Eileen Slovak

Chapter Sixty: The Anatomy of a Lie

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and locales are products of the author’s imagination. They are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental. Copyright © 2024 by Eileen Slovak.

Catherine

Scarlet still refuses to tell me the full story of the mess with Scott. She passes our weekly sister’s cocktail dinner under a small dark shroud while I’m full of excitement about the weekend.  

     “Gary’s Anniversary present is an overnight somewhere. He says it’s a surprise. He won’t tell me anything.”

      I wait for a reaction from Scarlet.

      “Come on. I know you know all about it since he said the kids were covered, so I can’t say no.”

      “What, first I’m hearing of any of this? What makes you think I’m the babysitter?”

      “Oh, right! You know darn well I’ve never left them overnight with anyone besides you or Gary’s parents. Since they’re away right now, that means you know everything.”

      “Well, I owe you, big sister.”

      “Are you sure you are up for this? They can be a handful. You haven’t been yourself since the Scott incident. I don’t suppose you’re ready to talk about it?”

      “Nope. As for the kids, if I handle whiny executives and unruly clients all day long, three little munchkins will be a walk in the park. In fact, that’s the first thing we’re doing, heading to the park.  I’m going to tucker them out tomorrow, then tuck them in.”

      “I think I’m nervous.”

      “Now you’re making me feel bad.” She says, taking a sip of chardonnay, looking down at her glass. “Turns out five days is as close to forever as I get to giving up wine.”

     “Not about you. About Gary and me. All we ever talk about are the kids. What if we have nothing else to say to each other when we’re alone?”

     “That’s why you need this.”

      “I’m not even packed.”

      “So, let’s go pack. Your devoted husband planned a romantic escape for you, what are you waiting for?”

      “Okay, come help me.”

      Scarlet stretches out on my bed.

      “You really do look great. Have you lost more weight?”

      I check myself in the mirror.

      “I’ve only budged a few more pounds on the scale but my clothes are fitting better.”

      My face holds a slight glow. Looking at my profile, I can see my stomach is flatter.

      “I feel so much better,” I say.

      “Pack everything that we bought on our shopping trip with Maggie. That should be all you need.”

      “You’ll call me immediately if anything happens?”

      “Seriously? Promise you’ll relax? That you won’t call or text me every second?”

      “I do that, don’t I?”

      “It’s fine. I get it.”

      “Thanks, Scarlet.”

      “We’re leaving you the van. I know how meticulous you are about your car. Plus, with the car seat and boosters, it’s just easier.”

      “Oh my gosh, my car. I completely forgot to call the mechanic to see if it was ready today.”

      “Well, you’ll have the van for the weekend if you want to turn in the rental.”

      “Won’t I look sexy driving a minivan around? Maybe I’ll meet some sad divorced guy at the park.”

      “Hey, watch it. I drive that van all the time,” I say, tossing clothes on the bed next to her. “Speaking of sad…any word from Scott?”

      “Sure. He’s called to say some things and left messages. I haven’t listened to any of them,” she says, putting a pillow over her face.

      “What do you mean?”

      Her voice is muffled coming from under the pillow.

      “I mean, it’s over, done, finished. I’m not taking his calls. I’m through with men.”

      “What’s the alternative?”

      “Work.”

      “Work is a paycheck. It can’t be your everything.”

      “Scott’s a total fraud. I hope I never see him again. Unless he’s lying dead in a gutter where I can spit on him from above.”

      “That’s a little extreme. Are you ever going to tell me what he did?”

      I sit on the edge of the bed next to Scarlet. I try to pull the pillow off, but she holds it firmly in place.

      “He’s working for the Campbell’s. He was investigating Sean’s death the whole time he was seeing me.”

      “You’re kidding me! Geez. It just slipped his mind to mention this to you?”

      She removes the pillow, propping herself up on her elbows.

      “I don’t want to talk about it.”

      “Well, he wasn’t investigating you. You weren’t still involved with Sean when he died, so I don’t get it. Plus, it was an accident. What is there to investigate? Are you sure you aren’t running away again?”

      “What do you mean again? No. I love how you always put everything back on me. I’m sorry I told you now.”

      “Scarlet, I know how easily you get spooked. You were so happy a few days ago. Is it possible you overreacted?”

      “If Gary lied to you. I mean if you caught him in a big, nasty wicked lie, would you be all full of understanding? Or would you from then on always distrust him?”

      “Well, Gary did hide the fact that he could have been ill. He did it to protect me, not to be deceitful. I forgave him, but I said if he ever hid anything from me again, I’d kill him. Maybe you need to ask yourself, did he maliciously lie, or was there more to the story than that?”

      Scarlet sighs loudly.

      “I don’t know. A lie is a lie, isn’t it?”