I wasn't going to post this right away but we all seen it coming...........
Amanda pushed open the apartment door and stumbled in with Kyle behind her, they had decided to save on cab fare and just let Kyle crash on the couch for the night. . She closed the door behind them and took off her heels, she would assume by now Harry would be home and probably in bed, but there were no lights on. She flicked on the kitchen light and looked around, usually Harry left a light on for her, he always had in Paris when a shoot ran late. She set her keys and purse on counter and looked over at Kyle who dazily stood behind her.
"Musta been some staff party huh?"mumbled Kyle. Amanda shrugged and slipped off her jacket.
"Did you get that girl's number?"asked Amanda as she lazily threw the jacket on the kitchen table,"Fuck it's like three thirty."
"Gretchen? She had a weird mole thing on her neck, don't think I could live with that for long,"said Kyle before a loud muffled sound broke through. Amanda looked at Kyle with a creased brow as Kyle noticed it as well. Immediately Amanda headed back through the kitchen to the hallway.
"Hold up,"said Kyle pulling her back slightly, he moved in front of her as they went into the hallway where they heard the noise again. Kyle looked over at the closed door of Amanda and Harry's bedroom.
"I'll call nine one one if we need it,"said Amanda held the phone up from the kitchen. Kyle silently nodded before he slowly turned the door knob and pushed the door open silently, as he peaked in he seen the last thing in the world he would've expected. The moonlight from the curtainless window shone in on the bed where Harry was with a brunette who was riding without a shame, 'shit, someone's gonna need nine one one now' thought Kyle as he quickly shut the door not caring who heard the noise.
"What was it?"asked Amanda eagerly.
"Nothing,"said Kyle.
"Well it was something,"said Amanda,"Let me see." She moved too quickly for Kyle to stop her as she grabbed the door knob and pushed the door open. Kyle stood there almost stopping his breathing as Amanda stood there silently.
"Aje,"said Kyle silently as he peered in to the room where the two in bed had noticed her presence. Amanda reached over and flicked on the light, immediately the bright light filled the room. Shaking her head slowly at the sight Amanda seen Ronnie staring at her with a cruel laughter in her eyes.
"Get out,"said Amanda in a low calm voice,"Get out of my bed, get out of my house." Kyle looked over at the pair then at Harry, and it was dead clear that Harry was overly drunk. Amanda stalked over to a pile of clothes laying on the end of the bed, leaning down she scooped up the pile of clothes ignoring Ronnie's demanded to know what she was doing. With one hand Amanda yanked open the window letting the cold windy air rush into the room and without a second thought she carelessly tossed the clothes out the window.
"Oh my god my clothes,"screamed Ronnie as she clutched a sheet to her chest.
"Yeah see I don't care,"said Amanda as she walked over to the bed, she reached over and grabbed Ronnie's arm.
"Amanda,"said Kyle,"Calm down."
"I am calm,"said Amanda before hauling Ronnie off the bed,"Aren't I Ronnie?"
"Let go of me,"cried Ronnie struggling to keep herself covered with a sheet and keep from Amanda dragging her out of the room.
"Shut up bitch,"screeched Amanda shaking Ronnie violently,"Do you think I care about you right now?" Kyle quickly intercepted them pulling Amanda away from Ronnie as fountains of tears poured down her cheeks.
"Come with me,"said Kyle quietly to Ronnie as he practically pulled her out of the room. As they left Amanda looked over at the bed where Harry was. He looked up at her with glazed over eyes as he swallowed.
"You sonofabitch,"muttered Amanda in a low voice.
"I, I, I,"stuttered Harry in a dry scratchy voice. Amanda's death stare quieted him down, slowly she turned and left the room shutting the light off.
******
Kyle stood at the door with with Ronnie who had the sheet wrapped around her, he shrugged off the jacket and gave it to her.
"I will uh, give it to Harry on Monday,"said Ronnie as she gingerly took the jacket.
