Wife Swap - S01 E11

6 months ago

Wife Swap - S01 E11

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 11

Three days go by as Rome and I play tom and Jerry. He comes late after I have gone to bed and leaves early too.

I put my key on and when I twist it, I realize that the door is open while I am sure I locked it as I left to go to the supermarket. I push it open and step in. There is an unfamiliar woman who looks to be in her forties seated on the couch, eating the leftover from yesterday night.

Her eyes find mine and narrow in question, "Who are you?" She asks.

"I live here. Who are you?" I toss the question back.

"I am Terry, the cleaning lady. Where is Esme?"

"She will be back in a few months," I state as my thoughts in the past few days flood. I have struggled with the thought of going back and the more Mason text or call me, the less I want to go back to that life.

It is the first time I am experiencing uncertainty in my marriage. I was sure no matter what, it was till the end.

I put my bags on the counter as the woman studies me.

"You must be the one that cleaned the house. I was surprised because I know Esme can't."

I nod.

"Be honest. Did Rome and Esme break up?"

Unsure what to say and what to share with this stranger. I shake my head, "She will be back." I opt for the only thing I am sure of...I think.

"Are you her relative or Rome's?"

"Sort of," I answer, recalling Rome referring to me as his little sister. Furthermore, Mason did consider Rome as a family but that didn't stop him from his betrayal.

"Are you the new Mrs. Devon ?" she asks and again I shake my head and also learn of Rome's surname.

I become uncomfortable with her prying and she quickly picks up.

"Don't let Rome know you did the cleaning. I need this job." She begs, her eyes holding mine, while I search for sincerity in hers.

I gesture to her that I understand. She exhales and grins at me. Swiftly, she stands and drops her used plate on the sink. I wait for her to at least clean it, which she doesn't. I wash my hands and proceed to clean it. I dislike the habits of leaving single tasks incomplete that can take less than five minutes to be done.

She picks her bag and trashbag reminding me, Thursdays are trash days. I take note of the last reminder.

Once she leaves, I start to arrange the things I bought and as I do, I realize that a lot of stuff that was in the pantry and fridge as I left this morning is missing or less.

I come to the only sensible conclusion, that the cleaning lady must have stolen them. And such thought leaves me more confused. Maybe she needed food and Esme was okay with her taking it. What if, that is not the case, she stole or I am wrong in concluding she did?

She will probably come back again and I will have to ask her. Hope until then, Rome will not realize and assume I waste food. As Mason's mother and sister would say behind my back. That I was wasteful and such a habit would leave Mason poor for life.

There is a knock on the door. I have been expecting Lia since today it is her off day. When I open the door, I am surprised to find it is Senna, in her hands, she is holding a shopping bag.

"Senna..." I call out her name, less enthusiastic.

She notes but doesn't care.

"I thought I would stop by." She pushes herself in without waiting for a welcome.

Rude!

"What are you doing here?" I enquire.

She chuckles but is offended by my question, "Mason is my friend and I wanted to drop this for him." She says removing the contents from her bag.

She reveals containers that have food in them. They are glass Tupperware but I can't see their content due to the moisture in them. Without seeking my permission she opens the fridge and disarranges it from how I had arranged it minutes ago and squeezes her dishes inside the space she creates.

I want to tell her that I am capable of cooking and so far Rome seems to enjoy my food. However, I am not ready to find myself in another fight or disagreement over a man.

"It is his favorite." She speaks once she shuts the door.

I peculiarly raise my eyebrows, "Now I know." I answer hoping that will be enough to get her to leave.

She looks around as she inspects the house. "Terry has outdone herself this time. It is spotless."

"She has," I reply.

"Just so you know...I am on your side." She suddenly says.

I didn't know we picked sides in matters of morality. It is like there is an option to it. I believe as humans we ought to be good and do right always, there is no other option.

"I will keep that in mind." I snide.

"Make sure to tell him, I am the one that made it." She reminds me about her unsolicited food.

I barely see him or even share a table with him. I doubt I will be a reliable messager to deliver her message. But I don't tell her that.

"I will," I say instead.

"Okay. I will see you again over the weekend." She announces as she leaves.

I sigh relieved when she leaves and proceed to make my infamous marble cake that my nephew, Jax loves.

Finally, Lia arrives with her son.

"I have missed you." She says as she settles on the couch and Jax remains standing glaring at me.

I know what he wants, I move to the dining table and remove Skittles from my bag. "You thought I forgot," I say to him as I hand them over.

He squeals in joy and grabs the packet from my hand, running to show his mother.

"You spoil this boy too much," Lia says.

"How can I not? He is the cutest thing ever." I replied, winking at him.

I love and always considered him a son. I yearned to be a mother, hold my child, and suffocate him with love until he knows no matter what, he has me to fall on. Sadness overcomes me as I think about how that dream quickly became impossible once I was married.

"I know that face. You are thinking of Mason." She speaks with a hint of disappointment.

I feign a smile at her, "how is his speech therapy?" I change the topic. I don't want to think about him. I want to live in the present and hope, I can regain half the self I lost in loving him.

"Expensive and Slow but, I am hopeful." She says, running her hand over her Son's head.

We get alerted when there is a knock on the door. I can't think of anyone else that would come to visit me. Rome doesn't knock. I open slowly and curious hoping it is not Senna again. It is Fiona, I am surprised but pleased to see her again.

She smiles at me as I welcome her in.

Jax moves to create enough space for Fiona as they exchange hellos with Lia.

"You haven't heard?" She immediately states in an alarming tone.

I shake my head, my heartbeat accelerating, and my head reeling with negative thoughts.

"Take a seat." She instructs and I do, carefully.