The Ultimate Betrayal (21 page)

M
elanie had cried for hours. Brad had called no less than ten times, so she'd finally unplugged the bedroom phone and closed the door. That way she wouldn't hear the other extensions ringing, either. She'd then silenced her cell.

Through all her tears, she'd tried to come to terms with what had happened, but no matter how she attempted to rationalize it, the idea of Brad having an affair and having a baby with another woman wasn't something she could stomach. It wasn't doable for Melanie—it wasn't the kind of thing she could ever live with, and she wouldn't. She knew all about the importance of forgiveness, but more than anything, she knew she would never be able to trust Brad again.

Throughout the morning, she'd felt gut-wrenching pain, tremendous shock, and downright rage. Now, she didn't feel much of anything, and she was on her way to her parents' house. If she'd had her choice, she wouldn't be going anywhere, but because she'd promised her dad that she'd give him a check today, she didn't want to disappoint him. He'd offered to come get it himself, but the more she'd conversed with him by phone, the more winded he'd sounded. So she'd pulled herself together as best as she could, refusing to focus on Brad or the awful falling-out she'd had with Alicia a few hours ago. She'd been annoyed with her for taking Brad's side and suggesting that Melanie “talk to him,” and then Alicia had tried in a sly way to suggest that Melanie wasn't eating. First she'd mentioned breakfast, and then going to lunch, and all that had done was remind Melanie of how Alicia and Brad had discussed her behind her back. Melanie wasn't happy about her fight with Alicia, but after learning what she had about Brad's affair, she didn't feel she could trust anyone.

The one positive about her visiting her dad this afternoon, however, was that her mother wasn't home. Melanie rarely enjoyed seeing her, but today certainly wasn't a day when Melanie would be able to deal with her. Although, Melanie still thought it strange and heartless of her mother not to have visited Brad one time since Saturday. The woman hadn't so much as called her own daughter to see how her husband was doing. Melanie also knew she shouldn't have been surprised. Of course, now Melanie herself didn't want to see Brad, so the whole subject was a moot point.

Melanie rang the bell, and after a couple of minutes, her father opened the door. She hugged him, but when they went into the family room and sat down, he seemed bothered by something.

“Have you been crying?” he asked. “What's wrong?”

Melanie had tried disguising her swollen eyes with makeup, but clearly it wasn't working.

She passed her father the check, and he set it on the coffee table.

“I know something's wrong, sweetheart, so tell me.”

Without warning, tears filled Melanie's eyes, and she told her dad everything. She hadn't planned or wanted to, but it was as though she'd needed to confide this to someone other than Alicia. She needed words and compassion from a parent.

Melanie's tears fell faster, and her father struggled to get to his feet. When he did, he went over and tried to console her.

“Sweetheart, I'm very sorry to hear all this, but everything is gonna be fine. It may not seem like it now, but it will be.”

Her father rubbed and patted her back until she settled down. Then he sat back in his chair. “Have you talked to Brad since leaving the hospital?”

“No, I'm through with him.”

Andrew sighed. “This thing right here has really caught me off guard. I saw the news coverage this morning and again at noon, but I never imagined that child was Brad's daughter.”

Melanie's phone rang, and when she saw Brad's cell number, her stomach turned somersaults. Until now, he'd been calling from his hospital phone, but apparently he'd gained access to his personal belongings. Melanie dropped her phone back in her purse.

“Was that him?” Andrew asked.

Melanie nodded.

“You're gonna have to talk to him at some point.”

“Maybe so, but not today.”

Her father sighed again. “I tell you…this just doesn't seem like something Brad would do.”

“Well, he did.”

“When will he be getting out of the hospital?”

“I don't know. Maybe in another day or two. Just depends on how he continues to progress.”

“Sweetheart, I'm really sorry because you certainly don't deserve this. No woman does.”

“It's really hard, Dad. I'm at such a loss for words.”

“Have you eaten anything?”