"Don't bother,"said Kyle,"Keep it." Just as Ronnie stepped out the door Kyle quickly slammed the door behind her then turned and sighed loudly. There was silence and that to him was scary, he could just imagine Amanda on top of Harry ruthfully holding the pillow over his face but the light was out in the bedroom and there was one on in the living room. Slowly he walked into the living room room where he found Amanda sitting on the couch smoking a cigarette. He could tell she was slowly falling apart as she sat hunched over almost trembling as she silently sucked away at the cigarette.
"Merry fucking Christmas to me huh?"asked Amanda looking up at Kyle,"Is he sleeping?"
"Aje, he's really drunk, I don't even think he knows what he is doing,"said Kyle,"Ya know she dyed her hair brown, and I hate to say it but after a lot of drinks, and I mean a lot of drinks someone could mistaken her for you."
"Are you hanging out? I would if I were you, cause I don't what I'm going to do at this point, I might just get the sudden urge to kill him, you might wanna stop me, ya know with you all being family,"said Amanda.
"Aje, maybe you need some sleep,"said Kyle,"You've had a lot to drink." Amanda just sat there watching the smoke rise from her cigarette, the tears blurred her eyes as she sat there in an unbelievable whirlwind of disastor. Taking another drag from her cigarette she dumped it into a disguarded glass sitting on the table that still had liquid in it. Slowly she pulled her legs up on to the couch as she rested her head down onto a pillow wishing that she'd wake up and everything would just a nightmare. She closed her eyes but couldn't sleep all she could think about was Harry and Ronnie, eventually she heard Kyle get up and turn the lights off, he slept on the loveseat.
********
The next morning Harry slowly opened his eyes, he felt the sunlight break in from the window and attack his eyes. Gripping the sheets he felt his heart almost pound out of his chest, he had a really bad uneasy feeling about himself. Turning his head over he seen Amanda in the closet, she was pulling clothes off hangers and folding them then putting them in a suitcase. Raising his head Harry ignored the pounding washy feeling he had.
"Mandy,"said Harry in a raspy throaty voice as he pulled himself from the bed. He stumbled on his feet causing him to sit on the edge of the bed. Amanda ignored him as she continued packing the suitcase.
"Aje,"said Harry again fearing the worst, that last night, what part came back to him were true,"Aje, are you mad?" This got Amanda's attention, she looked from her packing and walked out of the closet to the bed where Harry was sitting. She stood next to him and pulled back the comforter and sheets to the fitted one. Pointing at a darker strain that crusted on the satin sheet she looked down at him.
"See this?"asked Amanda,"See this cum stain?" Harry looked down at it slightly confused.
"Yeah, this stain, this is from when you musta missed the dirty bitch's cunt last night,"said Amanda. It hit Harry like a ton of bricks, it was if he could see his marriage crumble before him. He looked up and seen tears streaming down Amanda's puffy eyes, evidence of her crying spells earlier.
"Mandy, don't cry,"said Harry softly as he tried to take her hand. Amanda pulled her hand back quickly and wiped the tears.
"I'm not crying over you, I'm crying because I was so stupid, I was so fucking stupid to trust you, I was so fucking stupid to marry you and most of all I was a fucking retard for having a child with you,"screamed Amanda,"That's why I am crying, I would never cry over scum like you." She turned and stormed into the closet as Kyle appeared in the doorway. He looked at Harry silently then walked into the closet with a cup of coffee for Amanda.
"You can only have this if you leave the room,"said Kyle quietly. Amanda nodded and followed him out of the room and into the kitchen. She took the coffee cup from him and leaned against a counter, Kyle leaned across from her on the opposite counter. He watched as she took a sip of her coffee and looked away as she cross an arm across her stomach.
"Are you almost ready?"asked Kyle.
"Yeah,"said Amanda nodding.
"Do you know what you're doing yet?"asked Kyle.
"Get out of here and get some things together,"said Amanda.
"Maybe get to the bottom of things here,"suggested Kyle. Amanda looked at him with doubtful eyes.
"Look you know I'm on your side here, ya know I maybe a jerk sometimes but there's one thing I'll never do, cheat, but ya know Harry loves you to death and he did look pretty wasted last night,"said Kyle,"And it's Ronnie."
