Paper-Thin Walls

by Melanie Jones Brownrigg

  But how could I be the only one? Surely others must hear his constant yelling. I thought of Mable Henderson who occupied the unit on the other side of Bill and Kenna Simpson. She wore a hearing aid. If she took it out in the evening, she might not be aware of what was going on. It was also possible that tenants residing further away didn’t hear anything. But most likely, other residents minded their own business, which was something I had failed to do.

  Everything was so muted. Too reserved. Was he afraid of what I knew? Did he think I might call the cops again? Were his threats all for show and he feared being arrested for domestic assault?

  While I wanted to believe he thought he’d sufficiently warned me and nothing else would come of it, somehow, I knew the tip of the iceberg hadn’t even popped up.

  For the first time since I’d moved in, no stabbing words were being loudly spoken. No pounding, kicking, or shoving noises penetrated the walls. There was only an ensuing silent treatment, either being dealt to me, or to Kenna, or to both of us. Bill was sending a harsh reminder that he was in charge. But anger had a way of finding an outlet. Silence would eventually take a backseat to the evil lurking next door and when it was least expected, a timebomb I had set in motion, would eventually explode.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Hailey

  Sarah and I were selecting our deli sandwiches. So far, I had avoided the chicken salad after having heard Penny Mathis, a previous coworker died from eating one. Opting once again for the club, I made my way to the register with Sarah behind me, carrying a chicken salad. Maybe if she lived, I’d try one.

  “Let’s eat in the deli,” she suggested.

  “Oh, okay,” I reluctantly agreed. Previously, I had always carried my lunch back upstairs, having only spent a few minutes each day in the public forum. Ryan often ate there, and I had been avoiding any awkward encounters. But it was a late lunch today. He’d probably already eaten. Even so, I directed us to a table at the far back of the place, slightly hidden by a display of magazines.

  Flattening out my wrapper and opening my chips, I casually remarked, “Bill came over last night.”

  Knowing he hadn’t come by to introduce himself, she silently stared at me, waiting for an explanation. After giving her the complete rundown, she gazed at me with her mouth hanging wide open. Then she erupted. “Oh my God, I knew that place was nothing but trouble and now you’ve made an enemy out of your closest neighbor. You need to find another place right away!” she screeched, bunching up her eyebrows and glaring at me. “I told you that place wasn’t safe. You’re going to get yourself killed there. Get out, get out, get out!” she shrieked.

  “I’m fine,” I said with a lot of fake bravado.

  She eyeballed me in a silent stare, then blinked. “Yeah, right. We’ll put that on your tombstone.” She took in a deep breath. “Seriously, Hailey, if not for yourself, do it for Adam. You’ve got to get him out of that place. Those people living there are a class of residents all by themselves … old people or not.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with anyone living there. It’s only Bill I’m afraid of.” Generally. There were a couple of long-haired, menacing-looking guys, wearing mostly leather clothes with no sleeves that looked a little shady. Sheila, the raunchy dressed, red-haired prostitute, was running johns through her unit. And I was almost certain old man Thornton was stealing candy from the rec room … and eyeballing my son. Was he a sexual predator? But other than those few, that’s all I’d noticed so far.

  “Ryan will help. Just ask him for child support. He knows he’ll be court-ordered to pay it anyway. Even your parents will lend you a hand. Don’t be like Kenna, you know you have options. Take them.”

  I sighed. “You’re right. This weekend I’ll look for a better place to move to.”

  “Thank you,” she said, letting out a relieved breath.

  We were disposing of our trash when I turned around and plowed into Ryan’s hard wall of a chest. “Oh,” I gasped when I realized it was him. I quickly stepped back, but not before breathing in the familiar woodsy smell that was Ryan. The smell was like an aphrodisiac, and I had to fight to keep from swooning.

  “Well, we’ve finally ran into each other … literally,” he said with a deep chuckle. “It was only a matter of time.” He eyed Sarah and nodded at her.

