Pieces of Me

by LaShawn Vasser

  When they arrived at the party there were quite a few more people in attendance than Nicole thought would be. It seemed everyone wanted a word with Davis. They had barely made it inside before he was approached by several people. One couple in particular stood out.

  “Davis, we thought that was you. And, congratulations on your wedding.”

  “Jefferson and Mindy let me introduce you to my wife, Nicole. Nicole this is Jefferson and Mindy Saars.”

  Nicole smiled warmly “Nice to meet you both.”

  Jefferson openly admired Nicole “You’ve had yourself quite an adventure over the last six months Davis. We read about it in the papers. I can see why you haven’t been around much your wife is very lovely.”

  “Yes, MY wife is very lovely…Mindy you’re looking lovely as well tonight. I see our hosts, please excuse us.”

  Davis made a hasty exit. He knew Jefferson slept around and didn’t like the way he was looking at Nicole. He guided her away from his leering eyes.

  It wasn’t long before he was stopped again this time by the hosts of the party. “Davis I’m glad you made it tonight. This must be your lovely wife. I’ve heard she was stunning but words just doesn’t do you justice my dear. We’re sorry we missed the wedding but we were out of the country. Davis didn’t give us much notice.”

  “You’re right Sam, words cannot do her justice. And might I add your wife is looking lovely as well. Sam, you know how I am when I know it’s right I don’t waste time.”

  Nicole blushed beautifully.

  “Nicole this is Samuel and Alexandra Ross, two of my dearest friends.”

  “Nice to meet you both, you have a beautiful home Alexandra.”

  “Please call me Alex and thank you very much.”

  Unlike the first couple she’d met, the Ross’s seem to be warm and inviting.

  “Wow, Davis did a really good job picking out your rings. They’re absolutely incredible.” Alex admired Nicole’s wedding rings. How did he propose?

  “Well, you know Davis, he never really asks anything. He kind of informed me we were getting married and sprung the rings on me at the altar.”

  While the ladies were engaged in conversation, Sam pulled Davis to the side. “Greg Roberts is here. He showed up as a plus one. I had no idea he was coming. Otherwise, I would have given you a heads up.”

  The bile rose up in his throat. The last time he’d seen Greg, he’d just finished screwing his wife. “Thanks for the letting me know but I’m fine.”

  They’d been at the dinner for about 30 minutes and overall were having a good time. Davis had been so attentive that it was almost easy to pretend that they were in love. That was until Anne made her entrance into the party. She walked right over to Alex.

  “Anne, how are you? I thought you weren’t going to be able to make it to our party tonight.”

  “Of course, I was coming. Alex you give the best parties.”

  Alex whispered into Anne’s ear and spoke through a smile “Anne don’t start any trouble do you understand me.”

  Anne responded the same way “Why would you think I’m here to stir up trouble.”

  Alex enunciated each word “because I know you. Don’t do it. He’s moved on.”

  Anne smiled sweetly, ignored Alex, and walked directly towards Davis and Nicole.

  Nicole’s back was to Anne but she could see Davis tense up. She turned around to see Anne and her date walking towards them.

  Everyone in the room knew that Davis and Anne had a nasty divorce and almost everyone in the room knew they had recently been dating. Anne made sure that everyone thought they were getting back together. Most people were shocked when Davis made his wedding announcement to Nicole.

  “Hello Davis. You’re looking quite handsome tonight. I’m not sure if you’ve met my date, Henry Wexler. This is Davis Chatham.”

  “Hello Anne...Henry.”

  It was a very awkward introduction.

  No she didn’t just ignore her and no he didn’t just speak to her. Nicole was ready to snatch that fake smile off of her face.

  Nicole cleared her voice and as if to remind Davis that she was still standing there. He took the hint and introduced her to them. “Anne and Henry this is my wife Nicole Chatham.”

  “Nice to finally meet you Nicole.”

  As if the gods were looking out for him dinner was announced. Davis was so thankful for the reprieve. He actually felt Nicole’s eyes cut him deep.

