The Bed You've Made: Part Two

Sheri had been surprised by how easy it had been to actually carry out everything she had been planning for months now. The hardest part had been constructing the bomb left on Geo’s doorstep, and making sure the paper covered box the bomb was placed in was cut and taped just right so the surprise inside couldn’t be spoiled.

With her education in chemistry and mathematics, as well as the seasonal job she took every Christmas season for the last three years as a professional gift wrapper, Sheri knew everything she needed to know to make it all right. It was at worst time consuming; especially given she was an absolute perfectionist. But, everything Sheri had set out to do were completed up to this point, and it had all been much easier than she thought, at least when it came to the placement of the deadly item.

Everything she was about to do from this point forward would be much more difficult. Sheri knew it and was prepared for it.

Kaden sat in his car seat as Sheri drove. Sheri had thought of all of the possible difficulties of having Kaden in her full time care again, so she had been sure to have an IPad and coloring books to keep his mind occupied and keep him out of her way.

Her window of opportunity would be closing soon, Geo having no doubt already called the authorities on her, after realizing Kaden was gone, and that he had discovered the package she had left for Geo. However, Sheri didn’t worry. With her hair colored red from her natural toe head blond hair and her plan of shaving off Kaden’s hair completely the second she had the chance, she knew the authorities wouldn’t find her easily. For now, but she disappeared for good, she had to deal with Geo’s friends, and Geo’s mother. The first on her list would be Geo’s mother.

Sheri parked in the curbside pick-up parking space for the local flower shop, the only one locally to offer curbside pick-up, and the only shop to carry marigolds in large quantities.

A young woman with dark hair walked out with two bouquets of the bright marigolds and the receipt of purchase, all paid in advance with cash.

“For Carter?” The woman asked as she approached the car.

Sheri smiled, knowing with this fake it would only be that much harder for Geo to track her down. “That’s perfect.” Sheri said, reaching over to open the passenger side door.

The woman place the bouquets in the passenger seat, then smiled as she noticed Kaden.

“Well isn’t he just adorable.” She said.

Kaden looked up from his IPad. “We’re on a mother and son adventure. No Dad’s allowed.” Kaden said, and then looked back down at the IPad.

Sheri felt her heart sink for a moment; sure she would be caught if what she had done so far had already hit the local news.

But the young woman only smiled. “Well that sounds fun.” She looked to Sheri. “You guys have a good day and enjoy the flowers.” The woman walked away, and Sheri felt herself slowly letting out a sigh of relief. She put the car in drive and drove away from the shop as fast as she could without attracting too much attention to herself.

The paper wrapped package Sheri placed carefully with the bouquets of marigolds was smaller than the package she had left for Geo. Their small size meant nothing when it came to the package’s capability to create a powerful blast. Sheri made sure of this.

Geo’s mother Diana rarely left her house, due to having always worked from home, as well as having an irrational fear of the outside world. Sheri smiled, thinking if on the chance Diana survived the blast, Sheri will have cured Diana’s fear; instead switch it to a fear of being at home. Though thought was humorous, but an unlikely possibility. This blast would kill Diana, and her death would destroy Geo. And that’s just how Sheri wanted it, to destroy Geo just as he had destroyed her.

Karen looked up from the IPad and noticed Sheri had parked the car across the street from Diana’s house.

“Are we going to Grandma’s house?” Kaden asked, excited and ready to jump out of his car seat.

Sheri had expected this though. Despite what Geo had tried to tell the judge and the whore that was his attorney, Sheri knew her son and knew he would ask about Grandma’s house. The poor little shit, Sheri thought.

“Not today.” Sheri said, like nothing was wrong or out of the ordinary. “We have an adventure to take, remember? Plus, I don’t think Grandma is home.”

Kaden looked sad about this, but accepted it and turned back to the IPad.

Good boy, Sheri thought.

She would tell Kaden the truth later, Sheri decided. How evil Grandma had been for help Geo keep away from her. How evil people get what they deserve when they do evil things like that. Kaden might not understand now. Sheri didn’t kid herself. As time went on, Sheri would make sure her son understood, and make sure he took her side.

If Kaden never took her side and turned out to be just like his father…well that was just a bridge she would have to cross when she got to it, wasn’t it?

Sheri stepped out of the car. Seeing no one around, she walked quickly across the street, once Sheri placed the bouquet of marigolds with its tiny little package hidden within the bright blooms of the flowers. She rang the doorbell then ran back to the car, knowing Diana always took her time to answer the door for the fear of who it could be.

At a stop light not far down from the house, Sheri knew it would be any moment that Diana would get the awakening she deserved, ever since the moment she had said the words that would burn deep into Sheri’s heart.

“In a world where so many women want so much to be mothers and don’t get the chance. It’s give to women like you, even though you’re clearly one of the last women on earth who deserves motherhood.” Diana had said to Sheri’s face when Sheri had come to try and pick up Kaden. It hadn’t been “her day”, but Sheri was Kaden’s mother, it shouldn’t have ever mattered what day or who’s day it was.

In the end, the police were called, Sheri was asked to leave without Kaden, and with those horrible spoken words Diana had signed her own death warrant without even knowing it.

The light turned green in front of her, Sheri heard the explosive thud in the distance behind her. Kaden looked around to see what it was, asking his Mommy if she had seen it. Sheri didn’t turn around or say a word. Her eyes forward, Sheri drove on, a satisfied smile on her face, knowing she was now a step closer to destroying the man who had promised to love her, only to end up breaking her heart. No, he wasn’t allowed to do that. With the green lights ahead of her, Sheri drove on.

End of Part Two