Thirty minutes later, another summons. I was stalling, desperately trying to concoct a plan to avoid eating, when I reached the dining room. Jessica was there, happily demolishing the
lobster, shells piled high. Both platters were
empty.
“What?” she snapped, catching my stare.
“You ate my lobster?”
“I’m pregnant! I can eat two lobsters!”
Resentment dripped from her voice.
<
7403
779
“Is that much shellfish safe when you’re
pregnant? You might want to get that checked
out,” I said, my mind racing.
“Mind your own business… Ow!” She doubled
over, clutching her stomach.
Mary ran from the kitchen. “What’s wrong?!”
“She ate all the lobster,” I said.
Mary’s face paled. “John! 911!”
At the hospital, Jessica was bleeding. The
doctor said it wasn’t serious, just observation overnight. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Back in Jessica’s room, she saw me and
launched into a tirade. “You murderer!”
“Excuse me?”
“You!” She looked like she wanted to rip my
throat out. “You poisoned the lobster!”
Mary paled. “Jessica, don’t say things like that!” “I’m not lying! You’re just jealous I’m pregnant and you can’t have kids! You wanted to kill me
and my baby!”
Right. Because every woman is consumed by
baby–envy.
“I’m calling the cops!” Jessica grabbed her
<
11:38
774
phone. “You’re not getting away with this!” John, panicked, snatched the phone. “Stop it!” Jessica, terrified of John, especially after the
earlier slap, went silent.
I smiled, pulling out my own phone. “I’ll call
them.”
John and Mary’s faces went ashen. I’d thought
this day was a long way off, but Jessica had
just handed it to me on a silver platter.
Showtime.
While we waited for the police, John kept
whispering about family loyalty, asking why I
had to involve the cops.
I blinked innocently. “I didn’t want to. But
Jessica wouldn’t let it go.”
“I already taught her a lesson! If that’s not
enough, Mark can deal with her when he gets
back.” “Deal with” was code for physical
violence.
I ignored him. “She accused me of murder in
front of witnesses. I have to clear my name.”
When the officers arrived, Jessica sat bolt
upright. “Officer, this woman tried to kill me!”
<
