Page 38 of The Liar I Married
THIRTY-FOUR
THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT
Anger shimmers through me as I climb behind the wheel of my red SUV.
I head along the driveway and slow to watch John carrying luggage into our guesthouse.
The light from the window spills out across the lawn and I can see the sitting room.
He is inside with Ms. Lawson and she is kissing him on both cheeks and spinning around grinning as she surveys her new home.
I want to spit, remembering the many hours I spent decorating the guesthouse to impress my visitors—not her, anyone but her.
Seeing her there puts a bad taste in my mouth.
I honestly feel like setting the place on fire rather than see her in it.
Lights from a vehicle behind me blind me in the rearview mirror, and the next thing I know Michael is jumping into the passenger seat.
He pulls up the top of his hoodie, as if he doesn’t want anyone to recognize him.
“If you’re here to make me change my mind you won’t be able to.
” I push my foot down hard on the gas and we flash through the entrance to my driveway and roar along the blacktop.
“Are you sure you don’t want to get out?
” I head along Main and toward the gates of the estate.
“Nope, but I will make you see reason.” Michael fastens his seatbelt. “You can slow down for a start.”
I hit the highway and accelerate, but not any faster than the legal speed limit.
The thing with Michael is that he can’t get his head around the fact that women can drive as good as men.
It will take me about an hour and twenty minutes to get to Litchfield Hills and Stonebridge Manor.
I look at him and shake my head. “I knew you’d take his side.
My husband’s mistress is moving into the guesthouse.
What do you expect me to do, Michael? Just ignore her? ”
“This is the trouble with you, Jessie: you’ve always gotten everything you wanted and once something doesn’t go your way you get aggressive.
” Michael waves a hand toward the road. “Driving like a maniac doesn’t solve anything and it’s in your best interest to do whatever John wants you to.
As his wife, you’re supposed to support him.
How stupid do you figure it will make him look, if he needs to tell Rebecca she can’t stay?
” His lip curls into a sneer. “Everyone in the office will say he’s under the thumb.
That’s not a very good look for an executive partner, is it?
Each time he needs to go away for a meeting with a client you start complaining.
How do you think that makes him feel? Then you start hanging out with an author you met five minutes ago—in public so everyone can see.
Do you know how many people saw you in the bistro with him?
Gossip like that can ruin people’s careers—especially mine.
The boss already knows what you’re like.
He doesn’t want you at any client dinner parties.
You’ve been holding John back for years and soon it will affect me as well.
Leaving him will be the last straw. Turn this car around and go back and apologize. ”
I stare at him in disbelief. How could he say such a thing about me?
Does he believe I’m having an affair with Alex too?
“Stop yelling at me. What you’re saying is lies.
What I do can’t possibly affect your standing in the company.
I’m surprised you’re still working and not off overseas living the life with the amount of money that Grandma left you.
I know Mr. Collins has already distributed the funds to you and Mom.
I’m the only one who hasn’t received a cent yet. ”
“Yeah, that’s right, you got everything.
” Michael shakes his head when I miss the turn and I take the next left, hoping to find my way back to the highway.
“See, you don’t know where you’re going and you’ve driven this way a thousand times before.
Stop the car at the next gas station and I’ll get a cab home. ”
I accelerate. “Maybe you should get out here. I never imagined you were so greedy.” I snort. “They say money changes people. Now I can see what you’re really like.”
“Slow down.” Michael grabs the wheel and we wrestle with the steering. “No, don’t bother. I have a solution to all our problems.”
I stare at him. “What?”
He is so strong I can’t turn the wheel. We fly along a straightaway but a sweeping bend at the end is coming up fast and I can’t keep the car on the road. A small clump of trees on the corner is getting closer. I lash out at him, pummeling his arm. “Let go of the wheel. You’ll kill us.”
I try to stand on the brake but Michael’s foot is on my side of the footwell.
He’s turning the wheel and screaming at me.
My hands slip on the steering wheel as the headlights pick up a jack-o’-lantern hanging from the tree.
Something hits my head and then the tree is right there.
I’m screaming as metal screeches and glass shatters.
In a cloud of white, the airbag explodes, hitting me in the face.
Tree branches shatter the side window and impale me.
Darkness creeps into my vision. I hear a door open and Michael’s voice over the hissing of steam.
“Goodbye, Jessie.”