Living In The Shadows Ch. 04

I switch narrators in this one frequently. I felt it worked better than a 3rd person narrative to keep with the flow of the previous chapters. There were a lot of point of views that hammer home the point of this one. Mel has some growing up to do.

***Melanie***

I was sitting on Lainey's couch when I went home for Thanksgiving as we watched a Hallmark rom/com. Well, in reality, she sat on the opposite couch staring into space.

"Lainey?" I asked in order to snap her out of her thoughts of Jim. Ken was down there, and they were meeting with a therapist to get the poor guy some help for his issue.

She turned, "Yeah?"

"How did you know Ken was the one?"

She laughed and said, "I just knew. I don't know how to explain it other than that. Why? What's up?"

"I'm struggling with Joe. He never had a girlfriend and doesn't know how to handle me. In return, I became too controlling and was squeezing the life out of him. Are we moving too fast? Or do I just need to let him figure it out?"

"Sorry, sis. I don't know how to answer that. I don't know him that well. Why not step back and let him drive for a while. See if he 'figures it out,' like you said."

I sighed. "I tried that. I hardly saw him for weeks."

"Is that bad? I mean, you're in school, honey. Shouldn't you be focused there first?"

"Of course, but school's going fine."

"Okay, Mel. Try this: slow it down to weekends. Give yourselves some room to breathe during the week. You forget, Ken and I may have fallen for each other very fast, but he was away a lot for those first few months, and I didn't see him every day. Give yourselves a chance to miss each other. You won't feel like it's moving too fast, and he won't feel smothered."

I nodded and turned my attention back to the movie. I would follow her advice.

***

On Thanksgiving, I helped Lainey set the table for dinner. When I noticed she had one too many place settings, she simply said, "Always prepare for one more than expected. You never know who's gonna show up unannounced." She smirked and patted my shoulder as she left the room.

Ken came back for Thanksgiving dinner and to most everyone's surprise he wasn't alone.

"Look what I found at the gate," Ken shouted as he walked into his home.

"Joe!" I shouted as I ran up and hugged him. "What are you doing here? I thought you were spending break with Jim and Abby?"

"I missed you, silly. Ken saw me sulking around and took pity on me. Abby practically kicked my depressed butt out the door."

I hugged him again and turned the room. I introduced him formally to my parents and Ken's mom. I dragged him out to Ken and Lainey's four season's room and cuddled by the wood stove.

"I missed you, Joe."

"I missed you too, Mel. Can we talk for a bit?" He asked that very nervously. I was immediately on guard and defensive, but I reigned it in.

"Of course. What's up?" I asked with forced sweetness.

"Well, um...you asked me to tell you when I think you're getting to bossy."

I sighed, "Yeah."

"Well, you, uh...never stopped."

"What!" I shrieked.

He took my hand as I fumed. I wondered if steam shot out of my ears, I was so mad. Then I saw the look in his eyes and realized what I was doing. I completely discounted his feelings.

"Wait, Joe. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I didn't do enough to stop, because I honestly thought I was doing better."

"You're doing better, Melanie. You just haven't stopped. Know what I mean?"

I didn't, but I agreed.

"Joe, look. Maybe, we should slow down."

He paled and sat up.

"No, I'm not breaking up with you. Let's not see each other every day. Let's make the weekends for us, but the rest of the week is for ourselves. Do you think that will help?"

I was afraid. I didn't want to lose him, and I didn't want him to think I was dumping him either.

"Okay. Let's try that, with one condition though."

I asked, "What's that?"

"If I miss you too much, I can see you during the week."

I smiled and kissed him. "Silly, man. You can see me whenever you want. I just don't want you to feel like you're being forced to see me."

We hugged and he said, "I do love you. Don't doubt that."

"I love you, too."

I kissed him and said, "Come on, I've still got some work to do. Go watch football with the rest of the useless men."

"Yes, dear."

***Joe***

At halftime, Ryan (Melanie's father) and Ken were busting my balls about Melanie.

Ryan said, "Son, I don't know how you handle her. She's a handful and then some."

I thought, "what kind of father says that to her daughter's boyfriend?"

Then Ken said, "I'm not sure who's worse, Mel or Lainey?"

I realized they were messing with me, and I was about to defend Melanie, but she walked into the room with guns blazing.

