Chapter 67
Tragedy
Everything went as well as possible for the next few months. Whenever Ophelia couldn’t keep Amanda company, Tigresa would stay with her. Tigresa would bring Anne with her to play with Gerald and keep him company. Even though she followed her doctor’s orders, Amanda wasn’t happy that she wasn’t being allowed to take care of Gerald. She would follow Ophelia or Tigresa around in her wheelchair when they had to see to Gerald’s needs, but she never interfered.
Michael would return home around 1100 and take over taking care of Gerald. Like she did with Ophelia and Tigresa, Amanda would follow him around as he took care of Gerald. Michael was no fool. Even though he knew what to do in most situations, he would feign ignorance and ask Amanda to tell him what he should do. Although he didn’t know for certain, he believed she knew he was just including her in what he was doing so she wouldn’t somehow feel like she was failing as a mother. Michael could see frustration slowly starting to build in her eyes whenever she would look at him.
**********
Three months after Amanda’s stay in the hospital, Michael had a very important meeting at work. Normally, he would stay at home until Ophelia arrived. However, this day, of all days, Ophelia was running late. He called the Fuchs home and was told by Jacob that their youngest kit, Charles, was being a bit difficult and didn’t want to eat nor get dressed to visit his nephew, but Ophelia had finally gotten their son fed and dressed and was heading out the door to go to Michael’s home.
“Ophelia should be at your place in about 30 minutes. I’m sorry, Michael.” Jacob said.
“I understand, Mr. Fuchs.” Michael said. “I’ve learned how difficult children can be at times. I’m in a bit of a situation, though. I’ve got a very important meeting this morning, but I don’t want to leave Amanda alone.”
Jacob said, “I’ll call Edward and have the meeting postponed. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
Michael thought for a moment. “Let me talk to Amanda. If she promises to stay in her chair until Mrs. Fuchs arrives, I’ll go.”
“All right, Michael, but I’d rather you stay there until Ophelia arrives.”
Michael was in a quandary. The meeting he had to attend was with a potential new client for SoGa Industries’ Information Technology Department. He’d been working on this client for several months, even before Amanda had told him she was pregnant. Finally, he came to a decision, one that might have repercussions for him for several months.
“Amanda,” he said, “I have a very important meeting this morning, but I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“I’ll be fine, Michael.”
“Amanda,” She winced when he said that because she knew he was going to be serious. “Promise me that no matter what, you’ll stay in that chair until your mother arrives.”
“Michael!” Amanda said, indignantly, “I made you and Doctor Jeruk a promise. I’ve never broken a promise I’ve made you.”
“I’m serious, Amanda. I don’t want anything to happen to you, Sweetie.”
“All right, Michael. I promise I won’t get out of this chair unless Gerald needs me.”
“No, Amanda! No matter what. As long as Gerald hasn’t injured himself, you need to stay in that chair. I’m serious!”
Amanda looked at Michael for a few seconds before she said, resignedly, “All right, Michael. Unless Gerald hurts himself, I’ll stay right here.”
“Good. I don’t want to leave until your mother gets here, but this meeting is very important.”
“It’ll be all right, Michael.”
Michael kissed Amanda, hugged Gerald, gave pets to Buddy and Me-you, and left. Little did he know what this decision would cost him before the day was over.
**********
Michael got to SoGa Industries 10 minutes before the meeting was to begin. Michael had a device with him that was virtually unheard of, a mobile telephone. When the potential clients arrived and saw it, they asked him what it was.
“It’s a mobile telephone, Mr. Behr.”
“A mobile telephone? What’s that?”
“It’s a telephone that I can take with me a lot of the places I go and receive telephone calls. They’re relatively new, I believe they’re about 6 months old. This one is one of the first ones that was built.”
“You mean, I can use one of these and make and receive telephone calls anywhere I’m at at the time?”
“Well, not everywhere right now. At this time, you can only do that while within the city of Catlanna. This is an experimental device. I’m testing it to make sure it will do what I hope it will do.”
Just at that moment, the mobile telephone rang, shocking Michael. He opened the telephone and said, “Hello?” Almost immediately, his face got a shocked look on it. He turned to Mr. Behr and said, “Sir, we’ve got to postpone this meeting. I’ve got to go home.” Michael didn’t even pack his paperwork. He got up and left.
