The Ex-Wife

         Ramone leaned back in a wooden beach chair listening to the surf and squawking of the soaring seagulls. He extended an arm and gently massaged the back of his new wife’s neck. Everything was perfect. He didn’t know how his life could get any better.

         Cindy was finally beginning to relax. She was on her honeymoon with the only man she had ever really loved. A thousand miles separated them from their hectic everyday lives.

         For the next two weeks Ramone and Cindy would have each other all to themselves. No work, no interruptions, no ex-wives to worry about.

         Cindy rested her hand on Ramone’s thigh. She smiled and gazed deeply into his eyes. She couldn’t wait to begin her new life with her new husband. They had a brand new home awaiting them. Cindy had high hopes. They had come a long way together.

         As Ramone and Cindy watched the sun sink into the horizon, Cindy’s thoughts turned to babies. She couldn’t wait to decorate the nursery in their new home. Absent mindedly, she rubbed her stomach in hopes they’d be returning with a baby on the way.



         Eight months later Cindy massaged her lower back as she scanned the nursery. The walls had been painted a pale yellow, the trim a soft green.

         Cindy eased herself into the glider placed kitty-corner in the room. She could no longer see her feet when she sat. At first that had made her cry, now it made her laugh. Her baby bump was all she could see.

         She began humming softly and closed her eyes as she rocked. It was Friday afternoon; Ramone would be back from his business trip on Monday. Cindy couldn’t wait to see him.

         A box containing their crib leaned against the far wall. Ramone was going to put it together next week. The dresser and changing table were already in place. Cindy had washed and carefully hung their unborn babies clothing in the closet. The dresser was filled with onesies, socks, receiving blankets, and lots of extras.

         Cindy was about to fall asleep when the doorbell chimed. Tempted to ignore whoever was at the door, Cindy yawned and forced herself out of the glider. She was exhausted. Whenever Ramone was out of town, Cindy had a hard time sleeping. Her swollen feet, aching back, and inability to find a comfortable position in bed didn’t help either.

         The doorbell chimed again.

         “Coming!” Cindy padded down the hallway. Once in the foyer she moved the curtains aside to see who was standing outside her front door. It was a delivery man.

         Cindy put a smile on her face and opened the door.

         “Delivery for a Mrs. Ramone Chabot.” A young man in a brown button down shirt and matching shorts smiled. He held out a clipboard.

         “Sign here please.”

         Cindy proudly signed her name. She loved being referred to as Mrs. Chabot.

         Cindy took the package, thanked the delivery man, and closed the door. She thought it might be another gift from someone who was unable to attend her baby shower a few weeks earlier. She’d open it later, or maybe she’d wait for Ramone and they’d open it together.

         Cindy placed the unopened package on the kitchen counter. She didn’t recognize the return address. She shrugged. The idea of a nap appealed to her. She’d order a double cheese pizza for dinner later.





Cindy finished her third slice of pizza knowing she would regret eating all that cheese as the night wore on. She placed the closed pizza box in the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.

The phone rang. Cindy figured it was Ramone or her mother calling to check up on her. She smiled and reached for the phone.

“Hello?” Cindy listened. “You have the wrong number.” Cindy checked the caller id. The number was unavailable. “That’s okay. Bye.” Cindy hung up the phone. They’d been getting a lot of those calls lately.

Suddenly the baby kicked. Cindy could feel her stomach rippling. Time to change into some loose fitting pj’s and see what was on tv. Cindy brought the phone with her so she wouldn’t have to get up from the couch when Ramone called.

An hour later Cindy was getting up from the couch anyway to use the bathroom. When she returned she swallowed her vitamins and finished the bottle of water. She found a movie on tv and settled in.

Cindy stirred, trying to wake herself from a deep sleep. Something felt off. Cindy could barely keep her eyes open. She gave in and fell back asleep.



On Saturday afternoon Cindy awoke with a roaring headache. Her tongue and throat were felt like sandpaper. A bitter taste filled her mouth. She tried reaching for the bottle of water forgetting she had finished it the night before. She looked down only to see that her wrists had been bound together.

Cindy’s eyes flew open. Her vision was blurry and she struggled to sit up, the increasing pain in her head preventing her from doing so. She clentched her stomach. Panic set in. She had to make sure her unborn child was okay.

