Charlene was waiting anxiously to hear Joe’s decision about her coming with him to Africa. She was also wondering who this woman on the phone was.

Did Joe already have a new girl friend that she was unaware of? That would put a crimp in her plans, no doubt, if he had a new woman already taking Suzan’s place.

But he hadn’t mentioned anything or had the time to find someone so quickly,” she thought. Why wouldn’t he tell her if it were the case. She started to get angry with Joe but then realized that she was going off the deep end with no real reason.

Her father often reminder her of her unwarranted anger and self destructive nature. It had caused many problems for her with classmates and teachers alike. She relaxed her grip on her forearm as she calmed down. The deep gouges in her arm quickly brought back more bad memories from the past.

She was wondering who this woman on the phone wanting to talk with Joe was. She had never heard of her before. Joe picked up the phone.

“Hello Marsha, what’s up?” Charlene tried to listen to the conversation over the phone. She didn’t hang up.

Joe had vowed to remain silent about his understanding of the details of his and Suzan’s breakup were concerned. He really wasn’t sure what had transpired between the two of them to cause such a deep rift and breakup of their relationship.

It soon became apparent, as Charlene listened, that Marsha was an old friend of Suzan’s and had inherited Joe from Suzan’s relationship with him. They weren’t close, that soon became evident.

“Hey Joe, how are you doing? I heard about what happened with you and Suzan. I just got off the phone with her.”

“I’m fine Marsha.” “I’m so sorry Joe.”

This “good mutual friend” then proceeded to tell Joe some of the gory details about what Suzan had been doing over the last several months.

Joe wondered, “why tell me now, the damage is done. Why rub my face in it. I didn’t have a clue Marsha. I thought we were happy and doing great.”

“Well Joe, the boyfriend or the husband is always the last one to find out, obviously.”

“I just can’t believe it, but it is what it is, I guess. What else can I say or do. I didn’t see that side of her.”

“We all have that side Joe. It’s called self preservation. I’m just making sure that you’re going to get through this.”

“What choice do I have?” “That’s the right attitude Joe. Call me anytime you need someone to talk to.”

“I will Marsha, I promise. Thanks for the call. It clears up a few things for me, I guess.” Now that Joe had another part of the story, he couldn’t help himself.

He picked up his phone and called Janice Smith, another one of Suzan’s best friends to try and see if Marsha was telling him the entire, dirty, story. He found her number in his contact list and dialed it.

Joe hoped she might give him some more information on what Suzan had been up to for the last few months. Part of him hoped Marsha had been lying to him.