Part 2: Wife
Six months later (Edward's POV)
"Is she coming," my wife asked me, her hand lacing with mine as we waited by the front window of our new home - our home in Erudite.
"Eric said he was bringing her," I answered, tugging on our joined hands to pull her close to my side. I pressed my lips to her forehead and we both stood there, watching and waiting.
Life for me had been full of watching and waiting for the past six months, watching if anybody would notice me, waiting to see if they would react. My girlfriend had been murdered almost ten months ago - murdered by the men that worked with my father. A month later I had moved to Erudite with my now wife. I knew what people thought about me and my wife - and especially about my relationship with Myra - but I didn't let it bother me. At least that's what I told myself.
I had always believed that finding Myra had been the one dream come true in my life. We had known each other since we were children. Not once did I think that we could have anything, especially a future together. We didn't socialize much - my family. But when Myra had plainly told me when we were eleven years old that we would be best friends for life, I believed her. She was everything to me - my best friend and later, my lover. I didn't know I could go on without her. But here I stood - without Myra Valdez in my life.
"There they are," my wife's voice broke me out of thoughts.
I turned to see Eric pull up in his car. He had moved here a couple weeks after me with his fiancé, Ana. For quite some time, he had been trying to get her to come out to have dinner with me and Vanessa - my wife. Did I ever tell you her name? Probably not - I don't like that name.
"Everything is going to be okay," Vanessa assured me.
"If you believe that, then it's obvious you don't know Ana that well," I sighed, moving towards the door to open it. The chill from the January air hit us both as we waved at our visitors. Vanessa rushed to put on a coat and stepped out of my hold to greet them. Eric waved back and as expected, Ana simply stared.
"Eric," Vanessa held out her arms to him.
I saw Ana tense immediately at the gesture, but Vanessa didn't falter. She wrapped Eric up in a warm embrace before turning towards Ana with her bright smile.
"You must be Ana. It's so nice to finally meet you," she said, pulling away from Eric and walking towards her.
Ana's eyes shifted to me before glancing down at Vanessa's stomach. "You're pregnant. So soon," another glance my way. Totally expected, I thought. Though, it would have been something if Ana finished the statement with 'is it Edward's?'. That would have really been a bitchy thing to do but I could tell that Ana was not going to hold back from judging Vanessa.
Did I happen to mention that she and Myra had been best friends?
Yes, they were best friends. And when she had found out that I had gotten married just three months after Myra's death... Well, it wasn't a pretty sight.
"Edward and I wanted to start a family," Vanessa answered.
"Myra did as well," Ana retorted which made Vanessa shift uncomfortably.
"Come on, love," Eric called to her, "let's get inside. I'm sure we'd like to catch up with Edward."
Eric gave me an apologetic look as Ana came to his side, clinging to him as though she were frightened of both Vanessa and this home - like it was full of demons. Little did she know. I had been haunted by Myra's death far greater than I thought I would be. Eric thought he'd gone insane when Ana went to Amity to recover. That was nothing compared to the madness that I fell under trying to cope with my best friend's death.
Vanessa gave me a reassuring smile as we entered the house and I took her jacket off to hang it up. Her long auburn hair swishing to the side as she turned to smile at me. I remember Myra had added brown highlights once to her blonde hair. She didn't like it with the highlights. The next time, she'd do red. She never got the chance. Shaking my head, I tried to concentrate on our guests - one of which was pouting as the other tried to calm her down.
"So, Ana," I began as she reluctantly turned to face me, a false smile on her face. I cleared my throat before gesturing for her and Eric to follow us into the dining room. "How was your first semester at Erudite University," I asked as we sat down - Eric holding the chair out for Ana.
There was a smile on Ana's face before she sobered and looked at me pointedly. "Good," was her simple answer.
"What is your major," Vanessa asked as she handed a glass of water towards Eric and got another one ready for Ana.
"Education," another quick and short answer.
Eric cleared his throat, causing Ana to glance at him before rolling her eyes. She reached out for the water and took a large gulp. "Ana is looking to becoming a teacher," Eric answered for her, another apologetic look my way.
"That's awesome," Vanessa smiled and expressed enthusiasm at the news. "I always thought you'd want to get into business."
"Why would you think that," Ana questioned.
