The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,88
a few hours. “Thank you for being so wonderful to my family,” he said.
“They’re wonderful people, Beau. They were very nice to me. They didn’t ask a single embarrassing question.”
“They’re good that way,” he said. Then he kissed her again. “After everyone has left and Drew has gone to Darla’s, I’m coming over.”
“You don’t have to do that...”
He laughed wickedly. “Tell me you don’t want me to come...”
She laughed right back at him. “I want you to come and never leave...”
“Soon, baby,” he said, kissing her again.
“So, this is how it is,” a woman said. Beau jumped.
He turned. “Pam, what are you doing here?”
“I changed my plans, so I thought I’d swing by and say hello to the family.” She shook her head. “So this is why you won’t give us another try. You were cheating. I knew it all along.”
Lauren couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was. She also couldn’t help but notice that large tears had formed in the dark, lacquered eyes.
“I never cheated on you, but all that’s irrelevant now. You have to leave. I don’t want you to upset my mother. Or anyone else.”
“I love you so much,” Pam said, the tears flowing. “I told you I’d do anything to make it right! But you just had to get yourself a side piece!”
“Stop that! Don’t be vulgar! We’re not going to have it out on Thanksgiving in the driveway with the boys and my family inside!”
“I did everything I could,” she whimpered.
“Beau, I have to leave,” Lauren said. “This isn’t for me to see...”
“Beau, please, send her away. Please talk to me,” Pam said.
“Jesus Christ, Pam, no more drama! There’s nothing more to talk about! I’m done!”
“Send her away and talk to me, please...”
“Beau, talk to her,” Lauren said. “I’m getting out of here.”
Lauren took off at a brisk semi-jog, heading down the block to her car.
“Shit,” she heard him say behind her. “Pamela, don’t you dare go near that front door. Stay right here!” He ran up behind Lauren. “Lauren, you go home and I’ll call before I—”
The door to the house slammed. “Oh God! Just shoot me now!” He turned and jogged back to the house.
Lauren sped home. She put her car in the drive, let herself in the house, locked the door and cried. For about a hundred reasons.
Is that what his wife thought? That they hooked up before he was free. Did he tell her the truth? About the many separations, that she’d left him six months before they met? Was she there to get his sons and family to put pressure on him to save his marriage? Is this how it would be, ex-spouses constantly drumming up trouble? Would people think they’d strayed on their spouses and that’s what caused their divorces? Would she turn the boys against her?
The day had been so perfect, so positive. And was coming to a close with a very nasty twist.
* * *
Pamela was already in the living room, putting on a real show, by the time Beau got back in the house. It was like theater in the round—the boys, his family, his mother, all sitting around or standing, speechless while Pamela sobbed that she would do anything to save her marriage, that she didn’t know Beau was cheating on her, she never suspected, that even her sons had betrayed and turned against her, that she wanted to come home, live in her house again, be the wife and mother...
Beau looked around the room. His mother was twisting her hands and had a pained expression on her face, Michael’s eyes were pinched and he also looked as if he might be in pain. But everyone else looked disgusted and bored. Of course. They’d seen her in action before. Many times. They’d been to Beau’s house during those times Pamela was on sabbatical and witnessed for themselves that the closets were stripped bare of her things. His mother had no idea what was happening on Facebook but the boys and his siblings did. They all saw pictures of her dancing, sunning herself on sandy beaches, doing shots, grinning over the tops of martini glasses, relaxing and enjoying life. The party girl.
“Pamela, you have to leave now,” Beau said. “Boys, would one of you see that your mother gets safely to her car?”
“All I want is a little of your time! We’ve been together for so long! Are you going to throw it all away for your cheap side chick?”