Dishonor Thy Wife (28 page)

RONNI

The hotel staff stares with raised eyebrows as I stagger
into the hotel with one shoe on.

I hope my other shoe kicks him in the balls, as I should
have.

My hair is in disarray, my clothes wrinkled, my mascara
smeared, my cheeks wet with tears, and I am puffing on an asthma inhaler. I
hate him for making me weak and damn myself for wearing a skirt that made me so
accessible. My body betrayed me again, ready and willing to let the enemy crawl
inside me. Instead, I should have kicked his butt for all his lies. My
self-respect vanishes when around him, the way he makes me lose control.

I jerk off my high-heel and throw the shoe across the
hallway.

In my room, I stuff the skirt and blouse in the trash. If not
for the fire monitor in the room, I would burn the material.

While he was driving, I should never have brought up Barbie
again, accusing him of lying about having sex phone with her as if I am a
jealous fishwife. I am always vulnerable where Barbie is concerned, even now
when she is out on bail for murdering Brad. Jayden denied Barbie once again and
said, “She's not exquisite, you are. My brother was the biggest fool who ever
lived to prefer Barbie to you. I have not slept with any other women since meeting
you, Ronni, not in Austin or Canada. I do not want any other woman.” My heart
flipped at his words even though Jayden stared at me with eyes as blue as
Brad’s eyes had been, the same eyes of my dead, cheating husband.

He said Brad’s name with such hatred. I had thought their
relationship closer and my visions of Brad and Jayden, their heads together
laughing about me, changed. Jayden sounded as if there was no love lost between
him and Brad, and I believed his words of wanting only me,
and
thought
he does have a
heart after all
. With his hair sticking up from his head like a little kid,
he looked younger, more approachable and so he seduced me again.

I jump in the shower and scream. Damn me for not charging my
cell phone!

I scrub my skin of his touch.

Damn him and his lovemaking, his expertise with women, his
cockiness, and his velvet tongue spewing words made of rose petals.

Damn the sparkle in his eye when my body first betrayed an
unbearable lust for him.

I lean my forehead against the shower stall, cooling my
brain, trying to stop my heart from beating so fast.
Oh, God, and to think
all this time he was my brother-in-law!
He did not even say good night.
Good-bye! See you later, Ronni! Have a good life, woman! He just threw me out
of his car.

I huddle on the shower floor, hugging my knees and letting
the hot water run out.

Ah, the cold water feels good. I am still so frickin'
hot.

I lay down on the wet tile
in the fetus position, thinking of spending the night in the shower with
cold water for company.

My skin breaks out in goosebumps, my hair is soaking wet,
and frigid water splashes me. It is only the thought of dying from pneumonia
and leaving Traci an orphan that makes me rise to my knees.

I dry my hair with the dryer and blow my body with the heat,
trying to warm up, my teeth chattering in my stupid head.

I wish to God I had never come to Canada, and left Jayden
Tremblay buried with Brad.

You enjoyed every second of our lovemaking. You screamed
out for more every time. You could not get enough of me. Admit it, Ronni.

I rub my cheek against the damp pillow.

I thought you were my husband.

I thought you were my husband.

RONNI

Riley is waiting for me at the front door with a huge grin
on her face.

“What's so funny?” I do not mean
to snap at her but sleep eluded me last night and the flight was a bumpy ride.

Riley drags me into the den and points to a magnificent
flora arrangement on the table. “These came for you, this morning.”

There are bouquets of red, white, and black roses—blood, virginity,
death. Only one man of my acquaintance prefers the red, white, and the black. The
colors sum up my brother-in-law, make that ex-brother-in-law. I never got the
chance to divorce Brad and am actually his widow, but prefer to think of Brad
as my ex because the thought of being related to Jayden Tremblay in any way, is
upsetting, to say the least.

Riley yanks the heart-shaped note
from the flowers, shoving the paper under my nose.

Please accept my apologies,
Mrs. O’Boyle, b
ut your beauty swept me away.

Always.

Dr. Jayden Tremblay

Riley peeks over my shoulder. “What
happened between you and the Canadian doctor that he was swept away?”

Jayden is not really apologizing
for last night. He is boasting like a proud cock. Riley will hound me forever
so I give her the skimpiest details about Jayden being Brad’s identical twin.
“Oh, quit looking at me like that. Yes, it was Dr. Tremblay sleeping in my bed
pretending to be Brad.”

“Do you want me to throw out the flowers then?”

“Yes,” and I run up the stairs before she can see my tears.

