Triangulation

Looking at her watch for the fifteenth time, June cursed when she discovered that less than a minute had passed since her last check. That bastard. Out with his whore again. She walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Grabbing a couple of carrots and an apple, she moved to the counter and began chopping them to fit into the juicer. June had been on the juice only fast for three days, and though her fingers were starting to take on the color of oompah loompahs, it was highly preferable to the extra ten pounds she had been lugging around. Of course, Jerry would never notice the weight loss or the orange coloration. She couldn’t remember the last time the two of them had spent any real time together. Not since the whore came on the scene.

June shoved the carrot pieces into the juicer, pressing them down a bit more violently than intended. The gadget responded by sending a small spray of orange up into the air. June watched as the drops showered down on her countertops. Great. Something else to stress about.

“Mom, can I have some juice too?” Alex asked as he raced into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “I want some juice and a sandwich and maybe a couple of cookies.” June didn’t care. “Eat whatever you want. I’ll make you some juice when I’m done with mine. Did your dad show up at practice today?” Alex nodded his head up and down, as June sighed in relief. At least the jackass did something right. “He was there for the warm-ups, than he took off. Said he had a meeting and that he’d be home real late. He told me to tell you not to wait up.” Alex paused for a breath and continued. “Mom, why does he always have so many meetings? He didn’t used to be gone all the time. Did he get a promotion or something?”

June focused on her juicing, thinking to herself. Great. Now I’ve got to explain to my son how his dad has a girlfriend and would rather spend time with her than his kids. Screw that. I’ll do what he does. Lie. Turning to face Alex, she said, “That’s right honey, daddy got a promotion. Less money, more work. Because your dad is so good at what he does.”

“Less money, more work? That doesn’t sound so good,” Alex responded.

“Learn from his mistakes Alex. Your family is the most important thing in the world.”

Alex nodded and returned to his sandwich fixings. June reached into the fridge and pulled out some more carrots and apple for Alex’s juice. She just wanted to crawl up in bed and cry. What does that bitch see in her husband? He’s an addict, just barely off the pain pills. He hasn’t worked in years. June wondered if the whore knew that all their assets were in her name and hers alone. They had done that for safety back when he was trading stocks. Since he took up with the bimbo, she had been slowly draining the accounts and moving them into new and different places. Let him find them. Ha. She wasn’t about to be the laughing stock of the neighborhood.

Lana kissed him one last time before he walked out the door. It was already 1:30 a.m., and she couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t just spend the night. He reached for her naked body and she shimmied back, “No way. If you’re leaving, no touching.” Jerry smiled at her, “I’ll be back for more tomorrow. I love you.” She softened at that, “I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you too.” And she did. With all her heart. He was the best man she had ever met, and she couldn’t believe her luck. The only drawback was that evil wife of his, June. Every night, like clockwork, despite her best efforts and outfits, he left at 1:30 to go home. Saying he didn’t want the kids to wake up and not find him there. Kids my ass, she thought. Those kids are seventeen and twenty. They’ve got to realize their mother makes him insane. Why else would he be popping all those vicodin? When Jerry’s with her, he rarely takes anything. A couple of glasses of wine, but who doesn’t drink?

Walking back to the bedroom, Lana paused to pick up a wineglass and drink the last few sips. Foolish to let it go to waste. Placing the glass in the sink, she walked to the bathroom and smiled. She looked good. Those implants had done wonders for her life. Best five grand ever. She padded into the bedroom and fell asleep, dreaming of Jerry.

Driving the ten blocks home, Jerry popped two vicodin, knowing by the time he got home, it would kick in and he’d be able to fall asleep. That Lana was something special. When he was with her, he felt like he was the big man. Not like the whipped puppy June had created. If only he could find a way to move the money back into his name, or at least into a joint account. He hated being dependent on June for every dime, but that’s exactly how it seems. He had a couple of small accounts hidden deep, but not enough to escape her grips. Plus there were the kids to worry about. Alex has enough issues, what with the figure skating and all. How the hell did he create a boy figure skater. That kid’s going to need a fortune in therapy. Sighing, he wondered whether Lana had anyone else in her life. He was so worried that she would toss him, he made sure to spend as much time with her as possible, so she wouldn’t have a chance to hook up with anyone else.

Sex with Lana was special. She needed it as much as he did. Not like June. June would be totally content having sex once a week, and she would never let him do the things he did to Lana. He’d tried, but June made it clear once Alex was born that from then on, sex was just an obligation, not any kind of pleasure for her. Bitch. She was his wife. She should at least try and enjoy it once in a while. Jerry tried to remember the last time they had sex. It had to have been eight months or so ago, right before he had met Lana. It was amazing how much different the two women were. Lana was all curves and voluptuousness. All about pleasure and lust. June was about austerity and severity. There was no joy in that woman.

Jerry yawned, surprised at how tired he was. After eight months, he was used to this routine. But somehow, tonight, it was harder to focus on the road. He fidgeted in the seat, only seven more blocks. I can do this. By the time he pulled into the driveway, he was shot. Instead of getting out of the car, he passed out in the driver’s seat. Alex woke him up the next morning. “Dad. Dad. Wake up. Why are you in your car?” Jerry made some feeble excuse and stumbled into the house. June gave him the death stare as he walked upstairs to shower and shave. How much more can one man take?

By: Lauren J. Walter July 18, 2008