I went out into my backyard and slipped into the pool for a leisurely swim. The water felt so good as it enveloped my body. I was just about to get out when Chris entered through the gate. When he saw me, he smiled and came over to me.
“You finally came out of your cave,” Chris said, grinning. “The sun will do you good.”
“Why don’t you join me?” I asked.
“I came over to ask you what you want for dinner,” he told me.
“You don’t have to make all my meals for me. Thank you for my lunch. The egg salad and lettuce wrap was delicious. Did you make the egg salad or buy it?”
“I made it myself. My mother taught me to cook,” he said.
“You’ll have to give me the recipe,” I said as I got out of the pool. Chris handed me a towel but was staring at me.
“What are you looking at?” I looked down. “I’m not showing already, am I?”
“Not really. I guess maybe there is the tiniest little itty-bitty bump, but that’s about it,” Chris said as he looked at my tummy again.
“I am not looking forward to getting fat,” I told him, pouting.
“You’re not going to get fat, but you are supposed to gain weight. It’s healthy for the baby, so you’d better not be cutting out your fats,” Chris told me.
“I’m not, but I’m not going to gorge out on food either,” I said.
Chris’s phone rang just then, and when he saw who it was on the screen, he went inside to take the call. When he came back out, he said, “I’m so sorry, I have to leave in a few minutes to go and deal with something.”
He looked so guilty like he was hiding something. The phone call. When he saw the name, he quickly went inside, then came back out and said he had to go ‘deal’ with something. A bunch of red flags went off in my brain. I wasn’t stupid. It all came crashing down on me, and I felt like I was inside a brewing storm.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” I said as my fist curled. “You’re not going to play the dual woman game. I know all about your secret. Just leave,” I ordered as I pointed to the fence. “Go home and don’t come back.”
I started to walk to the back door of the house, but Chris followed me.
“What exactly are you talking about? What’s wrong with you?” he asked as he grabbed me by the shoulder.
I wrenched my arm away from him and said, “Don’t touch me, Chris Miller. I want you to leave, please. Don’t come back. I’m not your concern.”
“What the hell, Marilyn? You’ve been great lately, nicer than you’ve ever been to me. And just like that, out of nowhere, you’re the Ice Queen again,” he said as his face reddened.
“Ice Queen? Did you really just call me an Ice Queen?” I had never been so insulted.
“The truth stings a bit, doesn’t it?” Chris said, crossing his arms.
“Look at you, thinking you’re so much better than me,” I accused.
“At least with me, you know what you’re getting. With you, one is never sure which side of Heckle and Jeckle they will get. The sweet side or the nasty one.” Chris’s eyes were black now. I’d never seen him this angry before.
“Chris Miller, you’d better quit while you’re ahead,” I threatened.
“I’d be glad to leave, then I won’t have to put up with your alternating personalities,” Chris said as he walked toward the fence.
“I know your secret, so go ahead and walk away from me. I’ll never be duped by you again,” I yelled after him.
He stopped and turned around. “Secret? What exactly are you talking about, Marilyn?”
“I know all about your daughter, Chris. I know you’ve got her hidden somewhere else whenever I come over. All these times that you disappear and don’t answer my calls. I’ll bet you have a wife stashed away somewhere too,” I cried.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, you crazy woman. I don’t have a wife anywhere. I’ve never been married, and I don’t have any children. I told you that. You’re mistaken,” he said as his eyes grew bigger.
“Lies. Everything with you is lies. Please leave and don’t ever come back,” I ordered.