The Alternate

Two stories with alternate endings joined together.

Introduction

 

 

            The pillow was cool as she laid her head back. It quickly took form of the additional weight. The sheets settled above her body. It had been a long day cleaning, running errands, and driving Cameron around between school, little league baseball practice, and his friend’s house. She hadn’t seen Gerry since he left for work, but he should be home at any time. Life had gotten very stressful recently with his new job and longer hours. She missed him. The only thing she saw of him was his quick movement trailing behind him as he left in the morning and the outline of his silhouette as he entered their bedroom. The door opened just like every night. Gerry hated it when she waited up for him so she pretended to be asleep while she peeked from underneath the covers. He slid in next to her, kissed her shoulder, and whispered “I love you.” Tomorrow would be their ten year anniversary and she had big plans in mind. His arms were wrapped around her. She basked in his warmth which was now her own. Finally, she was complete and could drift off to sleep. She would have stayed awake as long as she had to until he was there. It was always worth the wait.

 

 

           

1

 

            A sweet aroma drifted up to her nose and the sun’s rays spread through the open window. She rolled over on her side and opened her eyes. She was expecting to see her loving husband, but instead the covers were neatly deflated. Scarlet red caught her attention. A flawless rose rested on the pillow next to hers. She picked it up and fingered the velvet petals. As beautiful as the flower was, it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him.

            The smell of home cooked bacon and strawberry jam flooded through the open door. Her stomach growled and she embraced the idea of breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, the table was set, the food was piping hot, and the juice had been poured. Gerry was no where in sight. She called, but there was no response. Cameron spent the night at his friend’s house and all of a sudden there was an eerie feeling of emptiness.

            She turned around and headed towards the bathroom. The door was shut. She knocked. No answer. She turned the handle and pushed it open. Gerry was lying on the floor. She rushed to him and felt his pulse. Nothing. Everything went by in a blur after that. Her body was going through spasms ever since she made the call. She tuned out the flashing lights and sirens. He was dead. Her body was numb. She slumped to the floor and tears swam across her face mercilessly. When she could manage to breathe, she hurried to her bedroom and spent the remainder of her ten year anniversary alone in a dark room with a heavy heart.

            The hospital had said it was a heart attack because of too much stress, maybe? Perhaps that was the case, but Gerry was perfectly healthy and she had trouble believing it. Cameron was with her sister while she made the funeral arrangements. He still didn’t know. She didn’t know how to tell him. She was so thankful he hadn’t been there when it happened.

            The nights were always the hardest and the coldest. She was struggling with insomnia. Every night she’d think he’d come walking through the door as she peeked beneath the covers, but the door stayed closed and the bed half empty. She stared up at the ceiling eyes wide open because there was no reassurance that she could close them. The red rose was beginning to wither on the pillow next to hers. It was quickly fading just like Gerry had. It was her last hope shriveling away even more after each touch.

            Minutes ticked by, days passed, and months ended only to begin new ones. Somehow her family of two was managing. She found ways to keep busy and have Cameron close. He was all she had left. She didn’t think reality had sunk in for him yet, but it would soon enough. After all, only a father can play catch in the park with his son. 

            Due to Gerry’s passing, there was enough money to bring them out of debt, but she would need to get a job. Schooling kept her distracted, but away from Cameron even more. He spent a lot of his time with friends.  Years went by one after the other.

            Eventually, she received her degree in journalism and was hired as a column writer for a popular magazine. She became one of their most valuable journalists. An opportunity approached her to meet the coach for a professional baseball team. He was fascinated by the talent Cameron demonstrated especially for his age. After college, Cameron was put on the team. The coach had lost his wife twelve years ago and was a happy candidate to provide companionship for the small family. Wedding bells rang and the alternate puzzle piece was put into place.

            No matter how much time went by, she couldn’t help but stare at the hidden picture of Gerry and her on their wedding day that was in her dresser drawer. Her heart would ache, but then she'd put it back and remember what she had now: a loving husband that would hold her for as long as he could and a beautiful son that she couldn’t be more proud of.

                             ~~~

            A sweet aroma drifted up to her nose and the sun’s rays spread through the open window. The dream became hazy and faded. It was her husband’s and her ten year anniversary today. She rolled over on her side and opened her eyes. She was expecting to see her dear Gerry, but instead the covers were neatly deflated. Scarlet red caught her attention. A flawless rose rested on the pillow next to hers. She picked it up and fingered the velvet petals.

             

 

 

Introduction

 

 

            The pillow was cool as she laid her head back. It quickly took form of the additional weight. The sheets settled above her body. It had been a long day cleaning, running errands, and driving Cameron around between school, little league baseball practice, and his friend’s house. She hadn’t seen Gerry since he left for work, but he should be home at any time. Life had gotten very stressful recently with his new job and longer hours. She missed him. The only thing she saw of him was his quick movement trailing behind him as he left in the morning and the outline of his silhouette as he entered their bedroom. The door opened just like every night. Gerry hated it when she waited up for him so she pretended to be asleep while she peeked from underneath the covers. He slid in next to her, kissed her shoulder, and whispered “I love you.” Tomorrow would be their ten year anniversary and she had big plans in mind. His arms were wrapped around her. She basked in his warmth which was now her own. Finally, she was complete and could drift off to sleep. She would have stayed awake as long as she had to until he was there. It was always worth the wait.

