He even knew where to find the lube, grabbing
a bottle from the nightstand and slathering it
- on.
I stopped watching, a smile spreading across
my face.
<
I then called Mark at work, pretending to be the
caring mother.
“Honey, it’s your anniversary with Brenda! I
bought a ton of stuff, your favorite king crab!
Why don’t you come home early?”
Mark agreed, telling me to buy Brenda her favorites, all lovey–dovey.
Too bad he had no idea the woman he was so
obsessed with despised him and was sleeping with her ex.
Right after Mark hung up, Brenda called.
I answered, and she said: “Mom, don’t come home yet!”
3
I heard the panic in her voice, and asked what
was hannening
<
was happening.
“What’s wrong, Brenda?”
Brenda stammered. “The, the house is a mess!
The dogs got in and made a mess everywhere, I’ve got to clean everything!”
I didn’t say anything right away.
When Brenda thought I was going to agree, I
started to talk like the caring mother–in–law I always tried to be.
“Oh, dear, it’s not a big deal! Don’t worry, I’ll help you clean.”
Brenda was clearly stunned.
She knew I hated when dogs made a mess, so
she was using that as an excuse.
She obviously didn’t expect me to say th
<
tried again to talk me out of coming home.
“Mom, I can handle this! I don’t want you to be
stressed!”
I still refused.
“Don’t be silly, it’s your anniversary, and you
and Mark deserve to have a nice night. I’ll be
there soon!”
“Mom! I told you not to come home! What’s more important, coming here or some anniversary!”
Brenda was crying.
I also heard Dave calling me some unpleasant
names.
I heard Brenda saying she didn’t want me to
come home.
<
I laughed on the inside.
OHOS
832
“Nonsense, I can’t let my favorite son–in–law
spend a day with his wife that’s less than
perfect!”
I hailed a cab.
Brenda heard the taxi and started to cry.
She said to me “Mom, something happened, so you don’t need to come back.”
I played along. “What happened? Tell me!”
Brenda took a breath, and said, “Mom, there was a gas leak and a fire. I’m so scared! You can’t come home! Stay somewhere safe!”
When I heard about the fire, I immediately yelled
back.
<
“I’ll call the fire department!”
I also told the taxi driver to speed up.
I didn’t call the fire department, of course.
I was just trying to scare her.
I called Mark.
I told him there was a fire at home, and that
Brenda was trapped inside.
When Mark heard this, he stood up.
He yelled “Mom, how could you let Brenda be alone in that house! If she dies, so will I! I need to call her to make sure she is alright!”
“This is your fault! What if you didn’t leave the gas on when you left? Are you trying to hurt
