One Small Island

Chapter 2 The Aftermath Part I

Looking back, Edina realized that the strangest thing about that day was how completely normal it had started. She woke up, watched the morning news, checked her calender and hopped into the shower. Then just as she'd turned off the water Edina heard Mick Jagger's familiar voice belting out the first lines to 'You Can't Always Get What You Want.' which she recognized as her mobile phone. And she knew who was calling, her husband Sam. That Stones ditty had always been their song and was the obvious choice for his ring tone.

Edina shook the water from her hair and pushed open the heavy glass door of her shower. "This had better be damn good." She said to no one in particular. Not wanting to get her phone soaked, she answered the call on speaker and crossed the steamy room to grab a fresh towel.

"Jesus Sam I just got out of the damn shower." She growled. After nearly 20 years of marriage Edina didn't even bother trying to hide the irritation in her voice. "Didn't you have a surgery scheduled for this morning?" 

"Listen Eddie there's no good way to do this." Sam said. Edina bent forward and wrapped the heavy towel around her hair. She made one deft twist and straightened back up. "Wait, what was that? I was putting my hair up and didn't hear you." Despite her irritation at the interruption she let out a little laugh. "It sounded like you said you wanted a divorce." She caught her reflection in the steamy mirror and stopped to admire herself turning her strong chin from side to side.

"That is what I said. But, ah, there's actually more." He said. Stunned, Edina tore her attention from her reflection and stared down at the phone. As if this were face time instead of a call. Sam kept talking. He sounded as though he'd spent a lot of time rehearsing this and now just wanted to get it all out.

"We didn't really know how to say this but Bryn and I are in love and I want a divorce so we can be married." Sam said quickly.

It took a moment for Edina to collect her thoughts and then like a nuclear warhead she exploded. "Bryn? You and Bryn?" she screamed. "Which Bryn? Because I KNOW you don't mean my Bryn. As in the Bryn who is currently married to David my god damned boss and also happens to be my best fucking friend!" Her voice was starting to go hoarse as it often did when she was furious. Sam said nothing. So it was that Bryn.

"What the fuck Sam? You stupid god damned son of a bitch. The two of you can go to hell!" She screamed and disconnected the call.

For a moment Edina just stood there naked and dripping wet watching the steam condense and run down the mirror over the vanity. She noticed that she was trembling so she grabbed another towel and wrapped herself in it tightly. But that didn't help because she wasn't shivering. Instead her entire body was vibrating with rage. She was more furious than she had ever been in her life. And, just like clockwork, the damn phone rang again. And the caller ID said it was her boss David. Of course it was.

She pressed accept call and lifted the phone to her ear. Before she had a chance to say hello, David's booming, deep and obviously very pissed off voice shot into her ear.
"Edina we need to talk. I'm clearing my schedule and I'll expect you here in an hour." He said then rang off without waiting to hear her response.

Still stunned, Edina clenched the phone tightly in her hand and before she even knew what she was doing, she wound up and hurled it at the massive mirror. Which immediately shattered into a million pieces. Seven years bad luck she thought to herself. As if things could get too much fucking worse?