“Yeah,” she said, telling her father what he wanted to hear and trying not to become irritated. Why wouldn't everyone leave her alone when it came to food? Melanie wished they'd all get over it and accept that she was fine. She was thin, and that meant she'd never been healthier.

Andrew stared at her, seemingly not believing her, but he didn't say anything else. Then sadly, her mother walked in, and Melanie hated that she hadn't simply dropped off the check and left.

“Hi, Melanie,” Gladys said, walking closer to her. “I didn't know you were coming by today. How's Brad?”

Her tone was noticeably cordial, and Melanie was dumbfounded. “He's better.”

“I'm sorry I haven't been out to see him. I just haven't felt very well,” she said, spying the check on the table and picking it up. “What's this for?”

Melanie and Andrew looked at each other.

Gladys set the check back down. “Melanie?”

“It's to help with bills.”

“Oh, really? Well, we certainly need it. Especially since it doesn't look like your father here is
ever
going back to work.”

“You don't know that, Gladys,” he said.

“Hmmph. With the way you walk around here, huffing and puffing? And steadily gaining more weight? Please.”

Melanie knew it was time to go, so she stood up.

Her mother perused today's mail. “Are you heading to the hospital?”

“No,” Melanie said.

“Oh, did you just leave there?”

“No.”

Her mother eyed her suspiciously. “Is everything okay? And come to think of it, have you been crying?”

Gladys was the last person Melanie wanted to tell her marital problems to, but since her mother was sure to find out eventually, Melanie got it over with.

“That baby that died in the car crash was Brad's.”

Her mother frowned. “Who told you that?”

“He did.”

Gladys widened her eyes in shock, but interestingly enough, she didn't comment. She simply stared at Melanie like she was some pitiful excuse for a wife.

Melanie grabbed her bag. “Well, Mom, I'm sure you're loving every bit of this, aren't you? The fact that you were right about everything you said.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Of course you do. You've always said that if I didn't lose weight, Brad would find someone else. And that's exactly what he did, a long time ago.”

Gladys still didn't say anything, which was very odd, so Melanie turned to her father.

“I'll see you later, Dad.”

“Sweetheart, you take care of yourself, and I'll call you later. Just wanna make sure you're okay. Or maybe you should stay here for a couple of days.”

Melanie appreciated her father's suggestion, but even if she were homeless, she would never sleep under the same roof with her mother. Not for one day.

“Thank you for the offer,” Melanie said, “but I'm going home. And please don't worry.”

“I can't help but worry,” he said. “I just hate this for you.”

Melanie glanced at her mother, who stood there watching, yet she still wasn't ranting or criticizing Melanie the way she normally did. It was completely out of the ordinary for her not to say “I told you so,” but Melanie was glad she hadn't. Melanie wouldn't have been able to bear it. Not when, at this very moment, she felt like dying.

A
licia sat in her car taking deep breaths, trying to slow her heart rate. Even the thumping in her chest became more intense, and she was starting to wonder if she could go through with this. After spending the last few hours with Levi, making love to him and promising that she was going to end things with Phillip, she'd suddenly lost her courage. Her mind was still made up, but the guilt she felt stopped her from getting out of her vehicle. She'd been sitting in the garage for at least twenty minutes, and she was glad Phillip hadn't heard her drive up. If he had, he would have come out to check on her, and she didn't want that.

If only she'd listened to Levi three months ago, when he'd told her not to marry Phillip. He'd sworn she'd end up miserable, and she was. If only she hadn't been in denial about the way things would turn out—if she hadn't convinced herself that she could forget about Levi and fall
in
love with Phillip. Had she made the right choice, she wouldn't have to do this awful thing once she entered the house. She wouldn't have to hurt her loving husband, who deserved so much better. Phillip was a good man, always had been, and she wasn't sure what this would do to him. If he'd been an awful, abusive, intolerable person, leaving him would be easy. But Phillip was just the opposite. He was one of the kindest and most trustworthy men she knew, and he had a good heart. He also loved and honored God, and he tried his best to never go against God's Word. For these reasons, Alicia hoped he would recover from what she was about to do.

