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The End?
Early that morning, on her way to the gallery, Trish paid me an unexpected visit.
Okay, so maybe I should have anticipated it... I was only relieved beyond belief that Jeff wasn't over.
"Good morning," I said, flustered as I saw my good friend in my doorway.
"Amy." She stepped into my apartment, and it was not at all lost on me that she hadn't returned my greeting nor even uttered a hello. Then again, I was a horrible person... I didn't deserve such niceties.
"What brings you by so early?"
Trish turned to fully face me, her facial expression completely serious. Clearly, she was not in any sort of light-hearted mood.
"We need to talk," she said.
"Okay... Okay," I replied dumbly, and I sank onto one of my meager dining room chairs. Trish lowered herself into the other, and there was a moment of awkward silence between us. I didn't like that, not at all... We never had moments like this in our friendship - until now.
I chewed on my lower lip and lowered my gaze until my friend finally broached the subject we both knew had brought her to my place so early in the morning.
"Amy, how could you?" Trish asked. Her tone was more filled with sorrow than shame or consternation.
I raised my gaze, meeting her brown eyes. It was actually a difficult task.
"You were my maid of honor," she reminded me.
I nodded.
"I know," I said. "I've been... stupid. What the hell was I thinking, cheating on Jeff? And with Edge, of all people?"
Trish cut me off in a hurry.
"Is that all you're thinking about? Yes, you've done an awful thing in cheating on Jeff... But what about her, Amy?"
I squinted at her upon the realization that the 'her' in question was Barbie Copeland. Trish actually cared about how my affair with Edge would affect Barbie!
"What?"
"You're only thinking of yourself!" the little blonde cried. "She's sitting at home being the 'dumb wife' while her husband is off having sex with you! God, did you ever stop to think about her?" Trish glared at me, and when I didn't say anything, she went on. "No... Of course not."
"I guess I didn't think about her in all of this."
My friend gave me a pained look as she voiced her next piece.
"Amy... What if some woman came along and had an affair with Randy? What if it were me getting cheated on?"
I cocked my head to one side as I eyed her, feeling the wince coming.
"I would want to kill the other woman," I answered truthfully.
Trish stiffened a little and reached for my hand.
"I know you would," she said. "But you have to put yourself in her place."
I glanced down at our clasped hands as I thought about her words of wisdom. Then, letting out a sigh, I nodded.
"I know... You're right. And there's Jeff to think of, too. I'll end it with Edge."
"Really?"
"Really." I nodded.
Trish smiled and hugged me. We embraced for a long moment before she pulled away and we both stood back up.
"I have to get to work," she said.
"Okay." I walked her to the door.
"Bye, sweetie."
*
In spite of my vow to Trish, I didn't stick true to my word. Because, later that day, during his lunch hour, Edge and I met at his apartment for an encounter. Barbie, of course, wasn't home, and he didn't expect her until the evening.
I felt lower than ever.
"I... I can't do this anymore," I revealed.
Edge turned to me in the king-sized bed. He reached for me, caressing my hand and then my cheek.
"Come on, Amy... It's so right between us."
"No," I mumbled, pushing him away. "We're hurting other people, people who don't deserve to be hurt... I can't-"
"I'm going to tell her when she gets ome tonight," Edge suddenly declared. "You're the one I love, not her."
I stared at him as he suddenly rose to dress.
"Really?"
"Yes... I mean it," he said, squarely looking me in the eye. "Marrying her was a mistake."
I didn't speak a word in response. I honestly didn't know what to say at that moment.
"I have to get back to work. Stay here awhile if you want, relax."
I nodded sadly as Edge came closer, leaning down to kiss me. And then, a moment later, he left. I was pretty much blown away by what he'd said as I continued sitting there in the bed... He was really going to tell Barbie?
I stood up and dressed, and I couldn't help but think of my conversation with Trish from that morning. I chewed over her words... And I realized that she was right - because what did I really know about Barbie?
I began to meander through the apartment, taking everything in around me. There were a lot of distinctive Edge pieces here and there, but then a soft, feminine flavor, obviously Barbie. Barbie was a woman who liked to collect antique music boxes... Barbie was a woman who liked house plants... Barbie was a woman who enjoyed contemporary art.
I suddenly tensed as I realized the front door's locks were being turned. And my heart began to pound impossibly fast as I realized that it was not Edge returning so soon.
"Honey? I'm home early!"
Barbie was a woman who returned home hours before she was expected.
"Honey?"
Stealthily, I grabbed my shoes and purse and ducked against a wall in the hallway near the living room. I held my breath as I heard her nearing and slipped by and to the kitchen.
Unfortunately, with balancing both my shoes plus my purse, one of said Christian Diors slipped from my grasp and fell to the floor with a thud. I groaned silently as I knew I was definitely caught. Nevertheless, I retrieved my shoe and got the hell out of there.
"Amy? Amy Dumas! I see you!" I heard Barbie shout behind me.
Shit... I honestly hadn't thought she would see me. I slipped my shoes into my feet far more quickly than one would think possible and tried to ignore Edge's young wife as I hightailed it.
"I see you, Amy!" Barbie yelled as she peered down at me from the top of the stairs. "I knew you two were sneaking around, but in my home? Stop, damn it!"
I barely glanced over my shoulder back at her, but something made me stop... I heard Barbie trip, and she landed with a very audible thud, face-first. I rushed over as she began to cry.
"Oh, my God!" I exclaimed. Her mouth was bloody, as she had apparently broken a tooth or bitten her tongue. Hurriedly, I helped her up and down the stairs. And then, once we were outside, I immediately hailed a cab.
*
I sat in the hospital's waiting room for a good hour before I finally saw Edge enter. He looked concerned as he hurried to me in his suit, his tine undone, shoulder-length blond hair mussed. Our eyes met.
"How is she?"
"She's scared... But okay. She had to get some stitches. She broke a tooth," I said, rising from my seat. I said nothing more as I turned to leave.
"Thank you," the blond man said.
I nodded as I gave him a look from over my shoulder.
"Amy... I'll call you."
This time, I turned to fully face him. I stared blankly at him and shrugged.
"Why? This is so over," I said, my tone leaving no room for an argument out of him. Although I was sad, I
merely avoided his gaze and pivoted on my heel, leaving the hospital. And I didn't once turn back.