Janelle knew she couldn't simply return home and resume life as normal. She hadn't been there when Boris would have no doubt stopped by numerous times, nor had she reported a few days ago as she was supposed to. She would do her best with damage control as quickly as possible.
Janelle let herself into the house as soon as she awoke, aware that the neighbor watering his yard across the street had spotted her hopping off the roof and onto the block wall before jumping to the ground and casually walking off.
Steven was sitting in his usual plush chair watching TV while he ate his breakfast, eyeing his wife but never saying a word.
“Well, hello to you too,” Janelle said. “How are we doing this morning?”
The usual shrug.
“Well, if you care to know what's going on with me, do feel free to ask. Meanwhile, when the office opens, I'm going to call Boris and tell him I simply forgot to report.”
“He's been here looking for you every day,” Steven finally said.
“And what did you tell him?”
“Just that I didn't know where you were.”
“That's all? You didn't mention anything else?”
Again with the shrug.
“Well, I really hope you remember everything you said soon because I want to keep our stories straight. I'll just tell him we weren't getting along and I just took off to clear my head and forgot to report. Okay?”
“Do what you want.”
With that, Janelle ate a shitload of food and drank nearly half a gallon of water, the annoying gulping sounds audible in the living room where her husband sat feeling worried and trapped.
Then Janelle took what felt like the greatest shower she’d ever taken. By the time she was dressed and in a pair of sweats, the probation office was open and she was immediately put through to Boris. She was kind of surprised, expecting to have to leave a message with the receptionist or whoever the hell it was that answered the phones during business hours.
“Yeah?” Boris said as soon as he was connected.
“Boris, it's Janelle Stone.”
“Where are you?”
“Home. My husband and I haven't been getting along and I stayed with a friend here in town just to clear my head.”
“Yeah, well, you missed reporting the other day.”
“Yeah, I know, that's why I'm calling. I totally forgot. I've been so stressed out that it totally slipped my mind. I'm sorry about that. I'll be home all day if you want to stop by.”
“Well, I don't know if I can make it today, but just so you know, the judge may give you additional probation for skipping.”
“But I didn't skip. I forgot. If I skipped, I wouldn't be calling.”
“Well, it isn't up to me,” Boris said impatiently.
“Okay, then,” Janelle said eager to end the phone call. “I'll come by next Tuesday as scheduled and see you here whenever.”
“Okay,” Boris said, disconnecting the call.
Janelle hung up and faced her husband.
Finally, he spoke again. “We really need to talk about this.”
Janelle sat down on the couch, annoyed when her husband remained silent and having to prompt him into talking. “Well? I’m waiting.”
“This can't go on.”
“Well, as you love to tell me…leave. If you don't like it, leave.”
“If I left, do you really think you could support this place and pay for everything on your own?” Steven asked, counting on his wife's naivete to the fact that he would be required to make some form of alimony payment that would help.
“Well, where would I go then? To Byron’s place?”
“We’d have to work that out.”
Yet when Janelle called, it turned out that Byron had his sister visiting from California and didn’t have room for her at the moment. Therefore, Janelle headed to Henrietta Beck’s apartment.
“Henri,” as was her nickname, was a mutual friend of hers and Byron’s. Henri had done some brief time on a possession charge, so Janelle knew that associating with her was against the rules of her probation, not that she cared.
ns216.73.216.176da2
