Page 113 of My Mistake To Make

‘Doug. What she did is illegal. You should be sending your sister up there to arrest her.’

I take a sip of coffee and contemplate my next move. Jessie, the old Jessie, would have lost her shit by now, knowing she’s not getting what she wants, yet, this imposter is staying calm, keeping it together, being rational. Fuck, I’m so confused.

‘If I tell Bree, you could get in trouble for the break-in—for taking the box.’

I watch the soft smile curve her lips, and she reaches out to put a hand on my thigh.

‘Don’t you worry about me, Douglas Campbell. I did what I had to do.’ I take another sip. ‘I know it’s all crazy right now, and you need to get over what you had with her, but,’ her hand slides up a little higher, ‘I really would like to revisit the idea of us being a family,’ higher, ‘and maybe,’ she drops off the chair to kneel in front of me, ‘I can make you feel a little better in the meantime.’ There she is. True colors on show.

I push my chair back and stand, and she looks up at me, shocked.

‘Jessie, no. That can’t happen.’

‘Doug, please, just give us a chance.’ She doesn’t get up from her knees, and I turn my back. I can’t look at her begging me. ‘I love you. Why don’t you understand that? Everything I’ve done has been because I was scared of losing you.’ I feel her hand on my back and turn, taking her arms in my hands.

‘I don’t love you, Jess. I love Cara.’

And just like that, the mask falls off. The scowl I’ve gotten used to over the past few years is back, and she steps back as though I burned her.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ The hiss is full of anger and hurt as she turns away and starts to pace. ‘Even afterthis, even after the letters. That fucking bitch has everything, every damn thing that should be mine. It’s not fair. It’s not fucking fair.’ She’s ranting and pacing, and I realize she’s not even talking to me anymore. She’s just talking. ‘It should be mine, all of it. She’d never even set foot in this damn town, and now she gets the house, the money, the friends, the man, and she even gets my fucking kid. No, no, I can’t let it happen.’

Without warning, she picks up the coffee pot and throws it across the room, screaming with the force of her efforts as coffee and glass explode against the white wall.

‘Jessie!’ I say, shocked, stepping forward as she holds her arms with her hands and stares at the mess she made. Tears roll down her face as she shakes and cries.

‘I wrote the letters.’ She sobs, and I freeze. ‘I wrote them because she has everything, and I have nothing, and it’s not fair.’

I swallow hard and press my teeth together, trying hard not to blow as the reality that I blew up my relationship for a lie sinks in.

‘Why, Jess?’ I ask weakly, stepping a little closer as she sinks to the floor, crying hard, and I look down at her. ‘Why would you do this?’

‘She’s my sister.’ She gazes up at me. ‘YourpreciousCara is my sister, Doug.’

Another Letter?

Doug

I should have askedquestions. I should have stayed and asked what fuckin’ universe Jessie was living in, but I didn’t. Instead, I turned and walked out of the front door, and I’ve been throwing a ball in the backyard for Harley for the past thirty minutes.

What the fuck?

‘Harley, come and get a drink.’ Mama’s voice behind me startles me, and I suddenly feel guilty for keeping Harley outhere running around in this heat. She’s a good dog, and she stayed, even when I didn’t notice her panting, her tongue hanging out.

I turn to see Harley taking a long drink on the back patio before flopping down on the cool tiles in the shade.

‘You want to tell me why you’re out here sweating out half your body weight and hers?’

I sit on the patio chair next to Mama’s and inhale deeply.

‘Everything is fucked.’

‘I’ll excuse the language this time because of the look on your face, but don’t forget who you’re talking to.’

I turn to look at her, ready to apologize, when I see her wink. She’s been at Merv’s, and I’m pretty sure Bree didn’t tell her anything because she’s not kicking my butt.

‘Mama, there’s no way to tell you any of this without cussin’.’ I shake my head, and she reaches out for my hand. I give it to her, letting her hold it and soaking in the comfort it brings. How do I even start? ‘I accused Cara of blackmailing Roberta to get the house.’ She gasps, and I turn to look at her. ‘It gets worse. I did that because Jessie gave me some letters, supposedly from Cara to Roberta, and instead of questioning it, I stormed in there and called her a lying bitch.’ She drops my hand like it’s on fire, and it sucks.

‘Douglas Campell!’ She stands and paces away. ‘I did not raise you to talk to a woman that way, especially not a woman you care about.’

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