A Neat Mess

26.The Facade Crumbles

Sam was certain she wasn't losing her mind and felt she didn't need professional help. She needed someone who wouldn't judge her.

"You might be worried, but if you think something's off, you know your family best," said the Sorceress.

Jessica never tried to change Sam's mind; she had a knack for giving Sam the confirmation she sought, perhaps a lesson learned from teaching—understanding that changing someone's mind is often futile.

Jessica continued, "You do you, but be discreet in case you're wrong and don't want to offend those you rely on."

That was exactly what Sam needed to hear, even if it was easier said than done, especially the subtlety part. The new neighbor's flashy shoes kept nagging at her for some reason.

It was the end of the month, and Sam needed to go to the post office. She stopped the car near the building and retrieved a key for her post box from the glove compartment. The post box contained a small, unmarked bottle. She shook the jar out of habit to hear the rattling sound, slipped it into her bag, tore up the envelope, and disposed of it in the council bin before returning home.

The next day, Sam had to explain her abrupt departure to her manager and Silvia was surprisingly understanding and only asked for a quick heads-up in the future.

"It's fine, just let me know next time; otherwise, I'll assume the worst."

Although Sam had little faith in people, they occasionally surprised her. The results were better than she could have hoped—she could now check on her family anytime.

Jenna's initial progress was visible; her laughter returned, and she engaged more with the family. But as Pip's recommendation to cut therapy visits to every other week took effect, the improvements began to unravel. Jenna's energy waned, replaced by restless nights and a resurgence of her nocturnal wanderings. Sam watched her daughter, the sparkle in Jenna's eyes dimming as each week passed.

Lucille's return seemed to magnify the issue. Jenna's sleep became a series of fitful nights, punctuated by the creak of her bedroom door opening and her soft footsteps crossing the hallway to Sam and Ben's room. The nightly interruptions began to erode the calm Sam had worked so hard to build.

Pip, ever optimistic, suggested a new medication if Jenna's sleep disturbances continued. Sam's jaw tightened at the thought. The idea of drugging her daughter was unthinkable, a line Sam refused to cross no matter how desperate the situation seemed.

Nearly two weeks after Sam's first random check, she was still torn about whether to investigate further. Then, her phone rang at the office with Jenna crying on the other end. Sam's heart melted. It was happening, she thought. She grabbed her bag and dashed toward the parking lot.

"What's wrong, sweetie? Why are you crying?" she asked, glancing at Silvia's office. Her manager, hearing the distress, signaled her to go.

"What's wrong, baby? Are you hurt? Why are you crying?"

"I had a scary dream and I'm alone, Mommy. Please come home," Jenna sobbed.

"I'm coming home. Where's Lucille?"

"I don't know. I woke up and nobody was here."

"It's okay, sweetie. I'm on my way. It was just a dream. Nothing is going to hurt you. Let's talk about your day at school."

"It was okay. Math class was easy, but the other kids didn't get it."

"Maybe they're not as smart as you," Sam said.

"Oh, you're back up. Who's on the phone, Jenna?" Ben's voice came through.

"It's Mommy," Jenna replied.

Ben took the phone. "Hey Sam, what's up?"

"WHAT'S UP? You left Jenna alone at home and you're asking me what's up? Where have you been?" Sam yelled.

"Calm down, we didn't—" Ben started, but Sam hung up.

Back in the house, Ben and Lucille were ready with their explanations. Ben insisted he'd only stepped out for a minute to check a noise in the backyard, while Lucille claimed she'd urgently needed something from the shops.

Sam was both sick and tired of interrogating her household members while feeling embarrassed and increasingly certain she was being gaslighted.

Now, all Sam needed was to catch the liar. She didn't love Ben—there was no passion left in their relationship, and the only reason she kept him around was for Jenna's sake but if Ben ever harmed that, Sam wouldn't hesitate to get rid of him. He could sleep with whomever he wanted.

But what truly gnawed at her was the sting of her own pride being bruised. It wasn't just Ben's betrayal that cut deep; it was the contemptuous laughter of those around her, all conspiring against her and mocking her behind her back. That was the wound she couldn't bear.