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into the kitchen, but had instead stuck to her plan. People that adapt the fastest yet stick to their long term goals are those who succeeded, after all. And Tammy wanted to succeed. Desperately.
    It wasn’t that she didn’t love Mark, in her own way. Rather, it was more that that love would always come second to her ambitions. More important than her love for Mark was her need for him, for where he fit into her plan. But now, there was a complication. A woman. She hadn’t anticipated this kind of obstacle.
    Tammy tried to tell herself, that he’d been lonely. That it had just been a one-night stand and there was no need to worry (after all, she was in no position to judge - she’d had a few extramarital encounters even when they were married). But something nagged at the back of her mind, and though she tried to silence it, it broke through and exposed what she knew to be the truth: Mark simply wasn’t a one-night stand sort of man. Not normally. That meant it was someone with whom he had history. But who? To get that information, she needed only to go to the center of all gossip in any small town. She would book a room at the local motel, and head to church for the evening service.
     
    Later, as she was just settling down in her motel room (a very bad one, she felt, but the nearby bed and breakfast was booked for the next two weeks, already) her anger began to turn to fear and sadness. Here she was, in the middle of nowhere, sleeping in a shit hotel and thinking of her former husband, a man who was very likely not thinking of her. Worse, he might even be thinking about another woman.
    Her life had been one defining struggle after another. She’d come from nothing, doing whatever she’d had to do to make it this far. She abandoned friends, traded lovers for better positioned ones (even while she was married), lied, cheated, manipulated. But she tried to remind herself that it was for a greater purpose. And this was no different. True, she’d made some mistakes handling Mark the first time, but this time she would entangle him in a grip so perfect he would never escape. Tammy suspected that Mark sensed the danger. That was part of the reason why he’d been so quick to throw her out. Good, she thought. It’s better if he resists. Otherwise, what fun is it? She laughed through her tears. She wouldn’t be defeated by a setback like this. Mark had been the only man who fit her complex and myriad criteria for a mate whom she could build a life with. Ambitious, strong, smart, malleable without being soft. Just a little naïve. Yes, she had big plans for Mark.
    Just then, the phone rang.
    “Speak of the devil,” she said to the empty room, looking at Mark’s call ring in her phone. She started to clear her throat and stopped. No, let him hear the tears in your voice. And so Tammy answered the phone throat scratchy and voice stammering softly.
    “He - hello?”
    “Tammy?”
    “What do you want, Mark?” she asked. On the other end of the phone, a smile cracked across her face. There was no way he would try to make her leave, now.
    On the other end, Mark hesitated. This was probably a ploy, but he had no intention of falling for it. Still, he wasn’t a monster. As gently as possible, be pressed toward her leaving town.
    “Tammy, I was a little shocked to find you at my Grandpop’s house. What are you doing here?”
    Tammy sniffled slightly, buying time to recover from his question. She’d expected: “What’s wrong, Tam?”
    “I don’t know, Mark. I’ve just been so confused since you’ve left. Dealing with everyone…it’s too much. I don’t have a place like this to run to. I guess I wanted to see you again, and just…just talk. If you’re not ready, I understand. I’ve already booked the soonest plane ticket out of the city nearby. If you change your mind, I’m at the hotel on Henley St. Ask for Tammy’s room at the front desk; they know to expect a Mark.”
    She hung up without another word.
    Mark