"I had my fair share last night in booze but was I on any old piece of ass walking around?"asked Amanda.
"True,"said Kyle,"All I'm saying is don't walk away without asking questions." Amanda took another sip of her coffee then set the mug down before walking back into the bedroom to the closet. Harry was still sitting on the bed with a dumbfound look on his face, Amanda didn't know who to be more angry with Ronnie or him. Sighing she leaned over and zipped up her suitcase and lifted it up right.
"Where are you going?"asked Harry.
"Away from here,"said Amanda.
"Stay, we'll talk, we'll work something out,"said Harry. Amanda shook her head as she pulled the suitcase out of the closet.
"Harry you had sex with another woman, you have to come to grips with that,"said Amanda solemenly,"You messed things up here and I don't think they can be put back." Amanda left the room with her suitcase. At the door was a smaller one with Aiden's clothes in it, she was planning on going to her father's for a while.
"The taxi is here,"said Kyle hanging up the phone from the driver calling up,"I'll help you down with everything." Amanda nodded her thanks to him as she pulled open the door.
Down on the street Kyle helpped load the luggage into the trunk of the taxi before he hugged Amanda.
"Are you gonna be okay?"asked Kyle.
"Yeah my dad will be there for me,"said Amanda nodding.
"Well give yourself some time, but think about things,"said Kyle.
"I will, and thanks,"said Amanda.
"Okay well I'm gonna go pull him back together, maybe smack him around see if I can knock any sense into him,"said Kyle.
"Give him one for me,"said Amanda half smiling.
"Will do,"said Kyle as Amanda got into the car,"Hey and if you need me, call me."
"Okay, thanks again,"said Amanda. Kyle stood and watched as sthe car pulled away into traffic.
****
Kyle found Harry sitting on the couch in a pair of boxers and a shirt. Quietly he came in and sat on the loveseat staring at his cousin who looked like he had been to hell and back. Biting his lip he got back up and went into the kitchen and got a cup of coffee for Harry. Bringing the cup back in he set it on the coffee table in front of Harry then sat back down. He watched as Harry slowly looked down at the cup then over at Kyle.
"Did she really leave?'asked Harry.
"Yeah man, she did,"said Kyle.
"Things are bad, things are really, really bad,"said Harry.
"Do you remember what went on last night?"asked Kyle.
"I, I, I,"stuttered Harry racking his brain for an answer.
"Who did you think you were having sex with last night?"asked Kyle bluntly. Harry inhaled as she sat back.
"She looked like her,"said Harry helplessly,"The hair, the same perfume, I could've sworn." Kyle took some pity on his cousin, Ronnie had set this one up without a hitch. At this point nevermind Amanda going after Ronnie, he was prepared to go after her himself.
"Oh God what have I done,"said Harry running his hands through his hair. Kyle was torn, in one way he could see Amanda's point, there was no getting over the fact that what she walked in on was mind blowing, her husband was in bed with another woman though it was clear things weren't exactly black and white in the situation, there was a lot of grey, a lot of grey named Ronnie.
"Hey man just chill out,"said Kyle,"Things are gonna work out."
"Yeah, I worked them out, my wife is gone,"said Harry softly in almost a daze. A million thoughts rushed through his head, there were a million and one what ifs' and should haves, if only he had not drank so much, he should have stayed home, what if Amanda had gone with him.
******
Amanda sat in Jessica's apartment, she had called her dad and told him he was gonna have to keep Aiden a bit more, she was in no condition to see him, she had a lot of anger and she didn't want him to be affected by it. She hadn't told her dad any of the details of anything besides that under no circumstances was Harry to have Aiden, Scott was suppose to call the cops before he handed her child over him.
Now she sat with a beer in one hand and cigarette in the other. Jessica sat next to her with her arm around her trying to keep her from breaking down.
"Ya wanna go kick her ass?"asked Jessica.
"No,"mumbled Amanda.
"Ya wanna go kick his ass?"asked Jessica.
