FORTY-ONE | Finale Straw | Tinsley
FORTY-ONE
Finale Straw
Tinsley
“ A re you sure about this?” Holly asked as she fumbled with her hands and glanced at me with worry. “You just got out of the hospital yesterday.”
“Yes, I am. But I’m back to work, aren’t I?” I exhaled the breath I held in for all of sixty seconds and nodded my head. “Besides, this is the only way I’ll get answers.”
I wanted to know—no, I needed to know—if Cyprus was behind Mitt’s drastic change in behavior. Mitt wouldn’t tell me the truth and had forced my hand. To find out what was going on, I had to meet with his father. I couldn’t move on. In my trench coat pocket were the divorce papers, and I hadn’t signed them. I wasn’t capable of signing my marriage away without a clear conscience.
“But the man could be dangerous, Tins, you even said so yourself,” Holly added with worry.
“I’ll be fine,” I assured her as I took her hands in mine and peered up at the new happy married couple in full celebration. “I have you here and these wedding guests. Cyprus won’t try to hurt me with all these people around. It’s too risky.”
I had texted Cyprus and set this plan into motion. Cyprus received instructions from me on where to meet after I expressed I needed to have an important discussion with him. I never imagined I’d have to be in this predicament, but between the explosion and me winding up in the hospital, something had gone terribly wrong. I felt this deep down in my soul, and I wouldn’t rest without an explanation.
My excuse to meet while I was on the job had worked, conveying to Cyprus that the park beside a church would be the perfect place. I could slip away while the photographer took pictures of the lovely couple and captured their memories on camera. This would give me time to show Cyprus the divorce papers Mitt wanted me to sign and hopefully be able to piece together what had happened while I was unconscious in a hospital bed. Nothing made sense because Cyprus had wanted Mitt to stay married.
Why did Mitt suddenly want a divorce?
Despite being stubborn and risking my life, I wasn’t stupid. Mitt’s reasoning for divorce didn’t sit right with me. My inability to not listen to him or how he never gave a damn about me didn’t have me convinced. I had felt my husband’s shift. I had witnessed his transformation before my eyes, and I knew he was keeping something from me. His alleged criminal father was the key to unlocking the truth.
The photographer clicked his camera and instructed the newlyweds on where to stand as they struck a pose. Laughter broke out as the wedding party gathered around, and happiness blossomed with perfect smiles.
I watched everything unfold as a light snow fell from the sky and a snowflake landed on my nose. My vision went from crossed eyed and adjusted to clear as I glanced down at my cell phone for the time. Half-past two in the afternoon. Cyprus should be here any moment, and I knew what I had to do.
“I don’t see him,” Holly said as she searched the parking lot for Mitt’s father and chewed her bottom lip.
“He’ll be here,” I breathed with certainty and turned to Holly, squeezing her hand. “Stay here and keep watch. I’ll be back soon.”
Holly squeezed back. “Stay safe.”
“I will.” I smiled to lessen her fear.
Knots tightened in the pit of my belly as I walked through the parking lot, and I came closer to the park. The more distance I put between me and the cheery wedding party added extra anxiety that Holly was right, and I was in over my head, but it was too late to turn back now.
Cyprus Morgan waited for me right where I had directed him to be.
At least Mitt’s father had listened. Now I had to hope he didn’t try anything stupid. A desperate man could lead to dangerous thinking, but Cyprus was only a suspected criminal. To what extent I didn’t know, and I sure as hell prayed I didn’t find out.
“Tinsley...” Cyprus said as he heard me approach and turned around to face me. “I’ve been curious since you messaged me what this was all about?”
Cyprus gave me a smug face and clasped his hands together in front of him. He wore a long gray wool overcoat with leather mittens covering his hands. My mind went dark and wondered who he had killed with those gloved grips of death. Did he prefer strangulation, a knife, or a gun?
Focus, Tinsley, just get this over with!
A shiver ran through me, and I gave myself a mental shake. “It’s about Mitt.”
Cyprus stepped closer. “What about my son?”
In defiance, I kept my position and refused to turn away from the monster that had sought to destroy my life. I wouldn’t back down from the man who had abused my husband and made it hard for him to love. I wanted the truth, and I needed it now.
“When I was unconscious in the hospital, did something happen between you and Mitt?” I asked.
“No,” Cyprus replied.
“You’re lying.” I glared at him with hatred.
“Tinsley, Tinsley, Tinsley...” Cyprus tsked and reached a hand out to brush hair behind my ear. “Far too stubborn for my son. He needs someone more compliant, much more obedient than you, and I think he might have found her.”
With disgust, I slapped his hand, but he caught my wrist. I couldn’t move and Cyprus’s surprise move stunned me, but I held my place. I wouldn’t let him win easily.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I questioned through clenched teeth.
“You’re off the hook. My son has moved on with another woman, and she wants to get married, but she wants to do everything you never could,” Cyprus replied as he glanced down at the back of my hand with pity and searched my bruised skin. “So, turn in those signed divorce papers before you get hurt again. I’d hate to see something happen to you.”
I gasped and tugged on my wrist, but Cyprus wouldn’t let go. “Are you threatening me?”
Cyprus met my eyes with a cold, sinister stare. “Now, Tinsley, what kind of man do you think I am?”
I trembled on the inside.
“A cold-blooded killer.” I glared back.
