“Stop, Val. I don't want to do this anymore,” Cindy shrieked.
I turned around and walked back over to her. “What's wrong?”
“Seriously?” she shouted. “What’s wrong with you?” Her eyes filled with tears.
I had no idea what caused the sudden change in her.
“Look at this place,” she stumbled, hopping on one foot. “You live in paradise.” She paused for a second, catching her breath. “And that house,” she pointed, “the glass house.” She gimped closer to me. “Some people would kill to live in a house like that in a place like this.”
I stood silent as she threw her hissy fit at me. Staring at the ground, I bit down on the inside of my cheek. She had no idea what came with a house like that in a place like the jungle.
Feeling her eyes upon me, I slowly looked up, meeting her gaze.
“That house,” I pointed, “this place,” I gritted my teeth. “It’s suffocating.” I stormed away.
I walked over to Max, untied him, and went for a long walk. I needed some time alone. I felt smothered with Cindy around as she could be draining at times. Between her and David, I felt like I had to always be entertaining them. That week made me realize how much I enjoyed being alone and having my thoughts to myself.
When I returned to the house, Cindy was gone. David, too, as his truck wasn't parked in the driveway. I assumed they went off somewhere together. Maybe her fears diminished about the hospital and he took her to see a doctor or perhaps they just went to buy more groceries.
Wherever they went, I'm sure on the way to whatever destination, she was sitting in the passenger seat batting her eyelashes. At that point, I didn't know who or what to believe. Cindy winking at David online on some stupid dating site to test him. Really? Then he called her. I doubt it. I think it was the other way around.
I sensed she had a thing for him right from the start. I remember the way she commented on his looks after finding his business card while poking around in my room. I bet she pursued him and he fell for it, fell for her. She was more his type anyway. They probably set the whole thing up, her surprise visit to see me. I bet he invited her here to replace me.
I walked into the kitchen and looked on the counter to see if she or he or maybe they left me a note. Nope. Nothing. Not even a text on my phone to say, ‘be back soon.’ The only thing I saw were the sacks of tea tucked in the corner. Conchita’s new ‘awake’ tea.
Grabbing one of the sacks, I untied it and pulled out a teabag. I caught a whiff of lemon and mint as I held it to my nose; it smelled refreshing. Curious about it, I hesitated for a moment, thinking of the side effects of the Tranquilo tea. But it smelled so good and I needed some extra energy, so I figured I’d try some.
While waiting for the water to boil, I gazed out the kitchen window, my eyes falling upon the angel statue. There it stood, smack dab in the middle of the garden between two hibiscus plants—bright pink flowers on one side and pale yellow ones on the other. The kettle soon whistled, jarring me from my thoughts.
After putting a handful of ice cubes in a glass, I poured the tea into it, deciding to make it iced. I took a few sips and it tasted pretty good. It had a certain zing to it. But the tea was still warm; it needed to cool, so I left the glass on the counter and headed back out the door.
When I stepped through the garden, one foot in front of the other, I tried hard not to disturb the freshly seeded plants. As I neared the statue, I noticed something poking up from the ground next to the yellow flowers.
I made my way closer and saw that it was a twig that appeared to have a dot of red paint on it. A marker maybe? Kneeling down, I tugged at the twig and then used it to move some of the soil around. I soon saw the outline of the wooden box but the color was different. It was darker.
Digging with my hands, I pulled it from the ground, rubbing away the dirt covering it. While similar to the other box with its tiny keyhole in the middle, this one was a different box. Carved on top of it was the letter ‘S.’
It immediately dawned on me, the name Susan.
Suddenly, the air felt thick, heavy. I sat back on my heels, trying to catch my breath as my thoughts whirled in a thousand directions, making me dizzy. Not one wife, but two of them… buried in the garden.
I sat motionless in shock, unable to process the nightmare surrounding me.
36
David
She’s finally gone. I couldn’t take another minute or another day. Women like her are all alike; they all have the same agenda. I’ll never understand it.
Perhaps I should throw in the towel and be done with them all, and live a quiet, peaceful life in solitude. Well, not entirely, it’ll be little ole me alone in the jungle with no one but the birds and other wild creatures. Who needs women anyway? They only complicate things and drive you mad.
An upbeat song starts playing, so I reach down and turn the knob cranking up the volume. With both hands back on the steering wheel, I tap my fingers, keeping tempo with the beat. Salsa music makes me feel alive. I groove in my seat to the sound of the bongos.
Music and a drive, ahh, the best therapy there is.
When I arrive back at the house, I catch the sun dipping below the mountains. I gaze at
