Page 40 of Stolen Wife
“Let’s get back to the house.”
“Ugh. Okay.” I nod and follow in step alongside him.
“Don’t look so down. Things will get better.”
“Is he seeing someone else?” It bothers me more than it should. He doesn’t owe me anything including his fidelity. I’m not his wife. Hell, I’m married to someone else, but that doesn’t stop the pain in my chest thinking of him with another woman after the stolen moments with him.
Joey sighs and then says, “No. Be patient.”
“You don’t even know what it’s like to be caged.”
“I do. I met Santino in prison.” I wasn’t aware of that. Wow.
Surprisingly, I’m not afraid of him after that revelation. “I’m sorry. It’s just I felt the taste of freedom and had it taken away.” Joey has been kind to me, but I’m lonelier than I’ve ever been and Santino’s the reason for it.
“You need to just remember that things will get better.” He’s right. They’ve already drastically improved.
Once we’re inside the house, I excuse myself to go lie down. It’s not like he spends more than a handful of minutes with me at any given time.
****
I WAKE UP TO THE SOUNDof movement in my room. “Who’s there?”
“It’s me, Santino.”
“It’s about time.” He sweeps me into his arms and crushes his lips to mine. It feels so incredible, and then he’s gone.
I sit up in bed, realizing that it was all a dream. Uncontrollably, tears stream down my face. The sound of the phone ringing causes a break in the waterworks. It’s still light outside. I must have taken a quick nap.
Climbing out of bed, I walk out into the hallway and there’s Joey on the phone.
“Yeah, the cow is getting restless.” Did he just call me a cow? I can’t hear what Santino’s saying to him, but he just referred to me as a cow. I glance down at myself. Yes, I put on a little weight, but I was underweight before we came here, so I’m actually healthy looking.
“Okay. I’ll handle it, boss.” What’s he going to handle? Are they going to get rid of me? No. I can’t see them doing that. Either way, it appears that Santino wants nothing to do with me and is leaving me to the whims of his henchman.
There’s nothing left for me to do but find a way for me to escape. I wait until he goes to his room and then I sneak back into my room and get my things together in a tiny travel bag that’s stored in the closet. The best I can do is sleep on the beach while trying to find a job somewhere on the island. I have to play the rest of the day cool.
After I’ve gotten my gear together, I go into the living room area where Joey’s watching television. “Did you have a good nap?” he asks without turning around.
“It was fine. Is there anything made for dinner?”
“Yes, it’s in the oven.”
Just like that, the timer goes off. “I’ll get it.” I’m only going to do it so I can steal some snacks for my plan. I take out the baked spaghetti and set up the plates. I take a kitchen towel and wrap up some apples, granola bars and a couple bottles of water and scurry into my bedroom.
When I come back, Joey’s in the kitchen. “Where did you go?”
“When you got to go, you got to go,” I lie, and he doesn’t question it.
He blushes slightly and serves our food before taking his into the living room. It’s what he always does, which I’m grateful for especially after his cow comment. In fact, I don’t think I can eat a thing. I leave it on the plate and steal a few more pieces of food that travels well and go into my room, locking the door.
****
AT THREE IN THE MORNING, the sounds of the ocean are a little louder tonight. Maybe it’s because I feel so damn alone. I slip out of my room and into the hallway with my bag. The house is super quiet. The front door easily opens, and I step out unnoticed. Shit, I should have stolen his car keys. Spinning around, I move to go back inside, but the door locks and I’m stuck outside. Fine. Walking is how it’s going to be. Hell, it’s not like I know how to drive anyway.
Immediately, I regret what I’m doing because I didn’t really think this out. A broken heart can do that to a girl. The moon is full, which probably explains the steady waves crashing against the shore harder than usual. Joey told me that there’s hardly ever severe weather here and that we’re all clear for at least a week. It gives me a bit of peace to know I’m not fleeing during a tsunami or something.
I’m just about around the beach house, but I’m not sure which way to go. It’s too late because I feel arms wrapped around me before I can move. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” I gasp, knowing that it’s Santino’s voice.