Around the Bend: A Psychological Thriller (Ebook)

Chapter One

Early Spring

Never assume things can’t get worse. If you were to ask her what she’d learned over the past year, that’s exactly what Jessica Clemens would have said. Well, that and more, but at the very least, this would, first and foremost, be it. 

Things can always, always get worse. 

Take for example the afternoon Jess was lounging in her sitting room pondering the shit-storm that had become her life when he, and by he, I’m referring to her husband Spencer, walked out of his closet, bags in hand. 

This is how it all began. Her coming undone. 

Truth be told, it began long before this. But that’s the funny thing about stories, isn’t it? It’s hard to tell where the beginning and end are. 

Now, had Jess been paying attention or hell, even been sober, she might have seen this coming. Alas, she did not. And so, things did get worse from that moment on. Much, much worse. 

That bright and cool spring afternoon, Spencer stood in front of his wife with a certain somber look on his face. It could have been remorse, she wasn’t sure, for she was too high to tell the difference. The truth was, he had given Jess that look almost daily over the previous six months—so much so, she wasn’t sure if it was her or if it had simply become his natural expression. 

She glanced at him, down at his bags, and then cocked her brow. “I didn’t know you had a trip this week,” she said as she reached for her tumbler of vodka.

Spencer dropped the luggage and sat down on the footstool opposite her. “I’m fairly certain I told you…” He eyed her with pity, or perhaps anger, she couldn’t gauge which. He started to speak again, but then paused before continuing. “You’re looking a bit better today. And you’re up.” He smiled. “That’s good news, isn’t it?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “At any rate, I’m glad because we need to talk. This trip is going to be a bit of an extended one.” 

Jess eyed his bags again. “I can see that,” she slurred tipping the glass in his direction. 

He lowered his voice and spoke clearly, calmly—as though he were trying to talk her down from a ledge that she wasn’t even aware she was hanging from. Jess knew better. She’d already fallen. “Jessica. Please. I know these past few months have been hard for you with the accident and all… and well, now this. But you need to understand that I’m not leaving for good. It’ll only be a few weeks or so—a month max.” 

Had she been sober, she might have had the right mind to be angry, or to be hurt, or even devastated as she rightfully should’ve been. Instead, she found she was indifferent. 

“Well… sayonara. And here’s to you.” She raised her glass, then threw her head back and laughed. The man she’d loved for the past decade was, for the most part, walking out on her at a time when she clearly, really, really needed him, and she found it funny. That’s how much trouble she was in. And Jess didn’t even have the good sense to know it.

“Jessica.” He reached for the tumbler, slid it forcefully from her hand, and placed it on the table. He stared at the glass as though he couldn’t stand to look at her. “I need you to listen to what I’m trying to say here.” He spoke, and then waited to ensure he had her attention before he continued. “I spoke to Addison at the agency a few moments ago. She’s going to audit our staff and see what is needed in my absence. To start with, she’s going to send someone over ASAP to help you get around a little more while I’m away...”

Jess scoffed. “You don’t think we have enough help?”

“I don’t want you to worry about anything.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “Anyhow, about the children…” 

“The children?” She interrupted defensively, even though the probability was low at that moment that she even had the prudence to consider the fact that they even had children. That she had children. That this would affect them. 

“Yes, Jessica. Our children. Jonathan and Catherine…” He looked at the glass and back at her. “You do remember them, right?” 

Jess sighed, picked up the glass, and finished it off. But she didn’t take her eyes off his. Jess was a lot of things, but she wasn’t dumb. She wouldn’t admit defeat. “I’m not the one going on an extended vacation.” 

He raised his voice then. “This isn’t a vacation, Jessica. This is business. And… quite frankly, I need to get away for a bit. I can’t just sit around here twiddling my thumbs while my wife deteriorates into nothingness. Once again, you’re not getting it.” He paused, running his hands through his hair. Jess watched as his fingers slid slowly through his dark brown hair, which she’d always thought reminded her of smooth, silky chocolate, and wondered just how long it had been since she’d done the same. 

“We’ve been over and over this… I’m not sure how else to say it. I need to give you some space to handle things on your own... Ever since the accident, well, I think you’ve forgotten who you are. While I’m gone, I want you to focus on getting back to your old self. I figure the only way you’ll do that is if I force your hand.” 

Jess glanced toward the door and back at her husband. “So what are you waiting for then?”

She watched as he took one last look at her, stood, and walked out, all straight-backed and righteous. But all she could think about at that moment was what the women at the Ladies Who Lunch event would say the following day and every day after that. Because Jess, as drunk and high as she might have been, realized more than her husband did that afternoon. He was never coming back. Not really, anyway. 

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