Chapter 33 #2
Ferne didn’t have the strength to argue. Besides, she didn’t want Taj offering to take her home, because then she’d collapse into a snivelling heap for sure.
‘Taj, Ferne isn’t feeling well, so I’m taking her home.’
Taj’s head snapped up. ‘Ferne, sweetheart, are you okay?’
‘Just feeling a bit faint and queasy … It’s probably nothing, but I want to lie down.’
Solicitous, he came towards her. ‘You can lie down here, if you like? I know it’ll be difficult climbing the stairs but there’s a comfy sofa in the living room. Or there’s a guest bedroom downstairs you could use.’
‘I’d rather go home,’ she said, her quivering voice earning concerned glances from Bette and Taj. ‘I’ll call you later, okay?’
‘Let me take you,’ he said, reaching out to cup her cheek. ‘I’m worried about you.’
‘I’m sure I’ll feel better after a rest.’ She forced a smile and when he leaned closer, she whispered, ‘Maybe a lack of sleep last night has made me feel a little under the weather?’
‘Then it’s my fault and I should definitely take you home,’ he said, but she shook her head.
‘Bette can drop me off then come straight back and make a dent in that food, along with your other friends. And you can save me leftovers, because I’m sure I’ll be fine by tonight and maybe you can bring some over?
’ She hoped the invitation might appease him, just in case he thought she was giving him the brush-off.
‘Okay, I’ll do that. But please, call me if you feel worse, or for anything at all.’ He brushed a kiss across her lips. ‘I care about you, Fer.’
‘I know.’
Emotion clogged her throat and, thankfully, Bette moved ahead to open the front door, giving her time to pull herself together.
‘Call me, okay?’ Taj said.
She nodded, waiting until she got outside and all the way to Bette’s car before letting her mask slip, slumping into the passenger seat and closing her eyes.
Bette didn’t say a word on the trip to Ferne’s place, waiting until they were inside the apartment to say, ‘I know what happened.’ She popped a cushion under Ferne’s ankle on the sofa. ‘I saw the Lee’s House of Fusion logo on those takeout bags. Was that Jesse?’
Ferne nodded, the residual nausea from their unexpected encounter making her clutch her stomach. ‘Ever since I arrived in Melbourne, there’s been one coincidence after another. I’m starting to think Mac’s haunting me and having a great cosmic chuckle at my expense.’
‘I don’t believe in all that rubbish,’ Bette said, waving away Ferne’s proclamation like she smelled something bad. ‘But I must admit, it is freaky that first Taj turns up on your doorstep, then you run into Jesse via Taj.’
‘He recognised me too, which makes it worse, because it means Mac must’ve shown him photos of me and Cruz, and Jesse continued with their affair regardless.’
‘Yeah, that’s not good.’ Bette hesitated, gnawing on her bottom lip, before blurting, ‘Have you thought about confronting him?’
Hating to admit her stalkerish tendencies when it came to her husband’s lover, Ferne said, ‘I’ve done one better.’
Bette’s eyebrows arched. ‘What do you mean?’
‘That night you brought dinner over, on the day we met, and you mentioned Lee’s House of Fusion?
I had to see him for myself, so I hobbled over there.
I wasn’t going to go in, just see if I could get a peek, and I did.
He was in the kitchen and he caught sight of me, and there was definite recognition, so I scurried away, feeling like an idiot. ’
‘Oh, Ferne, that must’ve been tough.’ Bette squeezed her arm. ‘I’m not surprised you needed time to regroup today. Seeing him in Taj’s house must’ve been a nasty shock.’
‘You could say that.’
If she had her way, she’d block Jesse from her mind like she blocked telemarketer calls on her phone, but she had to acknowledge that Bette’s suggestion she confront him had merit. She’d been pondering the same, and in a way, seeing Jesse today might prompt her to act rather than mulling at length.
In reality, she had no hope of moving on while her husband’s lover worked a few blocks away. She would feel better if she saw him face to face and demanded answers to the endless questions buzzing through her brain. Only then could she finally put Mac’s treachery to rest.
‘Could you do me a favour, Bette?’
‘Anything.’
‘I want to confront Jesse and I’d like to do it here, so if you could give him a message for me, that’d be great.’
Shock widened Bette’s eyes. ‘Do you think that’s a good idea, inviting him onto your turf? Wouldn’t it be easier if you met him somewhere neutral, where you could leave if things got too uncomfortable?’
‘I think I passed the point of uncomfortable months ago, when I discovered my husband’s sordid secrets.’ She gestured around the room. ‘Besides, at least I can break down in peace here after he leaves, rather than making a scene in a public place.’
‘I guess that makes sense.’ Though Bette’s expression seemed doubtful. ‘How do you want me to pass on the message?’
‘I don’t want to give him my phone number to arrange a meeting, so let’s do it the old high-school way. I’ll write a note and you could give it to him at the restaurant?’
‘Sure. Do you want me to come back here after I drop it off? I’m assuming you want to get this over and done with as soon as possible, so you’ll invite him over today?’
Ferne nodded. ‘I want to see him sooner rather than later. I need to get past this so I can move on properly with my life and not dwell on endless unanswered questions.’
‘I understand, and I don’t want to intrude, but maybe I could wait in my car in case you need me?’
Ferne wanted to ask why a woman she’d only known a few days was being so nice, but she didn’t want to insult Bette. Besides, alienating Bette would be foolish when she’d been nothing but kind since they met.
‘Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be fine.’ She tempered her rejection with a smile. ‘Though if Jesse staggers out of the building bleeding profusely, he may need your assistance more than me.’
Bette laughed. ‘Just call me if you need me, okay?’
‘Shall do.’
‘I’ll pop to the loo while you write your note,’ Bette said, and Ferne knew her friend was giving her time to compose what she had to say. Not that she needed it. The note requesting Jesse come see her ASAP would be brief.
What she’d say when—if—he arrived would be another matter entirely.