“He’s fine, Mom. We were inside the house when it started. I’m trying to find out who did it.”
“So, you and Jack? Thanks, Bernard. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Sound of Mom sipping something through a straw. “Sorry, darling. What were you saying about Jack?”
“I love him, Mom. I’m not going to lie. But it’s the same stuff, different day. I’ve started seeing someone else.”
“You are? You can do that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is he married, Justine?”
“No, Mom, no. So, how are you and Bernard? What’s the plan for the next couple of months? Any chance of coming out to the coast?”
“Oh gosh, sweetie. We go where the winds blow us. And right now, my dear hubby-dub is serving dessert in the aft. Will you promise to take care?”
“You bet, Mom. Don’t worry about me. All is well.”
That was a lie.
She loved Jack, but her heart was in play, which was uncomfortable and weird. She said good-bye to Vangy and as soon as she disconnected the line, the phone rang again.
It was Jack.
“I’m home. Do you want to come over to my place? I’d like you to,” he said.
It was too much.
“Oh, not tonight, Jack. I was just dozing off. Sorry, honey.”
She hung up before she weakened. She cupped her face in her hands and shook her head. She wasn’t made for double-deal dating, not for long. It just was too confusing, hurt too much, made her feel too bad.
She was going to have to make a decision before she went crazy.
Chapter 42
TULE SAT ON the floor of the large closet, way in the back, heaps of high-heeled shoes around her, her knees folded up to her chest.
She held the cell phone close to her face and made her call to Lester Olsen at his office in Vegas.
“Please answer,” she said to her bare feet. “Please answer the phone.”
A man’s voice said, “Hello, Tule??
??
She said, “Oh boy, I’m glad you answered. I’m having a panic attack.”
“What’s going on?” Lester had a very soothing voice.
“I’m scared,” she said. “He’s very big. He’s very angry.”
“Angry at you?”
“Sometimes at me. Sometimes he’s angry at one of his kids. Sometimes he’s angry at the football scores. Could be anything. He likes to be mad.”
“When he’s angry at you, what does he say?”