She nodded, and I led her back up the dock to a gazebo there, where we could sit. I sat across from her, waiting to hear what she had to say. The anger had simmered down some, but I was still unhappy with this turn of events. I had really just wanted to come back and rest.
“First of all, I truly am sorry for what I did. I know it doesn’t mean much now, but I do still love you.”
I snorted, then responded, “But not enough, huh?”
“I know I screwed up, and will always regret it. I am just going to tell you everything, and hope that you can forgive me someday.”
I waved my hand for her to continue.
“Cyrus started coming on to me several months ago, right around the time you took that contract, to fly supplies for those poor tornado victims in Oklahoma. At first it was just flirting, which I was used to from him. He would come over, every time you flew out and stayed gone overnight. I am not sure, but I think that was when he started planting seeds of doubt about you. He would say things like ‘Has James called you yet? I wonder if he hits the bars when he is gone.’ Stuff like that.”
“And you fell for that bullshit? Did I EVER give you reason to believe I was fucking around on you?”
“Honestly, no, but the way he kept at it, made me think that you might be. I used to kid with you about hitting on younger girls when you were away, and your responses always sounded like a joke. After everything Cyrus was telling me, I started to wonder. I know, I should have just asked you.”
“Ok, so that still doesn’t answer why you started FUCKING him!”
She winced, shook her head, but kept on. “I know. One of the nights you were away, he came over. After we had a glass of wine, he asked if I had heard from you yet. I told him no, and called you. Do you remember the night I called you, and I think you were at a bar or something?”
“Yeah, I went to a Hooters restaurant, and was eating a late dinner. It was pretty noisy in there. What, did you think I was out at a bar, hunting for someone to fuck?”
“Not at first, but I heard some women in the background, and then you said you had to go. When we hung up, Cyrus said that you liked to sit and drink with some younger women, when you were away. He said he did with you a few times. I was livid, thinking more about it. That added to my anger of your job always taking you away from me.”
“OK, fast forward to the part where you slipped, and fell on his dick.” I was getting pissed again. This woman could always drive me nuts.
“I am so sorry, for everything.” She paused, seeming to weigh her next words. “That night, he slid next to me, and was very comforting. I told myself that I needed the attention, and that if you could get it elsewhere, so could I. That first night, I thought about you, actually. While he was, well… on me, I was thinking about you. It was good, but nowhere close to the loving you and I had. Anyhow, after that night, he came over anytime you were gone. I’m not sure why I kept going back, but we also met at his place a few times, when you were home.”
I shook my head. How could I be so blind to all of this? She had been cheating on me for a while. I had suspicions, after finding out he went back after I left town, but the brutal truth hurt, more than I cared to admit.
“That night that you were out with those government guys, Cyrus came over and showed me those pictures. Until that point, I was mad at you for what I thought you had been doing, but those pictures made me so mad, that I felt it was time to really punish you. God I was so stupid. If I had looked at them closer…”
“Wouldn’t have made a difference, would it? You had already crossed the line by that point. I can’t believe I never saw it coming. You were a really good actress.”
“It was never my intention to hurt you, until that night. When he told me you were out with that guy, and his two sleazy assistants, I lost it. I told him that I wanted you to pay. I wanted to show you exactly how it felt, to have your heart trampled on. I’m not saying it was right, just that’s how I was thinking at the time.”
“Yeah? Well, mission accomplished. You nearly killed me that night, and you also pretty much destroyed the love I had for you as well. I still remember all the good times we’ve had, but will never be able to go back.”
“James, I thought you were cheating on me!”
“I DON’T CARE! You should have confronted me about it! You should have at least shown me the decency, before getting into bed with that snake, and trying your hardest to fuck me over. Did you know he was going to try to kill me? And WHY THE FUCK didn’t you call the cops? I would have, but when I went back to the house, it was all cleaned up!”
She had tears again. Good. She should know how badly she hurt me.
“James…” she was sniffling in between words. “I know… I threw away… a great man… for a snake… OH MY GOD!” She put her head down onto the table, on her arms, and just bawled.
This was her show, so I just waited for her to calm down. While sitting, I heard clapping. I turned to my left, and there stood Cyrus. WHAT THE FUCK? Talk about a twilight zone kind of day. I immediately jumped up to confront him. I was going to stride over to him, and do the best Mike Tyson impersonation I could. I got two steps and he pulled a gun on me. Seriously, again?
“Damn, Cyrus, what the FUCK did I ever do to you? I had thought we were friends, but obviously I was VERY wrong about that. This is the second time you have pulled a fucking gun on me.”
He leveled the gun at me. It looked much bigger than the last one he had. I had no illusions about being lucky enough to have the bullet stop before entering my body this time.
“James, James, James. You poor bastard. You really have no clue, do you?”
I was simply staring at him, no idea what he was talking about yet. I made my confusion clear. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
He snickered, smiled, and looked pleased with himself. Thankfully, I have a few good friends, and Shawn appeared at his side. He had a gun pointed at Cyrus’ head, and told him to lower his gun.
“Sorry I’m late. I saw this asshole creeping up on you guys, and figured something like this would happen.”
Cyrus growled, but did as he was told. He turned to me again, and with a complete look of contempt, floored me with his next words.
“My mother was having an affair, and my dad found out. Wanna guess who the lucky guy was? Timothy Holmes.”
If my face reflected even a tenth of the shock I felt, it would have been enough.
“Yeah, your dear old dad was banging my mom. You always wanted to know why they divorced, right? Well, now you know. I didn’t find out right away, but when I did, I planned my revenge on you all!”