"So what brings you to my house, friend?" Kris asked.
"Oh just in the neighborhood, trying to get some exercise. You know me, I'm always trying to be a little healthier." I lied. The answer came so quickly that I knew she wouldn't hesitate to believe me.
"So, Kris can I use your phone? I think I need to call my husband." I'm not quite sure why I didn't tell Kris what had happened. I think I just didn't want to upset her. plus, I was unsure she would even believe me.
Let see: Kris a big man in a velvet duster attacked me with a violet flying bubble of energy, but don't worry I defended myself using my glass ring and knocked him out. Then, I ran here to your beautiful home and your two children, in the hopes that the big man would not find me. Yup, crazy nuts.
There was no way to explain it so I was not going to try. Unfortunately, I knew that I had to at least try and explain what happened to my husband.
Kris allowed me to use her phone and I stepped out on her shaded patio to call him at work. Bob only worked about 2 miles away so I knew it would be easy for him to come and get me from Kris' house.
Before I dialed on Kris' phone, I found my cell phone in my pocket. I decided to use mine instead in order to keep her out of any "drama" that might be coming.
The phone rang three times before a deep, gentle voice picked up.
"Thank you for calling the best husband in the world, how may I assist you."
I laughed. I always loved hearing my husband speak. His voice was so powerful, some said he sounded like the voice of God. I wasn't sure about that. I just knew he sounded like someone that could make the sun shine on a cloudy day, and make my heart skip a beat; even after 10 years of marriage.
"Bob, you are lucky that your company has caller I.D." I teased.
"I know, I know. What going on, Love?" he asked.
"When is your lunch break?"
"In about a half hour, why? "
"No reason, I just need you to pick me up at Kris' house. I think I got a little over tired on my walk here and I don't really want to walk home. Plus, I am sweating like a pig and it's gross."
"I'm sorry love, why don't you just ask Kris to take you home and I will meet you there in a half an hour."
"I would but Kris is leaving to take here son to ...soccer practice. She was planning on leaving in just a couple of minutes." I felt bad about such a brazen lie, but I really didn't want to involve Kris.
"Well, I'll ask Shelly if I can take my lunch early. Just stay there and I will be there soon."
"okay, sorry to be so annoying. I should just walk home. But to tell you the truth," I took a moment to look around to make sure Kris wasn't listening before I whispered, "I think our house got broken into."
"Well then...are you sure? Never mind. I will pick you up as soon as I can. love you." Bob hung up and my heart started to race again with worry. How was I ever going to tell him about a past that I couldn't remember much of myself. It had been 20 years with no contact from either side. I knew I wasn't even supposed to have a life, other than my given path. I knew the generalities of my task, but not the details. So, I worried about how I was going to explain about something that I didn't remember much of. I mean, who really remembers details of when they were 13 years old?
++++ ++++++ +++++ ++++
In about 15 minutes Bob showed up in his gold 1973' Cadillac that we had gotten off of eBay for a decent price. He loved that car, it gave him the extra leg room and head space that a man of his height required.
I had decided to wait outside, in front of her garage, since it would avoid any small talk with Kris (she was a gossip monger). As soon as I saw Bob I ran to the car, and then remember the broken staff and went back to get it. The staff was still laying on top of the bushes, but I had to maneuver a little in the branches to reach it. When Bob saw the staff, he gave me this "please explain" kind of of look. I still had no idea how to start so I just shrugged and threw it into the trunk, that I unlocked with my set of keys.
"are you okay?" Bob asked. I could tell he was very concerned about me and my proclamation on the phone. My body started to experience a little shock and all I could mutter was, "I'm unhurt, although we might want to call the police just to be safe."
As we drove towards home, all I could hear was the sound of the Cadillac engine. I stared out the slightly dirty window, secret hoping that when we got there all would be as it usually was. Calm, quiet, and with out a speck of Earl...or what ever his name was. Bob stopped the car a couple housed away from ours to call the police. After he was finished, we sat in the car watching the house and waiting. Everything seemed to look okay from the outside. My car windshield still looked broken and the garage was bent in at the spot Earl had hit it. I tried to see any sign of Earl, but then seemed to be nothing.
"I'm sorry Tiffy, but I really need to know what happened?" Bob looked at me, his blue eyes were so empathetic. I could tell he was ready to believe what ever I would say. But, I couldn't have this conversation now. I just turned my head and glazed my eyes as I looked out the window," I told you, I was just relaxing when someone broke down the front door and broke into the house." His caring face fell and was replaced by a look of disappointment. After 10 years of marriage, he knew there was more to it than that.
"Okay, " I said " let me start from the beginning."
As I started to explain a cop car pulled up in front of our house, I took a breathe and mouthed the word, 'later". He nodded his head, and we both opened the car doors and introduced ourselves to the cop.
