The Deception of Destiny: A Novel

by Jennifer Walters

  “But won’t Daddy be coming home too? Why isn’t he coming home, Mommy?”

  I wasn’t ready for this; I had no answers for her.

  “Well, Gabby, I’m just not sure yet. It will be fun. You can hang out with everyone, have some alone time with Daddy, it will be a blast. Did you pack your favorite teddy bear and blanky in your backpack? I have all your clothes in the suitcase.”

  “Yeah,” she said, hanging her head.

  “It’s going to be okay. Mommy will be right here. You gotta go help take care of Daddy, okay.”

  “Okay, Mom.”

  Gabby just stared out the window on the way to Judy and Carl’s. Her young innocence kept her from seeing what was really going on and for now, I was okay with that.

  As we walked in the door to their house, she saw her daddy and her eyes lit up as she jumped in his arms. He looked a little dizzy, but played it off.

  “Honey, you need to be careful with Daddy. Remember he hit his head pretty hard and needs you to help him get better. Why don’t you read him a book?” Judy suggested.

  “Give Mommy a hug,” I said, trying to catch her before she took off.

  “I love you Mommy.”

  “I love you too, baby.” I couldn’t hide the tears in my eyes as I watched her run away with excitement.

  She stopped quickly and turned around.

  “I’m sorry Daddy, I’ll wait for you. I forget I need to take care of you.”

  I smiled and closed the door behind me.

  I made myself a salad and began folding the clothes I pulled out from the dryer. Walking into Gabby’s room, I noticed her favorite blue blanky on her bed. The one she promised me she packed.

  “Gabby,” I said aloud, shaking my head and rolling my eyes as I picked it up.

  Dressed in my running clothes, I put blue blanky in a small backpack and grabbed my headphones off the microwave. Three miles sounded like the perfect distance for a run today. Walking outside, I took a deep breath of Minnesota air. The snowflakes were collecting on my face and tickling my nose. I started off with a slow jog and quickly picked up my pace. I needed to get Bryan to listen, to understand that I didn’t mean to hurt him. That I never felt that way about Casey. Why did I do this to him? These thoughts circled in my head for years. Sometimes I really believed I could move past it all, but in the back of my mind, none of it made sense.

  I wasn’t attracted to him like that. How could I not remember? I needed some time with Bryan, needed to make him fall back in love with me. No more secrets.

  With my in-law’s house in view, my jog turned to a walk. A red car was parked in their driveway, unfamiliar to me. I saw her long blonde hair and red hat, talking to Bryan. Stopping, I blinked my eyes and stared at her as they stood next to the garage, smiling, laughing. I put my hands on my thighs, unaware of the heavy breathing and weakness in my knees. Their heads got closer, there lips pressed together. That’s when I began running. It felt like I was running in slow motion, taking forever to get to them. She turned around in surprise. I heard a scream and then I was on top of her, punching her and pulling her hair. My arms felt heavy but I didn’t care. I wanted to mess up that pretty little face.

  Suddenly, I was being dragged away and it was all over. Bryan was screaming at me, yelling for Olivia to go. Then someone turned off the lights and all I could see and feel was darkness.

  The pain in my knuckles woke me up. I looked around, unsure of what happened. I felt the touch of fingers in my hair. I was on his lap, on my couch. Exhaustion and comfort ran through my veins as I lifted my head and turned my body over.

  “Bryan?”

  “Good morning Mike Tyson,” he laughed.

  “What happened? How did I get here? I had the strangest…” Oh no, that really happened, I realized, looking at my swollen hands.

  “Dream? It wasn’t a dream,” he laughed again. “I have never seen you like that, fighting so hard for me. I was shocked.”

  He didn’t seem like he hated me, that was good.

  “Olivia should have never kissed me like that. I don’t blame you for what you did. It was way too soon. I mean, we were talking and I was laughing and then, well, she kissed me and then was tackled to the ground.”

