TAMMY’S POVI wake up the next morning feeling sore and strange. How could Sean and I be in such a rocky place yet get deeply intimate with each other? Share our bodies even though our minds are at war.I think I need some space to really think this through.But first, I need breakfast. I’m exhausted after last night. I’m pretty sure we could not have gotten any more than a few hours sleep. Sean is already up since I’m the only one stretching awake in our bed. He must be having breakfast with Sue.I rinse my face, brush my unkempt hair and make my way to the kitchen where Sean and Sue are already seated at the dining room table, enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee and some hand-squeezed orange juice. “Morning.” I say, going over to the kitchen island to pour myself something to drink. I look over to Sean, already scrolling through his phone, checking his emails. Sue looks perturbed. She’s always been friendly with me but not today. Something is off. She takes a look at me and
TAMMY’S POVAfter a long day and very little sleep the night before, I pull up to The Monarch Hotel, a mid-rise building in the city. Sean brought me here for dinner just after we got married. I thank my cab driver as I step out and into the lobby of the hotel made of modern steel and glass architecture. I decided not to drive my car around for the next few days, I’ve learnt my lesson. Sean will inevitably track my location and try to force me to come home, causing another embarrassing scene. I check into my suite on the 10th floor and unpack my suitcase. I find myself gazing out of the floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the city. The panoramic view reminds me of the apartment as the soft orange light fills the serene hotel room.I think of Sean as I get comfy on the emerald green sofa. He hasn’t called me yet. By now he must have realized I’m not home and that my suitcase is missing. Finally, after my second glass of wine, the calls start coming in from Sean. I decide to
SEAN’S POVTammy is making life really fucking difficult. She hasn’t come home yet after the conversation at the breakfast table about Sue not moving out. What does she expect? This is Sue’s home. We’re just guests.It’s been almost twenty-four hours and I haven’t heard anything from her. Where the hell is she? I tried calling late last night thinking she might be working over time. But nothing. My calls went straight to voicemail. So, this is what our relationship has become. She threatens to file for divorce and flees? Really mature, Tammy. To be fair, I haven’t been the most mature in this situation either. Last night when I couldn’t get hold of Tammy, I made a turn at Gideon’s house, thinking Tammy might be there again with that brute. I made sure to leave behind another smashed window before Gideon pulled up into his driveway, insisting Tammy had been in his house all day. My last resort was to call Tammy’s mother. Again, I came up short.I’m running out of ideas here. Tammy i
TAMMY’S POVSean handed me an envelope yesterday with a bright red card inside. I opened it excitedly and made out the words written in his terrible handwriting, “Pack your bags, my darling. We’re going to Greece. Happy first Anniversary! Love, your hubby.”Well, this makes up for missing our honeymoon in Italy last year because of his last-minute work commitments. This is finally going to be the vacation of my dreams! After a few hours, we land in Greece. The air is thick and hot as we step out of the stale airplane air.Sean grabs my hand while we walk off the runway and looks deeply into my eyes. I crook a little smile and wink at him.“We’re here, babe.” Sean breaths into the humid air.I’m so lucky to have Sean. I remember feeling breathless when I first laid eyes on him. He was so tall, I had to strain my neck all the way back in order to meet his brooding eyes, their color a deep, forest green and his hair so perfectly wavy and thick. I distinctly remember the veins bulging ou
TAMMY’S POVI hadn't recovered from the shock when I received another message.It’s from Rachel again, but this time it’s not a text, it’s a picture. I zoom in to the two people sitting in the corner of the room. I can immediately make out that it’s a man and a woman.But the thing is I can’t see Sean’s face, I can only see the back of a man’s head that kind of looks like he does. And he’s definitely as tall as Sean. It must be him. And the woman? I zoom closer to make out her face. I see that voluptuous blonde hair, bright eyes and skin smooth enough to think she was still in her twenties, but I know she’s thirty three. Because it’s Sue. She’s mid-laugh in this photo, her arms almost wrapped completely around Sean. They’ve always been close, even in age. They could be siblings! It must have been strange for Sean to attend his father’s wedding to Sue, him being a teenager and she only 20 at the time. She was his father’s ultimate trophy wife. I finally let out a slow sigh of relief.
TAMMY'S POVSue looks at me with wide eyes from the couch and says “Tammy, hi! Welcome home. It’s a…uhm…surprise to see you back from your trip so early.”Technically, this is Sue’s home as much as it’s mine, so I’m not too surprised that she’s here. She’s been living here with Sean even before I moved in after our wedding. Sean explained to me that since his dad passed away, he didn’t feel comfortable leaving Sue on her own. His apartment is also relatively close to the company’s headquarters - which is ideal for both him and Sue - and it’s definitely big enough for all three of us.Things do sometimes tend to get awkward when you're living with your mother-in-law but I can’t imagine asking her to move out, she’s family. This was definitely one of those times where things are awkward. What was Sean doing feeding her fruit so seductively on the couch? Surely, this isn’t a ‘normal’ mother-son relationship.I look over at Sean as he chews on a strawberry, not breaking my eye contact. A
TAMMY’S POVThis food is surprisingly good, better than most fine dining restaurants Sean takes me to. But I just can’t shake the thought of that bracelet around Sue’s wrist. I have to ask Sean about it when we’re alone tonight. “Thanks for this Sue. Ángel really can cook!”“Oh yes, darling. He owns the best restaurant in Spain! Splendid, isn’t it?” Sue said as she took a sip of wine with her crimson-stained lips. “I think I better turn in for the night, I don’t think I could possibly drink another drop. Goodnight Sue.” I say as I slowly stand up out of my chair to head inside. Sean doesn’t move in his seat. I turn towards him, “are you coming, love?”“Yeah, sure. Let me finish this glass of wine and I’ll be right there.” Sean says as he grabs his glass, still full of that deep burgundy wine. “Okay,” I sigh. “Don’t be long”.I stroll through the apartment in a daze until I’m finally back in my room and heading for the closet. I slip out of my silk dress and inspect the shelves fo
TAMMY’S POV“Sue fell down the damn stairs.” Sean said as he re-entered our bedroom.“She can barely walk. I’m going to have to take her to the emergency room for an x-ray and some pain meds.”Shit. I hope Sue is okay. I’m frustrated that she keeps pulling Sean away from me but I guess I’m more disappointed that Sean keeps letting her. I understand this was a random accident. It’s not really her fault. I’ve changed out of my lingerie and into a loose fitting bath robe. Whatever was happening in this room before Sue fell is going to have to wait.“Can’t you ask Tito to take her to the hospital?” I wonder, trying to find an easier solution than Sean heading down to the ER at midnight. Tito is his personal bodyguard and I know he’s always on call. “No, it’s late. And this isn’t an emergency” he dismisses me, slipping on a cashmere sweater and a pair of his suede loafers.Sean makes his way out of the bedroom once again and I follow to where Sue has been sitting on a red velvet chaise l