Cindy continued to struggle to right herself on the couch. If only she could sit up. She tried swinging her legs over the side of the couch, finding that her ankles were also loosely bound. Her vision began to clear. Cindy forced herself to inhale deeply. She needed to keep her breathing steady and remain calm for the sake of her baby.

A video baby monitor had been set up on the coffee table, out of Cindy’s reach. The empty box with the return address Cindy hadn’t recognized sat lopsided on the floor in front of the television set. She heard movement in the kitchen.

Cindy was overwhelmed by the threat of nausea. She turned her head to the side and wretched on the ivory colored carpeting. She squeezed her eyes closed and sucked in air through her nostrils.

Still lying on her back, Cindy suppressed a scream. Her mind raced as she began to shake. Her heart pounded and she was having trouble breathing. This must be a nightmare.

More sounds came from the kitchen. Cindy focused on the noise to calm herself. Pots and pans clanged. A lid vibrated on the floor after being dropped. The refrigerator door was opened, the crisper slid opened and closed, the door slammed shut.

Cindy heard footsteps. They stopped in the doorway to the living room. Cindy swallowed hard, she was afraid to look.

“You made a mess on the clean floor. Figures.” A woman’s voice scoffed.

The footsteps receded only to return a moment later.

Gina, Ramone’s ex-wife, stood over Cindy. She held a bucket of soapy water in one hand, a rag in the other. She knelt on the floor and began scrubbing. When Gina was finished she stood and leered at Cindy.

“I must keep the house clean for when Ramone returns.” Gina leaned forward, the tip of her nose touching Cindy’s.

“The house must be perfect for my husband.” Gina stood straightly, tilted her head back, and laughed. She reached down, picked up the bucket, and threw the dirty water in Cindy’s face.

Gina laughed her way back to the kitchen. Cindy began to gag as shock set in. Her chest heaved with sickness and anxiety.

Gina returned holding a steaming bowl of soup. Cindy’s breath caught in her throat. Gina saw the panic in Cindy’s eyes and smiled.

“Don’t worry Cindy,” Gina sneered. “I’m going to keep you nice and healthy until my baby comes. That’s right perfect Cindy. I said my baby.”

Gina threw a clean rag in Cindy’s face. “Mop yourself up. It’s time for lunch.” Gina’s voice was hard as nails.

After Cindy wiped her face the best she could with her hands being bound, Gina grabbed Cindy by the arms and jerked her into a sitting position. While spoon feeding her chicken noodle soup, Gina filled Cindy in on her plans.

Gina was going to care for Cindy over the next few days, something Cindy better appreciate. If Cindy was lucky the drugs Gina was feeding her would induce her, and if she weren’t so lucky, Gina would cut Cindy open herself and take the baby.

If Cindy were still alive by Monday evening she would be long gone before Ramone returned from his business trip. Gina, his one and only true love, would be there to take Cindy’s place, with their new baby of course.

Regardless if Cindy were still alive, Ramone would think that she had left. She’d write a note saying she never really loved him, and couldn’t stand the thought of having his baby. Cindy would write that she never wanted to see him again, that she’d met someone new, and not to come looking for her.

Cindy didn’t know, but Gina was planning to kill her either way.

The soup bowl was empty. Cindy had to think. Cleary she was dealing with a mad woman. Ramone had told her Gina was mentally unstable. Cindy feared Gina had gone completely insane.

“I’m still hungry,” Cindy whispered. She had to test the waters.

Gina sighed and threw the spoon into the empty bowl. “I guess you can have some toast.”

Cindy was getting sleepy again. She had to think of a plan, appeal to Gina somehow. How was she going to get out of this? Gina must have put something in her soup. It was Saturday; Cindy had only two days left.





It was three o’clock when Cindy was able to open her eyes again. Gina sat in the recliner next to the couch. Her eyes were glued to some soap opera on the tv. She turned when she heard Cindy stir.

“I ate your toast.” Gina’s voice was flat.

Cindy raised a hand to rub her aching neck. She quickly realized her wrists and ankles were still bound. Cindy had fallen asleep in an upright position.

“I need to use the bathroom.” Cindy looked at Gina with pleading eyes.

“You are so needy. No wonder Ramone hates you.” Gina rose and helped Cindy up from the couch. She was annoyed.

“Don’t try anything foolish,” Gina warned.

Gina held onto Cindy’s elbow as she shuffled out of the living room. At this rate Cindy didn’t think she could make it to the bathroom on time.

