A Beautiful New Life

by Irene, Susan

  “Mom, Mom, the voice got closer. Mom, Mrs. Fran is here.”

  “I’ll be right there.” She slipped into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and opened the door and the youngest of her three boys was standing in the hall.

  “Are you going to be gone long?” His golden blonde hair glistened in the hall light. He was four and hated when she went anywhere. Arlin would push him off to the older boys who would pick on him. They weren’t being mean; they were just being brothers but Kenny did not have any escape when Louise was not home.

  “Hey look you’re already showered and ready for bed. Good boy.” She leaned down and kissed his head. It would not be too much longer and she will have to be reaching up to give him a kiss. He was growing so fast and her being barely over five feet tall it would not take long for him to catch up and pass her by as Charlie already had and Drake was fast behind from catching up with her. She was glad they had their dad’s height and not hers.

  “I will be back in an hour and a half, just in time to read with you before you go to bed.”

  “Okay but don’t be gone long and be careful mom.” He hugged her around the waist. “I love you.”

  “I love you too sweetie.” They walked down the hall to the front room where Fran was waiting.

  “He’s such the worry wart. When I got home he was sitting at the front door waiting for me.”

  “Hey buddy, did you sit here the whole time waiting for me?”

  “No, I saw you pull in so I came over here and sat.” He stood up and took the bags out of her hands. They walked upstairs to her room and he put the bags in the closet. “Let’s go read now.” Kenny grabbed her hand and led her to his room. He crawled into bed and picked up the book they had started reading the previous night. He read two chapters, marked his page, and put the book on his nightstand. He curled up in his blankets as Louise gave him a kiss and said goodnight.

  “I don’t like to say I have a favorite but that little guy is something else. There’s just something about him. But don’t get me wrong my other two are wonderful kids. I must say I’m very lucky to have such great loving kids.”

  Louise went and checked on Charlie and Drake who were at the dining room table finishing their homework.

  “Hey guys, do you need me to look over that for you?” Louise walked over and kissed each of them on the head.

  “No”, they said in unison.

  “We’re just messing around now.” Drake smiled. “We finished our homework while you were gone. Mine was pretty easy so I think I’m okay.”

  “Yah mine too”, Charlie added.

  “Okay, if you’re sure I won’t bug you about it. Did you have your snack yet? I could make some popcorn,” Louise walked into the kitchen.

  “That sounds good, Mom. Can we sit downstairs and watch TV while we eat?” Drake was already down the stairs grabbing the remote.

  “Yah, that’s fine. Just don’t make a mess.” Louise put the popcorn in the microwave and set the timer.

  “After we ate our popcorn and watched some TV, I sent them to bed and went to my room.” She wiped away a few tears that escaped. “I’m not going to cry, because crying would mean I have lost and I won’t lose. Not them, I won’t lose them.”

  Jordan reached out a hand and rubbed her back, he did not dare move any closer. She was vulnerable and it would be wrong for him to take advantage. “Keep strong, you have it in you. I saw it the first day I laid eyes on you.”

  “When was that exactly?”

  “At the resort, you were getting your nails done.”

  She laughed at the memory. “I remember that.” She lay back down and thought about him gliding in the room. How long ago was that now? Seemed like a lifetime.

  “It is getting late we should head back. You have work tomorrow and it wouldn’t be good if you called in sick or showed up late. Make sure you put that flash drive in a safe spot. I would recommend you not take it to work with you tomorrow. If they really suspected something they will search you for sure.”

  “Yes, let’s get back, I forgot all about that. I was able to copy the financial file they had on me and I haven’t been able to look at it yet.”

  “Are you sure you want to look at that tonight?”

  “Well why wouldn’t I?”

  “You just don’t know what is in it that’s all. You may want to give yourself a weekend to really hash over it.”

  “What do you know that you aren’t telling me?”

  “Nothing, I’m just saying. I may not know you well, but I know you enough that you’ll stay up all night trying to figure it out.”

  “What if there’s nothing to figure out?”

  “You have a point but like I said before, knowing you, there’s always something to figure out.”

  Louise just laughed and raced off to Jordan’s car.

  Chapter Seventeen

  They arrived at Louise’s apartment and Jordan insisted on coming in and looking at the files with her.

  “So did they have one on me?”

  “I couldn’t find one on you or Michael. I noticed that not everyone had one. The people that I tagged as one of them didn’t have one and there were several that had the two personnel files but no financial record.”

  “Well let’s see what they have in this record.”

  Louise pulled the flash drive out of her bra and inserted it into the computer. Jordan had insisted that she not hook up internet or any other wireless device to the computer because that would open it up to them tracking her on the computer. That was no problem for her, as she only wanted it to view the files she copied. Besides, she learned soon enough that they really did not have true internet access. They went to great lengths to ensure no outside access.

  “Okay. Well here it goes.”

