Relentless

To her neighbors, Jennifer Johnson seemed odd, just a little off. How could she not? Her entire existence was a lie.

While the child at her breasts was really hers, the husband by her side…not so much. John and Jennifer Johnson shared the same innocuous last name—second most common in the United States—but he was not the father of her son, nor the love of her life.

The Johnsons had a dog they called Buddy, the second most popular dog name in the country. Tall as a Great Dane with the snout of a Collie, the markings of a Siberian Husky, and the thick coat of a wolf with one blue eye and one brown, that dog watched the baby as if he was operating some kind of military operation. It was adorable.

Buddy wasn't fixed though, something noted on by the homeowners association. A discussion ensued as to whether he was even allowed to be in the neighborhood, such a large hairy dog with such big balls. Is that what Hidden Bush was all about?

The husband though, everyone liked him. Tall, fit, and handsome, he had beers with the men and helped women with their groceries. He said they'd chosen this community because they liked it, which made people feel good about the Johnsons. They could live anywhere, and they'd chosen Hidden Bush…that said something good about the neighborhood for sure. For absolute sure.

The wife was a bit odd though, everyone had to admit it. And they did, as often as possible. She ran more than was probably healthy. Nursed that baby still…and it was 10 months now, the boy was walking.

The Johnsons never went on dates. Seemed like Mrs. Johnson didn't ever leave that baby. Many women suspected that Mr. Johnson needed to be saved from his wife…but to be truthful, they needed to be saved from their own marriages and were really just projecting.

After all, the Johnson were a lie, remember?

P.S. The dog does not die.

© 2027 Emily Kimelman (Audiobook): 9780466885472

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Audiobook: 31 stycznia 2027