Call Of Duty

I'm almost done with Tristan's home. It has been three weeks and he hasn't been here once. My feelings are mixed. I'm relieved yet disappointed. Knowing he wanted to meet me long before now was flattering, but learning of his wife tainted it. I had assumed he lied about being in the services too, but Blake confirmed that was true. Monique never offered any information on Tristan's whereabouts so I assumed they were top secret. She started anal but after three weeks I learned she was a sweetheart. Monique had a fiancée she was crazy about. She and Tristan were just friends.

"Oh my goodness Tristan is a born charmer. I met him in Paris during a runway show. Alex was the star. Everyone was so busy praising her that the rest of us felt useless. Tristan felt our pain and took every model out for dinner. He too wanted Alex's attention, so he won it by giving attention to us all!" She giggles.

"What happened with them?" I ask.

"My guess is they were too different. Alex was a bona fide diva. She loved Paris, Louis, Hermes, Prada, yada, yada. She loved being in the spotlight, but Tristan despised it. Then she loved the attention he'd attract, but she was too jealous. Despite her tantrums, Tristan was going to be Tristan. I think her jealousy became unbearable once she became jealous of his and my relationship. I've been with my fiancée since high school. We even have a baby together. I tried to get her to understand, but she just wouldn't. It was about eight of us from Paris that did everything together. However, none of us knew Tristan was in the Navy. Then one day he was called back to active duty."

"I thought he was in the Marines?" 

"No, it's the Navy. I've seen him in uniform and everything. Anyway, once he was gone she flipped! We knew he'd break up with her soon and we were glad. Thankfully she was a highly sought out model or her career would've been over. She was missing major events seeking his location. By nothing less than a miracle she found him then a few weeks later they were married. We were all in disbelief. The week after their honeymoon I asked where'd she find him. Then I asked how'd she convince him to admit he loved her then marry her so fast?"

Alex answered, "Let's say I found him not following the captain's orders. Afterwards, he wanted and needed to make things right so he asked me to marry him." 

"That's an odd proposal," I say.

"Well her explanation made more sense than his! Once she gave that bogus story I confronted Tristan."

Monique asked, "So why'd you marry Alex? I thought she didn't fit into your world."

"She doesn't, but I had to silence her threats."

"What kind of threats?"

"Detrimental ones," Tristan answers with a blank stare.

Monique then asks, "Is she blackmailing you? If so, why? What have you done?"

"Nothing in my eyes, but she disagrees with my lifestyle." He shrugs.

Monique teases, "What happened? You took her to a hotel with no spa?" 

"I may be unreachable for a few weeks, but promise you won't abandon me. I'll need my friends soon. Until I can peaceably rid myself of her, I must submit to this relationship." Tristan answers, somber.

"I didn't comprehend him, but I agreed."

Monique's now deep in thought. She questioned Tristan asking where Alex found him. He told her in the wilderness. Monique asked why wasn't he on a Navy ship. Tristan explained he had several duties. After that explanation, she stopped questioning him and promised to stay close. Needless to say, I left that evening more confused than I came.

Today's work only requires my services. I drive up to Tristan's bright and early and the front door's wide open. As I walk in calling out for Monique, I notice muddy footprints tracking throughout the house. My beautiful living room is trashed! The dining room's curtains are ripped and muddy prints are on the table. Soon, I go from annoyed to afraid. 

Soft, I call out Monique's name again then I hear knocking coming from upstairs. Taking a deep breath I then creep up the stairs. In the distance, I hear whispering then grunting. Too, this trail of mud is leading into Tristan's bedroom. I look inside and there's someone or somebodies under the covers. I've walked in on Tristan ravishing some woman. Silent and careful I go to sneak out, but now the woman sounds as if she's in pain.

She cries out, "Tristan you're hurting me!"

It's Monique's voice. So not to embarrass her I tip-toe down the stairs. Midway down Monique begins screaming for her life! I'm torn on what to do. Do I confront him or run and call the police? I decide to run but she's screaming in a high-pitched blood-curdling octave, "HELP ME PLEASE!"

Unable to leave her, I take out my handgun and snatch the covers off of them. Instantly, I'm frozen in horror! Monique is a bloody pulp of flesh and there's some huge, skinless, rabbit-looking demon devouring her! I'm now screaming for my life, then I wake up! Thank God it was only a nightmare! I'm drenched in sweat. My hair is soaked as if I had taken a shower.

Rushing into the kitchen, I get me a bottle of water and guzzle it down. My heart's pounding. After I calm myself I feel disgusting. I take a long shower then go out to the balcony. It's one in the morning and peaceful. The waves of the lake settle me. I ask God what on earth was that dream about? I know most dreams are meaningless. They come through anxiety and the busyness of the day, but some dreams stick. Most times you can't even remember your dreams right after you wake up, but I remember this dream in full detail. Each time I think of it I become afraid. 

I wished I had Monique's number so I could call and check on her right now. Tomorrow, I'll get it. All of a sudden, I start to feel uncomfortable as if someone's lurking in the dark. Instantly I go inside, lock my storm doors, and shut the blinds.

I'm still sleepy, but before I return to bed I glance at my cellphone and see Tristan has called and he left a voice message. 

"Hi, Jade. It's good to hear your voice even if it is a recording. Monique tells me the house is great, so thanks...I miss you. Let's start over. I'll show you I can be a gentleman. I should be back in town sooner than later. Don't call back I'll call you in a few days...Okay. Bye."

Tristan is overwhelming, but I must confess his phone call delighted my soul. Seems he is a backwoods brute who has been thrust into this bougie corporate world. He desires to be free to grow a scruffy beard, with dirty fingernails, and drive a F350 loaded with a deer he just hunted in the back. We love him groomed and beautiful, but it's apparent he hates having to live this lifestyle. It sounds heartless, but Alex didn't fit into his world.

Today is the real day I work alone. I pinch myself to make sure I'm not in a dream. Even though the coffee at Tristan's is the absolute best, I stop for coffee to confirm I'm awake. That nightmare was brutal. 

As I pull up I notice Monique's car isn't out front. I ring the doorbell twice before I turn the doorknob, but it's locked. Whew! I'm relieved. After that dream, I don't think I could've entered anyway. I ring the doorbell once more then I walk over to the picture window to look inside. No one's inside from what I can see. However, I see stacks of boxes as if someone's been packing. I ring the bell one last time, then leave.

I'm at my office awaiting Tristan or Monique's call. Once afternoon hits I decide to text Tristan:

"Hi, Tristan. Sorry to bother you, but I haven't heard from Monique all day. Will you please forward her my number? Thx. Looking forward to seeing you soon."

It's nearing five in the evening, and I still haven't heard from Tristan or Monique. I closed and decided to go by his home one last time. I pull up and Monique's car still isn't here, but there's a for sale sign on the lawn. Is this for real? Immediately, I called Tristan. He doesn't answer and I refuse to leave a voice message. What is going on? I jump in the car and call Toni.

"Hey girlfriend?" she answers.

"Hey. Uh, I just left Tristan's and his home is for sale? Have you heard anything about this?"

"Yes. Malcolm told me a young woman came in yesterday and put it on the market via Tristan's request."