"Well," my wife shrugged before clearing her throat. "Keep up with Eric, I suppose. You know with him being a C.O.O. and everything," she let out a nervous laugh.
"By the way," I interjected, hoping to defuse the tension. "I wanted to thank you Eric for the referral. I needed to think of something with more stability, especially with the baby and..." I paused and realized that that wasn't a good subject either.
"Speaking about jobs, how do you enjoy yours, Ana? Eric told us that you're working with a speech therapist." Vanessa attempted to make conversation with her again. Eric glanced at me and sighed before nudging Ana to reply.
"It's just an internship," Ana stated. "It's not an actual job."
"But it could lead to a job," Eric pressed as Ana smiled at him before glancing back at Vanessa.
"It could."
"She's studying under Dr. Sharipova," Eric decided to add on to Ana's short comment.
"Dr. Sharipova is one of the leading linguist in her field," my eyes widened. "Eric, you really simplified it by saying speech therapist. Didn't Dr. Sharipova do some work in the England or something like that," I questioned. "She won some award for discovering a new language?"
"Something like that," Eric shrugged. "Ana knows more than I do," he looked pointedly at her.
Ana paused before putting on another false smile. "Dr. Sharipova has been great to work for."
A soft nervous laugh escaped my wife. "Well, isn't that exciting? I'm sure that with your internship you could become a teacher at any school that you'd like in Erudite, especially with someone like Dr. Sharipova."
There was a small moment of silence that fell on the group before Vanessa stood up slowly.
I turned to her. "Did you need any help with..."
She waved her hand and put on a smile. "I'm just going to grab the dishes and bring them out."
"Of course," I nodded.
"Perhaps you can go and help her," I heard Eric whisper to Ana. Vanessa had touched my shoulder before walking into the kitchen and I watched as Ana and Eric briefly argued quietly regarding Ana giving her assistance. "Ana," he growled and finally she huffed, pushing back from her chair and going into the kitchen.
"You didn't have to force her, Eric. I understand that this is a tough situation for her to be in," I explained. "Believe me, I know. The other day I saw Myra's dad and he asked me how I was holding up. I didn't even tell him about Vanessa. I know what they're going to think."
Eric shook his head. "It's not really their business. And neither is it Ana's," Eric gestured towards the kitchen.
"Ana wasn't just Myra's friend, Eric. She was mine, too. I know she feels betrayed..."
"Just give her some time," Eric assured me. "She'll come around."
"You're sure about that?"
Before Eric could answer, the kitchen door burst open and Ana came waltzing out of. Ana looked as though she were on the prowl and I couldn't determine why that angered expression was directed towards me. I cautiously went to stand but Ana's hand drew back and slapped me across my face.
"You were barely there at her funeral," Ana shouted. "You came and then you left. I don't know what to call it, but you certainly didn't pay your respects in any way. And then I learn from your wife in there, that she's five months pregnant. FIVE," Ana screeched. I swear her head could have spun around - like the exorcist. That's how possessed she looked. "Myra was barely cold in her grave, Edward! Did you even love her? Did you even think of her? Let me guess," she folded her arms across her chest, "she was dead, so you'd just moved right along didn't you. You're some frickin' frocker down right frostin' frosted bastard, you know that?"
I almost wanted to smile. Some things had never changed. Ana hated saying 'fuck', she hated hearing it. She wasn't raised in a household that did, so naturally, she'd make up her own words. But I couldn't smile at my friend's innocence because at the moment, she was fucking pissed off.
"I'm sorry."
All three of us turned to see Vanessa standing in the doorway, her eyes brimming with tears.
"And you just were a shoulder to cry on, weren't you," Ana whirled around on her. "Edward was mourning a woman, he considered to be the love of his life while he was climbing on top of you."
"Ana," Eric's voice threatened.
"She meant everything to him. You were nothing but a replacement body!"
"Ana," Eric stood and reached for his fiancé's arm but she shook him off.
"You know what I hate the most about all of this is that you have her eyes and the way you tilt your head as if to say, 'what the hell' is exactly the way she would have. Your voice even sounds like her. I hope you know that," Ana stood in front of Vanessa. "I hope you know that that is probably the only reason why he's married to you. It's because he loves her and always will! You're just a stand-in for Myra."
