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“Yeah, well, that’s one more thing that isn’t going to go over too well in court for you, sweetheart.”
Myles wanted to break his neck. But he forced himself to stay put.
“You’re not going to blackmail me into giving you my money or my children, Spencer. I’m here trying my damnedest to get clean. Have I made mistakes? Sure. But you caused the accident, which was the reason for me to need the pills in the first place. And then you walked out when I needed you most. You’re not completely blameless here, Spencer. ”
“You’re pathetic. Are you actually trying to pin the fact that you’re a junkie on me?”
“I don’t know why you’re being so cruel. I really don’t. I have forgiven you, Spence. I forgive you for the way you ended our marriage. I forgive you for the accident. I forgive you for walking out afterward. I forgive you for the way you refused to bring the children to the hospital to see me when I needed to see them most. And… for how you handled the situation with Jonathan after he caught you looking at porn. I forgive you for showing up here and making all of these outlandish threats. I even forgive you for squandering our money away. But there’s one thing that has nagged me for some time now, a little question that’s been in the back of my mind that I hadn’t wanted to ask... probably because I was afraid to know the answer, but I need to know… who was on the phone that night? Who was so important that it took me nearly losing my life just so you could continue your conversation?”
“That’s irrelevant.” Spencer huffed.
To her credit, Jess didn’t let up. “You can either tell me yourself, it’s your choice or I’ll track down a copy of our cell phone bill… but I need to know.”
Myles heard the front door open. “You’re fucking crazy, you know that?” He heard Spencer remark followed by the door slamming so hard the paintings on the walls shook. He flew into the living room to find Jess staring at the door, her mouth gaping open, and her face drained of all color. Myles preemptively closed the gap between them, knowing she was about to sink to the floor. Sure enough, he caught her mid-fall and helped her down to the floor gently.
Jess caved and began sobbing silently.
He took her in his arms and held her. “Shhh. Good girl. You did good….”
When the sobs finally subsided, Myles stood, untangled himself, went to the kitchen, and returned with a glass of water.
“He’s going to fight me for the children. And it’s all going to come out… my drug use… everything… but you know what? I don’t even care about any of that. What bothers me the most, what I care about the most, is that he just might win…”
“He won’t win.”
“He could.”
“You’re right, he could. And with that attitude, Jess, you don’t stand a chance. What you need to do is to strike preemptively. Have you actually consulted an attorney? Because if not, you need to do so... now.”
She shook her head and exhaled loudly. “I need a drink… or something… an Oxy, Xanax… I don’t know. Just anything.”
“What you need is a long walk and a damn good attorney. You’re letting him win, Jessica. Especially, if you let this crush your sobriety—which, I’m sure I don’t have to remind you, is still very much in its infancy.”
“I just don’t understand. This just doesn’t seem like Spence—he’s always been a hard-driven businessman to the core, sure… but I can’t believe he would play this dirty… with me, with our children…”
“Desperate people do desperate things.”
Jess searched his face then stared at the floor. “Tell me about it.”
Myles did his best to keep her busy over the next several days so as to take her mind off her dissolving marital situation and the cravings of needing to use again. The afternoon Spencer showed up, Jess had a bit of a temper tantrum. After her meltdown, she retreated to the master bedroom and had one of a different kind. Upon deciding that she found nothing of herself in it or in its contents, she began tearing clothing out of drawers and closets and paintings off the walls. Myles heard the ruckus and considered her actions, leaving her to it until she emerged from the bedroom disheveled holding a pile of her husband’s things. This was getting interesting. She was so beautiful when she was angry.
He eyed her as she marched past, his expression giving nothing away. He watched her walk out to the fire pit on the back lawn as she dumped them in. Let’s see her try to start this thing. She hasn’t a clue. She took a step back and considered her next move. Myles walked out onto the patio and took a seat. “You’ve never lit the fire pit before?”
She shook her head and stared at the pile of things she’d assembled.
“Have you considered donating this stuff instead?” He nodded toward the fire pit and then glared at Jess. “I mean, I understand your reasoning and all… it’s just that I can see that your husband clearly has very expensive taste, and I know a whole heck of a lot of people who sure could use some of those items.”
Jess cocked her head to the side. “But donating them would negate the whole point of burning them just to stick it to him.”
“Either way, he’s without them, Jessica.”
She smiled then and her whole face lit up. “Good point. I like you.”
“I’m glad. You’re one of the few these days,” he said, playfully mocking her.
Jess placed one hand on her hip. God, how he wanted to give her something to smile about at that moment. “So, who are these people you speak of that need this stuff? How would I find them?”
Myles patted the chair beside him and beckoned her over. She walked over, eyed the seat, and plopped down in his lap instead, catching him off guard. Myles had adjusted himself and her on his lap before he answered. “Well, to answer your question, there are a lot of people who could use them. Hell, half of the town I grew up in could use them. But I was specifically speaking of men serving in the military. Some of them, like me, come back to nothing. Often times, there’s nothing and no one awaiting their return, and I’m sure a few things that might give them a chance at a fresh start would do them some good.”