Cyprus Morgan laughed right in my face. An evil grin stretched out widely across his face. He was a madman. A crazed old lunatic out of his damn mind, until he cut the amusement short.
“I was simply talking about your heart, dear,” Cyprus said with a fake pout. “My son can be a real heartbreaker when he wants to be.”
“I don’t believe you,” I hissed at him and pulled at my hand again, but this time, Cyprus released me. “Mitt cares about me because I’m his wife. He’d do nothing to hurt me.”
“You wanted the truth, and I’m trying to give it to you...” his voice trailed off as something grabbed his attention over my shoulder.
I spun around.
Trees lined my view until I saw the man I knew, the man I loved, as my heart beat wildly in my chest for him. He was here. He must’ve found out about me meeting with his father and had come to stop me because he cared. Mitt was ready to confess his love for me.
I smiled, ready to throw up my arms and call Mitt over, but someone else stopped me. My grin disappeared as I watched a woman come into view, holding Mitt’s hand while they strolled through the park. An innocent and romantic gesture we never did together because we were always at odds.
My heart broke and shattered into a million pieces as I saw her laugh while Mitt pulled her into his arms. He embraced her and caressed her face like he used to do with me. They stared into one another’s eyes, and I wished he’d see me. I wanted him to see the anguish in my eyes and experience the pain he had dealt to me in a matter of five seconds.
“Oh, gosh, Tinsley. I’m sorry. I didn’t know Mitt would be here,” Cyprus said from behind me.
“Save the pity, Mr. Morgan,” I snapped.
Cyprus asked, “Do you believe me now?”
Tears bit at my eyes and I whispered, “Yes.”
Mitt was cheating on me. His father was telling me the truth this whole time, and my husband couldn’t be honest with me. He had found a replacement, someone he wanted to be with, and would do as she was told. Not a sassy, unruly wife like me.
I was all alone.
Heartbreak turned to rage as I left Cyprus behind and walked straight toward Mitt. No matter how devastated I was, plans had certainly changed, and I was ready to deliver the final blow. I was over Mitt Morgan, finished with all his manipulating mind games.
Purposely, I stomped my heels on the salted concrete once I found the path, and my eyes blazed like a red raging bull. My nostril flared as angry tears of pain trailed down my face. I couldn’t stop the wetness, and I wouldn’t bother because Mitt had earned to see the damage he had done. I was over all the lies, deceit, and betrayal.
Mitt must’ve heard the blizzard brewing nearby and dropped his hand from his new lover’s face. They still kept their fingers intertwined together as I drew near, and he turned around with an unreadable expression on his damn face. He didn’t even have the decency to release her once he saw I knew the real truth.
Mitt was a goddamn two-timing coward.
The other woman simply stared at me with bewilderment, and Mitt whispered something in her ear. He probably had lies for her, like he had for me. So, I didn’t waste time with introductions and cut straight to the bullshit.
“Were you ever going to tell me about this?” I glared with bitterness and pointed at his mistress. “About her ?”
“Nope,” Mitt answered, uncaringly, and popped the P .
I wanted to snap his neck.
“How long have you two been seeing each other?” I asked through angry tears.
Mitt ignored me.
“How long?” I shouted and stepped closer to him.
“Remember when we fucked in the car you bought with my money?” Mitt replied with a single blink and as cold as he could ever be. “That’s how long.”
Mitt knocked the wind out of me, and I was faint. I wobbled on two feet until I caught my balance while my husband only stared at me. He not only broke my heart and shattered the organ into a million pieces. He took all those bleeding pieces and stomped on them, squishing them until there was nothing left.
Slowly, I ambled up to Mitt, completely ignoring the bitch attached to his fucking arm, and smacked the divorce papers against his chest. I searched his face for one ounce of remorse for all he had done to me, but there was nothing. He was a heartless, dark son of a bitch who was as evil as his father.
I grabbed the pen from my pocket and clicked it open. “You want a divorce, Mitt Morgan, you got it.”
I signed the papers.
My head was in a haze after I wrote my last signature, and the deal was done. I pushed off Mitt, and he grunted as the force I dealt him pushed him backward a step back while he held the papers against his chest. Heaven fucking forbid he let them fall. We would have to do this all over again if they went into the wet snow. I’d have to deal with the anguished embarrassment a second time and deal with the reality that my husband had left me for another woman.
“Good job, Wife. You’ve come to your senses,” Mitt sighed as he let go of the other woman’s hand and gathered the papers into a pretty pile.
“Screw you, Mitt,” I wept with painstaking agony while my lower lip trembled. “I never want to see you again.”
I gave Mitt one last look, and it took all the effort in me to turn away from him. The man I loved was gone. He simply never existed.
Mitt whispered loud enough for only me to hear, “That’s going to be a challenge if you’re pregnant. I hope for both of our sakes you aren’t.”
I halted on the spot, glanced over my shoulder as a tear rolled down my face. “If I am, I’ll make sure you never see either of us again.”
I had forgotten about the unknown pregnancy while I faced the truth, and the reality of my lonely situation hit me. The shot had been fired by my soon-to-be ex-husband who’d waste no time filing the paperwork, and our marriage would be over. I’d be alone to raise this child without a father figure. He had caused enough damage, and I couldn’t take anymore. I didn’t want any of Mitt’s influence on a poor innocent child, even if it was his own flesh and blood. So, against all odds, I did the one thing I never thought I would. I prayed for the child I wasn’t even sure grew inside of me.