"Yes,"said Amanda.
"I don't get it, why are you so much angier at Harry than you are at Ronnie?"asked Jessica.
"Because, she's been doing shit like this for a while, I expect it and I can live with it ya know like fine she can chase after him all she wants but Harry, he was my husband, he was suppose to be faithful, and me since the day he told me he wanted to be with me the very first day, I haven't let another guy touch me even when we were apart I wasn't with anyone because I was never really sure we were over,"said Amanda,"We have a child together."
"He betrayed you,"said Jessica.
"Exactly,"said Amanda softly.
"Well sweetie you've left me with nothing to say,"said Jessica,"I don't think there's anything I can say to ease the pain." Amanda leaned forward and stubbed out her cigarette, she sat back and leaned against Jessica.
"I don't know what I'm going to do,"said Amanda.
"All you have to figure out is what you're gonna do with Aiden,"said Jessica,"Just remember, no matter how hard all of this gets and adorable and perfect little boy needs a mommy."
"I know, I'm gonna go see him tomorrow,"said Amanda,"I think I might see if I can stay at my dad's for a few days."
"You shoulda kicked him out ya know, kept the apartment,"said Jessica taking a drink.
"I didn't wanna be there, not knowing she's been there,"said Amanda,"Ah, but now I'm tired."
"Okay hun, you take the bed, I wanna watch some more TV,"said Jessica. Jessica knew Amanda was gonna need to do some hardcore crying and she was gonna want to do it in private. Plus she knew Amanda wasn't going to be sleeping for most of the night and she didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable in anyway.
"Are you sure?"asked Amanda.
"Yeah, you've had a hard day you need a good sleep,"said Jessica. Amanda laned over and hugged Jessica.
"You've been the best ever,"said Amanda.
"Anytime hun, we're sister,"said Jessica as the parted.
"I owe ya,"said Amanda as she got up.
"You owe me nothing, cause you'd do the same for me anytime,"said Jessica.
"Well good night,"said Amanda as she started down to Jessica's room.
"Night,"said Jessica.
Amanda laid in bed staring at the wall with a pillow clutched in her arms, 'I love him' thought Amanda, that was the most painful part, she still loved him. She wanted to be in his arms, next to him, in her bed, in their bed but she couldn't. Amanda hated more than anything the complexity of everything, she loved him and she was dying from the pain he caused her. It would be so easy just to look past it and just be with him but she couldn't, not knowing everytime she touched him someone else, no not someone else, Ronnie had touched him. Her dream had crumbled, she had the perfect family, a loving husband, a perfect child, everything and now it was just falling apart.
*******
Harry and Kyle sat in the living room. Kyle had stuck around, Harry needed someone around he looked like he'd just been through the war of a lifetime. Harry had been silent most of the day, slowly moping around the apartment like a lost puppy.
"So what are you going to do?"asked Kyle tired of Harry's dropey behaviour. Harry looked over at Kyle with a confused look on his face.
"What?"asked Harry.
"Christ, get off your ass and start planning on how you're gonna get your wife back,"said Kyle,"Every minute you spend hanging around here wallowing in self pity is one minute that Amanda is out there getting over you and trust me some guy is gonna swoop her up so fast." Harry raised an eyebrow at Kyle's euthansiamism.
"I'm serious, because if you wait too long I might just be the guy who gets her,"said Kyle.
"I dunno, I fucked up big time,"said Harry,"It was Ronnie, Amanda still hasn't forgiven Ronnie and it's been over five years."
"Then that just means you're gonna have to work your ass off for her,"said Kyle,"Flowers and jewelry aren't gonna cut it this time."
"You got any ideas?"asked Harry dully.
"No, but we'll think of something,"said Kyle,"Otherwise you're gonna loose your family."
"Yeah I wouldn't doubt I've probably seen the last of my son too,"said Harry realizing the fact.
"Don't talk like that,"said Kyle,"Look in the morning I'll call Ma and she'll help ya."
"I really fucked up this time,"said Harry,"Big time."
