Tear Stained Beaches by Courtney Giardina Read Free Book Online

Haylie, what do you think, I’m lying to you? I guess I just thought I lost it and never turned it in.”
    “That’s your story is it?” I didn’t want to tell him all the things I knew, but I was getting fed up with all his excuses.
    “It’s not a story, it’s the truth, and I don’t appreciate all your accusations.”
    “First of all, I didn’t make any accusations Chase, and second of all, I was just pointing out the obvious.”
    “And what would that be Miss Know It All?”
    “That you never mentioned any bachelor party taking place in Atlantic City, and that it is random to have a key to a hotel room hanging out in a wallet I bought you only six months ago.” The color drained from his face as he searched for something to say. Once again, the only thing he could do was turn on his defense mechanism and make me look like the bad guy.
    “You know, you’re being a complete bitch right now, and I don’t feel like dealing with it. I’m good to you, I take care of you and this is what I get for it? I’m going to bed.”
    “Whatever,” I spat, and watched him stomp up the stairs. I knew he hated that word, but at that point, I didn’t care.
    I peeked into the bedroom, about an hour after he’d gone upstairs, to make sure he was asleep, and found him snoring. It was time I discovered some irrefutable proof, something he couldn’t deny. I felt paranoid and guilty digging into his personal life, but not so guilty that I wouldn’t do it. I felt like I was going insane. This woman I’d become, I didn’t know her. Continuously stressed out, wondering at all times where my husband was, if I was making something out of nothing, it was becoming too much for me, but I knew. I knew something wasn’t right. My gut was telling me the man I married was sharing his time and affections with someone else.
    What was it going to take for to be able to find the “Smoking Gun” I’d been looking for? No matter how much it might hurt, I needed to find the truth.
    I crept downstairs into his office, sat behind his desk and started to type. Whatever came to mind I typed in. I’d known him for almost 10 years; I should’ve been able to figure out what his password was. I typed in my name, his first dog’s name, the street he grew up on, our university mascot and so much more; but no luck. Password incorrect, try again popped up over and over. After about twenty minutes, I could see goose bumps on my arms. My entire body was shaking in fear. Fear that any minute he was going to walk in and find me, fear that I was never going to find what I needed, but most of all, fear that I would.
    “Think Haylie,” I whispered. I leaned back, looked up to the ceiling, and prayed. “God, I know I’ve asked you for a lot in life, and I know this probably isn’t high on your priority list right now, but I need your help. I’m going crazy here. I don’t eat, I can’t sleep.” Tears coursed down my cheeks and it was hard to say the words. “I just need some answers. I can’t live like this anymore. I’m begging you, please help me.” My final words slurred together as I succumbed to my sorrow.
    What a mess I had become. I closed my eyes and tried to focus. This time I typed in the name of his law firm, his birth date, and our honeymoon spot. None of them worked. I kept trying. His mother’s maiden name, the town she was born in; nothing. Then I got creative. I typed in his birth state of California backwards, San Diego backwards; still nothing. I had almost given up hope. I was running out of options. When I was about to stand up and call it a night, I looked up at the bookshelves that covered the wall across from the bay window: and there it was, his favorite movie of all time, The Sandlot. I typed it in and hit enter. This time, the entrance screen disappeared and his desktop popped up. I couldn’t believe this is what my life had come to. Breaking into my husband’s computer, not even knowing what I was looking for, but