  I laughed. “I dunno what got into me. I’m so sorry.”

  “Listen, this doesn’t change anything. If Gabby would have seen, I mean, that could have been really bad.”

  “I know, I’m so sorry.”

  “Well, that too, but I mean Olivia kissing me right there. I had no idea she would do that and I’m so sorry you had to see that.”

  “Is she okay?” I asked, unsure of whether I really cared or not.

  “I don’t know, I kinda kicked her out before I could even see her face. I hope so. Destiny, please tell me what happened that night between you and Casey. I’m ready to listen.”

  I took a deep breath. None of it made much sense to me, so how would Bryan understand or believe me?

  “Well, I will tell you what I remember. You were working afternoons and I was with Chloe rock climbing in Duluth. When I got home, Casey came over upset because his dad died, looking for you. He poured us both a drink and then I had a shot of Tequila Rose and that’s it. The next thing I knew, I woke up in bed with him, naked.”

  “One shot and you don’t remember? I just can’t take your word on this one, Dez. You musta had more to drink than that.”

  I shook my head, sitting up. “I know it doesn’t make sense, Bryan, but you have to believe me. I never saw Casey like that. Then after I left the hospital and drove home, Casey broke into our bedroom in the middle of the night. I mean, I’m pretty sure I left the door open, but he snuck into our room.”

  Bryan stood up, his eyes wide with fury. “He what!”

  “Calm down, please. Let me tell you what happened.”

  Bryan put his hands on his hips and just stared at me, becoming impatient.

  “He snuck into our room and threatened me, saying something about how I should have left you when he told me to and—“

  “When he told you to?”

  “Oh, yeah. Well, when I was at the law office, he told me I had to leave you or he would tell you what I did. I went home to tell you, but he had already told you by the time I got there.”

  “And I told him I never wanted to speak to him again,” Bryan yelled.

  “You did? Okay, then why did he tell me when he broke into our bedroom that I needed to quit running my mouth and something about how she is going to take you away from me and there is nothing I can do?” I asked, trying to figure out what Casey was talking about.

  “I didn’t talk to anyone. You saw everyone I talked to. That doesn’t make any sense. Who is she?” he asked, confused.

  “Oh my god,” I said, jumping to my feet. “Olivia.”

  “Olivia?”

  “Yeah, he must be talking to Olivia. I mean, it makes sense unless someone else has tried to kiss you since you got home.”

  “No, Olivia would never do that. I don’t know if I believe any of this,” he said, turning his back to me.

  “Bryan, please trust me,” I pleaded.

  “How can I trust you after all of this? You slept with my best friend, my best friend, Dez!” He put his palm on his forehead.

  “I am still the same person you married. I am still me, Bryan.”

  “I just don’t think Liv would do that. I mean, I wouldn’t put it past Bryan, but Liv?”

  He looked defeated, confused, unsure of what to believe. It hurt as I realized he still had feelings for her. I could see it in his face. He was feeling guilty.

  “Did he also lie about you standing outside the bathroom door in your lingerie when he walked out?”

  I felt the color draining out of my face. “Yes it’s true, but I thought it was you. I was trying to surprise you, you have to believe me.”

  “Really? With Casey at the house? Seems hard to believe,” he said, challenging me.

  “No, the lights were off
and you were sleeping in the basement. I really thought he was gone, Bryan. I never had interest in him, never will.”

  “I actually believe you.” He paused before finally continuing, “But you still pulled away from me for five years and couldn’t tell me you cheated on me. I feel terrible that he did that to you and I’d love to beat the crap out of him, but how could you not be honest with me? I thought we were a team, I just don’t know if I could ever trust you again.”

  “I hope one day you can forgive me.”

  He rolled his eyes and walked away.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “I have to get to the bottom of this,” I told Jill, before deciding to take off to Duluth to knock at Olivia’s door.