  “Well, I’m going to leave you two and get back to work.” Sarah hastily scuttled off. And just for a tiny moment, I thought she might have arranged this meeting.

  “How are you?” Ryan asked.

  “I’m fine. And yourself?”

  He sighed. “We sound too cordial. I’d like to really talk. Let’s start over. How you are?”

  I swallowed, stalling for time before answering. What I wanted to say was I love you. I miss you. I want to come home. “On the positive side, my job is rewarding, and I like my coworkers and the boss. Sarah works there now, too, which is a bonus. Adam is doing well in all-day preschool. He says he loves it but hates getting up in the morning. On the downside, I’m living in shoddy conditions. But this weekend I intend to search for a better place.” I paused. “How are you doing?”

  He sighed. “On the positive, I’ve reset the dial on the toaster, and it’s no longer burnt. On the downside, my boss thinks I stole a design plan from Jason Patterson, the guy who received the promotion over me. My wife has the misconception that I knowingly slept with Shannon Lowry, which I did not. I also did not grow my facial hair for Shannon, although she did suggest it would make me look more professional for my promotion interviews. I have shaved it off for my wife … though it hasn’t changed anything,” he added, running a hand over his smooth skin. “Instead, my wife has filed for a divorce, and I’ve had to hire an attorney to file a response. Other than that, I’ve only spent a few hours with my son in more than a week. And every night I sleep in a lonely bed.” He sighed, his whole chest rising and falling. “Hailey, I love you so much. And I want you and Adam back home. Please, can’t we work this out?”

  A part of me wanted to leap at his offer, but my cautious side reminded me of that picture of him in bed with Shannon. And once that image locked into my thoughts, I couldn’t get past it. “There’s nothing you can do or say that will take away the fact that you slept with Shannon. And how do I know it was a one-time deal? In fact, I wouldn’t know it happened this time, but for a pornographic text she sent to you, one I just happened to intercept.”

  Ryan took a couple of steps backward and glared at me. “I’ve never known you to be so unforgiving. When did your heart turn to complete ice?”

  My lips became tight. Stepping in closer, I got in Ryan’s face. Holding his gaze, my eyes stared at him with fierce determination. “When I became aware of my husband’s infidelity. That’s when,” I snarled, pushing him aside and heading for the elevators.

  As soon as the doors closed, I broke down and began crying. It hurt me to the deepest part of my soul to be divorcing Ryan. He was my husband. Husband wasn’t just a word to me. It carried meaning. Joined hopes, shared dreams, limitless possibilities and a lifetime of being best friends. But he had chosen to cross a line. His infidelity had built a giant wall between us, one rising too high to climb over and too thick to be penetrated. Because of his indiscretion I had filed for a divorce. The ball was rolling and there was no turning back. Our marital relationship was over, and the good times were gone. I just needed to suck it up and move on.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Ryan

  For days, Ryan had tried his best to run into Hailey at the deli. He’d shown up early, then around noon, and even long after the normal lunch hour, but somehow, Hailey always managed to duck in and out before he could catch her. But fortune came his way when Jeff leaked that Sarah had got a job at Harrington Oil & Gas. With a little help from his good friends, he knew exactly when Hailey would be in the deli. Sarah normally wouldn’t betray her friend quite so easily, but last night she dropped by Hailey’s apartment and was appalled by her substandard housing con
ditions – which now concerned Ryan. While Sarah wanted to remain loyal to her best friend, she also wanted to make sure Hailey and Adam were safe.

  But now that he’d “accidentally” bumped into Hailey, he had managed to completely botch it. Hailey’s green eyes had filled with tears, causing her to bolt for the elevator. And in a flash, she was gone.

  Ryan didn’t know how to get her back. But she was worth fighting for and he’d do whatever it took. He pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and ordered a dozen red roses. Girls liked that sort of stuff. Maybe it’d work on Hailey. He also sent her a text containing several heart emojis.