"Yeah and you'll make good for it,"said Kyle.
Amanda pushed open the apartment door and stumbled in with Kyle behind her, they had decided to save on cab fare and just let Kyle crash on the couch for the night. . She closed the door behind them and took off her heels, she would assume by now Harry would be home and probably in bed, but there were no lights on. She flicked on the kitchen light and looked around, usually Harry left a light on for her, he always had in Paris when a shoot ran late. She set her keys and purse on counter and looked over at Kyle who dazily stood behind her.
"Musta been some staff party huh?"mumbled Kyle. Amanda shrugged and slipped off her jacket.
"Did you get that girl's number?"asked Amanda as she lazily threw the jacket on the kitchen table,"Fuck it's like three thirty."
"Gretchen? She had a weird mole thing on her neck, don't think I could live with that for long,"said Kyle before a loud muffled sound broke through. Amanda looked at Kyle with a creased brow as Kyle noticed it as well. Immediately Amanda headed back through the kitchen to the hallway.
"Hold up,"said Kyle pulling her back slightly, he moved in front of her as they went into the hallway where they heard the noise again. Kyle looked over at the closed door of Amanda and Harry's bedroom.
"I'll call nine one one if we need it,"said Amanda held the phone up from the kitchen. Kyle silently nodded before he slowly turned the door knob and pushed the door open silently, as he peaked in he seen the last thing in the world he would've expected. The moonlight from the curtainless window shone in on the bed where Harry was with a brunette who was riding without a shame, 'shit, someone's gonna need nine one one now' thought Kyle as he quickly shut the door not caring who heard the noise.
"What was it?"asked Amanda eagerly.
"Nothing,"said Kyle.
"Well it was something,"said Amanda,"Let me see." She moved too quickly for Kyle to stop her as she grabbed the door knob and pushed the door open. Kyle stood there almost stopping his breathing as Amanda stood there silently.
"Aje,"said Kyle silently as he peered in to the room where the two in bed had noticed her presence. Amanda reached over and flicked on the light, immediately the bright light filled the room. Shaking her head slowly at the sight Amanda seen Ronnie staring at her with a cruel laughter in her eyes.
"Get out,"said Amanda in a low calm voice,"Get out of my bed, get out of my house." Kyle looked over at the pair then at Harry, and it was dead clear that Harry was overly drunk. Amanda stalked over to a pile of clothes laying on the end of the bed, leaning down she scooped up the pile of clothes ignoring Ronnie's demanded to know what she was doing. With one hand Amanda yanked open the window letting the cold windy air rush into the room and without a second thought she carelessly tossed the clothes out the window.
"Oh my god my clothes,"screamed Ronnie as she clutched a sheet to her chest.
"Yeah see I don't care,"said Amanda as she walked over to the bed, she reached over and grabbed Ronnie's arm.
"Amanda,"said Kyle,"Calm down."
"I am calm,"said Amanda before hauling Ronnie off the bed,"Aren't I Ronnie?"
"Let go of me,"cried Ronnie struggling to keep herself covered with a sheet and keep from Amanda dragging her out of the room.
"Shut up bitch,"screeched Amanda shaking Ronnie violently,"Do you think I care about you right now?" Kyle quickly intercepted them pulling Amanda away from Ronnie as fountains of tears poured down her cheeks.
"Come with me,"said Kyle quietly to Ronnie as he practically pulled her out of the room. As they left Amanda looked over at the bed where Harry was. He looked up at her with glazed over eyes as he swallowed.
"You sonofabitch,"muttered Amanda in a low voice.
"I, I, I,"stuttered Harry in a dry scratchy voice. Amanda's death stare quieted him down, slowly she turned and left the room shutting the light off.
******
Kyle stood at the door with with Ronnie who had the sheet wrapped around her, he shrugged off the jacket and gave it to her.
"I will uh, give it to Harry on Monday,"said Ronnie as she gingerly took the jacket.