Ana turned back to face me.
"I'm sorry Edward. And I'm sorry Eric," she glanced at him. "I thought I could," she paused, and the tears started to run down her face. "But I can't, I can't pretend that this is alright because I miss my friend. She should be the one that's here, she should be the one you're starting a family with. And I'm sure that Vanessa," she sassed, "is a nice person and all but I just can't pretend."
Ana wiped her face before walking towards the door.
"Ana, wait," Vanessa called and hurried after her.
Both Eric and I walked towards the pair, hoping that Ana wouldn't say anything else and that Vanessa would just let her go.
"Look, I shouldn't have said that," Ana replied as she grabbed her jacket. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too."
Ana laughed cynically and shook her head. "Of course, you're going to apologize and make me look bad, aren't you?"
"That's not what I..."
"I meant it. The things that I said in there - I meant it," her face looked murderous. "I don't have any good thoughts about this situation. And my parents raised me a whole lot better than to say the things I said and that's why I'm sorry because I disappointed them. I disappointed my fiancé because I promised that I would play nice. And I disappointed Edward, I'm sure."
"No," Vanessa replied. "We expected that there would be... What I meant to say is..."
"Stop. Just stop. You probably are a nice person, and all," she waved her hand through the air. "But Myra was my best friend and I just can't deal with this right now."
"Is it true?"
"What is," Ana paused and turned to look at her, as I did. I was wondering where Vanessa was going with this.
"Is it true that I have her eyes or that I talk like her," Vanessa questioned then.
Ana looked at the wall, pausing in her thoughts. I went to wrap my arm around Vanessa, but she took a step forward, closer towards Ana, prompting her to answer. "I didn't have that much friends in Dauntless, my ex - he," Ana released a small laugh, "he was a jerk that made sure I didn't have any friends to count on should anything happen." Ana turned to look at Vanessa. "Myra came along and she just had this way about her that could brighten up my day, make me confident. She was more than just one of my workmates. She was like a sister," Ana said softly.
"You were like a sister to her, too," Vanessa started to cry.
Ana laughed lightly and shook her head. "Look, I'm truly sorry, Vanessa. I just can't," turned and went to the door.
"It's me," Vanessa said quickly.
Fucking hell, I thought. Eric looked at me in panic before glancing back at Vanessa. She was going to screw it up, all our plans and secrets.
"Vanessa," I reached for her.
"My name isn't Vanessa," she shot a look back at me. Her eyes determined - more so than I had ever seen before. We had argued about this for days, weeks, probably months.
"Don't," I whispered but she shook her head and looked at Ana.
"It's me, Ana. It's Myra," she said in a plea-like state.
Ana's head shot around and looked at her. "I don't know what idiotic, stupid, foolish game you're trying to play here," she narrowed her eyes. "Edward can pretend all he wants but I can't."
"Seriously Ana, it's me, Myra."
"There's no way. I was there at Myra's funeral," she shook her head. "I watched them lower her casket into the ground! I hugged her mother and father! We cried together! Don't you dare tell me that you're her! There's no way that you're her! She's dead!"
"I didn't die."
"I saw her get shot! She was lying dead on the floor," Ana screamed, tears still running down her cheeks. She looked miserable - the same as I once had.
"I was shot, yes," she nodded. "But I never died."
"No," Ana shook her head again, turning away from her.
"They needed to keep my death a secret, Ana."
"Stop it, you hear! Just stop making up these stories," Ana moved her hands in a frustrated manner through the air. "You're only making things worst! And I don't want to hear it anymore!"
"What do I have to do to prove it to you," she questioned. "Edward, tell her," she pleaded with me.
Ana folded her arms across her chest. "I don't believe you."
"They had to fake my death, Ana. When I woke up they told me that you were across the hall but that I couldn't see you. Your Aunt Annabella came over and everything," she insisted. "I'm the only one - other than you and Hec - who can put Marcus at the scene."
"You're lying," Ana shouted.
"I got a new identity, they put these hair extensions in my head, I had cosmetic surgery to change my nose and chin and ears and neck and legs. I literally loss an inch of my height," she cried. "I wanted to tell you. But Eric and Edward said that it was best if..."