Several days later, a high-heel is
delivered in a silver box. The asshole even has the nerve to put the shoe on a
purple velvet cushion, along with a note:
Here is your shoe. I thought you
might be missing its soul mate. As always,
your
prince.

Ha-ha very funny! The prince of darkness mailed me my
wayward shoe, which no longer matches its mate. The shoe Jayden sent is
polished with a new heel hammered on.
What a creep!
He sprinkled aftershave on the shoe, and now I cannot get his smell out of my
head,
Eau de Diablo
. What kind of man does that to a woman he kicked out
of his car after screwing her?

My intention is to throw the pair
of shoes away but when I pop open the lid of the trashcan, one hand shoves the
shoe that smells like Jayden to my nose, and my left hand hugs the other shoe
to my chest. My head hangs low and my nostrils dip into the shoe and inhale the
scent of my brother-in-law. I giggle at his note and cheekiness.
Creep
, I
think but a bit kinder, a tad gentler...

Until Jayden sends me another
package, this time delivered by a lawyer.

The legal document proclaims that
Dr. Jayden Tremblay is suing Ronni O’Boyle for visitation rights of his niece,
Traci O’Boyle, the daughter of his recently deceased brother, Brad O’Boyle.

“Can he do this?” I ask his
lawyer and lick my lips because my mouth dries up like a prune.

“Dr. Tremblay can spend his money on many frivolous lawsuits,
including paying me to stand on your doorstep in case you have questions.”

“You said the lawsuit is frivolous,
implying he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”

“Ah, contraire, Mrs. O’Boyle. Dr.
Tremblay has two legs to stand on. He is your dead husband's only blood
relative besides your daughter. He is the only blood link to her father. He is…”

“Please don’t go on; I get your
point.”

“Dr. Tremblay has every legal right to see his niece.”

“No. No! This is a nightmare. I
cannot have this man in my life. I can't, I...”

“Have a good day.” He slams my door in my face.

I burn the high-heels in a
bonfire in the backyard, dancing around the fire and shaking my head like a
crazy woman. I even shuffle around the circle using Zumba moves.

“It's hard ain't it?” Riley cracks her gum as we watch the
flames and smell the burning scent of leather shoes. She appears more amused
than sorry for me. In fact, Riley is laughing. “The idea of visitation rights
makes you so uncomfortable because he is your brother-in-law and you've slept
with him. Jayden Tremblay is like having an ex-husband. Honey, Brad, did not
die after all; you divorced him as Jayden.”

I feel dizzy, about to pass out. “He
wants visitation rights until Traci is 18. That’s nearly 12 years of him coming
over here.”

“Well, is he willing to pay child
support for the privilege?”

“Of course not. Traci's support
is not an uncle’s responsibility. Traci does not even know she has an uncle. Oh,
God, what do I tell Traci? This would really screw her up if he wins in court.”

“The man lives in Canada. What is
the worst that can happen?”

“He flies to Austin and visits Traci once a year.” I plop
down on the couch, gripping my sweating armpit. I shall
have
to hire a lawyer, and Brad left a mound of gambling debts, and an expensive
drug habit. By the time his estate was settled, there was not even money left
to send Traci to college. Brad's parents will not help. Viola and Melvin disowned
Traci. They blame me for not being a good wife
and forcing Brad to marry another woman.

Brad's indebtedness is the main reason a
For Sale
sign is on the front yard. With the equity, I plan to buy a smaller house in a
cheaper neighborhood. I removed Traci from private school. She is happier in public
school any way. I have one more semester of dental assistant school but if I
hire a lawyer because of Jayden Tremblay, I shall have to quit school and get a
job.

RONNI

About three months to the day Jayden sues for visitation
rights, we sit in a courtroom in Austin at opposing tables. I do not mention Jayden’s
impersonation of Brad and pretend to have never met him before. More than once
during the proceedings Jayden cocks his head at me with a curious expression
and I sneer at him.

We have both given our points of view on the subject of Traci's
only blood relation on her father's side being allowed to be a presence in her
life. Jayden’s lawyer ends his presentation with the words, “And what blood can
be thicker than that of an identical twin brother?”

The judge puts on his spectacles and I wait with baited
breath for his ruling.
Jayden merely plays with a
pencil, acting as if he does not care either way.

“In the case of Jayden Tremblay
versus Ronni O’Boyle,” the judge says in a booming voice.

We both lean forward on our
seats.

“I rule for the Plaintiff.”

Boom! The judge’s gavel comes
down and my face drains of all color.

Jayden breathes a sigh of relief.

