Page 4 of Just Desserts

"Oh, honey you have nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about, family is here to support you."

"Mother, promise me that you will not talk to anyone about this conversation otherwise I will add you to my block list alongside Jonathan and his mistress." I snapped; it wasn't her fault but my tolerance for any conversation at this point was very small. She gasped and I took that as agreement.

"It's Alyssa, he's sleeping with Alyssa." I heard her harsh protestation and could picture her wane face, her hand clasped over her mouth.

"I know how much this is going to hurt Suz and Charlie, I just… I can't deal with that yet, or her. I will tell them when I'm ready, I don't want this to ruin the family, but I need some time to get my ducks in a row. I need to figure out what my next move is, and I do not want Jonathan or Alyssa to know what I'm doing. Do you understand now, why I can't come stay with you and why you cannot talk about this with anyone."

I could hear the tears in my mother's voice when she finally replied. "Of course, honey, I'm so sorry. I can't believe this. Whatever you need I am here for you, my strong, beautiful daughter. You will get through this. Anything you need you tell me, and I'm just going to have to be too busy cooking tomorrow to have to interact with your Aunt, or THAT girl. What was she thinking! How could she do this to you? I can't, I just can't even think about it. Oh, my poor child, I love you."

We cried on the phone together and I promised I would update her soon once I got my head on straight. Next step was to figure out how to get out of going to Thanksgiving with Jonathan'sfamily and keep away from the hapless couple for as long as I could. I thought of the one person who neither Jonathan or Alyssa would dare cross.

My grandmother Dorothy was my only remaining family from my father's side. She lived two towns over, and we have always been close. I usually go out to visit her once a week when possible and we spoke on the phone almost everyday. Grams would help me with an alibi, then I would spend the weekend at the cabin I had rented to try and save my marriage. I would spend the holiday there tearing it apart instead.

Chapter 4

Isla

I struggled to get going the next morning thanks to a blinding headache and mouth dryer than the Sahara. I dragged myself into the bathroom and splashed water on my face and used the new toothbrush Jen had left out for me. Stumbling into the kitchen I found a note next to a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin.

Isla

Take these when you wake up. Coffee is in the pot. There are clean clothes for you in the laundry room. You have a video call with a lawyer on Friday morning at 9am. Call me when you get to the cabin.

Jen

Fresh tears sprang to the surface at my friend's kindness. I took the medicine and had some coffee then made the call I was dreading. Dialing Jonathan's cell phone, I tried to control the shaking in my hands as it rang. When I thought it was about to go to voicemail he answered out of breath.

"Isla? Where the hell are you? We're supposed to be at my parents’ house in a few hours." I clenched my teeth against all the things I wanted to yell at him at that moment. Patience wasn't exactly a virtue of mine, but I knew I had to handle this delicately.

"I'm sorry I didn't call sooner. I got a call from the facility and Grams fell. They're bringing her back from the hospital todayand I'm on my way there. I can't stand the idea of her being hurt and alone, you understand right?"

I had stopped hiding the quiver in my voice channeling my emotions to this false story. He deceived me and cheated. He was a liar and played me as a fool, so now I was just returning the favor.

"What if she had died! All alone in that home, no family. I can't bear it, maybe we should reconsider moving her in with us." I tacked on, knowing how much he was against the idea.

He hated my Grandma Dorothy, and she made her feelings about him clear. I hated to admit she was right but there's no one else I would trust more than her at this moment. After some angry grumbling I managed to get off the call without screaming. I pulled up the directions for the cabin I had rented, glad I told the owners I would arrive late tonight.

I decided a visit to Grams in person before running away for the weekend was better than a call. I could use some of her strength now. I took a shower and tidied up the living room where I slept. Finally, glancing at the clock and seeing it was an hour past the time we were supposed to start Thanksgiving with Jonathan’s family, I got in my car and drove back to our house.

After making sure Jonathan's car wasn't there I parked in the garage and quickly made my way through the house. A chill went down my spine, everything looked different in the afternoon light. Our life that we built, this house, even our marriage looked cheap and tawdry in the day. A pretty facade hiding rotting insides. Shaking my melancholy thoughts away, I took the stairs two at a time and quickly packed a bag with some clothes, my personal documents and my laptop.

Back downstairs, I looked around the kitchen. Sadness started creeping in as I remembered the hours I spent there, happily testing recipes and making bakery plans. My stomach swoopedas I recalled working on cake decorating in this once cheerful space. No, I told myself, I won't miss this. I'd have a new kitchen, and it would be free of the toxic miasma permeating this entire place. Finally, I slipped out of the house and into the car.

As I started the drive to Grams, I thought back on the house and the time Jonathan and I spent there. It all felt so pretentious now. The house and the people living in them were nothing more than paper cutouts, pretty to look at but with no dimension.

On the drive over I called the retirement facility my grandmother lived at to let them know I was stopping by. I pulled into the parking lot and sat in the parked car silently for a few minutes. I yanked the visor down and forced myself to look in the mirror. I hated the look on my face, puffy eyes and blotchy skin but mostly I looked lost, defeated.

Slamming the visor back up I grabbed my sunglasses and headed into the building. I walked down the familiar halls until I approached Grams room. Loud laughs rang out as I turned the corner. I stood in the doorway watching my grandmother hold court among her friends at the facility. Just the sound of her voice was both comforting and sad.

I wished I was a little girl again with my head in Gram’s lap, her soft hands stroking my hair soothingly as she solved all my problems. As if she could sense me, she looked up, the large smile on her face was quickly replaced with a concerned expression. She stood up and headed over to me and before she even had her arms around me, I was sobbing.

I heard muttering around me but was barely aware as everyone left until it was just Grams and me. She rubbed my back calmly, never once asking me what was wrong, just letting me cry it out. When it finally slowed, I stepped back and started to apologize. She shoved tissues in my hand and maneuvered meuntil we were sitting next to each other at the small table in her room. I cleaned my nose and face as best I could and then she grabbed my hands in hers.

"Tell me child, what did that rat bastard do?" Something between a laugh and a groan slipped out of my mouth. Of course, she already knew this had to do with Jonathan. I sighed and stood up and started to pace.

"He's cheating on me. With Alyssa. She's been working as his paralegal. I walked in on them last night, they don't know I know." I looked up and her eyes were filled with venom now, her mouth set in a rigid line.

"So, what's your plan, my darling girl?" She asked in a voice that held a calm quality I hadn't ever heard from her before.

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