Discovering Truths by B. Benfield (chrysanthemum read aloud .TXT) 📕

but it said Kristen Miller. I don’t know if its work related or not. I’m stuck at work and can’t get out.

Me: I can’t believe you’re making me go over there with that traffic. That’s going to take my whole hour.

Melinda: Please! I’ll buy you dinner!

Me: I’m kidding. I’m in PI mode. I got this. I’ll let you know.

Melinda: Thank you, Abby. You’re the best.

 

I let Mike know that I might be a few minutes longer than an hour, and then I headed out on my mission. I figured if I was going to have to spend my lunch break stalking, I was at least going to get a decent meal out of it. I spotted Jon and the woman at a table in the middle of the large dining room. I requested a seat in the back corner, hoping that I would go unnoticed.

I couldn’t hear the conversation, but I noticed a lot of laughing and flirtatious gestures exchanged. She’d put her hand on his leg, and he’d touch her arm. I snapped photos in between bites of a grilled chicken sandwich. I noticed the check was delivered and he threw down a card, ushering the waitress away as the girl tried to protest. Soon, they were leaving, and I didn’t have a way of following them without being spotted. I watched out the window as they exchanged a hug and took off their separate ways. I wasn’t sure about the status of their relationship, and I knew that wasn’t news Melinda wanted to hear. She was tired of being in limbo. She just wanted an answer.

 

Me: Mission accomplished.

Melinda: And??

Me: I’m not sure that there’s anything going on, Melinda. They were laughing…and they were flirty…which, if it’s just business, it was a little inappropriate, but I’m still not sure that there’s more to it. It could have very well been a work meeting.

Melinda: Flirty?? How??

Me: Leg touching…arm touching…a hug before they left, but that was all I saw.

Melinda: Did you get pictures?

Me: Well, yes, of course.

Melinda: I want to see.

Me: Okay. When?

Melinda: Skip yoga. Come straight to my house after work.

Me: Okay.

 

I was becoming a slack Yoga student, but my friend came first. Hopefully I could ease her mind, and not make the situation worse. I was glad the attention was off of me. My situation was…still messy, but I was dealing with it on my own. Melinda thought all was well. She thought I was on my way to getting a divorce and everything would be fine. I admitted to her that I loved Gage, but I wasn’t sure that she actually understood the extent of it. I couldn’t spend any more time explaining myself to people who didn’t understand. Dealing with it internally was my only option. For now, I was glad to focus on something else.

***

“Alright, let me see,” she demanded. I’d barely made it through the front door. She was there waiting for my phone with her hand out.

“Where is he?” I asked.

“He won’t be home for another hour.”

I pulled out my phone and showed her the pictures. She scrolled through, studying each one intently before she handed my phone back to me.

“I’ve never seen her before.” She said.

“Have you seen everyone he works with?”

“Well, no, but I know a lot of them.”

“Has he mentioned her before? Any special projects coming up?” I asked.

“Not that I recall.”

“Well, I know it’s not what you want to hear, but I’m not completely convinced that there’s something going on here. Of course, the flirting does concern me, but still…”

“I don’t know how else I will find out. I guess I’ll have to keep my eyes and ears open. I can’t ignore my gut feeling.”

I didn’t want to play the other side any longer, or try to dismiss her emotions, because I understood how she felt. Strong feelings are the result of the importance that something holds in your life. If there was anyone who understood that now, it was definitely me.

That night was like any other. I made a small dinner and placed a plate in the microwave for Marcus to re-heat whenever he made it home. Who knew when that would be? I hadn’t noticed a difference in my meds yet, but I was sure it would take some time before it kicked in. I opted for sleep. It was the only time my mind was ease, and even then, it wasn’t completely. Gage often appeared in my dreams, reminding me that I was still holding on to a love I couldn’t ignore, despite all my efforts.

Chapter Twenty-Two

 

June 2018

 

The seasons changed and the Florida heat was taking over once again. Stepping outside was a work-out, drenching you with sweat in minutes. I’d seriously considered moving to another state once I left Marcus, but where would I go and what would I do? My best friend and all the family I had were here in Florida. I felt alone now, but if I moved states, I’d literally be alone.

There was no change with Marcus. We played the part of the happy married couple every single day, when deep down I knew the truth. Our “problems” had been going on for well over a year, so why was I still holding on? Better question, why was he?

Thoughts of Gage still lingered in my mind, but as the months passed, they slowly diminished. I still loved him, but I had come to accept the fact that he would never be in my life. He ruined me.

We’d found no solid proof that Jon was cheating on Melinda, but she still wasn’t convinced that he was being truthful with her. Occasionally she’d send me on a wild goose chase, but for the most part, everything concerning him