"Both of you stop it! You're going to mess everything up! Why do you have to be assholes and try to ruin what we have. He barely stands me as it is and you're gonna drive him away!"

She was screaming at them and that brought her mom—Angela, and Lainey running into the room.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Angela shrieked.

"They are talking shit about me to Joe." Melanie must have been bringing them drinks because she had two cans of beer in her hands, and she threw one at Ken and the other at her dad and ran out of the room.

Lainey chased after her and Angela stood, almost snarling, at Ken and Ryan.

"Explain yourselves, now!" Angela growled.

"Easy, honey," Ryan started. Ken and I both winced knowing that was the wrong thing to say.

"EASY, HONEY?" She shouted.

I quickly stood and said, "Mrs. Evans, they were just teasing me about dating Melanie. They weren't saying anything bad or that I would take badly. Melanie happened to hear it or some of it and got mad. Ken and Mr. Evans didn't know we were having some issues. It's not their fault."

When I said we were having issues, they both chastened quickly and tried to apologize. I waved them off and went to find Melanie.

I stopped and said, "Ma'am, I love your daughter. Nothing they say kidding around with me, or even if they were serious, will ever change that." I continued on to try to find my upset girlfriend.

***Melanie***

I ran out of the room in embarrassment. I knew I overreacted as soon as I opened my mouth. I just couldn't stop.

Lainey walked into the room and asked, "What happened in there?"

"I overreacted. I don't know what's wrong with me. I think they were just playing around, and I just lost it on them. I got so mad for no reason."

"Well," she said in a motherly way, "you need to settle down and apologize. Guys give each other grief all the time. It's just how they're wired. Macho caveman bullshit or something."

I rolled my eyes, but I knew she was right.

"Mel, you said you guys have issues. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I think so. We talked when he got here about me still being controlling and bossy, so I offered up your suggestion. He liked the idea. I think we'll be okay."

"Mel, just remember, you don't have a lot of experience with dating either. You're in the same boat he is. You can't make him into your perfect man. He is what he is, and he seems like a pretty good guy from the outside looking in."

I hugged her and said, "Thanks, big sis. I love you."

"You too, little sis. Now get in there and apologize."

As soon as I opened the door, Joe was standing there ready to knock.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'm sorry I embarrassed myself. At least it was my family and not yours."

We laughed together and hugged. I held his hand as we walked into the television room where Ken and my dad were talking to my mom. Once they saw me walk in, you could've heard a pin drop, and all eyes were on me.

"Um, I'm really sorry. I'm not sure what came over me, but I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."

My dad walked over and pulled me into a hug.

"Are you okay, pumpkin? It's not like you to snap like that. Are you feeling all right?" dad asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just feeling a lot of stress, I guess. Joe and I are fine. I'm fine. Everything's fine, okay?" I asked as I batted my famous puppy dog eyes. They always made my dad melt. My mom was impervious to them.

"Okay. Just talk to us if you need us. Don't let yourself fall under a mountain of stress. You're too young for that. The weight of the world isn't on your shoulders and we're always here for you."

"Thanks daddy." My mom joined our hug too.

Ken said, "I'm sorry, kiddo. I shouldn't have been talking crap like that. Can you forgive me?"

Before I could answer, Lainey grabbed him by the ear and said, "It doesn't matter if she does or not. I haven't, so get in the kitchen and start carving the turkey. You can make it up to me later as her proxy."

We all knew what that meant but in order to maintain proper decorum, no one mentioned it. All was well and the crisis I almost created was averted.

***

I was leaned back into Joe's arms on the couch as we watched 'It's A Wonderful Life' on TV. I felt so comfortable in his arms, and I never wanted him to let me go. Mom was on the other couch cuddled similarly into dad. The only exception was they had Lainey's daughter Isabella asleep in mom's arms.

I was struggling with what my sister told me, but mostly with what Joe told me about myself. How could I think I was being less controlling and bossy, yet have Joe feel I never changed? I had to reevaluate everything I thought about myself. I never thought I was a bitch but was I a bitch too? How did I treat Keri? I had a lot to think about.

After the movie, I decided to pay my sister back for sending me the box of condoms. I went upstairs and snuck into their bedroom. I took the opened condom wrapper out of my pocket and left it under Ken's side of the bed, just out of sight. I hoped he found it and not her, but I figured she didn't go under the bed on his side all that much.