"Don't bother,"said Kyle,"Keep it." Just as Ronnie stepped out the door Kyle quickly slammed the door behind her then turned and sighed loudly. There was silence and that to him was scary, he could just imagine Amanda on top of Harry ruthfully holding the pillow over his face but the light was out in the bedroom and there was one on in the living room. Slowly he walked into the living room room where he found Amanda sitting on the couch smoking a cigarette. He could tell she was slowly falling apart as she sat hunched over almost trembling as she silently sucked away at the cigarette.
"Merry fucking Christmas to me huh?"asked Amanda looking up at Kyle,"Is he sleeping?"
"Aje, he's really drunk, I don't even think he knows what he is doing,"said Kyle,"Ya know she dyed her hair brown, and I hate to say it but after a lot of drinks, and I mean a lot of drinks someone could mistaken her for you."
"Are you hanging out? I would if I were you, cause I don't what I'm going to do at this point, I might just get the sudden urge to kill him, you might wanna stop me, ya know with you all being family,"said Amanda.
"Aje, maybe you need some sleep,"said Kyle,"You've had a lot to drink." Amanda just sat there watching the smoke rise from her cigarette, the tears blurred her eyes as she sat there in an unbelievable whirlwind of disastor. Taking another drag from her cigarette she dumped it into a disguarded glass sitting on the table that still had liquid in it. Slowly she pulled her legs up on to the couch as she rested her head down onto a pillow wishing that she'd wake up and everything would just a nightmare. She closed her eyes but couldn't sleep all she could think about was Harry and Ronnie, eventually she heard Kyle get up and turn the lights off, he slept on the loveseat.
********
The next morning Harry slowly opened his eyes, he felt the sunlight break in from the window and attack his eyes. Gripping the sheets he felt his heart almost pound out of his chest, he had a really bad uneasy feeling about himself. Turning his head over he seen Amanda in the closet, she was pulling clothes off hangers and folding them then putting them in a suitcase. Raising his head Harry ignored the pounding washy feeling he had.
"Mandy,"said Harry in a raspy throaty voice as he pulled himself from the bed. He stumbled on his feet causing him to sit on the edge of the bed. Amanda ignored him as she continued packing the suitcase.
"Aje,"said Harry again fearing the worst, that last night, what part came back to him were true,"Aje, are you mad?" This got Amanda's attention, she looked from her packing and walked out of the closet to the bed where Harry was sitting. She stood next to him and pulled back the comforter and sheets to the fitted one. Pointing at a darker strain that crusted on the satin sheet she looked down at him.
"See this?"asked Amanda,"See this cum stain?" Harry looked down at it slightly confused.
"Yeah, this stain, this is from when you musta missed the dirty bitch's cunt last night,"said Amanda. It hit Harry like a ton of bricks, it was if he could see his marriage crumble before him. He looked up and seen tears streaming down Amanda's puffy eyes, evidence of her crying spells earlier.
"Mandy, don't cry,"said Harry softly as he tried to take her hand. Amanda pulled her hand back quickly and wiped the tears.
"I'm not crying over you, I'm crying because I was so stupid, I was so fucking stupid to trust you, I was so fucking stupid to marry you and most of all I was a fucking retard for having a child with you,"screamed Amanda,"That's why I am crying, I would never cry over scum like you." She turned and stormed into the closet as Kyle appeared in the doorway. He looked at Harry silently then walked into the closet with a cup of coffee for Amanda.
"You can only have this if you leave the room,"said Kyle quietly. Amanda nodded and followed him out of the room and into the kitchen. She took the coffee cup from him and leaned against a counter, Kyle leaned across from her on the opposite counter. He watched as she took a sip of her coffee and looked away as she cross an arm across her stomach.
"Are you almost ready?"asked Kyle.
"Yeah,"said Amanda nodding.
"Do you know what you're doing yet?"asked Kyle.
"Get out of here and get some things together,"said Amanda.
"Maybe get to the bottom of things here,"suggested Kyle. Amanda looked at him with doubtful eyes.
"Look you know I'm on your side here, ya know I maybe a jerk sometimes but there's one thing I'll never do, cheat, but ya know Harry loves you to death and he did look pretty wasted last night,"said Kyle,"And it's Ronnie."