“This would go a lot faster if you untied my feet,” said Cindy meekly. If she could run, she might have a chance to break away from Gina.

Gina paused to think. She had never been a smart woman. She gave Cindy a shove. “Nice try. Keep moving.”

Cindy made it to the bathroom just in time. Maybe she could talk to Gina, reason with her.

“Um. You know, Ramone isn’t going to like this, when he finds out what you’ve done.” Cindy slid her eyes to Gina’s face.

Gina scoffed. “What have I done? All I did was swoop in and pick up the pieces of his shattered life.” Gina smiled and flushed the toilette.

“After some time I’ll have him convinced that I’m the only one for him, and as we raise our new baby together he’ll forget that you ever existed.” Gina snarled in Cindy’s ear.

“Ramone loves me. He’ll never believe you.” Cindy grew angry.

Gina smacked Cindy with such force that she lost her balance on the toilette. Cindy was partly wedged between the toilette and the tub. She cried out in pain.

“The baby,” she gasped.

Gina stood over Cindy with her hands on her hips. “Say you’re sorry Cindy!” Her eyebrows rose.

“I, I’m sorry,” Cindy stuttered. “Please, help me. The baby, I’m stuck.”

Gina grabbed Cindy’s bound wrists and tugged. Cindy didn’t budge. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Gina tugged again. After two more attempts Cindy was free. She stood in front of the toilette. An old pair of Ramone’s boxer shorts rested around her ankles.

“Look at you. You’re disgusting. No wonder Ramone wants to leave you.”

Cindy desperately tried to pull up the boxer shorts. She was humiliated, her face turning bright red.

“Can I please lie down on my bed?” Cindy sobbed.

“You’ll be staying on the couch. Get used to it.” Gina yanked up Cindy’s boxer shorts and ushered her out of the bathroom.

Cindy swore she could see Gina’s lip curl. She did as she was told and shuffled back into the living room. Gina shoved her onto the couch.

“Time for your snack.”

Cindy looked around the room frantically. She was looking for anything she could use to defend or herself, or free herself for that matter.

Her eyes fell upon the fertility statue Ramone had bought on their honeymoon. Cindy thought it was ugly and hated having it displayed in the living room. She could kiss Ramone now for bringing it home.

The thought of Ramone gave Cindy a boost. She had to fight for her life and that of her unborn babies. There was no way she would ever leave Ramone.

Cindy pushed and squirmed and pushed again. Try as she might, she could not get herself off the couch. She leaned back in defeat. Something was poking her in the back.

Cindy maneuvered her body so her back was leaning against the arm of the couch. Wrapping her arms to around the side of her body, she reached between the couch cushions and pulled out the cordless phone.

“Oh.” Relief flooded Cindy’s body. She pressed the talk button, then the number nine.

Abruptly, the phone was yanked out of Cindy’s grasp and shut off. Gina tapped the video monitor with a large stainless steel knife and smiled.

She rubbed the tip of the knife up and down Cindy’s arm. “I told you not to try anything foolish. Now eat up.”

Gina fed Cindy chunks of watermelon making her slide each chunk off the tip of the knife with her teeth. A few times, for her own amusement, Gina jiggled the knife cutting the inside of Cindy’s mouth.

Gina jammed the last bite of watermelon into Cindy’s mouth slicing the tip of her tongue. Cindy forced herself to swallow. She was terrified of making Gina angry. Blood dribbled down her chin and onto her white t-shirt.

“You made me miss my soap. No more interruptions until dinner.” Gina pointed the knife at Cindy’s chest.

Cindy’s lower lip trembled and sweat dotted her forehead. She nodded in compliance.





Cindy sat in silence for the next three hours. Her mind raced. Ramone should be calling soon. Had he called last night? She couldn’t remember.

Gina sat with her eyes glued to the tv. She was cleaning her fingernails with the tip of the knife.

Cindy watched her out of the corner of her eye. Her mouth screamed with thirst. The thought of asking for a drink made her stomach muscles contract. She knew she couldn’t become dehydrated for the baby’s sake, but didn’t want a repeat episode in the bathroom.

Gina rose from her position in the recliner. “Time for dinner.” She walked over to Cindy and leaned into her face. “I’m not feeding you.” Her nostrils flared. “I’m feeding my baby.” She traced the outline of Cindy’s baby bump with the knife.