Later, I left with mom and dad, while Joe stayed at Ken and Lainey's. We agreed to meet for breakfast in the morning and I got a soft peck on the cheek goodbye.

In the car, Mom asked, "So all is well with Joe then?"

"Yeah, I have some personality issues I have to resolve but we're good."

"Don't change yourself too much, honey," dad said. "You sound like you're the one making all the compromises."

"Sort of, but I'm the one who was demanding and bossy. I'm the one who was trying to change him to bring him out of his shell. I'm the one that tried to get him to put me before his schoolwork."

"All I'm saying is just find a balance. Relationships are about mutual respect and balance. The other stuff is easy, but you can't change nor expect him to change for you. Maybe smooth out the rough edges but keep yourselves you. You don't want to become so different than the people you were attracted to in the first place."

He made some sense. I got the basic gist of what he thought he was saying, but he was telling me he liked me the way I was. I knew I needed to figure out how to be myself yet less of a control freak and I had my work cut out for me.

***

Fecal matter hit the turning fins on Sunday morning. I heard the phone ring and then nothing until mom started shouting something to dad. I heard him rush downstairs and then the garage door opened and closed.

I wondered what happened, so I crawled out of bed and made my way downstairs. They left a note on the table that said, "At Lainey's."

That was odd and then I remembered the condom wrapper. "Oh, no," I said to the empty room. I called my mom's cell. When she answered, I asked, "Mom, what happened? Is everything okay?"

"No, honey. Ken and Lainey had a huge fight and he left her."

I started to cry. I never wanted him to leave her.

"What was the fight about?" I asked, trying to hide my emotions.

"He thinks she's cheating on him. It's ridiculous."

I knew for sure he found the condom and overreacted, but then, how should he have reacted? What the hell was I thinking? Of course, he wouldn't understand it was a joke. I had to find him and make it right. I needed Keri. She gave me the condom from the box that Lainey sent me. She could support me if Ken didn't believe me.

***Lainey***

I couldn't believe what happened. I was feeding Isabella breakfast, when Ken burst into the kitchen holding a condom wrapper.

"What the hell is this, Lainey?" he shouted, scaring our daughter.

I looked at him surprised and said, "I have no idea. Where did you find that?" I couldn't imagine how it got in the house.

"Under the bed, next to my nightstand."

"You think it's mine?" I gasped.

"Who the hell else could it be?" he shouted louder.

"Maybe it's Joe's?" I guessed.

"You know that can't be. He hasn't been alone in the house since he got here. And why would he and Mel do it in our bed?"

I shook my head. "Maybe, my parents? Or..."

"Just stop it, Lainey. Stop lying! Who's the guy? Who's the guy that you threw your family away for?"

I flinched back and started sobbing. "There's no one else. Only you, you have to believe that."

His eyes were more intense and angrier than I'd ever seen. "Tell me who he is."

I jumped up ran to him, but he pushed me away.

"Forget it, slut. Don't tell me who he is because I'll be in prison for killing him. You'll hear from my attorney."

He rushed to the garage and was in the car before I could stop him. I banged on the hood as he backed away, I screamed and begged him not to leave. He ignored me. I was about to fall to my knees when a large arm grabbed me and kept me from going down.

"Are you okay?" Joe asked.

I could barely think, let alone speak coherently. "He left me."

He led me into the house and sat me next to a fussy Isabella. I pulled her from her booster seat and rocked her; messy shirt and all.

"What happened," he asked.

I nodded towards the condom wrapper on the table. "Please tell me that's yours."

He shook his head negatively. I saw the sincerity in his eyes and believed him. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. Where the hell did the condom wrapper come from?

"Joe, can you please put her in her playpen for me. I need to call my mom."

"Sure. Whatever you need."

***

After speaking to my mom, I went to my daughter and held her. I couldn't stop crying. I couldn't figure out why the stupid condom wrapper was in my room, let alone in my house at all. We didn't use them and the growing baby in my belly was proof of that. Ken didn't know I was pregnant yet. It was only confirmed a few days before Thanksgiving.

I was going to announce it at Christmas when the whole family was together again. After what happened, I had no idea if my marriage would make it that long. If I were thinking clearly, I would have realized what happened and it would never have blown up the way it did. I was so shocked and hurt, nothing made sense in that moment.

I grabbed the phone and called Ken. As soon as he answered, I started shouting, "Ken, come back. You can't leave me, I'm pregnant. I need you; your family needs you."

