Page 3 of Somebody To Love

“Uh, hi, do I know you?” I turned completely towards her to get a look at her.

She shook her head and something about her eyes looked familiar. They were a strange light green with a hint of brown. Similar to Jerry’s eyes.

“But that’s your name? Piper, right? You’re Piper? Jerry Lazarus’s girlfriend?”

I instantly tensed. “Is Jerry okay? Did something happen?”

I started to stand up, when she abruptly caught me around my wrist, stopping any further movement.

I looked down at her hand and then back up at her. I didn’t understand her expression. I didn’t understand why she looked… furious.

“I’m Jessica,” she said slowly releasing my wrist. “You probably haven’t heard of me, but I’m Jerry’s daughter.”

Jerry had a daughter? No. He had never mentioned a daughter. That couldn’t be. This girl had to be wrong. This had to be some sort of ill-conceived prank. I frowned, “I don’t understand… I—he—” I looked back at Dana who was staring between me and the girl, trying to figure out the next piece of the puzzle. Well, she wasn’t going to find out from me, because I had no clue what was going on.

The girl nodded to herself as if my reaction finally confirmed what she already knew. Unfortunately, I was still very confused.

“I guess that means you’ve never heard of me. I figured that much.” She slid from the stool but didn’t immediately leave. She looked pensive as she grabbed her purse.

This clearly wasn’t a prank. This lady was in pain emotionally. I could tell from her body language that she was doing all she could to not fall apart in front of us. Instinctively, I wanted to make it all better. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why Jerry never mentioned you—”

“Maybe because he’s still married to my mom,” she said, looking up from her purse to deliver the verbal blow.

Stunned didn’t began to explain how I felt. Dana didn’t say a word, but she rested a hand against my arm. A silent sign of support.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” was all I managed to get out.

The girl reached into her purse and took out a photo. She handed it to me and said, “That was taken last week at my high school graduation.”

With shaky hands, I took the photo and confirmed it.

There was Jerry standing with a woman who was clearly the opposite of me in every way physically. She had red hair and was petite and curvy. They had their arms wrapped around each other and smiled towards the camera, while the young lady who stood before me now smiled widely in between them. Now I knew why her eyes looked so familiar. She had her dad’s eyes.

“Which high school did you graduate from?” Dana asked. I wondered why she was making conversation while I was trying to process that I was an adulterer.

“Southlake Creek High,” the girl said. “Why?”

“No reason.”

“You think I’m lying or something?” Jessica shrieked. Her shoulders were tense and her breathing erratic. She was clearly getting more upset by the minute. I didn’t blame her. If the roles were reversed, and I had been the one to find out that my dad was cheating on my mom, I would be unable to keep it together.

“Do you know where my dad is instead of being here with you?” She turned her now fiery gaze to me.

“He’s meeting with some investors—”

“Investors?” She looked ready to cry. “He’s such a liar. He’s waiting with my mom for me to show up to dinner at a restaurant downtown.”

I didn’t know what to say. I was the other woman and because of that I was causing this young lady so much pain. I felt terrible. I really did. It was a nightmare and I desperately just wanted it to end.

“I believe you and I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you—”

She looked up at me as if she wanted to believe me, but just couldn’t. Or rather she just wouldn’t allow herself to believe that I wasn’t some monster out to ruin the life she’d thought she had. We were both victims here. We had both been deceived and lied to. God, how I wished I had never laid eyes on Jerry Lazarus.

“I’m telling my mom tonight about you. She deserves better than my dad. I don’t care if it ruins my family. But I just thought you should know that my father is a dirty liar who’s screwing over the woman who stood by him when everyone including her own family said how much of a loser he was to quit his job. So, congrats,” she said giving me a wry smile as she tried to hold back tears. “I hope it was worth it.”

I didn’t know what to say as she marched away. I felt stunned, as if I had just been slapped. And then I felt Dana pulling at my hand.

“Let’s get out of here.”