She took another deep breath and said out loud, “Dear Lord, please forgive me. Please give me strength.”

She got out of the car and walked toward the door leading to the kitchen. Still, she hesitated before opening it. She debated whether she should wait until morning to talk to Phillip, because maybe then she wouldn't feel so nervous and she'd have more time to get her words together. While driving home, she'd done a couple of run-throughs of what she would say, but maybe it was best to sleep on it. As it was, it was already after six p.m. Phillip had left two messages for her, and she hadn't called him back. By now, he had surely phoned Melanie, who had probably been thrilled to tell him Alicia wasn't there. Especially now that Melanie believed Alicia had betrayed her.

Of course, if she waited until morning, she would have to lie to Phillip about where she'd been all day and then take a chance on his wanting to make love to her again. It was bad enough that she'd slept with Phillip last night and this morning and also with Levi this afternoon. If her parents knew she'd slept with two men on the same day, they would be horrified. In all honesty, she was disgusted with herself. She'd become nothing more than a common whore, and she was ashamed.

She stood there, still debating, and then finally walked inside. Phillip sat at the island, facing her, with the same look of disappointment and anger he'd worn Friday night when she'd gotten home.

“I know you're mad, baby, but let me explain,” she hurried to say.

Phillip glared at her, seemingly deep in thought, and didn't speak.

Alicia sat across from him and set her purse on the other chair. “You're going to kill me, but baby, I'm sorry. I got carried away again, and I didn't realize how much time had passed.”

“Is that right?” he said. “What'd you buy?”

Alicia smiled as much as she could. “Well, that's the best news of all. I bought a bunch of stuff I didn't need, but then I returned it. I took everything back because I realized how upset you were gonna be.”

Phillip leaned back in his chair and relaxed his arms on the island. “If that's true, show me the receipts. All of them.”

Alicia's face turned solemn. “What?”

“Show them to me. For purchases and returns.”

Alicia's heart revved up again. What was she going to do now?

Phillip's eyes turned cold, and she could tell he meant business. He wanted to see proof, but she didn't have any.

“Why can't you just believe me?” she said, hating how pathetic she sounded.

“Because you're a liar.”

“I'm not.”

“Then show me.”

“I'm not a child,” she said, hoping he would back off.

“No, but you're my loving, faithful, committed wife, and if I want proof I have a right to see it.”

“If you don't trust me, then why did you marry me?” Alicia rambled off whatever she could, trying to turn things in a different direction.

“You really think I'm stupid, don't you?”

“I don't think anything like that.”

“So you were at the mall all this time.”

“Yes.”

Phillip shook his head. Then he picked up his phone and typed in his passcode. He clicked a few icons and slid the phone over to Alicia. “Does this look like the mall to you?”

She glanced at the displayed photo and knew she had to be seeing things. On the screen was an image of Levi hugging her good-bye on his front step, which had happened less than two hours ago. But this couldn't be real. There was no way Phillip had followed her.

“Why are you so quiet?” he asked. “I'll bet you weren't this quiet earlier.”

“Phillip, it's not what you think.”

“Alicia, don't even try it. You've lied for the last time.”

“I can't believe you were following me,” she said, feigning outrage.

“I wasn't. I hired an investigator.”

“When?”

“Right after I discovered that lowlife was out of prison. By then, he'd been out for a few weeks, so I couldn't help wondering if you'd already been seeing him.”

Alicia was starting to feel a bit uneasy, because the more Phillip talked, the less upset he seemed. Almost as though he couldn't care less about what she'd done.

“But silly me,” he said, laughing out loud. “I only had the PI follow you for the four weeks leading up to our wedding. I told him to stop when I saw that you really weren't being with Levi. But then after you were gone all day Friday and Saturday, I called him again. He wasn't available, but he put one of his associates on it right away yesterday.”

Phillip was explaining things in great detail, and taking this a lot better than she'd expected, but she still thought it was best to wait to ask him for the divorce.

