Cherry Skies

Chapter 22 - Farewell

Though it feels warm and cozy inside the walls of the home, there's danger brewing no one sees coming. A threat that is laying low for now but is buying time to strike at the right moment. From a distance, a pair of eyes have watched, and the rage within is about to boil over.

It comes down to remaining hidden from anyone in town who interacts with Elizabeth or her beau. Living at the ransacked motel is Michael Sr. watching his ex-wife not long after she wired the money.

"That two-faced lying hussy! I'm drowning in debt, and here she is, living a goddamn high life! She stole from me and is whoring around town!" He mumbles, sitting in his car using his phone to record Elizabeth.

He's stewing as he observes her meet up with Matthew for lunch. For weeks he's gathered recon while traveling around getting the things he needs to make his move. Items such as duct tape, rope, shovels, chloroform, and even a couple of other lethal gems to make sure he takes back every dime he feels was stolen.

Lost in the 'honeymoon phase' of things being back with Matthew and with the kids in therapy plus maturing into proper young adults, Elizabeth fails to notice she's been followed around town. All her habits are being handed over to a stalking ex-husband hellbent on revenge.

"Too easy, Elle, this is going to be too damn easy. Just wait for it bitch, I'm taking what's mine." He says, wrinkling his forehead and nose, feeling his rage soar.

A few more days fly by, but no one still realizes the older beat-up Toyota Camry that strolls through town. Each time he picks up on every routine. Michael Sr. learns Elizabeth's daily habits, but he keeps an eye on Matthew and notices that he brings Elizabeth lunch every Monday right at noon. That detail shines the lightbulb as his plan comes together at last.

"You're both gonna die, you're both gonna die..." he keeps singing over in the car on his way back to the motel room.

After the sun drops behind the mountains, Michael uses the blanket of night to sneak out to a remote abandoned cabin where he checks on his ultimate ace in the hole.

"Time draws near, soon, so soon I'll need your assistance." He says wide-eyed as he cackles wildly.

Every hour brings him closer to the edge of insanity. For two straight days, he sits on the edge of the bed watching the clock. All Michael holds in his hand is a bottle of tequila and sits there on the verge of dehydration, using the alcohol to quench his thirst.

Time trickles away until the tick of the clock sends Michael off into a rage.

"AH! This isn't fair! Hurry up so I can kill this bitch and her new boy-toy. The sounds of them having sex, ugh, I can still hear them."

His mind travels back to standing outside of Elizabeth's window at her house and over at Matthew's on Christmas Eve.

It's been ripping him apart internally. He doesn't acknowledge that he's cheated, which goes back to when he was dating Elizabeth while in medical school. In his mind, the divorce doesn't count, and she's having a drawn-out public affair.

"Fuck it! I'm not waiting, I'm getting my family back together, and that happens tonight!" He yells with keys in his hands.

Treading out to the cabin, he carries back the items for his trump card item until the trunk is full. From the house, he travels out an old silver mine access road getting everything ready. Wires get connected with remotes activated, and the bulletproof vest is attached for protection. Michael loads up and checks his guns resting in the glovebox.

Not drawing attention to himself, Michael drives around town and finds himself parking at the edge of Matthew's General Store. He watches and waits as the snow falls in the air for Matthew to leave. When he sees the truck pull out of the parking lot, he follows behind at a safe distance.