Episode 7
1060 Words
Dirvoce
Christian's POV
The drive from the hospital to home is so quiet it makes me sick. Anyone with sense would notice something is wrong, but Amanda is not the type to notice things fast. She's too busy with the burger I bought her at the hospital mall.
"Will you bite some?" she asks, holding it out to me.
I wave my hand, showing I'm not interested. I focus on driving instead. My mind is not here in this car. It's back at the hospital with Jane.
Why would she go this far? Why would she blame Amanda for her miscarriage? The Jane I remember always keeps herself together. She hides her pain and sadness. But attacking Amanda? That was too much. Amanda has done nothing but be good to her since she came back.
"Christian, I know you're blaming Jane for what happened back there, but it's really not her fault." Amanda takes another bite of her burger. "I understand how hard a miscarriage can be."
I don't want any talk. I just want to drop Amanda off and go back to Jane. I need a real explanation from her.
"It's not your fault either, Amanda. It's fine." I keep my eyes on the road. I don't look at her.
"I never meant to cause any fights between you and your wife, Christian." Amanda's voice is soft.
"There's no fight you're causing, Amanda. Jane was just being paranoid." My hands grip the steering wheel tight.
"But Christian, you really deserve a better person." She stops eating and looks at me. "Don't you see how bitter she is? She acts like a crazy person, Christian. You don't deserve someone like that."
I don't say anything. My hands grip the wheel even tighter. I think about the past few weeks. After the miscarriage, Jane has been so different. Always angry. Always ready to fight. She doesn't act like the woman I married.
But hearing Amanda talk about Jane like this makes my chest burn.
"But to be honest with you, Christian, Jane is not right for you. You deserve to be happy. Don't you see how she's trying to control you?" Amanda keeps talking.
That's it. I can't take it anymore. I know Amanda is my best friend. I know she was my first love. I know she's trying to look out for me. But this is too much.
"Amanda, like I said, Jane is being paranoid because of the miscarriage. You said you understand. She needs time to get herself back. She's acting out of anger."
I try to defend Jane, even when she's not here. I can see how shocked Amanda looks. Her mouth opens a little.
"Christian, I'm just looking out for you. That's all. As your best friend, I will always tell you the truth."
I don't answer her. The rest of the drive is quiet again. But Jane really has been paranoid. And she's stepping over too many lines.
I pull into the driveway of my home. Amanda said earlier she wants to stay at my house tonight. I park the car and walk into our home. Jane is not back yet.
I call her phone. It goes to voicemail. I call again. Voicemail again.
My chest starts burning with anger. I walk upstairs, my feet heavy on each step. So Jane is still outside and she has the nerve to turn off her phone?
I'm so angry I can't think straight. I start going through my things in the bedroom. I throw papers around. I slam drawers shut. Then I see it.
The divorce papers.
I've had them since the miscarriage. I was so angry and hurt when Jane wouldn't tell me the real reason why she ended her pregnancy. When she kept calling it a miscarriage instead of telling me she chose to end it. I signed these papers in anger, but I never gave them to her.
The door opens behind me. I think it's Jane, but it's Amanda.
"Christian, I thought I'd find you here." She walks over and sits on the edge of the bed next to me.
She moves closer. Her hand touches my arm. "You look so stressed. Let me help you feel better."
She tries to kiss my neck, but I move away.
"Amanda, stop."
"Why?" She tries again. "You're so tense. I can make you feel good."
"I said stop." I stand up and walk away from the bed.
"Christian, what's wrong? You always wanted this. You always wanted me. Why are you fighting it now?"
Her voice sounds hurt, but I can't deal with this right now.
"Amanda, yes, I always wanted you. I wanted this. But that was before you left me when I needed you most." My voice is tired. "I still want us to work, but not by hurting Jane."
"Christian, you're being stupid. Jane doesn't care about you the way I do."
Before I can answer, Amanda walks to the window. "And speaking of Jane, I think someone just dropped her off. They're hugging. Christian, you need to see this."
My heart stops. I walk to the window and open the curtains. I see Jane getting out of someone's car. A man's car. He's tall, and they're standing close. Too close.
Fire burns in my chest. Who is this man? Why is Jane with him?
Without saying anything, I walk out of the room. I go downstairs fast. My feet are loud on the stairs. Before I can get outside, Jane is already in the living room.
"Where the hell are you coming from? Who the hell dropped you off just now?" The words come out of my mouth like bullets.
Something is snapping inside me. If I don't get an answer right now, I might do something stupid.
Jane looks at me. Her eyes are cold. "Let me say it's someone who cares more than my pathetic husband."
Her words hit me like a punch in the face. My hands make fists.
"What did you say?" My voice is low and dangerous.
"You heard me, Christian." She doesn't look away. "Someone who actually cares when I'm hurt. Someone who doesn't leave me bleeding on a bathroom floor."
"Bleeding?" I step closer. "Oh spare me the gospel Truth Jane, you wasn't injured". I said as I came close to her again .
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