Hi, all. Hope you're doing well.
I said I'd post more during the weekend, and I think I'm in just under the wire.
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(Part 15)
(Later – same day)
For Dee Dee, keeping her pregnancy a secret wouldn’t be an easy mission and in the meantime, she needed a distraction from her worries. If she had something to help pass the time of day, she may be able to cope with the situation better and come up with a plan in breaking the news to Rick and Alex. That is if she broke it to them at all. She’d really have to make a decision one way or the other. She had an idea of something to keep her busy; something she’d like to do, but of course she’d have to get an “okay” from Alex.
After making her way down the stairs, Dee Dee tapped on the partially opened door. “Alex, can I talk to you for second?”
“Yeah.” The doctor turned from his desk to face his wife. “What do you want?”
Mrs. Turnan took a seat in her husband’s office. “Remember when we were at the Doe’s party, and I met Ryan Jacobs, the schoolteacher?”
“Yeah. You said his wife works for the foundation.”
“Right. Her name is Tanya. Anyway, Ryan suggested that I help out at the community center with the kids. I’d like to do that now, if it’s okay with you.” Dee Dee sat quietly, waiting for denial of her request.
“I guess you could do that.” Alex placed an elbow on the desk then supported his chin with his fist. He continued and expelled ideas for his benefit. “It’ll look better on my part, if you don’t stay locked up in the house all day. It’ll be good for you to meet and get to know a few people in the community; including those associated with the foundation. As you well know, keeping up appearances is very important to me.”
Dee Dee was quite surprised by Alex’s agreement. But she wasn’t too surprised that through her request, he found a way to make himself appear first-rate.
“Okay. I’ll get in touch with Ryan, and he can let me know when I can get started.”
***
The next afternoon, Dee Dee sat in the community center library; going over a few details with Ryan as he expressed his gratitude. “I’m really glad you decided to help us out. Because I haven’t heard from you since the party, I was afraid you’d decided against my offer.”
“Yeah, that was a few weeks ago, wasn’t it? I’m sorry. I normally get back in touch right away, but I’ve been busy with other stuff.”
“You can stop apologizing. I was a newlywed once too.” Ryan offered a smile and a wink.
Ryan couldn’t have been more mistaken about her married life, but Dee Dee feigned a smile as if she were a blushing newlywed.
“As I said at the party, we need all the help we can get. Although we could use you most anywhere, what areas interest you most?”
“Well, I think I’d like to read stories to the younger kids, and maybe give a few art tips to those who are interested. I don’t know a lot about it myself, but I think the kids might get a kick out of it.”
“That’s right….” Ryan smiled; remembering their conversation. “You told me at the party, that you were into painting. So do you have any idea of when you’d like to start?”
Without a second thought, she replied with enthusiasm. “Would tomorrow be too soon? If it isn’t, I can definitely start then.”
“Tomorrow would be fine. You can come by after school lets out, and I’ll take you around to meet the kids and the other volunteers, and you can get a feel of the place.”
“That sounds great. I’ll bring some of my own paint supplies, if that’s okay?”
“Sure. Bring anything you think we can use. Sometimes we run low on supplies.”
After a few more minutes of small talk, a quick view of the arts and crafts room; Ryan escorted Dee Dee to her car.
During the drive home, Dee Dee felt sure she’d enjoy being a volunteer, and looked forward to being of help. But with the baby coming, she wanted to save some money in order to support herself when she’s able to leave Alex, which meant finding a paying job.
She thought about the money she’d get from selling her house, and what Rick was to collect from selling the things she left behind, but unfortunately, she hadn’t received any of the money from him. She told Rick not to be in any hurry to send it, and apparently he listened to her.
She needed to get in touch and tell him to send it as soon as possible, but since Alex had given her strict orders against having any contact with him, it would be risky, especially since the proof would be listed on the phone bill. Calling from Celise’s or the community center would require a collect call. She wasn’t ready to explain that to Rick, nor explain to Celise why she couldn’t use her own phone. If Rick were to call her sometime soon, she’d have to go against Alex’s rule to talk to him; hoping he wouldn’t be around to answer the phone or to catch her in mid conversation.
“Why don’t I just send him a letter?” She thought. “I’ll have him send his replies to the post office. They’ll hold the letters for at least two weeks after they arrive. That’ll keep Alex from getting to them before I do.”
She could only trust that her request wouldn’t raise suspicion in Rick.
***
Deciding that three days a week would be a fair amount of time to spend at the center, Dee Dee had begun her first day of services and easily fit in among the group. Soon she was enjoying her time with younger children; reading fairytales, making crafts and answering a lot of questions about her life as a police officer. The smiles on the kid’s faces were responsible for adding a smile or two to her face. And the fact that Alex hadn’t given her any grief about anything in the past few days allowed for more tension to be eased.
Days went by and things continued to be moderately smooth in the Turnan house. Dee Dee wasn’t sure of how long the peace would last, but would find a surprising discovery that could answer her question.
Dee Dee had finished up her usual rounds about the house with some light dusting, and washing and drying a load of towels and bed linen. As she began putting them away, her first stop was the half bath downstairs, next the full bath in the master bedroom, ending with the full bath at the end of the hall. After neatly placing towels in their proper places, she caught a glimpse of a light powdery substance on the counter. For a split second she thought it was talcum powder, but with her instincts kicking in, her thoughts quickly changed. Before she had a chance for further inspection, she heard Alex coming in the front door. Believing that Alex would remember how he left things, she left the evidence undisturbed and quickly left the room.