  Back in his office, Ryan stared at his design plans for the Clark Anders Development Center, a special needs school for the mentally challenged. He had worked his butt off on the project. Everything was ticked and tied, right down to the handicap accesses for the wheelchair-bound students. But somehow Jason Patterson had presented the exact drawings in his interview. It was, of course, the interview that landed Jason the promotion. Jason had been interviewed before Ryan, which meant he was first in presenting the layout, making Ryan appear to have stolen the idea. On the day of the interview, Ryan hadn’t been able to focus properly, not after Hailey had caught him talking to Shannon and then Shannon mouthed off about his beard and mustache, not to mention Hailey had previously discovered that sex pic of him with Shannon. His whole world had tumbled that day, and the last thing on his mind was his interview.

  But after days of contemplation, Ryan knew Jason had somehow managed to steal his work product and claim it to be his own. Something went down Friday night at that party. Something that landed him in bed with Shannon. And something that landed his architectural blueprints in the hands of Jason.

  Up until this point, Ryan had avoided Shannon like the plague, fearing Hailey might suddenly pop in again, especially since she was working in the same building. But now, it was time to find out what happened. He needed to save his job. And he needed to save his marriage.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Hailey

  Not long after returning to work, a dozen red roses were delivered to me. The card from Ryan merely read, “I love you.”

  “He’s trying,” Sarah remarked, when I held up my phone, showing her his text of numerous little red hearts.

  “Wasn’t it you who encouraged the divorce?”

  She shrugged. “At the time, I didn’t realize he lacked the memory of any wrongdoing. If he’s telling the truth, then something happened at that party.”

  “How will I ever know?” I asked.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But what I do know, is that he isn’t seeing Shannon now, and all he talks about is you. He loves you, Hailey. Maybe you should reconsider the divorce.”

  With my nose to one of the delicate petals, I inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet smell. “I’ll think about it,” I agreed.

  That evening when Adam and I climbed the stairs to the second floor, I peered up and down the hallway to make sure Bill wasn’t around.

  “Hey, how are you?” Shelia, the red-haired prostitute, asked when she saw my head poking out from behind a mound of roses. She was wearing spike heels, black spandex pants and a low-cut, cheetah-patterned blouse.

  “I’m fine. And yourself?” I asked, taking a few steps in her direction, trying to be neighborly.

  “Oh, you know. Trying to make a living. Cops busted me about a month ago when they sent in an undercover. Now I’m trying to be more careful and I’m limiting the guests to my known clients … if you know what I mean.”

  Yep, I knew what she meant. I opened the door and asked Adam to go inside. Once he did, I turned back to Shelia. “Do you ever hear those two going at it?” I asked, gesturing toward Bill and Kenna’s unit.

  “Let me give you a piece of advice.” She leaned closer. “Don’t ever, ever hear anything or see anything. Not from them. Not from me. Not from anybody. You keep to your own business. That way no one will bother you. This ain’t the type of place to get crossways with your neighbors. If you stick your nose into other people’s business, then God help you. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, completely.” Just as I suspected, everyone turned their heads when something afoul went on. It didn’t make me feel any safer. And as soon as I went inside the apartment, I made sure it was locked tighter than a drum.

  After placing the roses on the table, Adam climbed up in one of the four folding chairs and sniffed them. “Those smell pretty. I wish Daddy could smell them too.”

  “I know, sweetheart. Maybe we’ll invite Daddy over this weekend.” After giving thought to Sarah’s words of wisdom, I was considering reconciling with Ryan. If he hadn’t been with Shannon Lowry since the party, maybe there was something underhanded going on. But before I dismissed the divorce petition, I intended to find out.

  “We could play more putt-putt and you could be with us this time,” Adam suggested with a hopeful look on his face.

  “We’ll see,” I said, heading for my bedroom. Shedding my dress jacket and skirt, I changed into jeans and a T-shirt and began preparing supper. Adam was curled up on the couch, playing on his tablet.