 

 

           

2

 

            A sweet aroma drifted up to her nose and the sun’s rays spread through the open window. She rolled over on her side and opened her eyes. She was expecting to see her loving husband, but instead the covers were neatly deflated. Scarlet red caught her attention. A flawless rose rested on the pillow next to hers. She picked it up and fingered the velvet petals. As beautiful as the flower was, it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him.

            The smell of home cooked bacon and strawberry jam flooded through the open door. Her stomach growled and she embraced the idea of breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, the table was set, the food was piping hot, and the juice had been poured. Gerry was no where in sight. She called, but there was no response. Cameron spent the night at his friend’s house and all of a sudden there was an eerie feeling of emptiness.

            Before she could turn around, a set of hands covered her eyes. She could sense him. His cologne was a give away. They stood there holding one another for a long time for fear of letting the other go. Then they kissed. Her body became numb. They slumped to the floor and laughter began to bubble out. When they managed to catch their breath, they hurried to their bedroom and spent the remainder of their ten year anniversary together with contented hearts.

            Every minute with him was marvelous, but it ended too fast. Tomorrow Gerry would be back at work and his next day off wouldn’t be for a while. A few weeks later, after he and Cameron left for the day, there was a knock on the door. She opened it to see one of Gerry’s colleagues standing there with a cardboard box in his arms. He said that Gerry asked him to hold onto it for a while until he had a chance to pick it up, but Gerry’s colleague had been sick of it sitting in his office after three months and finally decided to drop it off on his own.  She took it thankfully, but before he left she asked him what it contained. Gerry’s office supplies. Wouldn’t he still want them in his office? No. Had she not been aware he was laid off three months ago? If that was the case, where was he now?

            She took the box and searched his things for any idea of what was actually happening. At the bottom, there was a picture frame turned over. It intrigued her. What picture did Gerry have on his desk at work? Their wedding picture? Their vacation picture? She reached in and pulled it out. Gerry stood tall, happy, and proud. His arms wrapped around a woman and his hands rested on top of her own which cradled her pregnant belly. Cameron was not the child inside the womb. That woman was not her.

            Her heart wrenched. The truth puzzled her, but at the same time it was crystal clear. All the late nights, gone during the day, he wasn’t at work. He was with another woman and their child. Had it been the lady beneath the glass that came first or her? Which one of them had he cheated on? Which one of them was the other woman?

            As the clock ticked towards the incoming darkness, she sat up in bed and waited with the lights on. They would guide her. The door opened and at that moment she saw the truth. A different set of clothes he hadn’t been wearing earlier, a barely visible pink lip stain on his cheek, and the tussled, unkempt hair made her scowl. He wondered why she was still awake, but that was the wrong question entirely. There was no way he would be able to explain why there was an alternate woman. By the end of that night, his clothes were in the yard and he was out the door. In a matter of twenty four hours, he was dead to her.

            She was still waiting for the right opportunity to tell Cameron the truth. She didn’t know how to explain what happened. She was thankful he had slept through the arguments, fighting, and yelling that night. Although, she still wondered how it was possible.

Whenever, she found herself unable to sleep she would go into Cameron’s room and watch him dream. Minutes ticked by, days passed, and the months ended only to begin new ones. The red rose had withered away and was now black just like Gerry’s heart. It had been her life with him that shriveled away on that night.

            She had no idea who the woman was that had been in that picture nor the child for that matter, but her name was Natalie and the child’s name was Belle. They lived on Oakridge Avenue. When Natalie opened the door one fall afternoon a year later, there was a vase with a decaying rose leaning to the side, the picture of her and Gerry when she was pregnant with Belle, and a letter.

            We are all flowers quickly fading. Here today and gone tomorrow. A year ago        today was my ten year anniversary with the man of my dreams. A year ago today    was the last time I saw him. How much have you seen him lately?

            A pocket sized photo fell from the envelope. A lovely looking woman and a beautiful young boy were posed elegantly while her husband, Gerry, stood behind them with the most adoring grin. It would seem this rose belonged to him and it was about the only thing he had left.

~~~

           

 

            A sweet aroma drifted up to her nose and the sun’s rays spread through the open window. The dream became hazy and faded. It was her husband’s and her ten year anniversary today. She rolled over on her side and opened her eyes. She was expecting to see her dear Gerry, but instead the covers were neatly deflated. Scarlet red caught her attention. A flawless rose rested on the pillow next to hers. She picked it up and fingered the velvet petals.