The bright California sun filled the bedroom making Gerard rub his eyes as he tried to shake off sleep. He first glanced over to see he was in bed alone, then at the clock. “Shit” he muttered not only because he hadn’t meant to sleep so late but because as usual he could tell his wife hadn’t slept next to him. “And so another fuckin’ day begins” He sighed softly not realizing this day would signal the beginning of the end of his marriage.

When he finally stumbled into the kitchen after dressing the first thing he did was make a bee line for the coffee maker. He grimaced as he took his first sip of the now strong brew. Obviously it had been made hours ago when Lindsey had awaked.

“Finally decided to crawl out of bed?”

He turned trying to contain his anger. Last night they’d fought and the words they’d exchanged still hung in the air. “What time did you get up?”

She crossed her arms in an angry gesture. “Hours ago. I have a lot of shit to do today.”

He took another sip of coffee, “Like what? I thought we were going to hang today.”

Lindsey’s eyes narrowed, “Really? After last night I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

He pulled out a chair then took a seat at the table. Placing his mug down he tried to recall last night’s argument. Sadly he realized in his mind nothing about it stuck out, they argued all the time. So why was she making such a big deal out of it? Then as he watched her walk over to the sink to deposit her mug it hit him, he remembered the argument more clearly.

“Uh, look I don’t want you to be mad but we don’t need to move.”

Lindsey turned to face him. “Why are you so against getting another place?”

He took a sip of coffee while giving himself time to think. He knew there were several reasons he didn’t want to move but he was trying to decide which one to voice.

“Well?” She was glaring at him waiting for an answer.

“There ain’t nothing wrong with this house.” He finally said softly.

Lindsey sighed, “Yeah, if you like living in a fuckin’ haunted house it’s great.”

He tried to contain his anger. He’d been home for less than a week and she’d been harping on this since he’d arrived. “The house ain’t haunted. We’ve lived here for years and there’s never been anything weird take place.”

“How would you know? You’re never home.”

Her words hung in the air reminding both of them their problems ran deep.

“I’m not home because I’m off making money to pay for this house.” He said trying not to grit his teeth.

“Yeah, well I bring in money too.” She reminded him not bothering to try to hide her anger. “And I stay here with our daughter.”

He sighed, “I know. But look, I’m home now and I promised I’d take some time off. I won’t do anything, go anywhere.”

“Too little, too late.” She whispered.

His hand clutched his coffee cup nervously. “No, it’s not. Well work through this.”

She lowered her gaze to stare at the stone tile, “Maybe we need a fresh start.”

“Yeah, that’s right. A fresh start.” He nodded.

“In a new place.” She said still looking down.

Again anger tore through him. While he didn’t want to admit it, even to himself, he loved this house and what it once represented. This was their first home together. They’d signed the papers making it their own on Valentines Day. “Linds, I like this house.” He said slowly.

“And I hate it.” Her head snapped up her eyes flashing. “You don’t get it. This place is fuckin’ haunted.”

He’d listened to all the stories she’d told him and while he honestly didn’t believe her he still had to point out. “Look just because things get moved around…”

“Yeah,” She cut him off, “They do get moved around or they disappear all together. I’m not the only one that’s see this shit happen. Karli has seen shit too.”

Immediately hearing Bandit’s nanny’s name caused his heart to race and his hands to shake.

Lindsey was watching him closely. Suddenly a thought she’d tried to keep buried in her brain pushed its way to the surface. “When I was on tour didn’t Karli mention any of this to you?”

Gerard looked down at his coffee cup unable to meet her gaze. “Uh, no.”

That thought kept pushing its way further and further to the surface like a burrowing worm. “Before you left on tour, while I was gone, you must have spent a lot of time with Karli.”

He kept his eyes trained on his coffee mug. “Well of course. She lives here.”

Lindsey was watching him closely and knew something wasn’t right. The more she continued to think the more things suddenly became clearer. She’d been on tour coming home only a few days before Gerard left on his tour. During the time she was gone he’d been here in LA, at home. At home with Bandit and Karli.

Suddenly the young blond woman they’d been discussing walked into the kitchen. She was smiling but when she saw Gerard her smile faded. “Uh, B wants a juice box.” She said looking over at Lindsey as she made her way to the refrigerator.

At that moment suddenly the thoughts she’d been resisting leapt to the front of Lindsey’s mind. Her eyes grew wide as she watched her husband continue to stare at his coffee mug, as she watched Karli nervously open the juice box, her eyes never glancing Gerard’s way.

“Why don’t you take Bandit to the park.” Lindsey said just as Karli was about to escape from the kitchen.

“Now?” Lindsey had told her earlier she’d be taking Bandit to her art studio in a few minutes.