Gina turned on her heel. She paused in the doorway leading out of the living room. “I’ll be watching you.” Her short black bob bounced as she left the room.

Gina returned an hour later with a large glass filled with a thick brownish green substance. She shoved the glass in Cindy’s hands, spilling some on her lap. The substance seeped through Cindy’s shorts and burned her thigh.

“Drink up.” Gina sang.

Shaking, Cindy brought the glass to her lips. Her hands stung from the heat of the glass. The substance burned her tongue and throat on the way down.

“Faster.” Gina was getting angry. She tilted the glass up for Cindy, forcing her to chug. The brownish green substance oozed from the corners of Cindy’s mouth and plopped onto her shirt.

Cindy gagged. She steeled herself, forcing the substance to stay down. She would not give in, she would not throw up.

Gina whipped the glass from Cindy’s hands. She took a step back and tisk tisked. She shook her head from side to side as she spoke.

“You are pathetic! Ramone must feel bad for you; he’s always had a big heart. No wonder he gave in and agreed to marry you.” Gina took a step closer.

“Thank me!” She bellowed. “Thank me for the chicken and peas I spent my time cooking you for dinner. I was even nice enough to blend it all together for you.” She sneered.

Cindy trembled. She looked into her lap as she spoke. “Thank you Gina.”

Cindy began to sweat. Her hair matted to her forehead. Her clothes were wet and stained. Instantly, she had to go to the bathroom.

The discomfort on Cindy’s face didn’t go unnoticed by Gina. She smiled her evil smile, barely parting her lips.

“No more trips to the bathroom.” Gina howled with laughter.

Cindy whimpered causing Gina to laugh even harder. Her stomach was beginning to cramp, her bowls gurgling.

“Don’t worry; you won’t be falling asleep anytime soon. I have a great night planned for us girls.” Gina giggled. Her eyebrows danced and she left the room.

The baby moved. He or she was fully awake now. Cindy rubbed her belly. She didn’t know how she was going to keep from going to the bathroom.

Gina was back, carrying a light blue plastic basket. Cindy swallowed hard. She knew what the basket contained. She kept it under the sink in the bathroom.

“Time for makeovers!” Gina beamed at her fabulous idea. Her mood had drastically brightened. This sparked some hope in Cindy. Now was her chance to try and reason with Gina.

Cindy took a deep breath. “That’s a great idea. What did you have in mind?”

Gina’s dark eyes turned black. “Hair.” She placed the light blue basket on the coffee table and pulled out a pair of shears. They squeaked as she opened and closed them.

“We absolutely must do something with this mop.” Gina grabbed a fist full of Cindy’s long blonde hair. “Just a little off the top.”

“Oh, okay. If that’s what you think is best.” Cindy tried to smile through her pain.

Gina paused and stared into Cindy’s eyes. She cocked an eyebrow and began to chop. She grabbed fistful after fistful of hair and chopped until there was barely anything left.

Gina was out of breath, her excitement growing. Cindy stifled a whimper. Her scalp was soar, her head throbbing.

Gina tossed the shears over her shoulder. They landed between the tv and an end table.

Gina clutched Cindy’s chin and whipped her head from side to side admiring her work. Cindy’s head resembled a porcupine, short, uneven tufts of hair poked out every which way.

Gina leaned back on her heels and sighed. “Beautiful.” She arched an eyebrow. It was growing dark outside. The hot summer sun slowly dipped behind the fluffy white clouds. Gina stood and switched on a lamp. “Oh.” Her face took on a look of concern.

Gina stooped over Cindy and vigorously rubbed her arms, then her legs. Gina scoffed. “I don’t know how Ramone can stand such a hairy woman. You’re absolutely repulsive.”

Cindy squeezed her lips together, her eyes darting around the room. She felt dizzy. The baby kicked and her stomach gurgled.

Gina pulled a disposable razor from the blue basket. She slapped it into Cindy’s hand. “Shave.” Her voice was flat.

“What?” Cindy cried. “I, I can’t reach my legs. I’m out of shaving cream.” Cindy’s voice was almost inaudible.

“Awe.” Gina frowned. “Start with your arms.” She licked her lips, her eyes boring into Cindy’s. “Now!” She screamed.

Shaking, Cindy gripped the razor’s handle. She placed the razor halfway up her forearm, barely touching her dry skin, and pulled down. She sucked in a breath.

“Ouch!”

