Betrayed 2(29)

When I got out of the car, I could hear raised voices coming from inside. It didn’t look like they had waited for me to play referee. I walked briskly up the driveway, looking at this house and knowing that it probably cost more than the studio apartment that I was renting. I could’ve easily bought something more permanent, but I had no interest in putting down roots. I had no idea when that nomadic spirit would come over me, but I was waiting for the call. That hadn’t happened in a couple of years. When it did, I would leave skid marks on the lives that I touched.

I found the door open and I barged in with everybody stopping what they were doing. They stared at me. I could tell that Julia was upset that she had been ambushed. Lillian had her hands on the back of her neck and she was looking at me for any kind of help that I could give them.

There was definitely a feminine touch to the living room with splashes of color that no man in their right mind would put together.

“If I had been any later, I’m sure that there would’ve been an audience at the window. You know how a man likes to see women fight amongst themselves. It’s a bit of an erotic charge. That is the reason why they watch women wrestling and cage fighting. All of you; take a seat and let’s calm down before we begin.” I passed Lillian my contribution to dinner which consisted of a very decadent chocolate cheesecake from Antonio’s restaurant.

“I’ve had just about enough of this and I’m leaving.” Julia tried to dodge around me, but I had played football with the guys and knew exactly what move she was going to make. “I don’t need this. I love him and I don’t think that I’ve ever stopped. He needs to know how I feel. I’m going to tell him everything and there’s nothing that any of you can do to stop me.” I saw a glass vase and I was tempted to smash it upside her head to knock some sense into her.

“Nobody’s telling you that you’re not entitled to your feelings. I do think that it would be good for you to hear us out before you do anything that you’re going to regret.” She had on a pair of black pants, skintight and it was obviously her way of getting Marshall to give her attention. The red shirt was covered by a long open white sweater.

“I’ve already been through this with the two of them and I don’t need you to get into the middle of this. You’re only doing this because you’re getting paid to. It makes me sick to my stomach and I can’t sleep knowing that you’re playing him for a fool.” Her emotions were tangled up and her heart was raging out of control for a man that probably didn’t even remember her name. Come to think of it, when he mentioned that the girls were following him, he couldn’t say her name. He said Lillian, Tina, and the other one.

This was not something that I could tell Julia. She would think that it was some sort of maneuver and I would lose any hope of convincing her that he wasn’t right for her.

“I’m not here to tell you that your feelings don’t matter. All of you have been in the same shoes. I get this feeling that you might have daddy issues. There’s no reason to get up in my face. I’m just telling you how I see things and you can obviously refute my claim. Let me tell you what I have learned about him so far and maybe that will change your mind.” I took her hand gently, showing no animosity and led her to where she was sitting shaking like a leaf.

“I know exactly what he’s like and I don’t need you to tell me. I’ve always been a good catholic girl. I’ve never strayed from the flock. I’ve done what I’ve been told and I’m through with it. If I want to be with him, then why should I listen to any of this?” It was a good question and one that I was prepared to answer because I had gone over it in my head a hundred times since talking to Lillian.

“I understand where you’re coming from. I’ve been there myself and it’s hard to see what is right in front of you. I have some insights that you might want to hear. Can you at least listen for the next 20 minutes? If after what I have to say nothing changes, then I will gladly give back the money and we can all go our separate ways.” She was fuming, but at least she wasn’t tearing out of here with the water works on display.

“I need to say something.” Tina was sitting in a gray chair with her legs folded wearing a summer dress which was a little unusual for this weather. “Marshall does have some good qualities. He shows compassion, but it’s only an act and I’m ashamed to think back on the things that I did with him. I have a boyfriend and after looking myself in the mirror, I realized that he was the devil in disguise. I told my boyfriend and he was understandably upset, but he reminded me that we weren’t married. We are still together, but it was a rocky road for a time. This man does not deserve your respect.” Tina was soft-spoken and there wasn’t an ounce of hatred that seeped into any words that came from her mouth.