I paced back and forth carving a path into the floor. I ran my hand over my shaved head anxiously. My mind was racing with all kinds of thoughts. Sweat beaded on my forehead and above my lip. What was Karmen up to? Why was she hanging around my wife? I didn’t know the answers to these questions, but it could only mean something bad. My heart raced as I thought of what could come from this situation. I had no idea that Lucille knew Karmen. I wonder how that came about. What the hell. It didn’t matter how it came about. I need to find a way to keep Karmen away from Lucille. I couldn’t have her ruining my already fragile marriage. If Lucille ever found out the secret that I thought was long buried, she would flip. I needed to do damage control and quick.
As the thoughts continued to race through my mind, my cell phone rang in my pocket. I slid it out and looked at the screen. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyway.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Melvin. It’s Karmen.”
My pacing ceased instantly, and my blood ran cold. How the hell did she get my number? Why was she calling me? My hands trembled as I gripped the phone tightly. My breaths quickened as the sweat poured down my face.
“H-how did y-you get my number?” I stammered.
“Don’t worry about that. I have my ways.”
“W-what do you want?”
“Oh Melvin, don’t act as if you’re not happy to hear from me.”
“Karmen, what do you want?” I asked again.
“I wanted to check in on an old friend. Is there something wrong with that?”
“It’s quite coincidental that we see each other today and you want to check in on me?” I said with a forced chuckle.
“Melvin, Melvin, Melvin, don’t be like that. By the way, you looked dashing today.” she said, giggling.
“Is there something I can help you with?” I asked, getting annoyed at her antics.
Ignoring my question, she replied, “I didn’t think that I would ever see you again. What has it been? Hmm… twenty-eight years? Yeah, that sounds about right.”
Sitting on the bed in the guest room with a heavy sigh, I said, “Yeah that sounds about right.”
Sighing softly, she said, “It’s been too long.”
“Mhmm.”
“So, how has life been treating you, Melvin?”
I didn’t like the tone of her voice. She sounded as if she was toying with me. I could tell she wasn’t really looking for an answer, she just wanted to get under my skin. She was holding me in suspense. She wanted me to beg her to tell me the purpose of her call, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t going to comply. I had no idea what she was up to, but I guess I will play her game until she tells me.
“Life has been good to me. I have a beautiful home, a great career, and a beautiful wife. Yeah, I would have to say life has been truly good to me. What about you Karmen? Has life been a blessing to you?”
“Oh, yes it has. I have a wonderful husband, and a career that I love. I take pride in what I do. I love helping people, so my job fits me nicely.”
“Mine does too. I have a man’s job. I own my own mechanics’ shop.” I responded.
“That’s good to know. Enough of the small talk though. I know you are dying to find out what I’m calling for. Questions are fighting their way to your lips, but you aren’t going to ask them. I bet you’re wondering how I know your wife, right?”
“Yeah… I was wondering how you two know each other.”
“Well, your lovely daughter was one of my pupils if you want to call it that. I met her wonderful mother while she was going through her transition. I helped Michelle see herself for the beautiful person she was. Her mother and I became quite close because of it. I had no idea the monster she called her husband was you. Imagine my shock and surprise at your appearance at Michelle’s funeral. Also, imagine my shock at knowing that you are the reason that your daughter is dead.”
“I am not the reason that Michael is dead. He did that to himself.” I shouted, getting angry.
“I see you call her Michael and not Michelle. Mhmm. You can deny it all you want, but you and I both know that your actions caused Michelle’s death. What I want to know is why did you do it?”
“I call him,” I made sure to emphasize the word him, “I call him Michael because that was his name. I am not calling him Michelle because that was not his name.”
“Ok, do as you please, but you haven’t answered my question. Why did you do it?”
“Because he was living a lie and Jason needed to know the truth.”
“But aren’t you also living a lie?”
“W-what are you talking about?” I stammered nervously.
“Are we really going to play this game?” she asked, laughing.
The phone slipped from my hands as my palms grew sweatier. I snatched up the phone before it could hit the ground and placed it back to my ear.
“Karmen, what do you want? Why are you calling me?” I rasped.
Continuing to laugh, she replied, “I want you to tell your wife the truth. Tell her who you truly are.”
“I can’t tell Lucille. It would kill her.”
“Well, either you tell her or I will.”
My heart practically jumped out of my chest at her words. There was no way in hell that I could tell Lucille. I couldn’t disclose my secret to her or anybody else. Karmen must be out of her mind if she thinks that I am going to do so.
“Are you still there?” she asked into the phone.
“Yeah, I’m still here. Karmen, I can’t do that and you can’t either.”
“And, why can’t I?”
“You would ruin me. Why would you want to do that to me?”
“You need to be ruined. You have been living a lie for far too long. Lucille needs to know the truth. Didn’t you think that Jason needed to know the truth about Michelle?”
But that was different.” I argued.
“Why was it so different? Michelle was keeping a secret and so are you. It seems all the same to me.”
“Karmen, why are you doing this? What is your motive?”
“Well, since you like exposing dirty little secrets, I thought I’d join the party. You caused your child to be killed. What she did wasn’t right, but you callously showed no regard for her life. Even now, you feel no guilt. You need to be brought down a few pegs.”
Please, don’t do this. Lucille and I are going through enough. We don’t need anything extra.”
“Like I said. Either you tell her or I will. You have one week to do so, or I will spill the beans.”
“Please, Karmen. Let’s meet to discuss this. I know we can come to some agreement. Things don’t have to be like this.”
“There is nothing that we need to discuss. I loved your daughter as if she was my own. When I looked at her, I saw myself. She went through some of the same hell I went through as a child. She had to deal with someone like you for a father. Michelle needs justice, and I am going to be the one to give it to her. She isn’t here because of you. You ruined your own child’s life, and you ruined your marriage. You are a selfish individual, and you deserve everything you have coming to you. Tell Lucille the truth within one week or I will.” She said, slamming down the phone in my ear.
I sighed aloud as I ran my hands frustratingly over my face. I blew out a heavy breath as I stared at the blank white wall in front of me. How did I get myself in this situation? What am I going to do? My mind raced with thoughts, but no solutions came to mind. I couldn’t let Karmen ruin me. I couldn’t let her tell Lucille my truth. What happened all those years ago was supposed to remain in the past, but Karmen was threatening to expose me. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I had to come up with a plan. I needed to stop her before she opened my carefully buried chest. My demons were coming back to haunt me, and I wasn’t ready to bring up the past. I wanted my secret to remain buried forever. I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes. The memories that I had suppressed for so long made their presence known. My mind took me back to a time that I had hoped to forget forever.