Ana turned quickly towards me, her eyes boring into Eric's. "Wait! Eric, is that true?"
Eric looked at me. We shared a look before he sighed and turned back to Ana, giving her a small nod.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Remembering those days that followed, I couldn't stand it. I almost died as well. We had both come to Dauntless together - it was our journey, our adventure. And now it didn't seem to have any meaning if I stayed there without Myra.
"I wasn't supposed to know either, Ana," I admitted as Ana gasped in shock. "You're not the only who went crazy after she was gone. Eric knew my situation, he understood what it felt like to lose the person you love. So, he told me to come to an apartment at Dauntless," I was close to tears at reliving my experience. "And she was there," I smiled at Myra.
I suppose now I can confess to you all that it's Myra, my wife.
That day I had felt both relieved and betrayed. Eric had known for nearly a month. He had helped orchestrate everything along with Ana's cousin who worked for the CIA. Just before he left to go Amity to see Ana, Eric told me that he wanted to see me return to 'life' as well. I was so happy she was back in my life that the following week we got married and I got her pregnant. There was no way I was losing her again.
Ana had tears pouring down her face. "Why didn't," she began to ask before her sobbing took over.
"Marcus was going to get away with it, love. You already know how he got out of stalking you and harassing you the first time," Eric replied. "I thought that this time, we'd make sure that someone could actually put him there. A credible eye-witness. Someone that Marcus didn't know we had."
"It all happened so fast," Myra looked at Ana. "The next thing I knew was that they were giving me a new name, a new life, a new look," she released a laugh. Ana was right. She still sounded so much like her. It was something that they could never change. "I didn't realize how empty everything was until I walked pass my mother in the store," Myra began to sob. "I couldn't even tell her how much I missed her or about her grandchild," Myra wiped her face as did Ana. "I begged Eric to bring you over. I wanted something, someone to keep me sane."
"Oh Myra," Ana covered her mouth. "It's really you, isn't it?"
"Yes, you silly bitch, it's me," Myra replied as they both laughed before embracing one another.
Both Eric and I had to chuckle as they hugged.
"You really were a bitch, you know that," Myra said as Ana's body shook with laughter, "I love you for defending me so violently, but you could have eased up on poor Vanessa."
Ana smiled along with the tears. "I missed you too much."
"Well, I'm back." Both girls squealed with delight before Myra released Ana and they smiled crazily, wiping their tears.
"Out of all the new identities you could have," Ana questioned as Myra laughed and pushed her back slightly, albeit playfully.
"Your cousin chose it. My new name was Vanessa Martinez."
"She switched your initials," Ana nodded.
"Yeah," Myra replied as they both laughed and hugged again. "It's easy to explain why I sometimes still sign my name as Myra Valdez."
"Uh, it's Myra Ferrars," I corrected. "Or Vanessa Ferrars," I tilted my head.
"And you're married," Ana cried out in happiness - a totally different person than the one that had been haunting my kitchen.
"I know," Myra jumped up and down with her, holding out her left hand as the girls squealed again.
Eric turned towards me and held out his hand for me to shake. After we shook hands, he chuckled and faced the two girls as they talked about me and Myra getting married. Eric had been the one to walk her down the aisle - since her father couldn't. And ever since then, Eric had grown to like Myra like a sister. Myra treated Eric as a brother - he became her family.
I explained to her everything that was in my past - and that was in Eric's. Regardless of all that, she and I were married and moved to Erudite. She loved me for the person that I was now. And whenever Eric came by to visit us, she would light up because that meant she'd hear news of Ana. Myra had tried to make friends, but she didn't leave the house much these days. Every time she did, she always ran into her parents and that would just set her back.
"Oh God, you don't how much it means to me that you know now, that you know I'm not completely dead. I need someone to help me do nursery shopping and all that fun stuff," she waved her hand.
"I actually did buy a onesie for the baby," Ana admitted.
"You did," Myra put a hand over her heart, a sweet look on her face.
"Don't breathe a sigh of relief too soon," Eric chuckled. "I almost made her put it back."
"Why," I looked at him before glancing at Ana.
"It says 'little homewrecker' on it," Ana rolled her eyes.
Myra burst out in laughter before hugging Ana again. "Dear Lord, I have missed you."
