep me from going crazy.
I open my eyes and check my phone again, even though I know that if a call had come in, I would have heard it ring. I grip it tight. I will it to ring. I need to hear his voice. He’ll assure me everything is okay.
“You should take some days off,” Delores suggests.
“You’re firing me?” My words sound distant, like they’re being said by someone else and my heart feels like it’s shrinking.
She shakes her head. “Of course not, Viola. I just think given the circumstances, it might be best for you to not come in. People are angry.” She runs a hand through her hair. “The customers… they might—”
“I understand.” My throat is growing tighter by the second.
I don’t blame her. She’s afraid that if I’m at the salon, the customers will stay away. She has made a choice between the wife of a murder suspect and the people she has known for most of her life, the people she depends on to make a living. Easy decision.
That’s why she came to me. Not because she cares about me. She wanted to tell me I’m no longer welcome. My beautiful hair won’t save me this time.
“I’m so sorry, love.”
I wish she wouldn’t call melove. It no longer sounds genuine. I slide my seatbelt over my body and lock it into place. “I need to go. I should… I should get home. Don’t worry, I won’t be coming to the salon.”
“Thanks.” Delores is twisting her hands in her lap now. “I’m really sorry. I’ll call you later to see how you’re doing.”
“You don’t have to.” I grab the wheel and stare straight ahead, impatient for her to get out of the car.
I shouldn’t be angry with her. I understand where she’s coming from, but the burn of rejection still cuts through me.
After Delores finally leaves, I get out of the car and return to the police station, hoping enough time has passed and they will let me see Alex. The same officer turns me away.
On my way back home, my phone finally rings. It’s him.
“Baby, it’s me.” His voice makes me cry harder. No amount of blinking helps clear my eyes. It’s like driving in the rain with the windshield wipers broken.
“Sweetheart, listen to me,” he continues when I’m unable to talk. “Everything is going to be all right.”
“You didn’t.” My voice fades to a hushed whisper. “Tell me you didn’t do it.”
“No, I didn’t do it. I swear. I didn’t kill that girl.”
Even though I knew the truth, relief still gushes out of me with an exhale. Was a part of me afraid it might be true? What kind of wife does that make me?
“I’ll be home soon. All this will be sorted out and I’ll come home to you. I love you, both of you.”
“But how will you get out of this? What if there’s a trial? We can’t afford a lawyer.”
“If it comes to that, a lawyer will be appointed to me.”