**********
Michael drove home in record time. He barely got his car in Park before he was out of it and running toward his house. He rushed inside to find Ophelia holding Gerald as he cried. Ophelia was consoling him, but when he saw Michael, he broke away from Ophelia and ran to his daddy. Michael picked him up and held him as he cried.
“What’s wrong, Mrs. Fuchs?”
“It’s Amanda, Michael.”
“What’s going on?”
“I got here a few minutes ago. I knocked on the door and got no answer. I called Amanda. Then, the door opened and I saw Gerald. He was crying. I asked him what was wrong, he grabbed my hand, and pulled me into the kitchen. I saw Amanda lying on the kitchen floor next to her wheelchair. She was unconscious. I called the EMTs as soon as I saw her. I checked her pulse and her breathing. Her pulse was weak and her breathing was shallow. I also noticed a small pool of blood around her hips. When the EMTs arrived, they checked her, noticed the pool of blood, and took her to the hospital.”
Michael felt tears burning in his eyes. He said, “Mrs. Fuchs, can you take Gerald home with you so I can go to the hospital?”
“Of course, Michael. You go take care of your wife and I’ll take care of my grandson.”
Michael got Gerald dressed and packed a few clothes and toys for him. Then, he hugged Gerald and told him to listen to his grandmother while he was staying with his grandparents. After this, he rushed back outside to his car and raced to the hospital.
When Michael arrived at the hospital, he rushed into the Emergency Room and told the nurse his name and asked where Amanda was. The nurse looked up where Amanda was and told him which room she was in and authorized him to go back to her room. He walked quickly to her room and entered. He saw Dr. Jeruk looking at Amanda as she lay in the bed. Dr. Jeruk turned and acknowledged his arrival.
“Good. I’m glad you’re here, Michael.” Dr. Jeruk said.
“Dr. Jeruk!” Michael exclaimed. “Is she going to be all right?”
“To be honest, Michael, I’m not sure. She’s unconscious and all of her vitals are weak but not dangerously so.”
“The baby?”
Dr. Jeruk looked Michael in the eyes and slowly shook her head before saying, “I’m sorry, Michael. We did an ultrasound as soon as she arrived and we couldn’t find the fetus. I’m afraid Amanda had a miscarriage.”
Michael closed his eyes, turned his head away from Dr. Jeruk’s line of sight, and shed a tear. After taking a few moments to compose himself, Michael turned back to face Dr. Jeruk. She was, once again, looking at Amanda. She had a stethoscope and was listening to Amanda’s heart. She had a worried look on her face.
“Is there something wrong, Dr. Jeruk?” Michael asked.
“Her heartbeat is still weak, Michael, but, it’s steady. That’s a good thing. Her breathing is also weak, but it’s regular.”
“What are you going to do?”
Dr. Jeruk sighed slightly and said, “We’ll let her body decide, Michael.”
Michael looked her curiously and she added, “What I mean is, we’ll just let her stay in her coma. When her body decides, we’ll go from there.”
“I just hope she wakes up.”
“So do I, Michael. I need to chastise her severely for disobeying my orders.”
Dr. Jeruk was smiling as she saw the look of shock on Michael’s face when she said this. Michael shook his head and smiled as he realized Dr. Jeruk was rattling his cage.
**********
After learning these things, Michael contacted Jacob and Ophelia and told them Amanda’s condition. After talking to Mr. and Mrs. Fuchs, Michael called Mr. Blaidd. Mr. Blaidd was a bit off put because Michael had postponed his meeting so unexpectedly; however, after learning why Michael had postponed the meeting, he understood and encouraged Michael to take the necessary time off to take care of Amanda. When Michael expressed his concern about how Mr. Behr would react to his sudden disappearance, Mr. Blaidd said he would smooth things over with them. Edward also told Michael that being a European brown bear, Mr. Behr would understand how important family is and would likely reschedule the meeting as soon as Michael was available. Michael thanked him and moved a chair next to Amanda’s bed and held her hand.
**********
The next morning found Michael still sitting in the chair next to Amanda’s bed. Now, he had his head on the bed with his eyes closed. Amanda moaned in pain as her eyes fluttered open. When Amanda opened her eyes, she saw Michael sitting next to her bed. She reached down and stroked his hair causing him to awaken. She smiled weakly at him as he smiled back.
“What happened?” Amanda asked.
Michael took a deep breath before replying. “You’re in the hospital.”
A look of fear crossed Amanda’s face before she said, “Really?” Then, panic was on her face. “The kit?”