Gina beamed. “Faster! Faster!” She beamed even brighter.

With bound wrists, Cindy continued to shave as much of her forearms as she could. She bit back tears. The baby kicked. Her arms were turning red.

“Oh, give me that.” Gina grabbed the razor and propped Cindy’s feet on the coffee table.

Gina pressed the razor hard into Cindy’s skin and began shaving Cindy’s legs, the razor blade ripping into Cindy’s skin. Gina feverishly pulled the razor in every direction, catching Cindy’s skin between the blades. Cindy looked down and was horrified to see blood oozing from the cuts on her legs. Gina dropped the razor onto the coffee table.

Gina reached into the blue basket as Cindy silently cried in pain. She reached for a pair of nail clippers. Gina opened them, held them up to her eye, and clicked them together. She smiled devilishly at Cindy.

Cindy’s breath came in short gasps. Red bumps dotted her arms and legs. Her skinned burned. She curled her toes underneath her feet and tucked her hands between her thighs.

“Let me see you hands.”

Cindy shook her head no. Tears stung the inside of her eyelids as she waited for Gina’s next move.

“Fine.” Gina replied calmly, too calmly. She grabbed Cindy’s feet, clutching them to her thighs.

Gina clipped, beginning with the big toe. She was gentle at first, taking a little off the top.

Cindy’s stomach gurgled loudly. She began sweating profusely, making her skin sting even more.

Gina squeezed Cindy’s toe and clipped further down the nail. Cindy winced as her skin pinched and pulled, and was then ripped off with a piece of her nail. A quarter of her toenail was gone.

“Ow!” Screamed Cindy. “Stop! Please stop.”

“Stop squirming!” Gina demanded. She gripped Cindy’s remaining toenail with the clippers and pulled. Cindy shrieked as her toenail ripped away from her skin. Her bowls let go.

Gina flung her head back and roared with laughter.

Cindy lost it. Her heart raced as she lifted her bound ankles and slammed her heels into Gina’s throat.

Gina fell hard into the coffee table. The clippers landed across the room. Her laughter turned into a gurgle as it caught in her throat. She curled into a ball on the floor, her eyes squeezed shut, desperately gasping for breath. Her hands rose to her throat, her chest burned.

Frantically Cindy reached for the razor lying on the coffee table. Now was her chance, maybe her only chance. She furiously cut at the twine binding her wrists.  She slipped, slicing her fingers. She held her breath.

“Come on!” She said through clenched teeth. The razor slipped slicing her wrist.

Gina continued to squirm on the floor. Through her pain, she peeked at Cindy through the corner of her eye. Anger boiled inside of her.

Gina used her elbows, forcing herself into a sitting position. Her nostrils flared, her eyes burned with rage.

Cindy, who was busy trying to free herself, failed to notice Gina rising from her feet. She was almost there. Only a few strands held the twine together. Her heart pounded.

Cindy looked up in time to see the fertility statue being hurled in her direction. She ducked as best she could, but not soon enough. The statue slammed into the side of her head.

Cindy dropped the razor. She blinked several times as a new pain set in. The side of her head numbed. Instantly, a lump formed.

Gina screamed with rage and charged at Cindy. “That’s it!” She yelled maliciously.

Cindy’s head snapped back as Gina’s body landed on hers. Gina’s fist rose into the air. “You disgusting pig!” The phone rang.

“Ramone.” Whispered Cindy between sobs. Her heart filled with sorrow. She had to speak to him.

Gina snarled. She hated interruptions. She grabbed the phone off the recliner and checked the caller id. It was Ramone. She hesitated.

Cindy swallowed her fear. “If I don’t answer he’ll be worried.” Cindy’s eyes were pleading.

Gina paused. She handed Cindy the phone. “No funny business.” She whipped the kitchen knife out from her back pocket and pressed it against Cindy’s throat.

Cindy shook. She pressed the talk button and placed the phone to her ear. Gingerly, she took a breath, trying to steady her voice.

“Hello.” Cindy listened.

“Oh. Okay.” She exhaled.

“No, I wasn’t sleeping.” She nodded fighting back tears.

“That’s great honey. I love you too.” Cindy swallowed hard.

“Nothing. I miss you, that’s all.” Cindy glanced at Gina who was furious that Ramone was speaking to Cindy and not her.

“I understand. Bye.” Cindy continued to shake. She pressed the off button.

