Free Lisa Djahed - Bee Stanis 01- The Foolish Stepmom by Lisa Djahed

did see my infertility as an injustice. A grand one . It was like my own little demon I carried around and nursed. Some people feel victimized by their family of origin, some by other people, family or friends, but not me, I tried not carrying resentments against people around, it just didn’t do any good, but on this one front I had a walking talking resentment the size of Texas and it was against the god of my understanding. It was a question that loomed over so much of who I was , why doesn’t god want me to have children of my own? Maybe I was meant to be a rescuer, just take care of other people’s kids, and maybe that was my job given my god. These were my thoughts as I sipped my wine AND it was what got me in trouble. Well that and my husband.
    Turns out Ben’s assignment for the day was following Ray around which had brought him to the Florane Apartments, apparently it is where Ray was living when he wasn’t staying with Bev at Pam’s place on Americana. He called and said, “get right over here.” And so I did.
    He was sitting in his Civic when I pulled up. “Get in here” he said hastily.
    I jumped in the car and said. “What , what is it”
    “ Sshhh, just watch” and he pointed to the second floor diagonal from where we sitting hunched down. Ben even had binoculars in his hand, I couldn’t help but smiling. He was really taking this “investigation” to the max. So funny. My strong determined Russian, I had a hard time not reaching over and kissing him.
    As I was lost in my reverie looking at my beautiful husband , Ray came out of his apartment carrying a load of laundry.
    “Wait , wait, get ready” is what Ben said. I had no idea what he was talking about.
    “Let’s go” and he opened the door and motioned me to follow him.
    “Where are we going” I half whispered trying to keep my heeled flip flops from flopping too loudly on the ground.
    “We only have a short time” Ben whispered angrily back at me , motioning me to be quicker. See, it was my arches. I couldn’t wear flats. Everything I owned, every pair of shoes had to have some sort of heel. I had high arches, like mad high. If I wore flats, like normal people in Florida do, the standard flip flop, I flopped and my arches would ache
    for days, I’d wake up in the middle ofthe night with such severe cramps. So thus, the little flip flops with heels were my only option and the single reason I never moved quickly.
    We reached the second floor and Ben slipped me and him into Ray’s apartment. I couldn’t believe the balls of him. Were we really doing this , what were we looking for? Why were we here?
    “L ook in the bathroom, I’m taking the bedroom” he said like an old pro.
    “For what?” I had no idea what we were looking for. Drano?
    Everyone had Drano.
    “Just look, and quick.”
    I did what I was told , found the bathroom and stood in the doorway not knowing what to look for. I saw hair products. I opened the cabinet, self-tanning spray, way to go Ray. A razor, some blades, some band-aids. Nothing, nada. Not even a container of Drano labeled “Give to Drew”.
    “Bingo , let’s go” said my husband holding something in his hand. We both rushed out the door but of course my own little torture devices, my shoes tripped me up. I slipped out of my shoes standing on the landing and proceeded to run down the stairs. I couldn’t even see Ben, he had gone around the corner so fast. Not knowing where he was, I jumped into my car and started it and started pulling out.
    And that’s when m y day ended. Fwwooop, fwooop, fwoop went the lights behind me. A cop car was pulling me over. Unbelievable. I didn’t even have my shoes on.
    “Mam , can I see your license and registration and proof of insurance” said the cop at my window with his clipboard in hand.
    “Yes sir , yes sir, yes sir.” I said as I started digging through the glove compartment and my wallet to get the appropriate items.
    “Here’s my license and