  I was done playing games with her. I needed to talk to her face to face, although I realized she may just shut the door on me before we got to talk at all. I knew that was a risk I was going to have to take. I really didn’t mind apologizing for what I did, it was childish. Even though this bitch was trying to steal my husband from me, he really wasn’t mine to lose anymore. The thought of him with her made my headache return. I turned up the volume on the radio and got lost in the songs, not wanting to think about it anymore.

  Once in Duluth, I turned right onto Haines Road as I made my way down the large hill in Duluth. Although the site of Lake Superior was quite a view, I really wasn’t in the mood for sight seeing. I watched the signs as I made my way to Grand Avenue, stopping to take a right on Forty-Fourth Street West. I made my way slowly down the street until I saw the small bright green house with the numbers nailed to the side of the house.

  Was I making the right decision? It was stupid of me to think I could just show up at her house and she’d be here. I couldn’t see her red vehicle parked out front, but it could be in the back. I got out of the car and made my way up the wobbly wooden porch. Every step I took, I wondered if the stairs were going to break. The red paint was chipping off and the green siding missing pieces all over. It was a dump. I rang the doorbell and held my breath.

  I could hear a dog barking and a boy yelling “Be right there!”

  A small head appeared in the window and he smiled at the sight of me.

  “Hi,” he said, opening the door. “May I help you?”

  He had to be around thirteen or fourteen. I must have gotten the wrong house.

  “I’m sorry, I must be at the wrong house. Do you know where Olivia lives?”

  “Ma’am, you have the right house. Olivia lives here.”

  I was shocked, “Oh, okay. My name is Destiny. I didn’t know Olivia had a—”

  Casey’s voice cut me off, “Travis, why don’t you go upstairs and play. It’s for me.”

  “Okay, Dad.”

  Dad? Did I just hear him right? Did he just call Casey Dad? What was going on here? That couldn’t be right. I was so confused.

  “Dad?” I asked, scrunching my eyes together in disbelief.

  I backed up as he walked onto the porch, shutting the door behind him.

  “Destiny, what are you doing here?” He was angry, hostile.

  “Well, I came here to see Olivia and I am completely shocked to see you here. What the hell is going on, Dad?”

  “You shouldn’t have come here,” he said, looking over his shoulder and behind me.

  “I’m not leaving until you tell me what is going on. How can you be that child’s father? What is he talking about?”

  He shook his head and stepped closer to me.

  “Listen, I will tell you everything, you just need to get out of here, fast. If Olivia finds out you were here. If Olivia finds out you know about Travis, I could lose everything that matters to me. Listen, there is so much you don’t know. If you want me to tell you everything, you need to go home. I can meet you at McDonald’s at noon tomorrow if you promise not to tell anyone anything, especially Bryan. Please, Dez. It will all make sense tomorrow, I promise.”

  I was in shock. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I had so many questions.

  “No, Casey, I need to know now! I demand answers! I don’t care if Olivia sees us talking. What the hell is going on here?”

  “I swear to god…you know what? I have done some terrible things to you and I know that it is hard for you to trust me right now, but you have to believe me. There is so much you need to know. Can you please just meet me tomorrow?” he asked, inching me down the stairs toward my car.

  “I don’t know what you are up to Casey, but you better have one hell of an explanation. I don’t know why I am giving you the benefit of the doubt right now, but you seem very scared about something. I don’t think I have ever seen you scared before, so I am going to listen to you. You better tell me the truth tomorrow and I mean it,” I warned him, putting my finger in his face.

  “Thank you so much, now please go,” he rushed me, opening up my car door for me.

  “You owe me,” I warned as I pulled away.

  My impatience had me second guessing why I let him push me away. Why I left without answers. He just looked so scared, so paranoid. Casey a dad? Olivia the mom? Travis had to be about thirteen, possibly fourteen. Why would Casey hide this from Bryan? Why didn’t he want him to know? A child seemed like something you would want to tell your best friend. Was he scared Bryan would be mad he hooked up with his ex-girlfriend? I didn’t even know he knew Olivia lived in Duluth. The questions were killing me. I knew I had no choice than to wait until I met with Casey tomorrow, but it was so hard to wait so long without telling anyone.