“Jayden Tremblay will be allowed
visitations rights to see the child Traci O’Boyle, his niece, every other
Saturday from ten in the morning until Sunday at six in the evening, at which
time the child will be returned to her mother, Ronni O’Boyle,” the judge
further declares.

I grab a glass of water, choking
and coughing, trying to clear my throat. Quick, I recover my composure and
whisper to my attorney.

My lawyer stands and
bellows, “Your Honor, my client does not understand how
Dr. Tremblay plans to see his niece every other weekend when he lives in
Canada. She believes Traci to be too young to make such a long trip by herself
if that is what Dr. Tremblay expects. Nor does it make any sense that he fly up
here Friday nights merely to fly back Sunday night. She believes Dr. Tremblay
is not serious about his commitment to his niece and the lawsuit frivolous. Dr.
Tremblay will do more harm than good in her child's life by promising to visit Traci
and then standing the child up.”

Jayden fidgets on his seat and I
smile meanly at him. Bingo! I win after all.

“She believes that in the long
run Dr. Tremblay will break her daughter's heart,” my attorney adds.

Jayden throws a pencil at the
floor, aimed at me.

I mouth the words,
you will because you have a track
record
.

Jayden leans back on his chair,
giving me a lazy look, pretending to be unconcerned by my ploy. He picks up
another pencil and knocks the pencil against the table as if he is playing a
song only he can hear.

“You may sit down, Counselor,” the judge orders my lawyer.

Jayden’s attorney stands to his full height. “There is no
reason for Mrs. O’Boyle to have concerns. Since Dr. Tremblay filed suit, he has
moved from Canada to San Marcos.”

All the blood rushes from my face. San Marcos is a short 40
minutes away from South Austin where I live!

Jayden snickers at me.

Oh, take that smug look off your face just because you won.
I throw a pencil and it lands on the eraser tip bouncing off the end of his
table.

He mouths the words,
is that your best shot, Ronni?
He
then laughs! Damn him to hell!

My feet are practically flying when I leave the courtroom. It
is quite a trick to run yet walk,
but Jayden has
longer legs. He is breathing down my neck.

“I'll be by to pick up Traci this Saturday at 10 am.”

I glare at him.

“She is my niece. I have every right to see Traci. I love the
child.”

“You don't know what love is!”

“Have her ready,” he snaps, “with
enough clothes for an overnight visit. I won't be returning Traci until Sunday.”

“But she doesn't even know she
has an uncle. You're a stranger to her.”

“Well, I guess you better tell
Traci she has an Uncle Jayden then.”

“But you don't know where I live,”
I stutter, trying to prolong the inevitable as long as possible. I should have
let him go to the old house to get Traci only to discover we moved.
The court papers all have my old address, just like his
court papers stated he lived in Canada. It is a filthy trick moving to
my
country.

“Oh. I know where you moved to.” Jayden
ducks into the elevator, punching the
close door
button.

 Jayden leaves me standing at the threshold of injustice,
making me wonder just what I have done in a previous life to deserve such
punishment.

RONNI

While packing Traci's bag I explain to my daughter about her
uncle.

Traci hangs her head and says, “I don't want to go.”

“It will only be for one night,
Traci.”

“Do I have to?”

“Yes, you must.”

Traci has tears in her eyes. I damn
Jayden for her suffering. How dare he just waltz into her life again. The man
has no idea how easily hurt children are. My own mother walked out on me. He
had better not abandon Traci or
I will take him back
to court and stop his visitation rights, even if it bankrupts me. I snap
Traci's suitcase shut, nearly pinching my fingers, vowing to keep a diary of Jayden's
visits and Traci's reaction whenever he skips a visit.

Traci is making progress with her
psychologist and beginning to accept her father's death. Jayden is bound to
screw her up again, and Traci will think her father has risen from the grave. I
tried to make the judge understand about Traci and the ordeal my little girl has
gone through. The man turned a deaf ear, claiming children are more resilient
than adults credit them. As for Jayden, he stood like a statue when hearing
about Traci's delicate emotional state.
The man is
made of stone and has no compassion for even a child.

The hands of the clock move, as if my hanging is coming
instead of my dead husband's lookalike.

At ten o'clock sharp, the
doorbell rings.

I take my sweet time opening the door.

Jayden dips his head. “Hi.”

“You are the lowest of the low,”
I hiss.
“Don’t you dare take one step into my house!
You may have won visitation rights with Traci, but not the right to trespass.”

“Uh.” He scratches his ear like a
monkey.

“Ha! You have fleas like the dog you are.”

He rolls his eyes. “Is Traci ready?”

