Chapter 28
“Lionel Kral, how nice to see you again!” The lively clerk at the Jefferson County office greets me like she has known me a lifetime. For a minute, I think she might have mistaken me for someone else.
Thank God the woman has an ID hanging around her neck on which I can read her printed name. “Kathleen, good morning, how are you?”
She stares at me with her mouth open, like another head has suddenly come out.
“So formal,” she chides as she raises her hands. “Come here and give me a hug, boy. I’m so glad to see you so well. We all got distraught when we saw your name appear on the news.”
I walk over to the bar that separates her desk and allow her to hug me. The truth is, I’m not a man open to displays of affection with strangers. This has shaken my world a bit. Whoever impersonated me was responsible for leaving impressions on the people he met. Part of the plan, I guess.
“Now tell me, how is that beautiful wife of yours?”
How and where is my wife? Good question, I wish I could give her an answer.
“She’s doing well. Thank you for asking.”
She makes a strange gesture again, but come on, how am I supposed to share my personal life with someone who I just met?
“I hope you come to visit me soon. You guys have been the talk of the town for weeks. First how romantic your wedding was. Then, what happened to you in Los Angeles. Here we all followed the news day by day, like a television series. When I tell them you came, they won’t believe me. Should we take a selfie?”
I feel the need to contain myself, not to roll my eyes. Our wedding could’ve been very romantic, but according to what Felicia told me, what came later wasn’t that at all. Many pieces of this complicated puzzle are falling into place. His modus operandi comes to light step by step. He wanted no one to doubt their relationship, while his dominance would keep Stella submissive and under his control.
There was where he made a big fat mistake. By underestimating Stella.
Stella has an ethereal appearance, looks like a fairy with that long hair and skin so pale, and those eyes the color of the sky. Her appearance makes it seem that she’s calm and easy to handle, but what people don’t know is that my girl has fire running through her veins. That her spine is made of steel and that she has an abundance of sheer determination. Stella is strong, not everyone can stand toe-to-toe with my mother, and she did it more than once in the hospital. And that made my mother declare herself Stella’s enemy before getting the chance to know her.
Beating back the crippling fear that had taken over her, she stood firm and refused to back down. From studying for her SATs in the early mornings while I was working, to managing inventories and sales in the afternoons, she never stopped pushing forward. Her determination was unbreakable, like a force of nature that commanded respect.
I remember hearing her say with fierce conviction, “Nothing is impossible.” Those words always fill me with pride, knowing that she will stop at nothing to achieve her goals.
While some men may want a docile doll to play house with, I knew I wanted a strong woman by my side. And I found that woman in my wife.
But now, as I stand in front of the town hall requesting a copy of our marriage certificate, a sense of betrayal creeps into my chest. The woman behind the counter rolls her eyes at my request and asks for payment. I hand her a twenty-dollar bill and offer to buy her lunch, trying to ignore the twinge of anger bubbling inside me.
After securing the document and visiting the B I have already asked that they vacate the space, which is now used as a warehouse and have it ready for the renovations. But I don’t want to do it by myself. I want her to be the one to decide everything about the design. And she could move the hive to Los Angeles. I’ll take care of that too. I’ve been researching and the roof is a good option. We just have to think about how to feed the bees.
I haven’t spoken to my mother since our discussion. Neither of us has given ground, we remain firm, stubborn, and clinging to our ideals.
“We have her,” Sanders announces as he answers a phone call.
“What?” My voice is full of disbelief.
“We found Mrs. Kral,” he announces, and I think he even sounds relieved to be able to do so.
“Where is she? Get the plane ready. We are leaving immediately.”
“In Baton Rouge,” he informs me. My girl did indeed go south and stayed on her side of the Mississippi. “But, Mr. Kral.”
What the fuck is going on? I turn to see him with raised eyebrows, waiting for him to rush. There is no time to lose.
“Mrs. Kral is in the hospital.”
What the fuck happened?
I can hardly wait to be there with her.