The Third Wife (9 page)

Arlene was busy
tending to Katie and Crystal, so she was paying us no mind. She on the other
hand has been a lot nicer lately. I guess she took my warnings to heart, as she
should. I'm hoping the news about the baby goes over well. That would make life
so much easier, but we'll see.

We all headed into
the room where Arlene brought in the tea tray. I sat my girls down on the couch
as the adults found seats around the room. There were conversations going on
around us as everyone played catch up.

 
I looked to Alana who nodded her head it was
time. I walked over to her and hugged her shoulders bringing her under my arm.
"Excuse me everyone, your attention please." The room went quiet all
eyes were on us. Darlene looked like she was on tenterhooks about to bust.

"Alana and I
have an announcement to make." Of course that was all I had to say before
the adults in the room picked up on where I was going. Mom was crying and
clinging to dad. My stepmothers and sisters came over to congratulate us. Dad
and Bryce were now slapping each other's backs like they'd accomplished some
great feat, or at least brought it about themselves.

"Congratulations
Alana. I hope you know that if you have any questions you can feel free to come
to me." You could've blown me over with a feather when Arlene came over to
us and uttered those words. Even Alana seemed a little skeptical, but I gave
her a squeeze and she accepted Arlene's hug.

Our mothers soon
dragged her off to the other room to go plan no doubt. I headed for the couch where
my daughters were busy playing with each other. Katie was old enough to know,
to understand about babies but I think little Crystal was too young yet.
"So girls, how do you feel about mommy Alana giving you a baby brother or
sister?"

"Yeah, a baby." Okay Katie was on
board.

"Not baby, big girl." Crystal held up her pudgy little
hands to show me how big she was.

"That's right you're my very big girl,
you're both my big girls." I drew my girls into my lap for kisses before
letting them go back to their play. I was going to have to spend time
reassuring them also in the months to come of my love for them. I learned that
lesson with Katie when Crystal was born.

Alana had been in
the habit of late of spoiling them rotten. Maybe that's one of the reasons why
Arlene was thawing towards her. That and the talks I kept having with her when
we were alone together were finally penetrating and she was learning that
Sharon had no power over her and she had no need to follow her lead. As for the
girls, they loved their mommy Alana. She spent time with them, bought them all
these beautiful frilly dresses in bright colors as opposed to what she called
drab colored crap that they were use to wearing. I stayed out of that argument.

These days their
hair was usually covered in barrettes or some type of pin or hair band. She's
even making noise about redoing their rooms when we fix up her nursery. That
might be a nice project we can all do together. She’s always so thoughtful of
others for one so young. It amazes me her capacity for love. I had a silly grin
on my face as I thought of her and the news we’d shared today.

"So Cody, looks like you might finally get
that son you've always wanted." Who was this bitter shell of a woman? What
happened to the girl I met, or did she ever exist? I released a sigh as she
took the seat next to me.

"I hope so." I’m not letting her get
to me today no way. I’ve tried but I can’t figure it out. There’s something
seriously wrong with my wife.

"So what! Now your daughters don't mean
anything now that your golden wife is carrying your spawn?" Be patient
Cody, she's a bitter, threatened woman. But how far should I let her go? When
is enough going to be enough?

"I wish I had seen this side of you before
I got involved with you." I spat the words out between my teeth feeling my
ore rise once again.

"What does that mean?"

"It means Sharon that had I known what a
bitter, vindictive human being you were I never would've brought you into my
home." Harsh Cody. She puffed up and turned red in the face. My children
were present. There was no way I was doing this with her right now. What
happened to the girl I had fallen for? How could she have so easily fooled me?
Because you saw what she wanted you to Cody. You saw a pretty face and a hot
body; you never took the time to look beneath the surface. It's too late to do
anything about it now. You've made this bed, now you have to lie in it. She
opened her mouth to speak but I cut her off.

"Don't say
another word Sharon. You will not spoil this for Alana, this is her day,
in
fact it's our day. When you were pregnant with Crystal
who was here to steal your joy? Did anyone stand in your way? I seem to recall
that we all went out of our way to give you everything you wanted or needed. I
can and will do no less for Alana."

"Alana, Alana, Alana, everything around
here is Alana."

"Not in front of my kids, if you can't keep
a civil tongue in your head I suggest you leave." I guess the
embarrassment of being banished while the others were here was too much for her
to bear so she bit her tongue and kept her silence. I made sure the girls were
involved in their game.