“Yes, now.” Lindsey said slowly.

“Uh, okay.” Karli took off quickly feeling the tension in the air.

Lindsey leaned back against the counter waiting until she heard the front door close signaling Karli and Bandit had left the house. Then she spoke in an even deadpan tone. “So is there something you want to tell me?”

Gerard looked up. “What?”

“I said is there something you want to tell me, something about Karli?”

He reached nervously for his cigarettes. His fingers shook as he lit the tip then took a deep drag. “What about her?”

Lindsey’s temper was rising. “I just thought maybe you’d want to tell me what happened when I was gone. Shit, thinking back I should have noticed when I first got back.”

He reached across the table for the ashtray to give himself some time before answering. “Noticed what?”

Lindsey pushed off the counter then walked several steps towards him. “Noticed how she won’t look at you.”

Gerard’s heart began to race, he tried to laugh but failed miserably, the sound coming out like a wheeze. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She grabbed the back of the chair in front of her. “You fucked her.” The words came out like a growl.

Like a shot he was on his feet. “That’s a lie.”

Lindsey was shaking her head, her eyes flashing. “Oh shit, Gerard. How could you?”

“Linds…” he held up his hands but she was beyond calming.

“I can’t fuckin’ believe this. I go on tour leaving you here with Bandit and the nanny…” Her voice rose, “And you fuck the babysitter?”

Again he tried to make her listen, “Linds, I didn’t. I wouldn’t.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t realize it sooner.” She ground out. “Holy fuck, I knew something was going on, I knew she was acting strange.”

His eyes grew wide as another fear forced its way into his brain, “I don’t know what you’re talking about but if she said anything happened she’s lying.”

That was the wrong thing to say.

Lindsey voice was shrill, “She ain’t said shit. No wait, that ain’t right. I remember when I first got back I asked if anything interesting had happened when I was gone. She gave me such a weird look. At the time I didn’t give it much thought.”

“Well you shouldn’t have because nothing happened.” He said trying to reassure her while fighting with his own guilt. He was shocked when Lindsey grabbed her phone off the table. “Who are you calling?” He couldn’t believe that she’d suddenly call someone now.

“I’m calling Karli and telling her to come home.” Lindsey said without glancing up. “I’ll ask her what happened.”

Gerard’s whole body began to shake. “Don’t.” He whispered, “Just don’t.”

Lindsey looked up. “Why?”

He knew at that moment that if he didn’t tell her Karli would. The young girl was angry and would definitely tell Lindsey what had happened between them. “Sit down.” He said softly. “I’ll tell you.”

Lindsey grabbed the chair roughly pulling it out but making no move to sit. Her face was flushed with anger. “Well?”

“Sit.” He said again. “Please.”

She stared at him a moment then lowered herself into the chair.

Gerard glanced at the cigarette in the ashtray and saw it had gone out. He pulled out another one, lit it then forced himself to speak. “The night before you got home I went out with some friends. I got home late.”

“Suppose you were drunk.”

He drummed his fingertips on the table top. “I’d been drinking.”

“And?”

He glanced at his wife realizing it was almost like a stranger sat across from him. “When I got home I decided to watch a movie. I poured myself another drink…” His voice trailed off as the memory came into focus. “I fell asleep in the chair.” He took a deep drag then continued his voice almost a whisper. “Next thing I knew I felt someone unzipping my jeans.” He saw Lindsey staring but her face showed no emotion. “Fuck, I thought I was dreaming at first.”

Still Lindsey remained silent.

“Then my brain started to clear.” He went on. “And I remembered you were gone.”

“Yeah, I was gone.” Lindsey said her voice without emotion.

He tried to make her understand. “Shit, I was drunk. She came on to me. Don’t you get that? I didn’t do anything wrong. I pushed her away.”

“But not before she sucked you off, right?” Lindsey spat. “That’s right, ain’t it? She sucked your dick then you pushed her away.”

Quilt tore through his body because his wife spoke the truth. He looked down. “I was drunk.” He muttered.

Minutes ticked by as the room became a silent as a tomb. Finally Gerard spoke shattering the silence. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

Lindsey stood. “Yeah, that’s always your excuse, you were drunk so it’s not your fault.”

“She came on to me. She knew I was drunk.” He too stood as they squared off across the table.

Any remaining love she’d felt for her husband died at that moment. “I suppose that makes it okay, right?”

He started to speak but the sound of the front door opening caught his attention.

Karli appeared in the doorway holding Bandit’s hand. “Uh, she wants to take her bubbles to the park.”

Gerard prayed Lindsey wouldn’t make a scene in front of Bandit. He was shocked when Lindsey suddenly smiled.

