The Night It All Changed

FLASHBACK

She had fixed him a fancy dinner one night when she knew I wasn’t working. She knew would be home to care for Nate and she could flaunt whatever it was she was attempting to accomplish in front of me. She was strolling around the kitchen in stilettos and barely there red lingerie with a matching see through kimono robe, while she cooked, when I had brought Nate back from the park. She had the wine poured and flowing freely already by the sway of her hips, all waiting for when Phil came in from work. I had quickly made Nate a PB&J and had taken him out of there, retreating to his room the moment I saw how she was dressed and what her intentions were.

After I had him fast asleep for the night, I ventured out carefully and, not hearing anyone in the living room or kitchen, I had backtracked to make myself some food. I was starving since Wendy’s presence and attire had prevented me having the chance to get anything to eat at all for myself.

I had barely set down and had taken one bite of my ham sandwich when I heard a banshee wail followed by a couple thuds and Wendy’s angry form barreling out of Phil’s bedroom, heels in hand, cussing with every breath. He was seconds behind her, trying to redress as he scrambled out of the bedroom, begging her to calm down and be quiet.

The moment she saw me sitting at the kitchen table, she let out a pterodactyl war cry and launched her attack. Crossing the room with more of her body hanging out of the lingerie than in, she had raised her hand and slapped me before I even realized what was happening. I was hauled backwards as she grabbed fists full of my hair, dragging me and the chair I sat in to the floor with a violent crash.

“You little bitch!! You are nothing but a whore like your mother!!” She had screamed in rage, letting go of my hair as she raised her hand to me again, towering over me as I shielded myself with my arms. But, the blows never came. Phil had grabbed her arm and spun her, shaking her roughly. “Enough, Wendy! Enough! Get the hell out of my house! Now!”

I grabbed my cheek in shock, the sting causing my eyes to tear up. “What’s going on, Phil?” I asked him, as I scrambled backwards, out of harm’s way.

Wendy started laughing, a maniacal, psychotic sound. “You want to know, you little bitch!” She struggled against Phil, trying to free herself so she could launch herself at me again. “You little slut! You think I don’t see how you lead him on, how you walk around here dressed like a tramp! I’m not stupid! I knew there was something going on between you two and tonight just proves it! How long, huh? How long have you been screwing my man?! Step daughter, my ass! You’re just his little house whore!”

I stared at her like she had just grown another head. I had no clue what she was talking about, why she was so angry and clueless as to why she was attacking me and calling me all these names.

Phil was trying to pull her toward the door, trying to throw her out but her fit was adrenaline fueled and in her mind, justified. She kept fighting to break loose and get at me time and time again. She kicked and scratched and bit at Phil every step of the way as he hauled her closer and closer to the back door.

“Wendy, I don’t know what you are talking about!” I dodged her next attack as she temporarily broke free and dove at me, claws out and ready. Just in time, Phil wrapped both arms around her waist and drug her backwards again.

“Oh yeah!” She shrieked, looking completely deranged. “Then why did he call out YOUR name while he was inside me!”

Time stopped as I gasped in horror and shook my head, denying what she was saying, what she was implying. She was lying. She had to be.

“WENDY! ENOUGH!” He bellowed as he dragged her to the door and pushed her out it, shoving her down the steps and to her car.

“Aurora, grab her purse and keys! She’s leaving!”

I scrambled to grab them and followed down the steps and out the drive in my socked feet, the night dampness seeping through them. I shoved her stuff inside her car as he was still struggling to get her under control just a few feet away. She continued to cuss and scream at me as I ran back inside. I threw my sandwich away and hurried to my bedroom, locking the door behind me. I stripped my wet socks off and dumped them in the floor at the foot of the bed as I climbed in and brought my quilt up to my chin, tucking myself in tightly.

I was still wide awake and heard Phil come back after a couple hours. He stopped by my door so I stayed quiet and still, counting the seconds until I heard him move on. Only when I heard the bathroom door shut and the shower start did I let out the breath I had been holding. I stayed quiet the rest of the night, hearing Phil move around the house. Sometime after midnight, I heard him finally head to bed. The rest of the night, I just laid there and played the scene through my mind over and over again. Only after I heard Phil get up and leave the house for work, I left my room and joined Nate, curling up next to his little body in his bed and managing to catch a couple hours sleep before he woke me up.