  “Jill, you will not believe what just happened!” I yelled, coming into her house, looking for her.

  “Don’t tell me you went to see Olivia,” she said, meeting me in the kitchen.

  “I did and you won’t believe who answered the door.”

  “Who? You’re killing me here.”

  “Casey!” I screamed.

  “Casey? As in Bryan’s friend, Casey?”

  “Yeah, well he didn’t actually answer the door, their kid did.”

  “Their kid? How is that possible? How old was their kid?” She seemed just as blown away with this information as I did.

  “His name is Travis and he was about thirteen, maybe fourteen years old. I don’t know, but Casey was pissed and he told the kid to go upstairs. And do you know what the kid said to him?”

  “What?”

  “He said, okay Dad. Can you believe it? Okay, Dad,” I explained, my voice getting more excited as I talked.

  “You have got to be kidding me. So, Olivia and Casey had a kid? That is just absolutely crazy. What did Casey say about all of this? He had to be hiding it for a reason.”

  “Well, he seemed to be very troubled that I was there and paranoid that she was going to come home. So, he told me he would explain everything tomorrow if I met him at McDonald’s at noon. Does that seem weird to you?”

  “It sounds like she is pretty evil. McDonald’s here or in Duluth?”

  I thought for a moment, “He really wasn’t specific, I mean I think he meant here. There are so many McDonald’s in Duluth. I would think if he meant there, he would of specified which McDonald’s, right?”

  “Yes, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Sounds like you were both pretty nervous. I just can’t believe you left without making him tell you more.”

  “Oh, I tried, Jill. There was no way he was going to tell me anything there.”

  “Bryan is going to be so pissed. Are you going to go tell him? Call him?”

  I stepped closer to her. “No, Jill. You have to promise me you won’t tell Bryan until I talk to Casey tomorrow—“

  I was cut off to the loud ringing of her home phone on the wall.

  “Hang on,” she said looking at the Caller ID. “It’s Mom, I gotta get this. Hey Mom,” she said, picking up the phone. “Mom, slow down! I can’t understand you. Who? Who’s Andrew?”

  Her eyes opened up really wide as she dropped the phone, which was caught just before hitting the ground by the short cord and bounced back
up and down a few times like a bungee cord.

  “Jill? Is everything okay? Is Mom okay?” I asked, diving for the phone and picking it up.

  “Mom—“

  “Mom, are you there?” I asked, even though I could hear her screaming something into the phone. I looked up at Jill, confused.

  “It’s your dad, he found me! What do I do?”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Dad called? Are you sure?”

  “Yes Destiny, I’m sure. He said he was coming to town and when I told him to stay away,” she broke out into sobs and could no longer continue talking.

  I could tell she was drunk.

  “Mom, stay right there, Jill and I are on our way. Don’t go anywhere!” I yelled before hanging up.

  I grabbed my keys off of the counter and began running to the door. When I saw Jill wasn’t following me, I turned around and ran back to get her.

  “Jill, lets go! Mom’s in trouble, I’ll drive.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Jill,” I said, pulling on her arm, “we need to go now.”

  “I can’t Destiny, I just can’t.”

  I could tell she was obviously quite worried about seeing him again. I just needed to get Mom out of that house, fast.

  “Okay, I understand. I’ll be right back, okay?” I said, giving her a quick hug. “It’s going to be okay, don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”

  When she nodded, I quickly ran out of the house to get to Mom before he did.

  We got back to Jill’s before Mom could say anything, she just cried the whole way. I tried to pry the Busch Light out of her hand, but it would only cause a mess. Beer in one hand, twelve pack in the other, typical mom.

  Jill got up and hugged her.

  “He found me, Jill, he found me.”

  “Mom, it’s going to be okay. Did you call the cops?”