  A soft rap came from the front door. Though I didn’t think Bill had a delicate touch, I nonetheless froze in place. Listening intently for a few seconds, the sound repeated itself. Rinsing my hands and drying them on a dishtowel, I made my way to the front door and peered through the peephole, shocked to find Kenna on the other side.

  My immediate thought was that it was a setup, wherein I would open the door and Bill would rush in and brutally punch me in the face until I was dead. “Can I help you?” I called through the wooden barrier.

  “Please, can I talk to you?”

  “Are you alone?” I called back, still unable to quash the image of Bill killing me.

  “Yes,” she softly replied.

  “Adam, honey, please take your tablet to your room?” My son did not need to see Kenna’s numerous bruises.

  Adam, the ever-obedient child, immediately slid off the couch and plodded down the hallway, never taking his eyes off his tablet as he made his way to his room.

  Once he was out of sight, I unlocked and opened the door. “Come in.”

  Thank God, I’d sent Adam to his room. Her attire alone freaked me out. Her jeans were ripped, and her blouse was covered with blood. She wasn’t wearing shoes and her hair hung long and lank, matted together with large patches of dried blood. There wasn’t a spot on her face or her arms that hadn’t been beaten. She was in the worst shape I’d seen her and some of the bruises made it difficult to make eye contact with her without becoming physically ill.

  “Do you need me to take you to the hospital?” I asked after assessing the unbelievable damage.

  “No, I’m fine. But I do need to sit down.” Barely able to move, she slowly and painfully trudged her way over to the loveseat and ever so gently lowered herself onto it, cringing during the process and as she worked herself into place.

  Following behind her, I perched on one end, near a throw pillow and stared at her blackened eyes and swollen face. She looked atrocious. “What happened?” I asked, taking in her dead eyes and blank expression.

  She sighed, holding her ribs as she did so. “Bill waited until you went to work this morning, then he punished me for letting you into his home last night.”

  “Why on earth did you mention it?”

  “I didn’t. He smelled your perfume. I told him you came over to borrow some milk. He didn’t believe it for a second.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I genuinely apologized. “Leaving my calling card never occurred to me. Is there anything I can do to help you? I can bring you some milk after Bill comes home and thank you for loaning it to me.”

  “No, thank you though. But I do need your help,” she whispered, her gaze going back to the floor.

  “Just name it,” I wholeheartedly agreed.

  “You said you were moving, and I could come with you … were you serious?” she
asked, continuing to avoid my gaze.

  “Yes, of course,” I quickly replied. In the back of my head, I wondered how this would work if I reunited with Ryan. But she needed my help, and so I would figure something out.

  “Thank you. It’ll only be for a short while. If I leave Bill, I feel like he’ll realize he needs help.” She hesitated a moment. “Let me explain. Bill only started hitting me about a month or so ago … after he began taking those steroids. He’s really a decent guy. He’s the one who got me off drugs and gave me a comfortable place to live. Over the last few years, he’s taken good care of me up until …” Tears streamed down her battered face. She gasped and coughed. “I know he can get back to the man he once was. But in the meantime, I’ve found out I’m pregnant. I need to get somewhere safe before I lose the baby … just long enough for Bill to get his head back on straight.”

  “How far along are you?” I gently asked, thinking the baby could already be damaged.

  “Almost two months, according to my estimate. I had an inkling I might be. And after taking three pregnancy tests today, they all showed positive.” She placed her hands on her tummy. “We’d been planning a family for a while, before Bill …” She trailed off and closed her eyes as if remembering a better relationship between the two.

  It was a miracle she was still carrying a child, considering how many times Bill had brutally attacked her. Visually, most of her punches seemed to be to the face and arms, and she constantly held her ribs. Was there a possibility he may not have targeted her stomach?

  “My plan was to search for a new place this weekend,” I told her. “But if you’re pregnant, we need to move you right away.” Envisioning Bill coming home to an empty apartment and thinking I had helped Kenna, I thought it would be best if I left, too. “Let’s check into a hotel. Run back home and pack some basics. I’ll do the same with mine and Adam’s things.”