The Wife List by Schneider J. A

The Wife List by Schneider J. A

Author:Schneider, J. A. [Schneider, J. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Amazon: B0BRQXZZQ2
Goodreads: 75636389
Publisher: self
Published: 2023-02-20T08:00:00+00:00


33.

Around three-thirty I shower and change. I throw my jeans and work shirt into the hamper, and pull on a flowery dress and wedge sandals that I bought two years ago and never got to wear in the city. Then I pin up my hair and look in the mirror, scarcely recognizing myself. When in writing mode I look beyond grungy, and since the move there hasn’t been much difference.

I even put on some eyeliner and lipstick.

Brad, when he sees me, lets out an appreciative whistle. “Wow,” he says. “Wonder Woman steps out of her phone booth.”

“Idiot, you’re mixing up movies.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

In the driveway, we look over and see that the blonde’s silver car is still there, but Keeley’s is not.

“Maybe they’re out grocery shopping,” I snark. “Her bag wasn’t that big.”

“C’mon, give it a little rest?” Brad pleads. He’s trying to be valiant, holding the Jeep door open for his wife who looks suddenly like a lady.

I slide in. He rounds the front, gets in, and peels out as I stare back to the porch where I saw Ann Keeley. I flash on her hand, pressed desperately to the screen as she weeps, I’m so afraid…and I feel worse than guilty. There’s such a cold, sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Here we are, heading out for a lovely day in the sunshine to “forget our troubles” and distract the paranoid neurotic, and I’m supposed to fall in line.

Brad prattles. I pretend to listen.

His writing went well again so he’s in a good mood, really garrulous about the beautiful day and how great it is to be out. Such a good idea! We really should start living this life…interact more…and he’d really love to go fishing if he weren’t under the gun. And shouldn’t we also get a second car?

“Definitely a second car,” I say absently. But I’m picturing SOB Joe Keeley in some supermarket helping his new blonde pick melons.

And then it hits. Where has my mind been? Melons? Oh God, what if they’re at the Farmers Market?

It makes sense! Her car is still there, so they left for somewhere in his car. And where might that be? What is the likelihood? Panic mounts in my chest.

The local online sites and cable stations have been touting the Farmers Market, showing tents going up and vendors arriving and happy chefs waving their spatulas. First weekend! Baked products and hand crafts! Come see the new greenhouse!

It has to be. What could be more romantic? Does Keeley’s blonde even know what he’s done with his wife? What BS story has he told her? If I see them, what will I do?

A sick feeling washes over me.

The parking lot is a wide, crowded-with-cars field ringed by oaks. We leave the Jeep and head to the expanse of tents and display tables and smiling, milling people greeting each other. Lots of hugs, people taking pictures, and smiling local reporters. Many attendees are near the greenhouse, the new solar-powered greenhouse where signs say early tomatoes and green veggies are ready.



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