"One more
thing. I no longer trust you you've proven that you no longer have this
family's best interest at heart but your own selfish gains. If anything should
happen to Alana or my child I will hold you personally responsible. If you
upset her in any way while she's carrying my child I will punish you. I've
given you more than enough warnings. Do not mistake my understanding for
weakness, it will prove to be a costly mistake on your part. There's nothing I
wouldn't do if someone hurts my family. A family I might add that you're
still
a part of. No one is hurting you Sharon, all this is
of your own doing, what I don't understand is why."

"Come to my bed tonight and I will tell
you."

What, did she... "You seek to control me
with..." I just stared at her in disbelief. She didn't say anything else
to me but there were tears in her eyes. I doubted very much that they were
tears of remorse, more like tears of anger. Whatever, I wasn't about to let her
ruin my joy or Alana's.

I loved being there
for the births of both my daughters. And though I would love to have a son,
that in no way negated my love for them. I resented the hell out of Sharon for
even suggesting such an abominable thing. How could I have missed how twisted
she had become? Or had she always been this way? Had her life with me turned
her into this? I hope not. I take part of the blame. When I'd first noticed her
taking over Arlene I should've stepped in, put my foot down. But since Arlene
never complained I left it alone, now things were worse than I could've ever
imagined.

I know one thing for sure. She wouldn't be
allowed to harm my wife or our child. Just as I wouldn't allow Alana to bring
harm to any of them, they wouldn't be allowed to bring harm to her, neither by
word or deed.

Alana came back into the room. Now our fathers
were getting in their hugs. She looked so happy, so…content. It made my heart
feel light.

Alana

Things seemed to be
going fine. Everyone took the news as was to be expected, with well wishes and
lots of advice from my mother and mothers in law. I could see already that
Margo and Jonathan's two other wives Celia and Jane were going to be hands on
grandmothers. Darlene was already pouting about how much more time they were
all gonna have with the baby than her. I'm sure dad's ears will be ringing
before the night was over.

Thank goodness mom
didn't let on that that she and dad knew before everyone else. I didn't want
any hard feelings. Arlene's reaction kinda threw me for a loop. She'd been
softening towards me a lot lately but still, her reaction was...huge. I guess
my idea of ignoring their asses and doing my own thing regardless of what they
said or thought was paying off. Or Cody was laying down the law.

Sharon on the other
hand was a whole other story. Cody could believe what he wants. He believes
that she would come around eventually I just didn't see it. What she didn't
seem to realize, which was surprising since she was a second wife, was that
this was just as hard on me as it was her. Personally I think that crazy bitch
is narcissistic anyway, so nothing is gonna change her from the way she is. All
I can do is stay the fuck outta her way and hope she stayed out of mine.

I had a baby to
protect now. I would take that bitch down quick if she tried anything. Not to
mention Cody would probably lose his shit. The man takes being overprotective
to new heights. For some reason neither of us wanted to know the sex of the
baby. We were more than happy to learn at the end. I didn't care I could spoil
a boy just as well as I could a girl.

I couldn't wait. I
can't believe that only a few short months ago I was freaking out at the
thought of having this baby, now I could hardly wait to meet him or her. On
that thought I went over to my hubby and laid one on him. He blushed, but he
drew me closer, and kissed me back onlookers and all.

It's been two months
and what months they have been. Where should I start? Let's start with Arlene.
The woman is trying, she really is, but I still don't trust her ass. Not that
she's done anything, it's just in my world you don't go from mean girl to BFF
in the blink of an eye. Yes, I understand about forgiveness and letting shit
go. I also know that's not the world we live in. I might be young but I'm not
stupid, for all I know she could be softening me up for the kill. Fuck that.

So while she's now
being all kinds of helpful I'm still keeping my eye on her ass. Sharon, have to
give that bitch her props. She was a bitch from the get and she's still a
bitch. When hubby is around she will all kinds of calm and shit. But as soon as
he's not around the viper shows its tongue. I think I've told her to go fuck
herself at least once a day in the last two months. She hasn't had her daily
dose yet today, that's because I haven't left my bed yet.

Cody has become a
mad man not that he wasn't wild in bed before. But something about my pregnant
body seems to trigger something in him. I was almost tempted to ask Arlene if
it was the same when she was carrying Kate, but that would be all kinds of
wrong. He had also lost his mind in other ways.