Michael’s eyes started tearing up as he shook his head and said, “Gone.” He didn’t say anything more. He didn’t chastise her for disobeying the doctor. He didn’t blame her for losing the baby. He knew she was in enough mental and emotional pain and saying or even implying it was her fault wouldn’t help her.
Amanda started crying and hung her head. Michael moved onto the bed and wrapped his arms around her. Soon, her sobs became all but uncontrollable. Very shortly afterward, a nurse rushed into Amanda’s room and looked at Michael.
“What happened?” The nurse asked.
“She asked about the kit and I told her.”
“You what!? Didn’t the doctor tell you to not say anything!?”
“Yes, she did, but this is my wife and I’m not going to lie to nor deceive her.”
“Do you see what you’ve done?”
“Nurse, don’t chastise me and put yourself in my wife’s place. Who would you rather give you bad news? A loved one or a near stranger?”
The nurse opened her mouth to reply, and then closed it. She thought for a moment, nodded her head and said, “You’ve got a point. But, you can explain it to the doctor. I’m sure she’ll love your explanation.”
Michael smiled and said, “I can deal with it.”
The nurse left saying, “When the doctor arrives, I’ll make sure to let her know that you told your wife about the kit.”
Amanda continued to cry and Michael continued to comfort her. A few minutes later, Dr. Jeruk knocked and entered Amanda’s room. She glared at Michael before saying, “Michael, I need to look at Amanda. Do you mind?”
Michael got off the bed, moved the chair, and sat down. Dr. Jeruk looked at Amanda and asked her, “Are you feeling all right, Amanda?”
Amanda said, “No, Doctor. I lost my kit.”
“Yes, I know.”
Dr. Jeruk turned to Michael and said, “Why did you tell her?”
“Because she’s my wife and she asked me.”
“Did I not tell you to leave that to me?”
“Yes, you did. But, she asked me about the kit and I’m not going to lie to her. Put yourself in my place, Doctor. Would you lie to someone you love because you were told to do so?”
Dr. Jeruk stared at Michael for a moment before saying, “You should be a politician or a diplomat, Michael. You know how to put someone on the defensive without giving them a reason to lose their temper.” Michael smiled. “However, I should have been the one to give her that news.”
“Doctor, with all due respect, you would have given her the news in a sanitary manner and almost no love and compassion. When I told her, I had tears in my eyes and pain in my voice. Her loss was my loss, Doctor. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Once again, Dr. Jeruk paused. She admitted to herself that Michael was right. But, she said that policy was policy and Michael should have not said anything about the kit. Michael nodded his head.
After Amanda calmed down a bit, Dr. Jeruk looked at her sternly. “Amanda,” she said, “I warned you this would happen. Didn’t I?” Amanda nodded. “Tell me what happened.”
“Michael needed to go to an important meeting and my youngest sister was giving my mother a hard time about getting ready. Michael didn’t want to go to the meeting even though I insisted. Finally, he made me promise that I wouldn’t get out of the wheelchair no matter what, even if Gerald wanted something. After I promised, he left. Almost immediately, Gerald started whining wanting his breakfast after Michael left and wouldn’t wait until my mother arrived. So, I got up and started preparing his breakfast. After a few minutes, I felt a pain in my abdomen and the next thing I knew I was waking up here.”
Dr. Jeruk crossed her arms and glared at Amanda. After several seconds, Dr. Jeruk finally said, “Amanda, did I or did I not warn you about doing that!? You’re damned lucky that you woke up after that stunt!”
Amanda started crying as she said, “I know, Dr. Jeruk. I know I broke my promise to you and Michael. I didn’t think it would take that long to prepare Gerald’s breakfast. I guess I paid the price.”
“Yes, you did. It’s unfortunate that you lost your kit. It is fortunate that you didn’t lose your life. However, I know what’s going to go through your mind soon. Let me warn you that you can’t, can’t, get pregnant again until you’ve healed completely from your miscarriage. That will take at least a year. Do you hear me, Amanda? A year! Not six months, not nine months, not twelve months, twenty-seven days! One . . . full . . . year. Do you understand what I’m saying, Amanda?” Amanda nodded her head. “If you fail to pay attention this time, it will cost you your life. I’m not lying, Amanda.” She turned to Michael. “I’m going to appeal to you, Michael. You don’t have urges that Amanda will experience, but I know you will experience physical desires. You have to make certain that Amanda doesn’t endanger her life.”
