The Wife Stalker(54)
“I’m not making any headway. I still can’t see the children. And I sent a letter to Stelli and Evie, but I’ve heard nothing back.”
Celeste shook her head. “I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you, but your attorney is working on trying to get you visitation rights, correct?”
I nodded.
“Okay, then. What did we talk about last time? The things you can control?”
“That doesn’t seem like a very long list these days.”
Celeste cocked her head. “Well, for one thing, how about getting back to the gym regularly? The endorphins would help your mood.”
I shrugged. “Maybe. I just can’t seem to find the motivation.”
She nodded, her expression soft. “I understand. I could refer you to a psychiatrist we work with to evaluate you for antidepressants.”
I thought about it for a moment. “I don’t know. I don’t want anything that’s going to change my personality.”
Celeste shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m just talking about something to ‘take the edge off,’ as you put it.” She lifted her hands to make air quotes. “We don’t have to decide now. Just something to think about. Tell me about things with your mother. How are they going?”
I sighed. “Being together in the same house night and day is exhausting. She’s really okay on her own, even though she tries to make it seem like she’s not. But at least I have the time now to build a case against Piper. I know she has more skeletons in her closet.”
“We’ve talked about this, Joanna. It’s not good for you to be so focused on Piper.” Celeste tapped her pen on her pad for good measure. “You have to accept the fact that Leo has remarried. You have to get on with your life. Regardless of whether Piper is hiding something or not—your marriage is over. Why don’t we try to focus on something positive, like what steps you can take to get at least some visitation with Evie and Stelli?”
“But that’s just it. Leo and Piper have built a case against me. It’s all lies, but the court believes them. How can I fight that?”
“Well, for one thing, you can talk to your lawyer about making some overtures to Leo’s lawyer. Or maybe petitioning the court to allow you visitation, even if those visits have to be monitored. Wouldn’t that be better than not seeing them at all?”
“I have talked to her, and she’s tried. So far, we’re getting nowhere.”
Celeste gave me an encouraging smile. “There’s always a chance. You can’t give up. And if it would help, I’d be glad to speak with your attorney.”
“Maybe I could see them at Christmas. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” I said, trying to change the subject. “But too much could happen between now and then. Will they even be alive in three months? Piper has them all fooled. Today, her center’s blog post was about gratitude.”
“Joanna . . .”
I put a hand up. “I know, I know. But I can’t help it.”
“Fixating on Piper and these implausible fears is only hurting you.” She looked at me with resignation. “How did reading it make you feel?”
I bit my lip. “Furious! She’s making herself sound like a good person, and she’s not! And she’s got no right to lecture about gratitude to others when everything in her life is stolen. I felt like putting that in the comments.”
“I’m glad to hear that you didn’t. What can you do with that anger instead? Is there a way to channel it into something positive?”
“How would you channel your anger and terror if someone was a threat to your husband and children and then wrote upbeat blogs about life?”
She looked at me with pity. “The best thing you can do is to talk to your lawyer and take the steps necessary to make some changes that are within your power. I’m here for you.”
When I got home, there was a large brown envelope sticking out of the mailbox. I pulled it out, and my heart raced when I looked at the California postmark. I opened it, pulling out a handwritten note along with a marriage certificate. The note was from Ava:
Dear Joanna,
I was able to rush a copy of Matthew and Pamela’s marriage certificate. You were right. She was married before. I feel like such a fool for not knowing this sooner. Good luck with your investigation. Let me know what you find.
Best, Ava
God bless her! I put the note down and picked up the certificate. Reading it, I stopped short:
Matthew Dunn, Divorced, and Pamela Rayfield Sherwood, Widowed.
Widowed? Another dead husband? What the hell?
I ran to my bedroom, document in hand, and opened my laptop, typing “Pamela Sherwood” into the search bar. After skimming through the first few entries, I saw a link to an obituary that mentioned a Pamela Sherwood. All of my senses were on high alert as I clicked on it.
Ethan Sherwood of Los Angeles, California, age 21, passed away Wednesday, July 12, 2006, from injuries sustained in a fall during a hiking accident. Sherwood was born on December 19, 1985, in Annapolis, MD. He was a graduate of the Key School and was planning a career in the arts. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Sherwood of Los Angeles, CA; his parents, Donald and Patricia Sherwood of Annapolis, MD; and a brother, Ted Sherwood of Chicago, IL. Funeral services are private.