“But what I really wanna know is, did you see Levi when he first got out? Before I hired an investigator?”

“What? No,” she said, relieved that she'd cut things off with Levi in June and Phillip couldn't prove otherwise.

“So the first time you saw him was three days ago?”

“The first time I saw him was today.” Phillip was trying to trip her up, but he'd just admitted that the investigator hadn't begun following her until yesterday.

“Still lying, I see.”

“I'm not.”

“You are,” he spat, reaching over and picking up a handgun from the chair next to him. He got up and hurried around the island.

“Oh my God, Phillip, what are you doing?”

“Just shut up,” he said, grabbing her hair and yanking her head back.

“Phillip, please don't do this. I'm begging you.”

He pointed the gun at her face. “I said shut up.”

Alicia thought she was going to pass out. She hadn't even known Phillip owned a gun, let alone that he would threaten to kill her with it.

“You made a fool out of me, not once but twice. You practically got on your knees, pleading with me to take you back. And now you're sleeping with that same snake all over again?”

“Phillip, baby…I didn't sleep with him. All we did was talk.”

Phillip rubbed the gun up and down the back of her head as though it were a water pistol. “They always say nice guys finish last, but not this time, sweetheart. You took my kindness for weakness, and something has to be done about it. Somebody has to pay.”

It was all Alicia could do not to urinate on herself. Phillip had snapped, and she was frightened for her life.

“Baby—” she said.

“Don't you call me that!” he shouted. “Don't you ever call me that.”

“But I just wanna talk to you.”

“About what? Your jailbird boyfriend? Okay, let's talk about him.”

“He's not my boyfriend. He's nothing to me.”

“Still lying,” he said, laughing and pressing the gun harder against her head. But when her phone vibrated, he reached over with his other hand to pick up her handbag. He set it on the island and dug through it until he found her cell. Then he typed in her passcode.

Alicia loathed the day they'd exchanged passcode information, because while she'd made sure to delete all text and call logs between her and Levi, there wasn't a thing she could do about this current message. She hoped the text wasn't from Levi, but she soon learned otherwise.

“Oh, so you were planning to ask me for a divorce?”

Alicia closed her eyes, praying Phillip didn't shoot.

“Because this text right here says, ‘Call me after you talk to him about the divorce. Let me know you're okay. I love you, baby.'”

Alicia didn't bother lying anymore. Instead she said, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth, as—”

Phillip dropped the phone on the island and yanked her head back again. “Stop all that praying. First you sleep with me, then you sleep with that punk Levi, and now you're saying the Lord's Prayer? All in one day? You're such a hypocrite. Such a lowdown whore.”

Alicia wanted to plead with him to put the gun down, but she was afraid to say anything.

“Text him back,” he demanded.

“For what?”

“Tell him everything went fine, and that you'll call him later. And don't forget to tell him you love him.”

Alicia didn't move.

“Here,” he said, forcing the phone into her hand. “And you'd better type exactly what I told you or else.”

Alicia quickly keyed in the message with jittery fingers, correcting a number of mistakes. But right when she got ready to send it, Phillip snatched the phone from her. He read the text more than once and pressed Enter himself. Then he dropped her phone back in her bag.

“I should kill you right now,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Baby, I don't want Levi,” she said. “I love
you
, and that's what I went to tell him.”

“Stop talking to me like I'm stupid. You didn't have to drive an hour to do that. You could've told him that on the phone.”

“I tried, but he said he wouldn't stop calling me unless I told him in person. That's the only reason I went.”

“Then why did he just send you that text about divorcing me?”

“I don't know.”

Phillip grabbed her purse and pressed it against her chest. “Let's go.”

“Where?”

“Don't worry about it.”

Alicia believed it was better to stay here than to get in the car with a crazed gunman. “Baby, why don't we stay here and talk. Let's pray about it, and call my dad.”

“Your dad doesn't have a thing to do with this. This is about you, me, and your boy Levi. Now, let's go!” he yelled. “Don't make me ask you again. Don't make me blow your brains out.”