  The file loaded and Louise took a deep breath. The first page had all of her information. She was referred to as the target and they listed her full name, including maiden name, her address, work location, family, friends, coworkers, and some people she was not sure who they were. After reading the second page Louise found out her acquaintances were in order of how close they were to her. She was surprised and scared at how well they appeared to know her by where they placed some of her siblings. Included with these names were their home addresses and points of interest.

  “Seems like a lot of information to have for what appears to be no apparent reason.” Jordan had been looking at the information over her shoulder.

  Louise turned to the third page. She started shaking as she saw Arlin’s name listed as the client. His personal information only included his name, address and his work phone number.

  What did they mean by client? As she continued to peruse the form, she saw his bank information.

  Why would they have that? The sickening feeling she felt when she left home months ago started again.

  She turned to the fourth page; it showed a receipt for a down payment. The receipt, made out to Arlin, was for a payment of fifty thousand dollars.

  “Down payment on what?” It was Jordan who spoke. Louise did not say anything she just kept looking and hoping and wishing the bad feeling would go away. They did not have that kind of money.

  The fifth page contained the itinerary for her trip to the resort. By now the tears where flowing freely. She remembered wanting him to go and he insisted he could not. She also remembered someone else now. A girl she had met at dinner the last night at the resort and more importantly, the story she told that contradicted the story Arlin had told her about changing the reservation. She fought hard to gain control of her emotions.

  You’re not seeing the whole picture. There’s a reasonable explanation. She thought, but as she continued to turn the pages, she knew what was going on. Louise still held out hope. This could not be true. It was not what she was thinking. They had their problems but they loved each other, they had kids. As she turned the next page, her doubts were confirmed. Arlin will pay Genesee the final payout, which is forty-five percent of her
life insurance upon proof of her death. Her heart was heavy with the feeling of betrayal as she read the words. It was a contract on her life. How did they get payment from her life insurance, she was still alive? The thought that went through her mind broke her heart as she could feel the pain her kids must have felt at the word of her death. So why would they not just kill her? These people are not as smart as they might want people to think. Then she remembered someone else saying the same thing just hours ago.

  She bolted up from the chair she was sitting on and turned to stare at him. “Did you know about this?”

  Jordan took a step back holding his hands up in defense, “No! No, I swear! I didn’t have a clue about this.”

  She wanted to believe him; she needed someone she could believe right now. She watched as the past twelve years, her marriage, her life, flashed before her. Had any of it been true; had he ever loved her; how could she have not seen this coming. Crushed and broken, as she now felt, she looked for those answers. She sank to the floor and sat with her arms around her knees pulled to chest, rocking back and forth.

  “Louise.” Jordan reached down to her.

  She only responded with a brush off of her hand. She would not look at him. She had to think about this. Did he know? If he had, he would have told her. She ached for someone to trust. Her marriage was a sham, how did she not see that coming? When she thought hard enough she now saw the signs that she been too naïve to see.

  By the time Kenny was born, Louise didn’t think life could get any better. Well she had been wrong. Arlin was fading fast; he was not as attentive as he used to be; in fact, he was never home anymore. Business was booming for him and he was always working. Louise soon found comfort in her boys and work. She moved over to the quality assurance department but knew she needed her degree to advance any further. She tried to go to night school but with Arlin gone all the time she did not want the boys to be neglected. Her life soon revolved around them, and when Arlin decided to be part of the family again, there was no room for him. He was a stranger to Louise and the boys. He did not fit into the life they had made without him. Louise tried to make things right but even Arlin had moved on to a new, secret life of his own.

  The women came and went and Louise always knew when one got tired of his lies and had left. At work, Louise was strong and stood up to anyone who challenged her but at home, she was the quiet submissive wife Arlin expected. She did not want to lose her boys and Arlin threatened plenty of times to take them from her even though he had no relationship with them either. They did not fear him; they just liked it better when he was not home.

  Jordan now came and sat in front of her. He was not ready to give up on her so easily. He grabbed her hands, “Look at me”. When she would not he tried again. “I need you to look at me, I swear to you. How would I?”

  Between sobs, “You knew about Louise, you gave me a box with my personal items. How is it you knew about the box but you did not know about Arlin? About how he, he paid them; paid them to kill me.” She broke into a new set of sobs, pulled her hands back from Jordan and rocked back and forth.

  Jordan hung his head, he felt defeated. He knew how he got here and it was not because someone paid to have him here. “I knew about Louise because I knew about me, Jordan. As far as the box, I knew it existed but I did not know where. I remembered them collecting all of my personal items and putting them in a white box. I never went looking for the box because I had remembered everything.”

  “Why didn’t you leave?”

  He knew they had talked about this but felt it better to just share the story again rather than argue.