During the remainder of the day Dee Dee had thoughts of her husband using an illegal substance in their home. She didn’t have any definite proof, but with all that he’s done; including his unpredictable behavior, she wouldn’t be particularly shocked to find that he’s using. Throughout her dinner; as she barely ate half of it, the thoughts continued to occupy her mind. She’d just finished eating and gone into the den, when Alex finally decided to take a break from his office and have his dinner. After he finished he joined Dee Dee in the den; taking a seat in his recliner which had been moved from the living room. As Dee Dee sat on the sofa in front of the television, she wasn’t focused on the program and more or less wondered what she’d do if it was proven that Alex was using drugs. Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the telephone.
“Hello. Turnan residence. Yes, he is…just a moment.” Dee Dee extended the phone to her husband. “Alex. Dr. Ingram wants to speak to you.”
The phone call was very short; with Alex only replying with a few “Yes, sirs.” With the deep exhalation from Alex, Dee Dee figured that the more superior doctor didn’t have great news for her husband. Although curious about what was said she didn’t dare ask about it, as Alex would most likely tell her to mind her own business and maybe add physical pain to his verbal advice.
Dee Dee never imagined she could be happy not sharing a bed with her husband, but considering who she was married to, it changed her feelings dramatically. Alex was spending more and more of his time working in his home based office, which on more frequent occasion, he began falling asleep on the sofa either while watching television or going over paperwork. There were times when Dee Dee would hear his footsteps headed towards the bedroom, and she’d cringe as her stomach tightened from nervous tension and thoughts of him saying - “Come on, Dee Dee. I do have some feelings for you and I might want to show you sometime. Besides that, you’re a woman with sexual desires. I can help you fulfill them.”
Tonight would be one of those nights to put Dee Dee’s nerves on edge.
Instead of making camp in his office, Alex chose to sleep in the bed with his wife. Dee Dee sat resting her back against the headboard while nibbling on Saltine crackers. She managed to get through the AM without an upset stomach, but the morning sickness didn’t abide by the rules and was keeping late hours.
When Alex walked into the bedroom she didn’t say a word and neither did he. For a few seconds she thought he may have come in to look for something and head back to his office, but she soon found out otherwise.
Alex removed his clothes, put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and sat quietly on his side of the bed. At one point he made a slight turn toward Dee Dee as if to say something but only turned away as he sighed heavily and ran his hands through his hair. After a few moments passed he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and returned to climb into bed beside her. A knot tightened in Dee Dee’s stomach as she thought of Alex’s possible motive.
Still without a word; keeping his back to his wife, Alex slid between the covers. Dee Dee knew that something serious was on his mind and assumed that the phone call from Dr. Ingram could be part of the reason for is odd behavior tonight. And, during a few nights for the past week or so, she’d heard Alex during what sounded like him having nightmares or talking loudly in his sleep. She guessed that maybe he felt that sleeping in the bed would be more comfortable than the sofa; giving him a better night’s sleep and put an end to the nightmares any thoughts of his conversation with Dr. Ingram.
Even after realizing that Alex only wanted sleep, Dee Dee still slept as near the edge of the bed as possible without falling off. She didn’t want to come in contact with Alex at all in bed.
It seemed that she’d only been asleep for two minutes when Alex awoke screaming from a terrifying nightmare. It scared Dee Dee so that her heart was racing, probably as fast as Alex’s. She sat up in bed, turning on the lamp to see Alex sitting up with beads of sweat accompanying a look of fear on his face. She didn’t know what to do or say, as it might be the wrong thing.
After Alex seemed to recognize his surroundings he asked Dee Dee a question. “What happened?” He asked breathlessly.
“You must have had a nightmare. I was asleep when I heard you cry out.” Dee Dee was aware of the confusion in Alex’s eyes. She wasn’t deeply concerned, but by nature she couldn’t help but feel a morsel of sympathy. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah…um…” Alex cleared his throat. “I’m okay. It was a really bad nightmare, but I’m okay now.” He went into bathroom to splash cool water on his face then went downstairs for a glass of ice water. While in the kitchen flashes of lightening lit up the sky as flashes of the dream re-entered Alex’s head. He thought to himself - “The thunder must have triggered the dream. That happens sometimes.” He didn’t own up to what the real cause of the dream was. He continued to remember bits of the nightmare - a woman pleading for help, pools of blood, and a crying newborn taken from a woman’s arms. Analyzing his own dream, he felt that the scenes represented the abortion that he told Dee Dee to have. He thought and questioned – “She wasn’t pregnant so why the dreams? Would I really have been sorry if Dee Dee would have terminated a pregnancy? No. That can’t be it.”
Dee Dee listened as the thunder rolled overhead, wondering if Alex would start an emotional storm of his own once he returned to the room. If he was using drugs, and decided to take a hit while downstairs, there’s not telling what he’d be like when he returned.
After a few more sips of water, Alex managed to clear some of the scenes from his head and went back upstairs. Dee Dee pretended to be asleep as he slipped back into bed, and after about a half hour she could tell from his breathing that he was asleep. “He didn’t use the drugs.” She thought silently. With that much less to worry about, she soon fell asleep herself.
She had no idea of future nightmares to come into her life while fully awake.
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