“Good idea.”

Karli nervously nodded, “We’ll just grab them.”

Gerard sank back into his seat.

Once Karli and Bandit had again left the house Lindsey turned to him. “Suppose you thought I’d say something?”

He glanced down at the table.

Lindsey walked back over to the counter. “Why would I say anything to Karli? Bandit loves her and let’s face it she’s a great nanny.”

Gerard’s look was one of pure shock. A look that made Lindsey’s laugh.

“She’s a young girl who’s infatuated with you.”

He couldn’t begin to wrap his head around his wife’s sudden attitude change. “What?”

“She’s 22 years old and I’m sure in her mind you’re a handsome older man.” She forced herself to go on. “So what if she sucked you off? I don’t give a shit. She was just keeping things running smoothly around here while I was gone.”

He jumped to his feet. “I can’t believe you’re saying this.”

His response was what she wanted. She saw the hurt in his eyes and it felt good. “Hell as a matter of fact this could work out great. I don’t want to lose Karli so you two should definitely keep fucking around together. That way she’ll be happy and so will you.”

“No.” He shouted. “You don’t understand. I don’t want that.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Got to make everyone happy, Gerard.” Her voice dripped venom. “Now to make me happy we’re gonna move out of this fuckin’ house. I want something bigger in a better area.”

His world was crashing down around him. “That’s all you have to say? You want a bigger house?”

She glared at him but her voice was calm. “What did you think? Did you expect me to cry over you fucking around? Did you really think I’d give a shit? Come on, we don’t really have a marriage anymore, we haven’t for a long time now. We both know that’s true. We live separate lives and that’s fine with me. I’ll do my thing and you do yours. I’ll live my life the way I want and you can keep pretending things are okay. You can keep fucking the nanny late at night and that way I don’t have to endure any kind of physical relationship with you.”

“I didn’t fuck the nanny.” He shouted losing control.

“Oh whatever.” She waved off his words. “I don’t fuckin’ care. Now, I’m gonna take off. There are some open house today and I want to take a look.”

He couldn’t believe this was happening. Her words cut into his soul. “No, we need to talk about this.”

“There is nothing to talk about.” She said moving towards her purse on the counter. “This way we both get what we want. Just be discreet that’s all I ask. I’d hate for B to walk in and see you screwing Karli.” She left the kitchen before he could utter another word.


Lindsey didn’t return home until late that night.

Gerard had spent the day locked in his study trying to deal with his emotions. He tried to find a way, an answer that would repair his marriage. When he’d found no answers, when he could find no peace he turned to search for those answers in the bottom of a whisky bottle.

The clock had just struck midnight when he noticed the bottle was empty. Leaving his desk he stumbled towards the living room in search of another bottle from the liquor cabinet. When he returned to his study, the new bottle clutched in his hand he found Karli waiting for him.

“Gee” She said his name softly as he walked towards his desk.

Gerard sat down heavily then spoke. “Go away.”

She locked the door then crossed the room. “I’m worried about you.” She said with a small smile.

He forced his eyes to focus on the girl. “Why? Just because my life is going to shit? Why worry?”

“No, it’s not.” She said frowning. “Everything is okay.”

He took a long swallow of his drink then laughed, “Yeah, okay. Fuckin’ okay.”

She reached up and slowly began to unbutton her gown. “It is okay.” She whispered as she parted the sheer material. She smiled when she saw his eyes flash with desire. “Let me show you.”

Still he tried to resist. “I’m a married man.” He said forcing his gaze away while reaching for his empty glass.

“Here.” Karli opened the new bottle then poured him a drink. He swallowed it in one long gulp. She poured him another.

He downed it then turned to face her.

She pushed the gown off her shoulders letting it fall to the floor. Then she reached for his chair to roll it away from the desk. She was on her knees before he could protest. “I’ll make you feel better.” She whispered while slowly lowering his zipper.

Gerard’s alcohol numbed mind was still trying to focus. “Linds is home.” He muttered.

Karli tugged on his jeans lowering them down his legs. “That doesn’t matter. She doesn’t care.”

His eyes flew open. “What?”

She completely had his jeans off and was working on lowering his boxers. “She and I talked earlier. She doesn’t mind.”

Anger tore through him. “You two talked?”

Karli stood smiling then pushed off her panties. “Yeah, she’s okay with this.”

Gerard shook his head in disbelief. “My wife is okay with us fucking?”

“She’s okay with me making you happy.” Karli said frowning as she pushed her long blond hair back. Again she fell to her knees in front of him.

Gerard watched in detached fascination as she ran her tongue along his limp dick. Part of him knew this was wrong, he should make her stop but he couldn’t. He knew in his heart what Karli had said was true…Lindsey didn’t care.

