Episode 5 - The Other Woman

"How long will she be this way? Well, Mr. Hightower, there is no definite answer to that question. Some people recover within days, and others take months and a year."

"When will she be able to come home, Doctor?"

"We need a few more days to observe your wife before we let her go home with you. In the meantime, you can visit her as often as possible, so she can get accustomed to seeing you. But I'll main hope is that her memory returns soon."

"And if it doesn't?" he asked, worried.

"You will need to be strong, but most of all, your wife will need your patients and love.'

"Alright, this is so difficult. I feel responsible for this happening to her," he said, hanging his head as tears ran down his face. 

"Sir, everything is going to be okay."

As usual, Devon returned to work at the office with very little sleep from the previous two nights. It's been that way for some time, working on no sleep and little food.  He felt riddled with guilt. All he could think about was Zari and all the pain he had put his beautiful wife through these three years of marriage.

"Who would want to do something to hurt my precious Zari?" That thought also consumed his brain.

He would go to work and try to focus, and with each minute, and hour, that went by, the thought of his wife and what she had been through in the last 48 hours plagued his mind.  Devon rubbed his eyes and then readjusted the wire-rimmed glasses as he stared at their wedding picture of him and Zari that sat on his desk. He couldn't believe what had happened to her and how she looked. Zari Hightower was his beautiful, loving partner, the woman he wanted to be the mother of his children. But, instead, the girl he liked and waited for, their short time together, is becoming a memory. 

"What am I going to do? I have all this money, and it's useless; it can't fix Zari. "He whispered, exhausted.

He was restless and anxious. He had to do something--anything. Devon brushed the tears from his face as the flow increased. 

The mere thought of her possibly being held captive for 48 hours was like a knife piercing through him! He shook his head, trying to focus, and that's when his younger brother walked into his office. Evan couldn't believe how weak his older brother was behaving. He'd always thought of him as having everything together, and nothing bothered him. He's never seen him display this emotion toward his parents, him, or anyone else before Zari came into his life.

"Hey, how is Zari doing?" 

"About the same since I talked to you." I just can't believe she's in the hospital."

"Do you want to go get a drink?" 

"No, thanks. I will go home and figure out what to do next to help Zari." 

"Devon, I don't want to be the barrel of bad news. But you have done everything you could do. What are you hoping to find? You got to let the cops do their job."

"The thought of someone touching my wife is driving me insane!"

"I understand, but just two nights ago, you stood in front of everybody and asked her for a divorce? What’s going on with you? I thought your mind was made up!" Evan said, agitated.

"I didn't mean it. I was trying to hurt her because I was hurt."

 "Zari is an excellent woman; she just doesn’t deserve to be treated the way you treat her. Maybe the pressure was too much, Devon. But before the party, had you noticed anything different about Zari?" 

"No! Zari has been through a lot. We lost the baby, she thinks I'm having an affair, and then there's pressure from the family and all the eyes constantly on us."

The office phone rings. "Look, I'm going to let you get that. We'll talk later."

"Thanks, Evan.  Hello?”

"Hi, it's Susie. I'm at your office. Can I come in?"

"Sure." 

Susie flung her arms around my waist the minute I opened the door. Then, all limber and enthusiastic, she pushes me onto the couch and begins kissing me.

"Dev, I'm so happy to see you. It seems like forever since I've seen you, darling."

I quickly moved her aside, got up, and closed my office door. "Susie, I've told you; I can't behave that way here at my office. I'm a married man." 

"Not for long." She giggled.

“Stop joking around. I’m not in the mood.” I struggled with whether to come out and say it or be my usual friendly self. Finally, I decided to relax and be nice because Susie was a friend to me and, in some ways, a little more." 

Susie came and sat close to me. "Are you glad to see me? Did you miss me?" she asked, taking hold of my hand.

"It's only been a few days. How have you been feeling? What's going on? Is this about work? Are you returning to work this week?" 

"My health isn't excellent. So, I went to the doctor on Friday" She hung her head.

"What happened? I can't take any more bad news."

"Oh, it's nothing. I have to take more tests."

"Good, it's nothing serious then?"

"Well, you never know with my poor health. I think not having you around is probably throwing something off. My body needs you."

"Oh, Susie, don't say that." 

"What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Zari was in a car accident and isn't doing well."

"Oh. She stays in the hospital more than me. I'm sure she'll be fine and out of there in no time. She always manages to recover. Dev, I've been thinking. We have been dating for two years. But it feels like forever."

"We haven't been exactly dating, Susie, but you have been a good friend to me these past years. I thought you understood that."

"That's not true. We made it official last year, but we have always had something special for one another."

I nodded my head no.

"Dev, I feel sometimes you forget I'm a woman. I don't want to date all my life. I want us to get married. You told me you wanted a divorce from Zari. I think it's only logical we take the next step." She said with a slight smile.

"The next step? What step is before marriage? Isn't it engagement? I can't do either because I'm a married man already, Susie."

"No one saw you get married to her. You went away to some island and did some ceremony. That doesn't count in my book, and that marriage doesn't count. But okay, let's say you are married. Technically you two have been apart sexually since she lost the baby last year."

"Look, things have changed. I've been intimate with my wife recently." 

"No, Devon! You are breaking my heart! She's just trying to use sex to keep you from leaving her. You must let her know that you are ready to divorce her. But while we wait, I don't want to wait apart. Let's get in the habit of being a true couple. Let's live together."

I sat up straight as a board on the couch and sighed heavily.

"Don't look at me that way. I've mentioned this as an option before. It's perfectly normal. Everyone does it, so why can't we?" She said, taking hold of my hand in hers. Susie asked as she noticed me sliding my hand from under hers.

"This isn't no light matter, Susie. I can't live with you. I'm already married to someone. But, Susie, this ship has passed for any opportunity for us to be together. High school was your opportunity, and back then, Lucas, your brother, my friend, would not have approved. And while you were dating guys, I was available, but you didn't even try to convince Lucas, your parents, that I was the man for you. Why Susie? 

Susie sighs heavily. "Look, our parents had beef with each other. But I was supposed to be your wife! Not this foreigner! That's why I can't understand why you married her! 

"I don't understand what she's doing here. I hoped she would sign those divorce papers and return home!"

"This is her home, Susie. She has family and friends here and a husband."

"I don't like your tone, Devon! And exactly what is she to you? No better yet, what have I been to you all these years?" 

Susie stood upset, walking out of my office. I chased behind her! I had no idea what she might do next!