  Everyone went into the formal dining room. Anne was seated two chairs down and across from them. Nicole noticed that Davis couldn’t seem to keep his eyes from glancing in Anne’s direction. Nicole tried to ignore it and make small talk with the couple to her right. Every time a response from him was required he resorted to one word answers.

  After dinner was finished Sam stood up “Well gentleman, as lovely as dinner and desert was I would love to go into the cigar room and have a brandy.”

  Davis leaned over and whispered to Nicole “You’re going to be ok while I go for a nightcap?”

  Nicole didn’t respond and turned her head away from him pretending to admire something on Alex’s walls.

  Davis wasn’t looking forward to going home later. He could tell Nicole was furious. He got up from the dinner table. He just might have several drinks.

  “Well ladies would you like to go into the living room? We can have our own night cap in there.” Everyone got up and went into Alex’s living room.

  “Ah the bubbly has arrived.” Most of the women took a glass except for Nicole.

  Mindy was the first to notice “Nicole you’re not drinking?”

  “Thank you but no.”

  Mindy joked “You and Davis have only been married a couple of months. He hasn’t gotten you pregnant already has he?”

  Anne almost choked on her drink.

  Nicole smiled hoping Anne would actually choke on the news “As a matter of fact, yes. We are expecting.”

  All laughter and conversation in the room died and then everyone focused on Anne.

  She narrowed her eyes “I guess that would explain the shotgun wedding.”

  “Anne! That was uncalled for.” Alex screamed at her.

  “Oh come on. Everyone in this room knows how in love Davis and I were and just a couple of months ago we on the verge of reconciling. All of a sudden he announced he was marrying some girl he met on a plane that no one has ever heard of?”

  Nicole was seething “Anne if Davis wanted to marry you he would have. Don’t blame me for ruining your chances with him.”

  Anne angrily walked over to Nicole “Really? So is that why he spent the night with me last week?”

  “What? Davis would never…”

  “Yes he did.”

  Nicole was so angry. She wanted to knock that smug look off of her face. It felt like it happened in slow motion but she slapped Anne so hard she fell onto the floor.

  Anne screamed “You bitch! I can’t believe you hit me. Is that what they teach you in the hood?” Nicole was about to go to the floor and finish what she started but when the men heard Anne’s initial screams they came running out of the cigar room. Davis saw that Anne and Nicole were about to get physical. He immediately went over to stop them.

  He picked Nicole up by the waist and dragged her away from Anne. “Davis she attacked me!” Anne continued to scream hysterically.

  “Nicole is this true? Did you attack Anne?”

  “Yes, I slapped her. She’s lucky that’s all I got a chance to do!” Nicole was still trying break Davis’s grip so that she could get to Anne.

  “Nicole get control of yourself. I can’t believe you’re acting like this.”

  She stopped trying to get him to release her and focused her attention on him “Is that your first concern? What happens to Anne?”

  “Now that you’ve embarrassed the hell out of me and ruined a perfectly good party, I think we should leave.”

  Nicole snatched her arm away from him and looked at Alex “I�
�m sorry for ruining your party.”

  Nicole walked out of the parlor with her head held high. She had nothing to be embarrassed about.

  *****

  They walked to the car in silence. As soon as they got inside Davis turned to her “What was that all about Nicole! Those were my friends and business associates in there.”

  “Last week when you got that phone call at two o’clock in the morning was that Anne?”

  He was surprised by the question. Davis didn’t answer her. He just started the car and pulled out of the driveway.

  “Answer me Davis! Did you leave my bed and go to her?”

  “It’s not what you think.”

  She just stared at him trying hard to blink back the tears. In that moment, everything crystalized. Davis loved Anne. He would always love Anne and she would always come in second to her.

  “It’s not what you think. I can explain.”

  Nicole turned her head away from him and looked out of the window.

  “Do you want to hear my explanation or not?”

  Davis started trying to explain but all Nicole could hear was Anne’s voice telling her that he’d spent the night with her. She was losing herself and acting so out of character. No matter how much she loved Davis, she needed to get away from him.

  As soon as the car pulled up into their garage, Nicole got out and slammed the door. She went straight to their bedroom, closed and locked the door. Nicole went to the closet to get a couple of suitcases and started packing. She would not stay one more night in this farce of a marriage. She deserved better.