  “I have always allowed fate to lead my life. I believed fate led me here. Once I got here, I couldn’t leave. Fate held me here. Then I saw you that day in the salon and I knew you were the reason. I just didn’t know what they were going to do to you or I would have taken you then and left this place.” He hung his head. “I’m sorry Louise that I didn’t do something sooner.” He took a deep breath. “But if I had and you made it home safely you wouldn’t know what you know now about Arlin. He may have found another way. Besides, I’m the one who supported you in accessing those files and finding the truth. If I had known, would I have been so supportive?”

  She now lifted her head to look at him. She wanted so much to believe him, but everything she believed was now nothing but lies. “I don’t know what to think anymore. But I think Arlin tried killing me himself. There was a year I was in and out of the hospital several times. I was so sick but the doctors didn’t know what was wrong. I then had all these mechanical problems with my car that could have resulted in more serious, maybe even fatal results.”

  He voice filled with tears. “I’m the one who showed you that you were married. Knowing how much I love you, do you think if I had known I would have ever shared that information with you? I have always looked out for you. You can trust me.”

  She wanted to believe him. She needed to believe him. She looked over at Jordan. “I’m so sorry.” She reached for him.

  “What are you sorry for?” He took her hand.

  “For pushing you away when I found out the truth.”

  “Don’t be sorry for being an honest woman with values? That’s what made me love you even more.”

  “Make love to me, here. Right now.” It was not a question, she was so hurt, wounded and only he could help her get past this and heal. She put her arms around his neck.

  “Louise, no, I won't be with you like this. You need time to let this sink in.” He removed her arms from around his neck. He did not just want to walk away but he knew this was wrong. As much as he hoped the day would come again where he could take her in his arms and love her as she was meant to be loved, this was not it. He got up, sat on the couch, and bent over putting his head in his hands.

  “Get out then! You’re no better than he is!” She was yelling now, all the hurt that Arlin had ever put her through was now coming out, the anger, the insanity, and the hell. She lashed out at Jordan throwing it all at him and he was ready to take it. She needed to get it all out, so when they did come together, it would be because of their love for each other, not the hurt she was feeling now.

  “I’m not going to leave you.” That was all he had to say. She sat rocking back and forth and cried. When she thought there were no more tears to shed, she cried again. After a time, and when she seemed to have calmed down, Jordan spoke.

  “You know something I don’t understand; if Arlin paid them to kill you why are you not dead?”

  She looked up at him; her anger toward him dissolved for the moment. “That is a good question. If they were supposed to kill me, they will never allow me leave here alive. I’ll never get home to my kids.” With that said a fresh wave of tears flood her face. “I wished they had killed me.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Laughter filled the air as the residents of Genesee enjoyed the sunny summer day. Every person was at the lake, Louise thought as she sat at a table under the pavilion. She was disappointed that they were not able to get their normal spot on the knoll overlooking the lake. She laid the checker tablecloth down and set out the goodies she had packed. Jordan went back to the car to get the inner tubes they will use later when they go swimming. She had not heard him approach, and was startled when she turned around and found him standing right behind her. She took a step back.

  “Hello Mark. Nice day isn’t it.” She looked around for Jordan.

  “Yes it is. Too nice of a day to be spent alone.” He took a seat at the table.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Well like I said it’s too nice of a day to be spent alone so I’m joining you.” He took a handful of grapes and started popping them in his mouth.

  “I’m not alone so will you please leave?” She started putting away the items she had just set out. He grabbed her hand.

  “I really don’t know why you treat me this way. It would be in your best interest to…let’s say… be more cooperativ
e to my needs.”

  She pulled her hand away. “And if I’m not, what exactly are you going to do about it?”

  He did not answer. He got up from the table and darted off. Louise turned around and spotted the reason for his abrupt departure. She ran to Jordan and put her arms around him. As they walked back to the table she told him what happened.

  “He just doesn’t get the message. I think you should go to the police.” Jordan helped her set out the goodies again.

  “I don’t know. I don’t think he really means any harm.”

  “He put his hands on you. He is getting more daring.”

  “I’ll think about it, but right now I want to enjoy this wonderful sunny day with the man I love.” She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close to her. She felt so secure in his arms she did not want to let go but both of their stomachs growled and they pulled away laughing. “I think it’s time to eat.”

  They ate their lunch and then lugged their inner tubes down to the beach. She laid out their towels and they took in the sun while their food digested. It was days like this that she could stay here forever with him. She had to fight hard to think of her kids. She missed them and it seemed the bad dreams were held at bay for the moment; so until they could figure out a way to get out of here she was happy to stay. At times, she felt guilty about being happy. Thinking of them everyday put her at risk that they would know she knew the truth of who she was and what they were doing to people here. That would not get her any closer to home. She knew this was just an excuse. Every day she grew closer to Jordan, she felt her boys slipping further away.

  Louise was about to dose off when a Frisbee landed on top of her. She sat up and saw a couple of boys running in her direction.

  “I’m sorry Miss. Bad aim.” He was probably about twelve and his sun-bleached hair reminded her of her own boys.