Michael replied, “I understand, Doctor. If I have to, I’ll remind her every morning and every night.”
“Good.”
**********
Dr. Jeruk made Amanda stay in the hospital for almost a month as she healed enough to return home. Michael visited every day and took care of Amanda’s needs to ease the burden on the nurses, at least the ones he could take care of. Naturally, there were needs that Michael wasn’t qualified to do, such as administering inoculations.
During the time that Amanda was in the hospital, Gerald stayed with Ophelia. He would whine for his parents almost every day. He wasn’t unhappy because, even though Jacob and Ophelia didn’t spoil him, he was surrounded by aunts and uncles who would play with him and keep his mind occupied by testing his knowledge and dexterity. His whining was because Michael and Amanda fulfilled a need that he didn’t realize he had. As a half-fox/half-human, he liked to roughhouse and play chase with his parents. To ease Gerald’s concerns, Michael would visit every day after he got off work and before he went to the hospital. One of the things Gerald wanted was to see his mother, but the hospital wouldn’t allow it because Amanda was still in Intensive Care.
**********
Finally, after a month in the hospital, Amanda was released. One of the last things that Dr. Jeruk said to her was, “Amanda, remember, you can’t get pregnant for another year. It will take your body that long to heal well enough that you can carry another kit to term and be healthy. If you ignore me this time, you could lose more than the kit; you could lose your life. Do you understand me?”
Amanda replied, “Yes, Dr. Jeruk.”
“Also, I want you to avoid doing anything that would require you to stand more than 30 minutes at a time. And for every minute you stand, you need to sit for ten so your body can recuperate from the stress of standing. Standing won’t do anything dangerous to your body, but it will slow your healing significantly. I want you in my office at least once a month so I can check and verify your progress toward being completely healed. If after a few months, you are healing properly, I will allow you to stand longer. Also, try to not lift anything heavier than 20 pounds,” she looked pointedly at Amanda as she added, “that includes your son. If you need to lift him, squat, put your arms around his waist, and stand slowly. But, put him down as soon as possible after lifting him. We don’t want you to strain your abdominal muscles which would slow your healing progress. Do you understand what I’m asking of you, Amanda.?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Very well. As long as you understand these limitations, I’ll release you. I expect to see you in my office in a month.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
**********
Amanda did as Dr. Jeruk told her for a few months, but her desire to have another kit started weighing on her mind. She started believing that she had failed Michael by not giving him another kit in the normal three years. After five months, she started telling Michael she believed she was healed enough to get pregnant again. Michael, however, reminded her that Dr. Jeruk had told her to wait one year before getting pregnant again.
At first, Amanda accepted Michael’s words without any arguments. However, as time wore on, Amanda became more and more irritated that Michael wanted to wait the full year. She even started implying that Michael had an ulterior motive for refusing to impregnate her. She started using his love for her as a weapon to try to convince him to give her another kit. Unfortunately for Amanda, Michael stood his ground saying that it was because of his love for her that he was refusing to impregnate her.
“Amanda,” he would say, “I love you more than I love my own life. I don’t want to risk causing your death because of your desire to have another kit. Please understand.”
“Michael, it’s my duty as your wife to give you as many kits as possible. Don’t you understand that?”
“Sweetheart, I don’t care what you think your duty is. As far as I’m concerned, your duty is to be there to assist me with our son. Please don’t beg me to risk your life. Please!”
These discussions escalated almost daily. It got to the point that it was difficult for Michael to get any sleep at night and to do his job the next day. He wanted to make Amanda as happy as possible, but he didn’t want to risk her life to make her happy. He tried to remind Amanda how much he loved her by singing “There’s No Way” to her every night. He made it a point to stress the line that said he didn’t believe he could live a day without her. Unfortunately, Amanda only heard the song; she didn’t listen to it.
**********
When Michael bought the house he and Amanda lived in, the biggest selling point was a stream that had a dam across it that created a 16 foot deep, 15 acre lake. It was stocked with bass, chain pickerel, crappie, bream, and catfish, as well as plenty of minnows, crayfish, and smaller fish to serve as forage for the larger fish. Around the lake willow trees, pecan trees, peach trees, elms, oaks, and a few other hardwood trees had been planted to give shade. The previous owner of the properly had kept the trees thinned enough to allow people to have access to the lake and Michael had kept the tradition of keeping the trees thinned and collecting any fruits that fell to further prevent the trees from crowding people out from having access to the lake. The older Fuchs kits would be able to fish while dinner was being prepared. Michael knew how engrossing fishing could be, so he had made a rule that no one under the age of 10 could go near the lake without being accompanied by an adult and no one who couldn’t swim could go near the lake, period. He didn’t want to have to deal with any potential tragedies.