Gina grabbed the phone and ripped it’s battery out. “That was short,” her voice filled with jealousy. “What did he say?” She demanded.

“He was on his way to a meeting and only had a minute to speak.” Cindy desperately tried not to cry.

“Awe. He doesn’t have time for you.” Gina smiled smugly. “That’ll change once he’s with me and our new baby.” Her mood lightened.

She reached into her pocket for a fresh piece of twine and used it to re-secure Cindy’s wrists. Next she picked up the razor, blue basket, and pieces of the phone and left the room.

Gina returned with a glass of milk. She tilted the glass to Cindy’s lips. Compliant, Cindy drank it down. She fell asleep a few minutes later.





Cindy awoke groggily on Sunday morning. The stench of her own feeces filled her nostrils. Try as she might, Cindy couldn’t keep anything down. She threw up, urinating in the process.

Her eyes were watery, her body swollen and in pain. Her throat was raw, lips chapped and crusted with blood. Cindy struggled to keep her body in a sitting position. She couldn’t focus. For a fleeting moment she had forgotten about her situation and Gina.

Cindy heard drawers being opened and slammed shut from somewhere in the house. Her own stench made her gag, bringing her back to reality.

Gina danced into the room, paper and pen in hand. Cindy’s appearance made her laugh out loud. She was giddy with excitement. The overpowering smell of deification and throw up escaped her.

Gina set the paper and pen on the recliner. She hummed as she continued to dance around the room. She cleared the coffee table of everything except the baby monitor, the memory of last night “makeover” still fresh in her mind.

Cindy’s eyes followed Gina around the room. She didn’t make a sound. Her body felt heavy, her heart filled with sadness. For a moment Cindy forgot to breath. The baby kicked, bringing Cindy out of her trance, reminding her not to give up.

Gina left the room only to return a few minutes later carrying a tray. The tray has been a wedding gift from Ramone’s side of the family. He had served her breakfast on that tray the morning they found out they were pregnant. Cindy was too tired to cry.

Mechanically, she ate the dry toast Gina had forced upon her, and drank the small glass of orange juice being held to her lips. Gina was speaking, Cindy wasn’t listening. She stared straight ahead.

Gina beamed. She watched as the light slowly faded from Cindy’s eyes. Excitement surged throughout her body. Gina forced herself to remain in control; there would be time for celebration later. For now, there was still work to be done.





After cleaning the breakfast tray, Gina poured herself a steaming mug of coffee, adding a splash of Kalhua for a kick. She leaned against the kitchen counter slowly slipping. She twirled the mug between her hands.

“To my wife with love. May we share each and every morning together for many years to come. Ramone.”

The mug smashed into tiny shards on the tiled kitchen floor. Gina shivered. She was furious. Cindy would pay for stealing Ramone from her. In a fit of jealousy, Gina ran from the room.





A flash of white caught Cindy’s eye. Her eyes focused on Gina looming over her. She was cloaked in Cindy’s wedding dress.

Cindy’s jaw dropped. Slowly, her eyes moved from Gina’s feet to her face, drinking in the beading and embroidery.

With her hands on her hips, Gina bored her eyes into Cindy’s. She swallowed hard, her anger making her tongue tied. Gina grabbed the pen and paper from the recliner and slammed it onto the clean coffee table.

“Time to write,” snarled Gina through clenched teeth.

Cindy looked from the paper and pen to Gina, then back again. She rubbed her cracked lips together, confused.

Gina brought the coffee table forward, slamming into Cindy’s knees. Cindy’s body jerked in response. She no longer felt the pain. The baby moved.

Before she knew it Cindy was grasping the pen and writing. Gina stood over her menacingly, telling her what to write. When Cindy was finished, Gina read the note aloud, very pleased with herself.

“Ramone, I am writing to tell you that I have left and you will never see me again. I realized that I made a huge mistake in marrying you. I don’t love you and never have. I was only using you. My skin crawls just thinking about having your child. I have called someone I know will take better care of you and the baby then I ever could. Someone who should have been here, with you, all along. I never should have tried to take her place. Please do not try to find me. I never want to see you again. Cindy.”

Gina laughed and laughed. Neatly, she folded the paper in half and once again left the room. She taped the note to the front door where Ramone would see it upon his arrival. She returned to the living room holding the tray.

