The day after Grizz’s execution, back home, my husband and I decided to use the day to do something special.
“Hey, you two. Long time no see,” Eddie said as he hugged us both.
We hadn’t been in to see Eddie since he’d added our son’s name to the tattoo on my husband’s left arm. He’d surprised me on our third wedding anniversary. The tattoo was a beautiful eagle holding up a heart between its wings. Inside the heart was my name: Ginny. I thanked him for not using Guinevere. He’d joked at the time that he didn’t think Eddie had enough ink. There was a ribbon that wrapped around the heart and dangled on one side of the tattoo. It said “Mimi.” When our son was born, he went back and had Eddie add another ribbon with the name “Jason.” It was a beautiful work of art and a testament to our happy family.
Eddie looked at my stomach and teased, “Time to add another ribbon?”
“No,” I answered. I held up my left hand. “I need you to work your creative magic with this,” I said as I practically shoved my ring finger under his nose.
This time, I didn’t faint.
* * * * *
It was Sunday morning. Two days after Grizz’s execution. My husband and I sat in our den waiting for the phone to ring. We had gone to a sunrise Mass to be home in time for this phone call. In retrospect, I wish we’d missed the call. Just like climbing on the back of Monster’s motorcycle twenty-five years ago would change my life, the damage resulting from this phone call was irrevocable.
When the phone rang, he hit the speakerphone button and said, “We’re here, Leslie. You’re on.”
Leslie stammered a little. She must have sensed we were weary of the interview process and was hesitant about her first question. I knew what was coming.
“I guess I really wanted to ask Ginny what that little communication was about right before Jason’s execution,” Leslie said, her voice growing steadier. “I mean, it’s obvious there was something going on between you two, and I think it’s probably important and would be a good way to wrap up the interview. You know, the end to this epic love story.”
“That was nothing,” I said firmly. “Grizz was just trying to be in charge again. An old joke. He was messing with me. Not important and totally not relevant to this story. You’re not missing anything.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute. Then she blurted, “But the love story. That’s what I really want to play up. The love between the hardened criminal and the sweet, innocent girl. That’s what the readers want, a love story, and I need something to make the conclusion pop.” She cleared her throat. “That signal he gave you. It must have meant something. Can’t you give me something here, Ginny?”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. I hadn’t realized I’d been sitting at attention.
“The only thing I can tell you, Leslie, is I’ve spent three months letting you interview me, and the real love story was right under your nose the whole time and you didn’t see it. A story about a man who has loved me from the very beginning, from the first glance. The man who always was and still is my soul mate. That’s the only love story now. Yes, I loved Grizz, that’s true. That story is over. Don’t romanticize it. I’ve built a new life with—”
She cut me off. “She doesn’t know, does she? You haven’t told her yet. I suggest you do before she reads it in my article.”
Who was she talking to? I looked over at my husband. He didn’t answer her. He pressed the disconnect button on the phone.
“Well, that’s one way to end an interview,” I said to him.
My husband, Tommy—I never used the gang name Grunt anymore, just as he never called me Kit—just smiled and winked at me.
But then he turned serious. “Gin, I need to tell you some things. Some bad things.”
I practically scoffed. What bad things could Tommy possibly have to tell me? I seriously doubted he could surprise me with anything.
“Okay, I’m listening. It can’t be that bad.”
But it was.
There, listening to Tommy tell me the story of Leslie’s accident three weeks ago, I was stunned. I felt like I was hearing the story in an out-of-body experience, like it was being told to someone else and I was just there, watching from above.
I don’t know how to explain it. I knew the major players. I’d spent enough time in Leslie’s company to understand her personality, to actually know how it played out with her and Grizz.
As Tommy told me the details, I felt like I was watching a movie unfold. And I wanted to throw up.