**********
One Saturday, Michael had planned a barbecue. He had invited Jacob and Ophelia to visit and bring their kits so the younger ones could play with Gerald. He was glad to see them because he hoped that their presence would keep Amanda from, once again, starting to pester him about getting her pregnant. Unfortunately, Amanda’s desire for another kit had grown so strong that she no longer cared who heard her make her demands of Michael. However, Jacob’s presence curtailed her demands a little. Unfortunately, they started to run low on ice and drinks, so Jacob volunteered to go to the store and fill their needs.
Once Jacob’s car left the driveway, Amanda started pestering Michael about getting her pregnant again. Michael, on the other hand, begged her to stop and remember what Dr. Jeruk had warned her about. Amanda lost her temper and started making accusations about Michael’s refusal.
“Who is she!?” Amanda said.
“Who is who?” Michael answered.
“Who are you cheating on me with?”
“Amanda, I’m not cheating on you. Why in the world do you believe that?”
“Because you won’t make me pregnant! You won’t even make love with me!”
“Amanda, I’d give almost anything to make love with you, but Dr. Jeruk warned us, me in particular, against doing that until you’re completely healed which she said would take at least a year.”
“I don’t believe you! You’re fulfilling your physical needs with someone else!”
Michael hung his head. “No, I’m not, Amanda. I’m in bed with you every night and I come straight home from work. Even if I was considering that, which I’m not, when could I do it? Amanda, Sweetheart, you’re one of the smartest women I know. Think about what you’re accusing me of doing.”
“I know who it is! It’s Victoria, isn’t it? She’s always had the hots for you! You told me that she does!”
“Amanda! Victoria is like a sister to me! In fact, she is a sister to me! There’s no way I’d even consider that with her. Please think about what you’re saying.”
“Get out! Get out of this house! Go live with your lover! I don’t want you around here anymore!”
Michael looked at her in shock for several seconds. Finally, he said, sadly, “You can’t be serious.”
“I am serious! I can’t sleep with someone who’s cheating on me! So, go sleep with your girlfriend!”
Michael’s shoulders slumped as tears started forming in his eyes. “Very well. I’ve always said that the most important thing to me is making you happy. If it’ll make you happy, I’ll leave.”
“Just go!”
Michael turned around and headed to the bedroom he shared with Amanda. He found a suitcase and started packing some clothes. Meanwhile, Amanda, who was crying tears of anger, turned her back on him. She wouldn’t even look toward the bedroom.
Ophelia, who had been an unwitting witness to this exchange, was in utter shock at Amanda. Was this the same Amanda who had defended Michael so vehemently when she had tried to dissuade her from having a relationship with him? Was this the same Amanda she had caught in his hotel room when she flew to Jaguarville when they were down there to purchase a new computer system for SoGa Industries? Was this the same Amanda who had literally turned her back on her family when Ophelia had forbidden her from marrying Michael? Now, Ophelia’s sympathies were with Michael. She had to do something and quick before Amanda’s future happiness was pulled from under her.
Ophelia walked over to Amanda and put her arms around her. She said, “Amanda. I know you don’t mean what you said just now.”
Amanda turned and buried her face in Ophelia’s chest. “Oh, Mama. You were right about him. He has just been using me.”
Ophelia stood there for a few seconds before replying, “No, Amanda. You were right about him. Didn’t you see how sad he was when you made those accusations about him?”
“I don’t care, Mama. I see now that he doesn’t love me.”
Ophelia thought for several seconds before saying, “Amanda, I wanted to keep what I’m about to tell you a secret. But, I think you need to hear this.”
Amanda pulled her face away from her mother’s chest and, as she wiped the tears from her eyes, said, “What?”
“Amanda, have you ever wondered why you’re four years older than Marshal?”
“I’m not four years older than Marshal?”
“Yes, you are, Sweetie. You father and I kept a terrible secret from you.”
“What secret?”