"I've missed you, too."
"Seriously though, Ana," Myra laughed into her friend's neck. "Did you really call Vanessa a replacement body?"
Ana laughed and gave Myra an affectionate squeeze. "I have to say that I learned to say 'bitchy' things from the best."
"Damn right! Now," Myra pushed her back, linked their arms together and began walking back to the dining room. "Since that is out of the way, after you help me prepare for this baby and gush about all those little things with me that Edward didn't want to," she eyed me over her shoulder before talking again to Ana. "We have to talk about your bridal shower."
"Oh, my goodness," Ana turned to her. "I finally have someone to be my maid of honor. I didn't want to pick between Jess and Bloss. And the only other friend I could think of was you. But then that made me all depressed because you were gone and..."
"None of that," Myra said with squealing. "I finally get to throw you that 'passion party' that I wanted to."
"The one we talked about at work, right," Ana pointed to her.
"The one with the sex toys, yes."
"Uh," Eric cleared his throat, "excuse me, the one with what?"
"Never you mind," Myra waved her hand at him and pulled Ana completely away.
I love that woman, I thought putting my hands into my pockets as I watched her and Ana fall into conversation. Eric patted my shoulder before going to sit down at the table. Ana subconsciously grabbed a beer for him as Myra did the same - the two deep in their exchange about baby food, nursery themes and preschools, safely staying away from the topic of 'sex toys' until a later time. I chuckled, shaking my head as Eric tipped his bottle towards me. Our bottles tapped before I took a seat next to him as we both observed our girls.
"You ready," Eric asked me.
"I want to nail that son of a bitch," I nodded before taking a huge gulp of beer. "Tobias called me the other day, said that two of the agents who were undercover were murdered." I turned to Eric and saw a look on his face - the same look he had when he met me at the apartment where Myra was. "Or perhaps, they haven't been?"
"Ana's classmate, Don," Eric nodded. "He was a DEA agent. He gathered a lot of intel while he was working with the Banners. We knew he'd be a target."
"So, they gave him a new identity?"
"Him and his wife," he replied with a slight tilt of his head. "The other agent - if we're talking about the same one - was Uriah Pedrad."
"Why does that name sound familiar?"
"His brother and Tobias are close friends," was the solemn response. I shook my head and looked down. "We weren't able to get to him or his wife in time. We're not even sure if it was David Carmichael, Marcus Eaton or Jeanine Matthews. But someone ordered the hit before anyone could mobilize."
"I should be out there, helping you and your sister. Helping Tobias," I added, knowing that he was going through a lot - especially if his father was a part of it.
"You have a wife and a kid to worry about," Eric replied.
"Are you kidding me, Eric? You have Ana. Tobias has Tris. Your sister has a daughter. We all have someone that we're fighting for."
"Did Tobias tell you that they picked up someone at Myra's parent's house?" I furrowed my eyebrows and shook my head. "They're hunting - if not for her, for information. The Valdez' thought it was just a random robbery. What they stole was something that Myra had been wearing on her - something that could have linked Marcus's men there."
"Oh my God..."
"The Valdez' are fine. My sister and Blossom were allowed to enter the place and ensure that things were okay. My sister has a few people watching Myra's parents. With that in mind, we're going to have to ask you to sit tight. You must protect Myra, Edward. She's not just your wife but she's also a key witness."
"I know," I sighed.
"You may want to be out there helping us, but the best help you can give to us right now is to protect Myra. Neither you or she may like it, or even enjoy it. Like I said it's not really anyone's business that you're with this 'Vanessa Martinez'. Who gives a rat's ass," he shook his head. "She needs to be safe. Your child needs to be safe. Protect them first or all will be lost."
"I know. It's just that the trial was already pushed back twice."
"These things take time."
"We've got enough evidence to put him away, right?"
Eric nodded. "And if the trial should swing Marcus's way, even after Myra's testimony," Eric gestured towards the kitchen where she was.
"You think it will?"
"Just in case," he nodded.
"Eric," I turned to look at him. "My father taught me a few things as well. If that bastard gets away with it, I'd hunt him down myself and kill him."
I glanced at the kitchen door to see Myra coming out from there - a bright smile on as she carried a bowl of pasta salad. She was my world, my everything. Soon, she would be the mother of my child. After she walked back to the kitchen, I put my game face back on.
