The Biggest Heartache in Town

By Meloira

Part 7

"I should’ve seen it coming, you know? The late night shifts, captain’s conferences out of town, all the stupid lines he fed me. I can’t believe how dumb I was Carl. How blind!"

Despite his affection for Paulina, Carl felt like a trapped animal as she prattled on about her soon to be ex-husband, Joe Carlino.

For the last three days he’d kept vigil with her and Jake and those three days had tested him in ways he’d never experienced before. He found himself willing Vic to wake up for more than one reason as he watched his companion pace the waiting room.

"Isn’t is so true what they say? The wife really is the last to know. I sure as hell didn’t have any idea what was going on right under my nose. I know I married a good cop, but I thought I had married a good man too. I believed Joe was supposed to be my happily ever after, you know? The one who’d make all the bad things go away. He promised to love honor and cherish." Paulina sniffed back her ever-present tears. "I’m not a complete moron, I know love doesn’t always mean forever. Funny thing is, it’s not his betrayal that hurts so much. I trusted Josie, I thought she was my friend. While they were fooling around all over Bay City, she made me believe she was my friend."

"Trust is a fragile thing my dear," Carl commented, "once it is broken, it can be difficult to let yourself feel free again."

"Tell me about it. You know, I should’ve known something was up when Gary and Josie split. I bet he knew then. I bet lots of people knew." Paulina quit pacing as a thought occurred to her. "Did you know?"

"Paulina…"

"C’mon Carl. Did you know?" She pinned him with her eyes, making him shift uncomfortably.

"Darling Paulina, how could I possibly know such a thing? I haven’t lived in Bay City for quite some time and have no need for town gossip."

Paulina’s shoulders sagged in a mix of relief and frustration. "Sorry, but I tend to get a little paranoid. It’s just that I wish this entire mess had never happened."

"Ah, if wishes were horses…Look on the bright side, you are rid of him. He’s some other woman’s problem now."

"You’re right." She smiled. "At least I got Carlino’s out of him. As far as I’m concerned the lucky couple have made their bed."

"Now let them lie in it," Carl finished.

Paulina laughed. "Yeah, Joe’s no bowl of cherries in bed. I always thought Italian men were supposed to have some sort of incredible stamina. Yet another stereotype blown to smithereens. What Josie sees in him I’ll never know. What I saw in him I’ll never know. Omigosh, look at the time. I promised Jake I’d call." She motioned at the exit. "I’ll just be a minute."

After she left, Carl slumped back in his seat. Three days had never passed so slowly.

"Hey you."

Carl’s body jerked at the sound of another voice. "Amanda. Thank the gods it’s you."

"Gee, someone’s happy to see me. Who were you expecting?"

"Paulina." He gathered his things and started toward her.

"She’s just down the hall at the pay phone."

"Does she have her back to us?"

Amanda stuck her head out the door. "Yeah, but what difference…hey!"

Carl shoved her down the hall, away from Paulina.

"Carl, the elevator is that way." She tried to turn and point him in the right direction, only to have him push harder.

"I came to check on Vicky, not play hide and seek. Why the rush? Did Paulina regale you with stories of Joe the loser?"

"I trust you mean saga," he snorted. "I dearly love your sister, but if I hear one more syllable about Joe and his inability to keep it in his trousers, I refuse to be held accountable for my actions."

"I’ve heard the same thing over and over myself."

"Yes, well, add Jake’s continuous yelling and Bella’s flair for the melodramatic then multiply by three. My nerves are shot."

"I always thought Carl the Great had nerves of steel?"

"Even steel can weaken my darling. Besides, I’ve had enough of this place for one day. Are we going to stand here all afternoon or are you going to take me home and feed me?"

She took his proffered arm hesitantly. "Shouldn’t you tell Paulina you’re leaving?"

He could only glare at her suggestion. "If I go back in there, it will be to shake Vicky until she comes to. However, I don’t believe the doctors would appreciate my services. Therefore, my only option is to leave. I do not wish to be a nuisance."

"That’ll be the day," she muttered under her breath as they raced down the stairs.

()()()()()()()()()()()

They were a couple of blocks from the hospital before he finally slowed their pace.

"At last, freedom." Carl breathed the crisp winter air. "Ever since my last stay in hospital, I cannot abide to be inside one for very long."

"Yet you made the effort for Vicky."

"I love Vicky. Personal distaste never overrules my feelings for my loved ones."

"And thanks for listening to Paulina. She doesn’t get that much anymore. I’m always busy, Mom’s always away on business and Matt doesn’t seem to care. Even though she nearly drove you crazy back there, it probably meant a lot to her."

"Thank you for the guilt trip Amanda."

"I didn’t mean it like that."

"I know you didn’t intend for it to come out the way it did. Being here does something to me. I believe I’ve already worn out my welcome."

"Not with me you haven’t. I like having you and the little worm around. Even Lorna and I have found some common ground."

Carl tightened their intertwined arms. "I wasn’t inferring you were bored with my company. I was referring to Bay City. Despite Victoria’s dilemma, I’m itching to get out of here."

"Thanks for telling me nicely I’m boring the hell out of you."

"You always read too much into the things people say Amanda. I no longer feel comfortable in Bay City. With every corner I turn, I worry I’ll run into Rachel."

"Can’t. She’s out of town." She patted his arm. "Come on, you know you can’t wait to hear the latest installment of ‘Joe the Jerk’ live and in stereo."

Carl groaned. "My time with Paulina would have flown by if you hadn’t already supplied me with all the sordid details months ago."

"Hey, that’s what friends are for. Good gossip and insincere flattery."

"As for tiring of your company, never. My darling, I’ve grown accustomed to your face."

"Puh-leeze Carl. Try that line elsewhere." They came to a stop and he had to catch her as she slipped on a patch of ice. "A little warning thank you very much."

"We’re here."

"So?"

"We’re on the street where you live,’ he replied, grinning from ear to ear.

"That’s supposed to be clever?" she asked, letting them into her building. "I knew I shouldn’t have let you watch ‘My Fair Lady’ last night. I thought the three of you would never stop singing."

"No musical extravaganzas tonight my dear. Tonight is ‘The Thomas Crown Affair.’ You’ll enjoy it, I promise."

"Great. Tomorrow I’ll have a band of master criminals on my hands. Wait a minute, what am I thinking. I already have one of those in my life."

He laughed. "You’re just afraid my daughter will lift your silver."

Amanda paused before unlocking her door. "I think I’ve changed my mind about tonight’s viewing selection. Did I ever tell you about my huge Disney collection? All singing, all dancing, all furry," she threw at him over her shoulder. His laughter stopped. "All little girls love singing fish," she advised him sweetly.

"You wouldn’t? Amanda!"

It was her turn to laugh as she left a horror-stricken Carl on her doorstep, musical mice prancing through his head.

….()()()….