Cindy’s head had dropped, her chin resting on her chest. Gina set the tray down out of Cindy’s reach and picked up the gleaming shears from the living room floor. She walked over to Cindy and used the tip of the shears to lift her chin.

Cindy watched in dismay as Gina poured glass after glass of red wine, cranberry juice, melted chocolate and mushy blueberries down the front of her wedding dress.

Gina tipped her head back and reeled in laughter, using her hands to rub everything in. She stripped out of Cindy’s dress, tossing it to the floor.

In her panties and bra, Gina knelt over the dress with the shears in her hand. She crazily slashed, ripped, and stabbed until Cindy’s once pristine wedding dress lay in crumpled shreds on the floor.

A lonely tear escaped the corner of Cindy’s eye. Her chest heaved. She refused to show Gina any emotion. Cindy sat stone faced, her body rigid.

Two hours after being spoon fed oatmeal for lunch, Cindy awoke. She was lying on her back on the bed she shared with Ramone. Her wrists were tied to the headboard, her legs and ankles strapped to the bed. She vaguely remember being led down the hallway and into the bedroom.

Cindy had been stripped of her clothes and covered with a sheet. Her neck was stiff, her shoulders aching. Cindy struggled to move. It was hopeless. Every time she moved the straps cut into her bruised skin.

Cindy was staring at her swollen belly protruding from underneath the sheet when Gina strode into the room pushing an unfamiliar metal cart.

The cart squeaked to a stop by the side of the bed. Cindy broke out into a cold sweat. Her heart pounded, echoing in her ears. Her mouth went dry and she could no longer swallow.

Gina smiled showing off her two crooked front teeth. She was dressed in a pair of Cindy’s designer jeans and a plain grey tank top. Gina twirled and ran her hands down the front of the jeans.

“These look so much better on me, don’t you think?” Gina continued to smile.

Cindy no longer cared about her wedding dress or her clothes. The only things she cared about were the baby, Ramone, and her life.

“Oh. I just thought of something else. I’ll inherit a whole new wardrobe when you’re gone. I’m sure Ramone was thinking of me and how good I’d look every time he bought you something to wear.” Gina shimmied her hips and performed another twirl.

Cindy nodded in agreement. Maybe if she agreed with Gina, she’d let her live. Cindy mustered the strength to clear her throat. Exhaustion was setting in.

“They look great on you.” Cindy forced a smile.

Gina abruptly stopped twirling. She hadn’t expected Cindy to agree with her. She found herself liking it, liking the power she had over Cindy.

Gina folded down the sheet covering Cindy’s body, stopping below her belly. With a sadistic look on her face, she gently rubbed Cindy’s baby bump. In a few minutes she’d have a brand new baby to share with Ramone. She only had a day and a half to get rid of Cindy and put things back in order.

She grabbed a black permanent marker from the cart and carefully began drawing lines around Cindy’s belly. Gina capped the marker and took a step back.

Cindy was frozen with fear. She bit back the increasingly strong urge to vomit. A large syringe filled with a clear liquid grabbed her attention. She knew once the syringe was emptied into her body it would be too late. Her life would be over. What would happen to her baby?

“You know, I have a really pretty necklace with a flower pendant made out of blue glass. I think it would bring out the color of your eyes.” Cindy yawned.

Gina paused to think. “I’ve seen it.” She showed off her crooked teeth.

“You should try it on.”

Gina drummed her fingers against her chest thinking about the necklace. Cindy shifted on the bed. Gina’s face hardened. “Nice try.”

She strode over to Cindy and yanked off her diamond studded wedding band and engagement ring. She held the rings up for her inspection.

“Hmm. I’m sure mine will be much bigger.” Gina pocketed the rings.

“Time to get back to work,” Gina sang. She stood over the cart rearranging her tools. “Too bad my baby can’t be delivered naturally. I guess it’s just another one of your failures.”

Cindy heard a noise over the roar of Gina’s laughter. Her heart raced. Was she hearing things?

Gina ripped open trash bags, tucking them under Cindy and around the bed. She folded a plush yellow blanket and smoothed it into the white basinet she had placed at the foot of the bed on the floor.

Next she unrolled a yoga mat and placed it on the floor. She covered it with bath towels, humming the entire time. Warm water sloshed out of the bowl Gina placed near the yoga mat. She tossed a bunch of face clothes near the bowl of water. Gina gazed around the room.