"I had my fair share last night in booze but was I on any old piece of ass walking around?"asked Amanda.
"True,"said Kyle,"All I'm saying is don't walk away without asking questions." Amanda took another sip of her coffee then set the mug down before walking back into the bedroom to the closet. Harry was still sitting on the bed with a dumbfound look on his face, Amanda didn't know who to be more angry with Ronnie or him. Sighing she leaned over and zipped up her suitcase and lifted it up right.
"Where are you going?"asked Harry.
"Away from here,"said Amanda.
"Stay, we'll talk, we'll work something out,"said Harry. Amanda shook her head as she pulled the suitcase out of the closet.
"Harry you had sex with another woman, you have to come to grips with that,"said Amanda solemenly,"You messed things up here and I don't think they can be put back." Amanda left the room with her suitcase. At the door was a smaller one with Aiden's clothes in it, she was planning on going to her father's for a while.
"The taxi is here,"said Kyle hanging up the phone from the driver calling up,"I'll help you down with everything." Amanda nodded her thanks to him as she pulled open the door.
Down on the street Kyle helpped load the luggage into the trunk of the taxi before he hugged Amanda.
"Are you gonna be okay?"asked Kyle.
"Yeah my dad will be there for me,"said Amanda nodding.
"Well give yourself some time, but think about things,"said Kyle.
"I will, and thanks,"said Amanda.
"Okay well I'm gonna go pull him back together, maybe smack him around see if I can knock any sense into him,"said Kyle.
"Give him one for me,"said Amanda half smiling.
"Will do,"said Kyle as Amanda got into the car,"Hey and if you need me, call me."
"Okay, thanks again,"said Amanda. Kyle stood and watched as sthe car pulled away into traffic.
****
Kyle found Harry sitting on the couch in a pair of boxers and a shirt. Quietly he came in and sat on the loveseat staring at his cousin who looked like he had been to hell and back. Biting his lip he got back up and went into the kitchen and got a cup of coffee for Harry. Bringing the cup back in he set it on the coffee table in front of Harry then sat back down. He watched as Harry slowly looked down at the cup then over at Kyle.
"Did she really leave?'asked Harry.
"Yeah man, she did,"said Kyle.
"Things are bad, things are really, really bad,"said Harry.
"Do you remember what went on last night?"asked Kyle.
"I, I, I,"stuttered Harry racking his brain for an answer.
"Who did you think you were having sex with last night?"asked Kyle bluntly. Harry inhaled as she sat back.
"She looked like her,"said Harry helplessly,"The hair, the same perfume, I could've sworn." Kyle took some pity on his cousin, Ronnie had set this one up without a hitch. At this point nevermind Amanda going after Ronnie, he was prepared to go after her himself.
"Oh God what have I done,"said Harry running his hands through his hair. Kyle was torn, in one way he could see Amanda's point, there was no getting over the fact that what she walked in on was mind blowing, her husband was in bed with another woman though it was clear things weren't exactly black and white in the situation, there was a lot of grey, a lot of grey named Ronnie.
"Hey man just chill out,"said Kyle,"Things are gonna work out."
"Yeah, I worked them out, my wife is gone,"said Harry softly in almost a daze. A million thoughts rushed through his head, there were a million and one what ifs' and should haves, if only he had not drank so much, he should have stayed home, what if Amanda had gone with him.
******
Amanda sat in Jessica's apartment, she had called her dad and told him he was gonna have to keep Aiden a bit more, she was in no condition to see him, she had a lot of anger and she didn't want him to be affected by it. She hadn't told her dad any of the details of anything besides that under no circumstances was Harry to have Aiden, Scott was suppose to call the cops before he handed her child over him.
Now she sat with a beer in one hand and cigarette in the other. Jessica sat next to her with her arm around her trying to keep her from breaking down.
"Ya wanna go kick her ass?"asked Jessica.
"No,"mumbled Amanda.
"Ya wanna go kick his ass?"asked Jessica.
"Yes,"said Amanda.