There was silence and then he asked, "What? Did the condom break?"

A moment later the call ended. I didn't know how to fix it and he thought the baby wasn't his. I died a little bit inside.

A few minutes later, my mom and dad burst into the house and found Isabella and me cuddled on the couch. My darling angel was helping cheer me up. It wasn't working but she was so cute in trying, I let her.

"What happened," mom asked as she pulled me into a hug. My daughter ran to grandpa for her hugs and kisses. He was always her favorite.

"I don't know, mom. Ken found a condom wrapper and thinks I cheated on him. I can't figure out how it got there. I just can't think right now."

"Was it Joe's?" dad asked.

"He said no, and I believe him. He saw Ken leave me. He'd have admitted it, surely."

Dad set my child down and sat on the couch. "Could someone have played a joke on you? A housekeeper maybe? Your sister?"

My head snapped up, "What did you say?" I asked. She wouldn't. I'll kill her if she did.

"I asked if maybe it was Mel. You don't think..."

Yeah, I thought it.

***Melanie***

I quickly texted Keri I needed her as soon as possible, then I called Ken. He didn't answer but I heard screeching tires in front of the house. I ran to the window and saw a pissed off Ken charging up the driveway.

I threw open the door and ran out into the cold November morning, barefoot.

"Tell me you did it. Tell me it was you!" he shouted.

"Ken, I'm sorry, it was me. It was only a joke."

I ran into his arms, and he pushed me away. "How could you do something so cruel. I called my wife a slut because of you! I accused her of being pregnant by another man, because of you!"

I was crying and Keri ran out of her house. "Ken, I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd react like this. I thought you would realize it was a joke. She sent the condoms to my room, and I was so mad I vowed to get her back. I didn't want you to dump her."

Keri asked, "What the heck is going on."

Ken looked at her and said, "Your dumb ass friend, left a condom wrapper in my bedroom to make me think Lainey was having an affair. She thought it would be funny fucking with my marriage."

I was crying harder, "Ken, please. Let's go to your house so we can make this right. I'm so sorry."

"No," he growled. "You've done enough already."

He turned and ran to his car. Just as he pulled away, my phone started ringing. It was my sister.

"Lainey," I answered. "I'm sorry, Ken was just here. He's on his way home. I told him it was a joke. I'm so sorry."

There was silence and I realized she hung up. I feared I lost my sister. I didn't even realize he said she was pregnant until much later.

***Lainey***

I was pissed. I threw my phone at the wall after hanging up with Keri. At least she said Ken was on his way home. I wasn't sure if I should have been pissed at him for not believing me or pissed at myself for not realizing it was her immediately. I decided I was both.

Mom must have seen something in my eyes because she said, "Lainey, it isn't Ken's fault. He was angry and said some hurtful things, but it wasn't his fault. You understand that right?"

"He didn't believe me, mom."

"Would you have believed him if you found it?"

I couldn't answer because I knew I'd have thrown him out without a second thought.

"Thought so," she said with a smirk. "Calm yourself down and get ready to make up with him. We're gonna take our granddaughter for a few hours. Talk it out, don't argue it out, okay?"

I nodded and shouted, "Joe!"

"Everything okay?" He asked as he hustled into the room.

"I hope so," I said. "Joe, I need some time alone with my husband. Why don't you take my car and go visit with my sister for a bit?"

He gave me a smirk and said, "Sure, no problem. I have an afternoon flight back to school, so I'll just head straight to the airport after I see her."

My dad said, "Why don't you grab your stuff and ride with us. No need to deal with getting Lainey's car back here then."

"Great, thanks," Joe said before he ran upstairs.

***Melanie***

I was crying on the couch when my parents walked in with Joe and Isabella. I really messed up and couldn't believe I was so stupid. None of them looked happy to see me, well, except for Isabella. She gave me a hug and kiss hello.

Joe sat on the chair across from me in silence. My mom took my niece into Lainey's old bedroom, which she had set up as a room for Isabella. Dad went to the kitchen. It was eerie and I was scared. No one said a word to me which was worse than if they had come in and yelled at me.

"Hi, Joe," I said quietly.

He shook his head. "How can you do something so cruel?"

"I'm sorry. It was a horrible idea. Everyone hates me now." I sobbed and my dad walked in with a beer in his hand.