The next morning, Jake left for the office early. He seemed pissed at the time of leaving because I did not prepare his breakfast. However, he chose to be quiet.
Later, as I was taking my coffee, Linda walked into our home. As soon as Leo saw her, he threw himself in her arms.
Giving her morning kiss, he said, “Mama Linda! I missed you so much.”
Linda gave me a side glance, expecting to see jealousy and hurt on my expression. But, I showed none.
I continued taking the sip of my coffee while scrolling my phone, completely unaffected by their little depiction of affection.
“Mama Linda, please drop me at school. I don't like to go with Mommy. She is not as pretty as you.” Leo said, “And, she doesn't take me to eat ice-cream like you do.”
If it was in the past, I would have argued with Linda for hours about taking Leo to eat ice-creams as early as morning. But, the present me, didn't care at all.
However, Linda could not tolerate my silence. She walked on her high heels and stopped just before me.
“Leo is used to calling me Mamma, Stacy. Hope you don't mind.” She said, trying to provoke me.
“It's alright! When he was one year old, he used to call our toilet cleaner ‘Mamma’ and then the maid and one day he saw a bartender and called her ‘Mamma’, I don't mind at all.” I said. “He can call Mamma whoever he wants, I don't mind.”
“He wants you to take him to school, then please do it. He has been a trouble to me, anyways.” I added, “You have saved me a day, Linda. Now, I can happily do shopping with the card Jake gave me last night.”
“You-” she hissed. But soon a smugful smile appeared on her lips as she added, “You are so sweet, Stacy. I guess you definitely wouldn't have minded Jake for taking me on a date yesterday because he thought I was sad.”
“He even gave me a full body massage with his own hands and helped me relieve stress by… ah, let's not talk about that.”
She leaned closer to my ears as she whispered, “Thanks for letting him practice on you for three years. So, he could make me feel good in bed afterwards!”
“He used to be clueless before. But now, he has grown into a really dashing man who knows how to do it. All thanks to you.”
My hands clenched into the Coffee Mug. So, I had really been a substitute for Jake to have practiced until his true love finally came to him.
But, I didn't want to entertain Linda by letting her see through me. I simply smiled as I stood up.
“You are right. I don't mind.” I said, “You want Jake? You can have him. You want Leo? You can have him too. I’m done with both of them.”
Having said that, I walked out of the house. I just couldn't tolerate her anymore.
I was in the driveway, intending to drive far away. I was seconds away from turning the key and never looking back when a piercing scream ripped through the quiet of the estate.
"Stacy! No! Please!"
I spun around. Linda was standing ten feet behind my car, her clothes torn, her face smeared with dirt. She threw herself onto the gravel, rolling and sobbing as if she’d been struck.
"Help! Jake! She’s trying to kill me!"
Jake charged out from his car, his face contorted. Leo was right behind him, his small face pale, clutching a toy soldier.
"What happened?" Jake roared, rushing to Linda’s side.
"Leo asked me to drop him at school!" Linda wailed, pointing a trembling finger at me. "She got angry... She said I was snatching her son. So, she’d make sure I never walked again! She put the car in reverse and floored it, Jake! If I hadn't jumped..."
"I saw it!" Leo shouted, his voice high and shrill, perfectly rehearsed. "I was looking out the window! Mommy aimed right for Mama Linda. She was smiling, Daddy. She looked like a monster!"
I stood paralyzed, the keys heavy in my hand. "I haven't even started the engine, Jake. The car is in park. Look at the gravel—there are no tire marks!"
Jake didn't look at the gravel. He looked at Leo, whose testimony was the only truth that mattered in this twisted house.
"You tried to run her over," Jake said, his voice dropping to a terrifying, calm register. "In front of our son.”