  Davis watched her go upstairs and decided he’d better let her cool off before he went up to try and talk some sense into her. He went into his office for a drink.

  An hour later, Davis heard her downstairs in the foyer. When he came out he’d noticed she had changed her clothes and had two suitcases by the door.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What does it look like Davis?”

  The doorbell rang and Nicole opened it. She’d called a cab to pick her up. “It’s just those two bags.” The driver came in and took her bags to the car.

  “You can’t be serious. You’re leaving over a misunderstanding?”

  “Davis you are a brilliant man. You can’t believe this is just a ‘misunderstanding’.”

  “You must know that if you walk out of that door I will fight you for full custody.”

  Nicole turned around “Then, that is exactly what you are going to have to do because I won’t live like this and I won’t willingly give up my child to you.” Nicole turned and walked out.

  Chapter 21

  Nicole had been gone for about six weeks. At first Davis was angry and couldn’t believe she’d walked out on him. But, the anger eventually subsided and he just….missed her like crazy. The moment she left his headache’s started coming back. In the past work could occupy his mind. That didn’t seem to be working.

  He’d tried calling her phone but it would go directly to voice mail. He knew that she was safe because his security detail gave him updates.

  Davis was in his home office staring at the same line on a spreadsheet for the third time when he heard Jane at his door. He hadn’t even heard her come inside.

  “Hey big brother. How are you doing?”

  “I’m sure you already know or you wouldn’t be here.”

  “Well, that’s some hearty welcome for your sister who just flew two hours to make sure you were doing okay. And, you know I don’t deal in rumors. I wanted to come see for myself what’s going on. Where’s Nicole?”

  “Nicole is not here.”

  “I know that. Where is she?”

  “She just rented an apartment over at LockWood Estates.”

  “Why would she do that? LockWood Estates? What happened?”

  “She couldn’t get over my past with Anne.”

  “Was that her problem or yours?”

  “What are you talking about Jane? I married Nicole. There’s nothing between Anne and me.”

  “Well, the word on the street is that you had an affair with her after you married Nicole.”

  “I thought you didn’t ‘do’ rumors? And, that’s a lie! I never cheated on Nicole. She’s just too stubborn to admit she’s wrong?”

  “If you didn’t have an affair, why is that what Mindy thinks happened?”

  “Because Mindy is a sap.”

  “That’s very true. So, tell me what happened from the beginning.”

  “Nicole has felt threatened by Anne since before we were married. I chose her and I promised I’d be a good husband and father. She is jealous of Anne and doesn’t trust me worth a damn.”

  Davis ruffled his hands through his hair. “I told you what’s been going on at Chatham with my technology being stolen. Well, on top of that, someone sent Anne a letter threatening to kill her and her family, if I didn’t back off.”

  “Oh my god Davis? Are you or the FBI any closer to who’s doing this?”

  “I think we are and that’s why the threats are getting stronger. Anyway, I’ve added extra security to you, Anne, and Nicole.”

  “Why would they send a letter to Anne and not Nicole? I mean that doesn’t really make sense. Nicole is your wife.”

  “I thought the same thing at first, but when I came back from being stranded on the Island, Anne and I were openly dating. No one really knew about Nicole until the announcement in the papers. I’m thinking the letter was sent to her before they knew about Nicole.”

  “I guess that would make sense.”

  “Anyway, the day Anne came to my office to show me the letter, Nicole caught me comforting her. She took it the wrong way. I tried to explain but she wouldn’t listen.”

  “That’s why she left you?”

  “Not exactly. Anne had another threat. She called me because she was terrified. I went over to make sure she was ok. Even though I had security check everything out and had them posted outside of her home, she was still afraid. She asked if I’d stay with her until she fell asleep.”

  Jane raised an eyebrow.

  “Don’t look at me like that. Nothing happened. I sat in a chair while Anne went to sleep. That was the least I could do since she was having these problems because of me. Once she fell asleep I came home. Somehow it came up in conversation and Nicole took it the wrong way. Anne offered to clear it up but I just don’t think Nicole is in a space to listen.”

  “Did you tell Nicole about what’s been going on at Chatham and the threats?”