“Traci,” I yell, “your uncle is
here.” I point my fingers at my eyes and then at his eyes to indicate that I am
watching him with an eagle eye. “She'll be down in a minute.” I slam the door
in his face.

He keeps ringing the doorbell, driving me crazy.

“What do you want?” I scream and fling the door open.

He rubs his nose. “Look, can’t we be civil for Traci’s sake.
You could have broken my nose if I hadn't been faster and jumped back, if I
hadn't been expecting your venom,” he says through gritted teeth. “I know you
beneath your skin, Ronni.”

I blush.

“I can damn well read your mind,” he adds.

“Well read this,” and I throw him
a dirty finger.

“The child is worth the abuse at the hands of the mother, so
bring it on, Ronni.”

Traci shuffles her feet to the front door, dragging her
wheeled Minnie Mouse suitcase behind her.

I kiss my daughter’s cheek. “Don't
worry, Honey, your Uncle Jayden isn't going to hurt you.”

“Jesus!” Jayden swears.

I whisper to him, “Is the
bachelor playboy doctor really going to devote every other Saturday night to
his niece or are you going to stand her up? You may fool the judge with your
sincerity but I know what a liar you are and how deceitful. I know
you
beneath your snakeskin.”

Traci nearly knocks me over when she charges through the
door and wraps her arms around Jayden's knees. “Daddy,” she screams.

This is exactly the behavior I feared.

Jayden picks her up in his arms
and hugs my little girl. The man is a good actor—he has tears in his eyes. “Traci,
forgive me, Sweetheart, for ever leaving you!” and he spins her around, both of
them laughing.

He
sets her down, patting her head. I whisper in his ear, “Traci is confused and
you damn well better straighten my daughter out right now. You're not my
husband, you creep, and you never were.”

His face flushes red and he
confesses, “I'm not your daddy, Traci. I'm your Uncle Jayden.”

“I've got an uncle,” Traci yells
in an excited voice and hugs his legs. “He's my daddy.”

“No.” Jayden lifts his eyes to me. “I'm your father's twin
brother.”

“I know you're not really my
daddy but I like you better. Can I call you daddy?”

“Uh, it's up to your mommy.” Jayden gives me a wide grin and
wiggles his eyebrows.

The jerk is enjoying goading me.
He told the judge his niece needs a father figure in her life. Damn the judge.
Damn the courts. Damn. Damn. Damn.

“Mommy, can I, please?”

“You may call him Uncle Jayden, which he is.”

Love for her uncle shines in Traci's eyes and an ugly
jealousy swells my chest. My daughter has not been this happy since the last
time Jayden posed as my husband and her father.
My own daughter is a traitor.
Traci has gone over to the enemy's side.

Moreover, to seal the deal, Jayden
lifts a bag from the porch and offers Traci a stuffed tiger, Tigger actually
from the Winnie the Pooh collection.

Traci hugs Tigger to her chest
and beams at Jayden. “Thank you. What about Mommy? Did you bring my mommy
flowers?”

I widen my eyes in shock, wondering if Traci knows about
Jayden’s masquerade.

 “No, uh,” Jayden says, locking his eyes with mine. “I don't
think your mommy likes my flowers.”

I simply swallow, not daring to confess that a red rose, a
white rose, and a black rose are preserved in the freezer. The red rose is my
heart that he froze, the white rose my innocence he took, and the black rose my
death upon discovering his masquerade and betrayal.
Now,
this man is taking my daughter away, separating me from Traci, even if it is
only for 32 hours. I hate him even more for forcing himself on us.

“Are you going to be alright,
Mommy?”

I stare straight at Jayden and
answer, “Oh, don't worry about me, Traci. I've got lots of good friends to keep
me company, very good friends.”

I hit my mark. Jayden looks as if
he wants to hit me. Let him think I sleep around. My life is none of his
business.

My bravado lasts but a minute as Jayden
takes Traci's hand and walks her to his car.

He turns and looks at me standing by myself shrunken.
He bends down and whispers to Traci.

She runs over to me, kissing my
cheek. “I’ll be back soon, Mommy. Don’t cry.”

“I'll miss you, Sweetie.” Traci
has never spent the night away from me except for that night in Victoria. I
cringe at the remembrance. I do not want to think about that night in his
Mercedes. “Be kind to my daughter,” I tell him and he gives me a peeved look.

Traci runs back to Jayden and
jumps in his new Mercedes, which is red, another color for the devil. The man
has merely shed his skin.
He
is taking my daughter away from me.

Traci chatters away to Jayden, as
if she has known him all her life.

Jayden throws back his head and laughs at something Traci says
as he backs out of the driveway.

I have never felt so alone in all of my life.