"I don't get it, why are you so much angier at Harry than you are at Ronnie?"asked Jessica.
"Because, she's been doing shit like this for a while, I expect it and I can live with it ya know like fine she can chase after him all she wants but Harry, he was my husband, he was suppose to be faithful, and me since the day he told me he wanted to be with me the very first day, I haven't let another guy touch me even when we were apart I wasn't with anyone because I was never really sure we were over,"said Amanda,"We have a child together."
"He betrayed you,"said Jessica.
"Exactly,"said Amanda softly.
"Well sweetie you've left me with nothing to say,"said Jessica,"I don't think there's anything I can say to ease the pain." Amanda leaned forward and stubbed out her cigarette, she sat back and leaned against Jessica.
"I don't know what I'm going to do,"said Amanda.
"All you have to figure out is what you're gonna do with Aiden,"said Jessica,"Just remember, no matter how hard all of this gets and adorable and perfect little boy needs a mommy."
"I know, I'm gonna go see him tomorrow,"said Amanda,"I think I might see if I can stay at my dad's for a few days."
"You shoulda kicked him out ya know, kept the apartment,"said Jessica taking a drink.
"I didn't wanna be there, not knowing she's been there,"said Amanda,"Ah, but now I'm tired."
"Okay hun, you take the bed, I wanna watch some more TV,"said Jessica. Jessica knew Amanda was gonna need to do some hardcore crying and she was gonna want to do it in private. Plus she knew Amanda wasn't going to be sleeping for most of the night and she didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable in anyway.
"Are you sure?"asked Amanda.
"Yeah, you've had a hard day you need a good sleep,"said Jessica. Amanda laned over and hugged Jessica.
"You've been the best ever,"said Amanda.
"Anytime hun, we're sister,"said Jessica as the parted.
"I owe ya,"said Amanda as she got up.
"You owe me nothing, cause you'd do the same for me anytime,"said Jessica.
"Well good night,"said Amanda as she started down to Jessica's room.
"Night,"said Jessica.
Amanda laid in bed staring at the wall with a pillow clutched in her arms, 'I love him' thought Amanda, that was the most painful part, she still loved him. She wanted to be in his arms, next to him, in her bed, in their bed but she couldn't. Amanda hated more than anything the complexity of everything, she loved him and she was dying from the pain he caused her. It would be so easy just to look past it and just be with him but she couldn't, not knowing everytime she touched him someone else, no not someone else, Ronnie had touched him. Her dream had crumbled, she had the perfect family, a loving husband, a perfect child, everything and now it was just falling apart.
*******
Harry and Kyle sat in the living room. Kyle had stuck around, Harry needed someone around he looked like he'd just been through the war of a lifetime. Harry had been silent most of the day, slowly moping around the apartment like a lost puppy.
"So what are you going to do?"asked Kyle tired of Harry's dropey behaviour. Harry looked over at Kyle with a confused look on his face.
"What?"asked Harry.
"Christ, get off your ass and start planning on how you're gonna get your wife back,"said Kyle,"Every minute you spend hanging around here wallowing in self pity is one minute that Amanda is out there getting over you and trust me some guy is gonna swoop her up so fast." Harry raised an eyebrow at Kyle's euthansiamism.
"I'm serious, because if you wait too long I might just be the guy who gets her,"said Kyle.
"I dunno, I fucked up big time,"said Harry,"It was Ronnie, Amanda still hasn't forgiven Ronnie and it's been over five years."
"Then that just means you're gonna have to work your ass off for her,"said Kyle,"Flowers and jewelry aren't gonna cut it this time."
"You got any ideas?"asked Harry dully.
"No, but we'll think of something,"said Kyle,"Otherwise you're gonna loose your family."
"Yeah I wouldn't doubt I've probably seen the last of my son too,"said Harry realizing the fact.
"Don't talk like that,"said Kyle,"Look in the morning I'll call Ma and she'll help ya."
"I really fucked up this time,"said Harry,"Big time."
"Yeah and you'll make good for it,"said Kyle.