Page 44 of Stranded
“Read it.” He thrust the paper at me. I took it from him and read.
Jackson,
I tried. I really did, but the past year and a half has been the hardest of my life. It was bad enough when you were away all the time. But I was at least able to enjoy the simple pleasures of being alone. Now that you’re back, I feel caged in with a man I no longer desire nor wish to spend the rest of my life with.
I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression over the past two weeks. It was all out of guilt. You see, for a brief moment, I thought you and Aiden were not alive, and I hate to say it but I felt happy. Not happy that you were dead, but happy that I no longer had to think about anyone else’s needs but my own for afirst. Over the past couple of years, you and Aiden have made living together so unbearable.
You both drove me into the arms of the man I met and fell in love with. Arthur is kind and simple and so different from you. He makes me happy. He makes me enjoy living again, and it was always my intention to leave you and be with him.
Then you got stranded in the desert and returned okay. I felt like a horrible person for feeling relieved when I thought you were dead, so I tried to make up for it. I thought life had given us a second chance so we could work things out, and I tried. I really tried, but I don’t love you anymore. I haven’t for a long time. I didn’t want to admit it until I found out about you and Aiden.
I should have been upset about overhearing you sleeping with my son, and the fact I wasn’t revealed to me that I am actually relieved. I can walk away without feeling guilty for doing so because any man who would sleep with his own stepson isn’t worth my time.
I thought about talking to Aiden about it, but I know him well. He’s stubborn and since he has the stomach to sleep with his own mother’s husband, I must have either done something wrong in parenting him or he grew up to be a horrible son who isn’t worth my tears.
Either way, nothing changes.
If you must be with my son, then at least treat him well. His father abandoned him, and now I am, too. You’re all he has. He’s always worshipped the ground you walked on, and now he’s an adult, capable of making his own decisions, my only worry is that one day he will regret.
Please don’t let him regret this mistake, Jackson.
There’s a lot of things I’m good at but unfortunately saying goodbye isn’t one. Give my love to Aiden.
Melodie.
I had to reread the letter twice for the words to sink. My eyes wide, I stared at Jackson. She knew about us? Fuck. She’d overheard us having sex. No wonder she’d left although I would have expected her to confront us.
“She’s really gone?” I asked.
Jackson nodded. “She cleaned out the closet. All her clothes are gone.”
There was a lot she’d said in the message. She was in love and apparently happy to move on with another man, but none of that mattered. The only thing that did was?—
“This means…”
“We can be together, baby.”
I squealed and threw my arms around Jackson. “I know I should feel bad. I really should. She heard us, Jackson. But I can’t help it. I’m so fucking happy right now. Do you know I planned to drink myself into a stupor tonight? Couldn’t bear the thought of you in her bed when you should be in mine.” I grabbed the front of his shirt. “You’re not hers. You’re not anyone else’s. You hear me, Jackson? You’re mine.”
He grinned. “Is that so?”
“Fuck yes. I can’t believe it. She just left without confronting us. Didn’t even leave a forwarding address?”
“Nope. Nothing.”
I stepped back and eyed him. “Wait a minute. This wasn’t a part of your plan. Was it?”
“Nope.”
“Are you sure you didn’t take my advice?” I raised my eyebrow. “Come to think of it. This is all so convenient. Why did she leave a note when she could have just disappeared? Did someone deliberately leave the note to explain her absence so no police would be involved?”
“Aiden, you have an overactive imagination. I didn’t off your mom. That was your harebrained idea. Not mine.”
“Didn’t say you pulled the trigger, but you could have paid someone to do it. Didn’t you? Will you tell me where you buried her? I kind of feel guilty and would like to take her flowers every year.”
“Aiden, I did not off your mom!”
“If you say so.”
