It was good to keep him close. That way, I won’t have to waste time finding him when it's finally time to settle the score.
***
Back at the house that once belonged to only Stephanie and I, everything had changed.
The decoration was now in the Southern style I hated. From the clothes in the closet to the ornaments on the table, there was no trace of me left. And by the window stood a wooden baby crib.
At one glance, I could tell Stephanie made it herself. Everything was arranged perfectly. It was clear, she had never really planned to send Timothy away.
Seeing me narrow my eyes slightly, Timothy suddenly shivered.
“Johnny, please don’t be angry. Steph just didn’t want me to stay alone, so she brought me here. I didn’t know this was your room. I’ll move to the guest room right away. Please, don’t hit me…” he said, trembling.
Timothy looked terrified and tried to stand, but his bad leg made him fall to the floor.
Stephanie quickly lifted him up and comforted him gently, “Tim, you don't need to feel that way. I chose this room for you on purpose. John wasn’t here anyway, so why leave it empty?”
Then she turned to me and explained, “John, you see how Tim’s leg is injured and he can’t actually move like he wishes to. Besides, he’s in poor health and this room gets lots of sunlight. It’s good for him. Why not let him stay here for a few months?”
In the past, even when Stephanie fooled around with other men, she never let them show up in front of me. No one had ever stolen things that’s used to be mine.
She said the other men were just playing around. She liked to watch me get jealous and personally deal with those little seducers myself.
Timothy was the real exception to her and it happened more than once. Out of the eight young men back then, only he was treated with genuine kindness.
I said nothing to Stephanie and left for the guest room.
***
That night I woke from a bad dream and felt suddenly thirsty. I went to the kitchen to get water and happened to see Stephanie on the balcony, talking on the phone.
Her voice had a sharp laugh in it. “Had no choice. The boy was kicked down the stairs and cried badly. I was tired and simply need to vent. After thinking it over, prison was perfect for John—he needed to soften his strong temper after all.”