Cindy began to shiver. She burrowed her eyes into Gina’s. “Please, don’t do this. This isn’t the way to get what you want.” Cindy swallowed hard. “Ramone will never forgive you.”

Gina began grinding her teeth. She reached for a roll of paper towels and what looked like a butcher knife.

“Ramone will never know.” Her voice was flat.

“He’ll never believe I left and gave you our baby.” Cindy’s lower lip quivered.

Gina didn’t hear the footsteps coming down the hallway. “He’ll be upset at first, but I’ll be here to pick up the pieces. I’ll be where I should have been all along, by Ramone’s side. I’ll be his wife and I’ll be mother to his children.”

Gina sighed with contemptment. “First, I have to decide whether to cut your throat or introduce my baby to her new mother.”

Cindy frantically thrashed on the bed. She had to get out of the bindings now! She thrashed and thrashed until she was out of breath.

Gina pressed the tip of the butcher knife to Cindy’s throat. “What to do? What to do?” Her eyes grew wide.

Cindy stuttered. “If, if, if you k-k-kill me first the baby could die.” Her face streaked with tears.

Gina snapped her hand back and arched an eyebrow. “True. I guess you aren’t as dumb as you look.” Gina spit in Cindy’s face and turned to the cart. She snapped on a pair of yellow rubber kitchen gloves.

“Please! I’ll give you whatever you want, do whatever you want. Just stop now before it’s too late,” begged Cindy.

Gina turned with a vengeance. “Shut up!” She screamed or I’ll kill both of you right now.”

Cindy sobbed. She felt the skin on her stomach cooling as Gina poured a bottled of rubbing alcohol onto her skin. The tip of the knife pressed into her flesh.

“Stop!” Growled a husky voice from the doorway. Ramone flew into the room. In one swoop he had Gina pinned to the wall, sending the knife flying.

Cindy continued to sob on the bed. The terror melted away from her body. Relief took over. She had never been so happy to see Ramone in her life. When he called the night before he wasn’t on his way to a meeting, he was about to board a flight. He called to tell her he’d be home a day early.

Ramone struggled with Gina against the wall. He was twice the size of her. Fueled by hatred, he ignored her kicking and biting to overpower her. Sirens careened down the street.

Ramone flung Gina to the floor. The cart crashed on top of her.

“Ramone. Honey. You’re home. I did all of this for you, for us, so we can finally be together,” blurted Gina in one breath.

“You bitch!” Ramone desperately tried to control his rage. “Cindy is my wife. She’s the only woman I love and will ever be with.” He stood over Gina as uniformed officers burst into the house.

Gina curled into a ball and began rocking back and forth. “I love you. I love you.” She repeated. “We’re supposed to be together,” she cried.

“You’re crazy,” said Ramone as the officers entered the bedroom. He ran to the bed and covered Cindy with the sheet.

“Help me untie her. She’s pregnant.” He was frantic. “She tried to kill my wife.” He pointed a finger at Gina.

“I did it all for you,” said Gina in a weak voice as she was cuffed. “I did it all for you,” she repeated.



Cindy gave birth to a healthy baby boy three weeks early with Ramone by her side. After being untied and looked over by paramedics, Cindy’s water had broken. She gave officers her statement between contractions at the hospital, her engagement ring and wedding band back in place.

Ramone had called the police immediately after seeing the state of the living room and reading the note that was taped to the front door. He knew something was terribly wrong. The sound of Cindy’s voice during their short phone conversation the night before had resonated in his head.

Gina was Ramone’s first wife, Cindy his second. He knew on the night of his honeymoon with Gina that he had made a terrible mistake; one that he would regret for the rest of his life. Three months later their marriage had ended in an annulment.

Gina had always been a little off. Once she and Ramone were married, and Gina was comfortable in their relationship, her true colors were exposed.

Gina would fly into a rage every time another woman so much as looked at Ramone. She’d go on tangents about how she was the only one for him and the only one who could ever love him. She had even gone so far as to threaten to kill him if she ever caught him with another woman.

After weeks of Gina showing up at his place of work and threatening his female coworkers, Ramone had had enough. He filed for divorce and never looked back. Gina was devastated and vowed her revenge.

Two years later Ramone met Cindy. He hadn’t seen or heard from Gina in over a year. Thanks to a lengthy prison sentence he wouldn’t be seeing or hearing from Gina again until his son was out of college and starting a family of his own.