"You said you knew Ana was the one because you'd do anything to protect her. I feel the exact same way about Myra, Eric."
Eric gave me a brief nod. "I got a crew waiting for our call."
"I should have known you'd have a plan B."
"Once in a while, Ana still wakes up - screaming. Occasionally, I get those nightmares, too," he admitted. "My sister told me that we let the law handle things first. Director Pedrad lost her son so she wants to get Marcus, Jeanine - all of them - just as much as we do. The DEA, CIA, they're working on things. We have to trust them that it will work itself out."
"And should they fail," I finished.
"Then we go to plan B. If you need anything, I'm with you on this. You know that right," Eric replied, lifting his bottle again. "No one messes with our women."
Our bottles tapped in acknowledgement.
"What are you two talking about," Ana asked, placing down a pan of grilled vegetables as her eyes narrowed slightly at Eric.
"Just how wonderfully you're getting along with my wife," I answered. "And here I thought you'd slap me, cause a scene and storm out before dinner was served. Oh wait, you already did that," I joked as both Myra and Ana slapped my shoulders.
"Funny," Ana shook her head and sat down next to Eric as Myra came around to sit down at my side.
"I loved every second of it," Myra commented as I pressed a kiss to her temple. "Gone is that sweet girl from Amity."
"Mm," Ana grabbed her glass of water. "Well, she found a strong man in Dauntless who just happened to be a gentleman from Erudite."
From Eric's reaction, I could tell that Ana had probably slipped her hand up his thigh and towards another part of his body because he glanced down at his lap before whispering something along the lines of 'not here' in her ear.
"Gentleman," Myra snorted. "I remember telling you that he was a pain in the ass."
This time I choked on my beer. "Babe..."
"She did," Ana agreed as Eric relaxed and chuckled. "She called you," she turned to Eric, "Mr. Pain in the Ass. You apparently give everyone at the bank a tough time, Eric. I never did scold you for that."
"Oh, but she defended you gallantly, Eric. Said that if you were friends with Edward than you couldn't be that bad," Myra said.
"I almost feel offended," I replied, glancing at my wife.
"You feel offended," Eric chuckled as he sipped his beer. "She basically tried to get Ana away from me."
"Actually, she was one of your main supporters," Ana smiled.
"See," Myra rolled her eyes. "I was bitchy, but I was a good friend."
"Just like Ana," I mumbled.
"Hey," Ana exclaimed before Eric reached over and wrapped her in his arms.
"To friends," Eric lifted his bottle, "even the bitchy ones."
"Especially the bitchy ones," Myra added as everyone laughed and cheered, tapping glasses and bottles. "Now, let's dig in. Because I am eating for two and I'm not sure this little one can handle it."
"Mm," Ana put down her glass. "Do you know what the two of you are having?"
"We decided to be surprised," Myra answered.
"Old-school, I like it," Ana nodded as Myra turned to me and smiled brightly.
"I like it, too," I said leaning in to give her a brief kiss.
"So," Myra looked back at Ana. "Dr. Sharipova? Really," she smiled widely as Ana nodded. "That's huge! And what is this about becoming a teacher," she asked as she began loading her plate. I took the salad from her and did the same with mine.
"You know that I wanted to change studies when I came to Erudite," Ana prompted, taking the bowl from me and filling both hers and Eric's plate.
"I did. But I never thought," Myra paused and then smiled widely. "Working under Dr. Sharipova is no joke, Ana. There is a lot of accreditation to gain from working with someone as known as that. You could end up teaching at Erudite Academy. We all went there," she gestured between the three of us. "And of course, maybe one day," she touched her stomach before glancing at me. I reached over again and gave my wife a kiss before we both smiled hopelessly at one another.
Myra turned back towards Ana as they began to launch into a conversation about Ana's classes, her work, and then finally they circled back around to the nursery. She and Ana were making plans to go shopping and do all that fun stuff. Every now and then, Eric would have a peaceful, content smile on his face whenever he looked at Ana. And I couldn't help but feel the same when I glanced at Myra. Marcus and Jeanine had better watch their backs. Myra was my wife now, the mother of my child - and I'd do anything to protect her.