Love’s Suicide(86)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Given the right circumstance, and if he’d been drinking, seeing me with Brooks could put Bobby over the edge. There was a chance that when I got home he was going to stalk and wait for Brooks to leave so he could hurt me and hurt him. I feared that in Bobby’s eyes, if he couldn’t have me, neither could Brooks.

I kept a smile on my face while in the kitchen with my family and pretended to be overjoyed with being home. I was overjoyed, but at the same time, I was scared; scared of them not knowing the truth and how dangerous it could be, and scared of what would happen if they ever did find out.

Needless to say, I had a lump in my throat for the whole time we ate breakfast and even as we cleaned it up. It was a blessing that Brooks was too infatuated by B to notice that I was falling apart inside. He was usually the first person to be able to read what went on in my head.

After breakfast was cleaned up, I retreated to our room to change into my bathing suit. Since I knew everyone in the house was downstairs, I took a few minutes to calm down before I was face to face with Brooks. After giving myself a pep-talk in my head, I walked downstairs determined to make our last day full of happy memories. After all, we were all reunited, even if there was still things to be worked out, we were on the right track.

Climbing in the pool and being greeted by my beautiful daughter and her equally handsome father was like instant comfort. My fake smile was replaced with real ones and I felt like life couldn’t get any better. I’d never felt so in love and happy to be where I was at.

Brooks pulled me into his arms with our daughter and floated us around together. B kept laughing when we kissed and telling us to do it again. She didn’t say the curse word again either, which was always a great thing.

Melissa and Branch were poolside, discussing some wedding plans with Walt about the hall they wanted to hold the reception in. One thing I noticed was that they were holding hands and neither of them were paying any attention to me, Brooks or even B.

They’d moved on together and I was at peace with that, as long as they were happy. I didn’t even care if they were secretly in love with each other when I’d been engaged to Branch. All I cared about was moving forward. Finally, my life had meaning and I’d do whatever I had to do to protect it.

We swam for a long time, only getting out when our skin looked like prunes. B sat in her red bikini, with her daddy’s sunglasses on, sipping a large glass of iced tea. She looked like a little grown-up, while being the cutest thing I’d ever seen. It didn’t help that Brooks told her she was beautiful every two seconds.

After burgers and my most favorite broccoli salad with bacon, we all got back in the pool. Branch and Melissa joined us, especially giving their attention to B. She laughed and giggled, somehow realizing the difference between her daddy and her uncle.

When we were children, the other kids would ask me how I could tell them apart. I could never explain it, but somehow knew it. B didn’t have to search her heart to know it though. Aside from the dog tags, Brooks’ skin was tanned, from being outside, while Branch was paler from working in an office. Besides, even though Branch clearly had fallen in love with his niece, his eyes didn’t sparkle when she walked into the room, like her daddy’s did.

Danica got up from her lounge and asked everyone if we wanted more tea. She hurried into the house to get another pitcher, while we all kept playing around and enjoying the perfect day.

She came back outside a few minutes later without the pitcher. I didn’t notice her face until she addressed me. “Katy, can you come inside for a second?”

I walked inside after putting a towel around my wet body. “What is it?”

“There’s someone in the other room that’s asking for you. He said he has something for you. I had my hands full when I answered the door, so I didn’t ask his name.”

“Is it a delivery? Maybe Brooks ordered me something.” I heard her going back outside as I made my way into the family room.

I didn’t understand who could be visiting, but figured I needed to see. I hadn’t told anyone I was home, nor did I have many friends other than Brooks and Branch growing up.

For a moment I thought Danica was playing a joke on me, like she used to do to cheer me up. She’d been so happy having us back that I wouldn’t have put it past her.

I didn’t make it out of the kitchen before he started walking in the room toward me.

Staring at me, in the only home I’d ever felt safe in, was Bobby. I could tell from one glance that he hadn’t showered in days. His hair was a mess and his facial hair was looking more like a beard. I immediately began to tremble, looking behind me to make sure that nobody was coming. “Bobby, what are you doing here? How did you find me?”

He laughed and right away I could tell he’d been drinking. I didn’t know how much or for how long, but it was obvious in the way he held himself up. “Does it matter? I’m here and I ain’t leavin’ until you’re with me.”

I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. “No. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here with my family.”

“Yeah, I seen you and lover boy through the window. Do you really think I’m just goin’ to let you be happy after you ruined my life?” He leaned up against the counter and I walked to the other side to put distance between us. Every few seconds I looked out the door hoping Brooks was coming after me.

My eyes focused on Bobby. “Leave!”

“You’re comin’ with me, Katy. I drove all damn night to get here. Get your shit and come on.”

I started crying. “Bobby, please don’t do this. They are my family. You know they’re all I had growing up. Please, I’m begging you to go. They don’t know about you. They can’t. I promise, I’ll sit down and talk to you when we get home tomorrow night. Please, don’t do this here.”

He began laughing loudly. “You didn’t tell them about me?” More laughs were followed by the most horrifying eyes. “I’m your f**kin’ husband, you two-timing bitch. If you’re here, I have every right to be.” He started coming toward me and I ran around the island to get away from him. He laughed at me again, picked up an apple out a bowl and threw it at me. I ducked and it smashed against a cabinet above my head. “You’ve got two seconds to get your ass in my truck, or I’m goin’ out there and fillin’ in your little family about us.”

I was sobbing, trying desperately to get up the courage to scream for help. I took a glance outside and saw my daughter being thrown up in the air and coming back down in her daddy’s arms. I knew she was safe and if something bad happened to me, she’d be loved and taken care of.