"Let me tell you a story," she said, as she slipped into the chair opposite.
"Do I know you?"
"Not at all. But I know you, quite well. You're me, in a past life."
I wondered as she stared where I had run across her. She looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place her. Well, no matter, I was waiting on someone.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know you. I'm expecting someone so would you please leave me in peace?"
She flagged a waiter, ordered a drink and grinned at me. "Honey, you got plenty of time. Lover boy isn't coming. It seems his other girlfriend's husband wasn't much on expanding his horizons except for maybe the clear and uncluttered view of a single man."
"What in the world are you talking about?"
"James Matheson. That is who you're meeting tonight, isn't it? Surely you wouldn't get all dolled up like this for your husband. Where did you tell him you were? Tupperware, Book Club, Lady's Night Out? It doesn't matter. All that matters is that you lied to him to spend time with someone besides him. If you're bored or tired of the marriage, why not do him the dignity of leaving him before cheating? It would make life a lot easier, and just so you know, he's not as stupid as you think he is. You don't think men can't tell when the lying starts and the affections cool down? They may be dense, but most have a modicum of brain matter. Some are pretty sharp and many, many, are unforgiving. It's a good thing you don't have kids yet, but seriously, it's only been three years since your wedding. Kind of rushing that seven-year-itch thing a bit, huh?"
My face was surely getting paler. "How do... why are you...what do you want?"
"Not a damn thing, sugar. I got what I want. I got a man who thinks the sun shines because I'm in his life, and I fully intend to keep it that way. Before I got that, I was married to someone else and I loved him, as well. Not enough, apparently, because when the snake slithered into the garden, I took him to my breast and he bit me. The poison killed my marriage and almost killed me. My husband found out and left me the same day. I never saw him again except for a meeting with the lawyers. He didn't even come to court. And that's my story. Yours hasn't been finished yet, but honestly, I don't see a happy ending."
She stood to leave and looked down, grinning. "Don't you think for one second I'm doing this for you. If you're stupid enough to keep going, you'll deserve everything that happens to you. Now you got a choice. You can sit here and wait for the destruction of your marriage to happen, or you can get your ass home and see if there's anything left to salvage. And like I said, he's not coming. He's over at Mercy. Apparently, whore number two's husband has a violent temper. If you think he's worth it you should rush over there. Your choice."
The waiter arrived with her drink and she swallowed it down in one long gulp. "Thanks for the drink, honey."
Then she was gone.
*****
I sat for a minute, mentally reeling from what the stranger had said. Out of curiosity, I called the hospital, told them I was his mother and asked about his condition. All the nurse would tell me is that he had been admitted, but I would have to appear in person or prove who I was to administration during office hours the next day before his condition could be revealed.