"Ruin and Redemption"

A Pastor Gets Jangled & an Escapee Gets Found Out

 

“Let me go, Derrick. I want to talk to Rebecca,” Lizzie hesitated to tell her husband the plan formulating in her head.

“It was a long time ago!” He yelled, frustrated.

“I don’t care about that, Derrick, as long as it isn’t happening now.” Lizzie decided. If she couldn’t be friends with anyone her husband had ever slept with, she would have a hard time finding friends.

 "It’s to be expected, I suppose…I still could use a friend; it’s time Rebecca and I met.”

“You don’t want to be friends with a whore do you? What would my friends think? You’re a lady for goodness sakes, Lizzie! Think of your reputation!” Derrick pleaded desperately, already knowing he had lost the battle.

“Why should I, Derrick? Do you think about our reputation when you go out drinking and gambling, and seeing whores? How is it alright for you to have sex with a whore when you’re married to me, but I can’t even be friends with one? It’s not fair, and I won’t put up with it!” Lizzie removed his hands from her forcefully, and pushed away from him, striding purposefully towards Rebecca.

Derrick rushed to keep up with her wide gait without running after her like a little boy. He wanted to be composed in front of Rebecca. He arrived behind Lizziea minute after she reached Rebecca, just after she had introduced herself and complimented his child.

“ Her name is Amanda? She’s truly beautiful, Rebecca!”

“Thank you again. It looks like your husband is coming for you.” Rebecca preferred to keep her distance from her client’s wife. It would be a conflict of interest for her to become Lizzie’s friend.

“It doesn’t matter; I want to keep talking with you. We just met, and I like you. I could use a friend.” Lizzie realized she sounded like herself when she was ten years old and was determined that Michael should be her friend. Lizzie wanted Rebecca’s friendship now just as badly.

“I like you, too. But I live a busy life. I don’t know for certain if I have time for any more friends,” Rebecca wished for a moment that their circumstances were different and she could invite Lizzie over to share a cup of tea with herself and maybe Josiah. She had only a handful of friends, and was slightly surprised Lizzie wanted to be one.

Lizzie became aware of Derrick behind her, making gestures and mouthing words.

“Are you trying to convince her to tell me she’s not sleeping with you when she really is? She’ll tell me the truth, you know, if I ask.” Lizzie turned back to Rebecca. “Are you sleeping with my husband?”

“Lizzie!” Derrick hissed.

“No, I’m not.” Rebecca answered.

“See, she answered my question, Derrick! I knew she would tell me the truth and she did. Now there’s no reason whatsoever we can’t be friends.” Lizzie chose to take Rebecca’s plea of busyness with a grain of salt. She still needed a friend! She wouldn’t mind paying one, even, if she had to!