“Because everyone started accusing me of cheating on your father, I didn’t breastfeed you. As a result of that, I started ovulating a lot sooner than I should have. In fact, about six months after you were born, I went into heat. Your father was surprised and he took me to see Dr. Jeruk. When I admitted that I wasn’t breastfeeding you, she looked at me in shock. ‘Why not?’ She asked. I just turned my head in embarrassment and your father told her. ‘That’s why you’re in heat again so soon, Ophelia. The hormones that produce milk interfere with the hormones that cause heat cycles and ovulation. You two need to not engage in sex until after your heat ends.’
“I didn’t listen to the doctor and your father couldn’t resist my demands. Four months later, we found out I was pregnant. I was happy because the doctor had already told me that the odds of another kit with stripes was nigh impossible. However, when the doctor found out I was pregnant again so soon, he was furious with us.
“‘Ophelia! I told you to refrain from engaging in sex until after your heat ended! You aren’t completely healed from your previous pregnancy! This pregnancy could end in a miscarriage . . . if your lucky! If you aren’t, this pregnancy could end in your death! Is that what you want!?’
“I slowly, sadly shook my head as I said, ‘No, Doctor.’
“‘I want to see you in my office once a week until I can be certain that this pregnancy is progressing safely. Do you understand me, Ophelia?’
“‘Yes, Doctor.’
“I was at his office every week. Unfortunately, less than a month later, I got sick, deathly sick. I was rushed to the hospital while your father was at work.” Ophelia teared up. “I lost your younger sister. I don’t know why. I did everything the doctor told me to do. All I can figure is that God was punishing me for how I was treating you.”
“Are you serious, Mama?”
“Yes, Amanda. I don’t want you to experience what I went through. Michael doesn’t want that. It’s because of the possibility of losing you that Michael has refused to impregnate you. And how to you thank him? By accusing him of cheating on you even though you know that he’d never even consider that.”
Amanda was openly crying now. “Mama, what can I do?”
“I’d go to him and apologize for making such a seriously absurd accusation about him and beg him to forgive you.”
“Do you think he will?”
“I’d bet my last Yenar he will. He loves you as much as your father loves me.”
After hearing this, Amanda hugged her mother and quickly walked down the hallway to the bedroom she shared with Michael. Ophelia could hear the subdued conversation and heard the tears in Amanda’s voice as she apologized to Michael and begged him to forgive her.
Michael, for his part, didn’t let her finish begging him for forgiveness. He grabbed her in a hug and kissed her passionately as he said, “Amanda, I’d forgive you for almost anything, you should know that. But! Don’t expect me to risk your life even though I forgive you.”
“Don’t worry, Michael. I’ll listen to you and Dr. Jeruk. I don’t want to leave you alone.”
Ophelia smiled as she heard this conversation.
**********
A couple of minutes later, Jacob, who had taken Marshal and Marshal’s girlfriend with him, walked into the house carrying three bags of ice and four cases of soft drinks with them. Ophelia rushed over to them and asked Marshal and Maria to let her talk to Jacob alone.
After Marshal and Maria left, Ophelia said, as she looked toward Michael and Amanda’s bedroom door, “Jacob, I probably did a bad thing just now and I need your assistance to pull it off.”
Jacob looked at Ophelia with suspicion as he said, “What did you do, Ophelia?”
“Jacob, Amanda started accusing Michael of cheating on her because he won’t make her pregnant. She even accused him of sleeping with Victoria Panthera.”
“She what!?”
“I swear, Jacob. She said it in front of me.”
“What did you do?”
“I lied to Amanda. I told her that because I wouldn’t breastfeed her, I started ovulating again early and you got me pregnant. I also told her that I lost the kit because my body wasn’t healed enough to handle another pregnancy so soon.”
“How did you explain the fact that Marshal is three years younger than she is?”
“I told her that he’s actually four years younger.”
Jacob rolled his eyes before saying, “Did she believe you?”
“I guess. Afterward, she went to their room and begged him to forgive her for accusing him of cheating on her. Right now, I’m guessing they’re making up.”
“And you want me to corroborate your story?”
“I don’t know about corroborate my story, Jacob, but I want you to say it actually happened as I said it did.”
Jacob smiled. He loved Ophelia to death but he kept forgetting that she didn’t place a high premium on synonyms. “Don’t worry, my love,” he said, “I’ll make sure she believes your story.”
“Thank you, Jacob.”
Just as Ophelia said that, the bedroom door opened and Michael and Amanda walked down the hallway to the living room with their arms around each other.
Amanda said, “Thank you, Mama, for opening my eyes like that.”
“It was my pleasure, Sweetie.”
