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
TAMMY’S POVI look over to the digital alarm clock on my bedside table. It’s 02:35. Next to the clock is the empty pack of contraceptive pills I found. The second Sean walks through our bedroom door, I’m confronting him about this. My eyes are burning from exhaustion. I feel them slowly closing. Just for a minute I tell myself. I truly don’t have the strength to keep them open anymore. Just then, Sean walks into the room. My eyes fly open as I wake up with a start.“Babe, hey. You’re home. Is Sue okay?” I ask a bit disheveled.“Yeah, she’ll be fine.” He said, walking straight into the washroom.“Sean?” I call out a bit louder so he can hear me over the water running in the sink. “I…I need to talk to you about something.”After too long of a pause, Sean finally responds with his toothbrush in his mouth “Tam, I’m beat, I have an early meeting with the board tomorrow. Can’t this wait?”“Sure…” I trail off, not certain if he heard me. I decide that I too have to give up on this day. Wha
TAMMY’S POV“Are you being serious right now, Tam?” Sean asks, visibly frustrated. “I buy you a brand new car and you’re jealous that my step mother gets to drive with me to work every day?”“I’m not jealous, Sean. I would just think that as your wife, you would want to be the first person to help me when I need you. Like today, I needed you. And you chose Sue.” I say, defeated.“Tam, you are being unreasonable here. Sue and I work in the same building, so of course we travel together most days. Yesterday was impossible. I had the most important meeting of my career so far. I couldn’t cancel that to drive you to work.”“I do understand your work is import…”“Obviously not, Tammy!” Sean interrupts. “What, is this not the right color car for you? Do you want something more expensive? Honestly, you’re just sounding spoiled.”My heart breaks into two pieces. Sean knows me. He knows that money and expensive things don’t matter to me. How could he insinuate something like that? A tear forms
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 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
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 POV“I want a divorce," I said calmly.He immediately catapulted out of bed and stormed around to me, blocking my way forward.“I understand tantrums. Might not like them, but I understand them.” he says with intensity, inches from my face, “but you’ve gone too far now, Tammy.”“This isn’t a tantru…” I say but Sean instantly cuts me off.“You are acting out, Tammy. I don’t know what the fuck has gotten into you, but this isn’t what I signed up for when we got married. The woman I proposed to would never storm out in the middle of the night demanding a divorce.”Sean is enraged but composed. He’s breathing so heavily that his muscular pecs rise and fall with every breath he takes. He’s standing so close to me that I can feel the heat radiating off of his body.I reply quietly and calmly, “The girl you married didn’t think she’d have to share you with another woman.”Sean scoffs and looks at the ground, looking incredulous. A small smile peeks out from the side of his mouth, “You
TAMMY’S POVThere’s a light tap-tap on our closed bedroom door. Sean and I both look to the door and then at each other, neither of us willing to break the silence yet. He’s still livid. “Darlings?” Sue genty calls out. She doesn’t open the door but adds, “Ángel has put together a lovely spatchcock chicken for dinner. Please join me at the dining table when you’re ready.”I hear her footsteps as she makes her way back to the kitchen. Why does she always interrupt my and Sean’s conversations? Maybe I should even start expecting it every time Sean and I talk privately.“I’m not hungry.” I say to Sean. It’s the truth. I can’t stomach anything right now, especially the thought of Sean’s dick inside of his step-mother. “If you care about us at all, Tammy, you’ll join us at the dinner table tonight.” Sean says finally and stalks out of the bedroom to join Sue for dinner. I have no response to what he just said. I still do care. Even though my gut says I shouldn’t. I join Sue and Sean at
TAMMY’S POVThe rest of the day went by in a blur. I try to keep myself busy by responding to any personal emails, cleaning out my too-full closet and even organizing my sock drawer. I do so many mindless tasks that don’t even realize that night has fallen. I then decided to sit in the living room reading The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow when I hear laughter coming from the entrance foyer. It seems Sean and Sue are home from another long day at the office.Sue makes her way to the kitchen bar to start pouring her usual drink; an extra dirty martini with three olives. Afterwards, she pours Sean a tumbler of whiskey and hands it to him with a wink.Do they not notice me sitting here, reading?They toast their full glasses at each other and look deeply into one another’s eyes as they smile and sip.“Hi.” I say loudly from the living room sofa. Sean and Sue turn towards me, surprise all over their faces at me sitting there. “Darling!” Sue exclaims, and makes her way towards
TAMMY’S POVI act quickly before Tito catches me looking through Sean’s reports.I take my phone out of my pants pocket and snap a picture of the document. I’m so frantic in trying to restock the files exactly how they were before I touched them that I almost end up knocking the pile of documents off the kitchen counter and onto the floor. I compose myself as Tito walks back into the kitchen and I’m waiting with my hand on my hip, acting as nonchalant as possible. “You okay?” Tito asks me as he reemerges into the kitchen to find me standing there awkwardly. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine. I uh, haven’t been sleeping well recently, things have been a bit crazy…” I quickly change the subject so Tito doesn’t catch on that I’m acting very suspiciously, “Did you enjoy the coffee? You know, Sue is crazy for these hand-roasted coffee beans that come from all different parts of the world. It’s amazing, really.”“Ah, yeah, thanks, it was great. Thanks. I’m not much of a coffee snob so I wouldn’t know
TAMMY’S POVI woke up on Gideon’s couch, still in his oversized t-shirt. I couldn’t bring myself to put Sean’s shirt on, his behavior last night made me beyond upset.I get up to find that Rain isn’t lying on the sofa next to me in a half-dazed state, but that he’s sitting on the floor in the living room, looking at me with his tail wagging. It seems he finally has his energy back. Thank goodness!I call Rain over and give him cuddles as he licks my face and I laugh.I remember that today I have the day off. I need it after last night’s insanity between myself and Sean here at Gideon’s house. It was mortifying, especially for Gideon to witness the whole fight. Rain sniffs around for his bowl of food and digs in. Mmm, breakfast sounds good. I’m starving. I could probably ask Ángel to whip me up a little egg and bacon when I get back to the apartment. I grab my phone to check if I have any missed calls or messages from Sean. Nothing. I don’t know why I feel…disappointed. I know I shou
SEAN’S POVI pull away from Gideon’s house so fast that the wheels spin, leaving smoke in my car’s wake. I’ll have Tito buy me a fresh set of tires tomorrow.I should have pulled Tammy home, kicking and screaming, rather than leave her there with that idiotic brute, Gideon. Who the hell is he anyway? But when Sue called saying she urgently needs meds after getting some vaccine at the hospital because of Tammy’s mutt biting her, I knew I had to just leave that escalating situation at Gideon’s house and help Sue. Before stopping at the twenty-four-hour pharmacy, I grab a spare shirt out of my trunk (seeing as though I just left mine with Tammy). I grab painkillers, anti-nausea and some sleeping pills from the tired looking pharmacist before I finally head home. I make sure to give her the right doses and help Sue to bed. I make my way to my bedroom, slowly unbuttoning my shirt as I pass the empty King-sized bed on my way to the closet. Tammy’s not here and it makes my blood boil. Wh