Karli continued to run her tongue up and down his length and soon her efforts were rewarded. When she took a moment to peer up at him she saw he was watching her with hooded eyes.

As his dick started to throb the anger in his mind grew. This was wrong, this went against everything he’d ever believed about marriage and yet….Fuck it all. Why not enjoy this? He reached down and grabbed her shoulders.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

He smiled feeling the alcohol heat up his passion and anger. “Not so fast. I don’t want come yet.”

Karli smiled, “Oh.” She’d hoped for more too.

He reached out and grabbed her pert breasts squeezing them. It was hard for her not to flinch. “Nice tits.” He said before pulling her forward so he could take one of her nipples into his mouth.

She continued to stoke his deck while he sucked and nipped. Soon she was moaning with pleasure. The sound when it reached his ears made him furious. He released her nipple than sat back. His own guilt made his blood boil. Why feel guilty he reasoned, why? His own wife didn’t care if he fucked this girl so that made it okay, didn’t it?

“Gee?” She whispered wondering why he had suddenly looked away.

“Pour me another drink.” He barked.

She did.

He downed it quickly then sat back in his chair. “I’m gonna fuck you now. That’s what both of you want, right?’

Karli looked confused. “Both?’

He laughed, “Yeah, both. You and my wife. That’s what both of you want.”

“I told you she understands….”

“Shut the fuck up.” Gerard ground out. He forced his eyes to focus on her. “Is it what you want? You want me to fuck you?”

She nodded slowly.

He hated her at that moment almost as much as he hated himself. Slowly he stood swaying. He backed away from the desk. “Bend over it.”

She hesitated.

“I said bend over the desk. Bend over so I can fuck you in your tight little ass.”

Karli started shaking her head suddenly afraid, “I’ve never done that…”

He laughed. “Too bad for you but hey, you want to make me happy right?”

She nodded, “Gee, yes. I want to make you happy.” The truth was she couldn’t wait to tell her friends she’d finally got him to fuck her. She’d been hoping for this since she’d started working for the Ways. At first she wasn’t sure she’d be able to seduce him but as she’d watched his marriage fall apart she knew she had a chance.

“What’s gonna make me happy is stickin’ my dick up your ass.” He said as he reached out to grab her arm.

She allowed him to push her against the desk then shove her down.

“Nice and tight.” He said running his hands across her ass cheeks. The more the voice in his head told him to stop the more his anger pushed him on. Using his little finger he tested to see just how tight she was.

“Oh.” She cried out not in pain but fear. Her friend had told her how much this would hurt.

He reached down, grabbed his dick with one hand while pulling her cheeks apart with the other. He was positioned ready to thrust when he suddenly stopped.

“Gee?”

He stumbled back. “Changed my mind.” He fell into the chair as the room began to sway.

Karli lifted herself off the desk. Shit, he looked like he was going to pass out. That’s not how she wanted this to end. Quickly she straddled his chair then reaching down she pushed his dick inside her. “Oh” She kissed his neck. “That feels so good.”

Gerard sat there with his eyes closed, his mind blank. He was trying to pretend this wasn’t happening, he wasn’t here. When at last Karli arched her back and moaned he knew in his heart she was faking the organism. He knew his dick was soft.

“Oh Gee.” She hugged him tightly. “That was so good.”

“Get out.” He said softly but his tone was like ice. “Just get out.”

She slid off his lap then grabbed her panties and gown. “What’s wrong?”

He refused to look at her. “Just go.”

He didn’t open his eyes until he heard the door close. God he felt dirty, so dirty he’d never be clean again. “Oh fuck.” He whispered as overwhelming despair filled his soul. “I don’t wanna live like this.”

He leaned back and once again closed his eyes. Moments ticked by when suddenly a cold breeze made the hair on his arms stand. “What the fuck?” His eyes flew open but what he saw made his mouth drop open.

Across the room a white mist floated a few feet above the floor.

He was terrified and fascinated at the same time. I must be dreaming he thought but as the mist slowly took form he realized he was very much awake. Suddenly the form became more detailed, he was looking at an older woman dressed in clothing from a different time period. He stared to stand but found he was frozen in place.

The woman’s face broke into a smile, a sad smile. Gerard leaned forward when he saw her mouth slowly open, instinctively he knew she was about to speak, he wanted, no he felt he must hear her words.

“deje mi amigo este lugar de sueños rotos”

His mind struggled to understand. He knew she was speaking Spanish, he recoginized some of the words.

“confort espera en caídas de neosho”

And then she was gone.

He realized he’d been holding his breath. “Shit.” He whispered. “Oh shit. I’m losing my fuckin’ mind.”