We were working on the nursery and the girls'
rooms. By that I mean I was watching others do the work while I said what I
wanted done. Apparently painting, like soap making was a no
no
! If he had his way the only thing I would be
allowed to do for the rest of this pregnancy was breathe. I had to sneak around
if I wanted to do anything, and it was like he had radar. Every time I even had
the thought to do something, even something as innocent as taking one of my
long walks he would call me, I kid you not.

It wasn't the walking he was against. It was the
long walks alone. Some of the places I walked were pretty isolated so I
understood his apprehension there. He wanted me to take Arlene with me on these
walks and I have, but it's not the same.

Sharon and I butted
heads a few weeks ago in our first real big blow up. It was because of the
girls' rooms. I thought that since they were in the same wing they should have
their rooms closer as opposed to on opposite ends from each other. It didn't
take a rocket scientist to figure out who had come up with this layout. That
shit did not spell happy family to me, it was more like divide and rule. I
could see her trying to turn little Crystal into a mini her, but since the kid
was half Cody's, no dice.

I had the workmen
fix up two rooms next to each other. Arlene thought it was a great idea,
Sharon, not so much. The fight started because she tried to stop the men from
doing what I wanted. But it was the way she did it that really got me riled up.
First of all she had no right to show her displeasure with me to outsiders.
These men were all part of our community so they understood about our
lifestyle. So when she told them that she had superiority over me and her word
meant more than mine I lost my shit.

I actually grabbed
her elbow and dragged her out the room. Unlike her I had no interest in airing
our dirty laundry in front of others. She'd bitched and moaned about my hands
on her but I was too pissed to care.

"First of all
you have no superiority over me so get that shit out of your damn head. You're
two steps away from lunacy so no, hell no. Second do you really think I would
make a call on something like this without discussing it with OUR husband
first? He gave the okay, because the three of us, him, me and Arlene; thinks
this is a good idea. They're sisters they should be close to each other. If
Crystal wants to spend the night in Katie's room she can.

Your separatist bullshit is over everyone can
now see what you're up to, so kill, that shit."

 
"I have no idea what
you're talking about."

"I'm so sure, listen up Queen bee. You're
that only in your head, no one wants to hear anything an angry bitter has been
have to say. Haven't you ever heard you can win more bees with honey? Damn, and
stop the madness already, you can't get rid of me. If you want to really lose
your husband, keep up the bullshit. Not that I care, I wish he would chuck your
crazy ass somewhere so I don't have to look at you. But hey, we can't always
get what we want, as you have been learning of late." Yes I could be a
mean ass bitch, but I'd had enough of her shit.

Poor Cody has been
bending over backwards trying to get her into the fold. He spent most of his
evenings talking to her while Arlene and I were with the girls. He took her out
to dinner, as well as Arlene and I, sometimes all of us went out together. But
still nothing was enough for her. She seemed to only be happy when he was
focused solely on her. Good luck with that bitch.

"I wonder how
you haven't offed Arlene in her sleep by now, with your demented ass. You had a
whole other plan going there though didn't you? Turn her into your own personal
Stepford
wife." She'd turned red as a cherry at
that and if she could've she would've smacked me one.

"You're a stupid little whore and you have
no idea what you're talking about. You might have MY husband fooled but you
don't fool me. You're nothing but a tart who thinks to alienate my husband's
affections but I will win in the end."

"Bitch please, let me know how that works out for you. As to
me being a tart, you might be right there. I do love me some Cody in the
sack." I smirked after saying that shit, it drove her nuts.

"I wish you'd never come here...."

"This is news how? Listen I could care less
what you think. This is about the girls' room and since this is Cody's house
and he gave the okay for the change, take your ass somewhere and stop annoying
people." I'd walked off and left her standing there.

Needless to say Cody had heard a completely
different version of events. And when he had approached me all hot under the
collar, probably after having a hard day at work only to walk through the door
to complaints. I'd given him the finger, told him to fuck off and left his
stunned ass standing in the hallway before heading up to my room to rant at the
walls. He'd followed me a few hours later all sheepish and full of apologies.
I'd listened to him but said not one word to him. That night he had dragged me
from my bed to his just to hold me. I still didn't talk to his ass. If he
wanted to pretend that his second wife wasn't bat shit crazy that was his business.
As for me I would be proceeding with caution.