A Little Sane

Chapter 39

"Jerome...?"

Jerome snapped his head towards her angry.

"How stupid do you think I am?!"

Mercedes tilted her head. She gave him a worried look.

"I don't think you're stupid at all.."

Jerome clinched his fists.

"You obviously do!"

Mercedes stood there confused. Jerome could read confusion on her face. He stood up furious.

"You've been hanging out with Jeremiah!"

Mercedes looked at him shocked. She stepped back.

"How the fuck would you even know that...?"

Jerome's maniacal laugh rang through the air. He shook his head. 

"You work for one of the biggest crime lords in Gotham and you can't figure out how I would know that?!"

Mercedes gave him a completely disgusted look.

"You had someone following me! Are you fucking serious?!"

Abbe was watching from the hallway. The twins were too busy playing in their room, but the yelling was getting really loud. Abbe feared the kids would hear and try to come out.

"With what you've been doing how could I not?! I wanted to see what you would possibly be doing with your plan, but instead I found you with my brother again!"

Mercedes stepped forward.

"Your brother is family! We're friends! We were just hanging out!"

Jerome laughed again. 

"No you weren't!"

Mercedes studied his face. His thoughts filled her head and she backed away angry.

"Okay wow! I haven't fucked him! Seriously?! Is that were you mind always goes?! We hung out! Nothing else!"

Jerome stepped forward.

"Why?!"

Mercedes threw her hands in the air.

"He was making me feel better!"

Jerome froze. He was visibly angry, but he wanted her to continue.

"You have no idea! I cry myself to sleep most nights! I can't tell which way is up or down! I am tired! I'm tired of lying to our children! Daddy and mommy will be back home together soon! When I have no fucking idea! I have tried to talk to you over these past few weeks! I didn't want to do this without you! I have told you how upset I am! I have begged you to tell me your feelings! Begged you to try and help find another solution since you don't like this one! You've been so mad at me you don't even listen!"

Jerome stepped forward.

"Then maybe you should have chose him! You can't get past this victim card! You think I want to be away from you?! You think this is fun for me?! I don't trust this plan and I don't trust you to leave it alone! It's so hard to fucking trust you when every time shit goes wrong you run to him! You expect me to believe you haven't fucked him again! You at least thought about it! Our arguemet was way over dramatized!"

Mercedes stepped forward.

"You fucking hit me!"

Jerome grabbed her by the throat and pulled her inches from his face.

"And you punched me in the fucking nose! I guess we're even doll face."

He shoved her back and Mercedes rubbed her throat. Jerome rolled his eyes.

"Oh please! I didn't even grab you that hard!"

Mercedes stepped forward.

"I'm so tired of fighting with you! I want to be in this together!"

Jerome shook his head.

"Me too! I love you!"

Mercedes laughed.

"You have the greatest way of showing it!"

"Well so do you!"

Mercedes held back tears. Her anger boiled.

"I didn't sleep with him!"

Jerome laughed maniacally. Mercedes stepped back. Her throat hurt badly. She swallowed.

"Are you tried of being married to me...?"

Jerome's entire expression changed. His soft, heartbroken face was standing close to her now. 

"What are you talking about? No. Of course not."

Mercedes stared up at Jerome as a tear streamed down her cheek. Jerome instantly wiped it away with his thumb. 

"No.. I am not tired of being your husband.. Why would you ever think that..?"

Mercedes stared at him heartbroken and confused. Jerome's expression got more sad.

"Why..? Are you tired of being my wife...?"

Mercedes leaned into his hand. 

"I don't know about anything anymore... I love you... I want to be your wife... you hit me again.. instead of just trying to listen to me... then you left..." 

Jerome swallowed hard. He tried his best to search his brain for a response. He couldn't find one. Mercedes nodded and stepped back. 

"Of course you don't know what to say..."

Jerome stepped back. 

"I should probably go..."

Mercedes nodded.

"I agree.."

She wiped her tears and straightened up.

"Kids! Come say bye to daddy! You won't see him for a couple of days!"

The kids came running int othe living room.

"Mommy you're home!"

"Bye daddy!"

The twins hugged and kissed Jerome. Aislinn held on a little longer. Jerome laughed as he let go of her. 

"Bye daddy..."

Jerome smiled at Aislinn.

"Bye my sweet Aisie."

Jerome left and Mercedes turned to see Abbe standing there shocked. Mercedes cleared her throat and smiled.

"Dinner? I'm starving."

Mercedes walked into the kitchen leaving Abbe speechless. Abbe wasn't sure how to handle everything was going on. She didn't know how she was still hanging on in the middle of this. Abbe could smell food from kitchen and joined Mercedes.