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I can’t process what he is saying. Leave London? Leave Simon? But if I stay I don’t have a job. Isn’t that who I am? My career is the most important thing in my life. Isn’t it?
“Adelaide.” He pulls his glasses off and comes to stand in front of me. “You’re a good lawyer. An honest one that I believe in. I have stuck my neck out on this for you, so please think carefully about what you do next. You won’t find another offer in London, and you might find a hard time finding a firm in the States as prestigious as ours willing to take you on.”
He pats my shoulder as he steps around me and out of my office. Leaving me here to face my demons and myself, alone.
December 1, 2014
I have had no way to reach Simon, I have been forbidden from entering Montiva’s offices. My flight is leaving in less than four hours. So I just go straight to his apartment.
I know on a Monday morning my chances of catching him are slim to none. I have written a letter with my new number, my mother’s phone number and address, and my new email address in it. I apologize for everything and beg for his forgiveness.
I know I have a lot of explaining to do to Simon and his family.
I climb the stairs, the letter clutched in my left hand, my right hand clutching the rail.
When I reach his door, I knock three times and am about to give up and put the note under the mat when the door flies open.
Mercy’s face, set in a cheerful greeting, quickly changes to one of stony anger when she sees me. She is holding Henry in her arms and when he sees me, he reaches out for me.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone is clipped, her accent even more pronounced than normal.
She steps back, putting me out of Henry’s reach, and I drop the arms I have raised in anticipation of holding him.
“I… I was coming to leave this for Simon. I am leaving the country.”
“Fleeing, are you?” Her harsh words are like a slap across the face.
“No, I—”
She cut me off before I can say any more.
“I’m glad you’re going. That boy has had more than his share of criminals and liars in his life. The last thing he needs is another faithless woman playing with his emotions and his heart.”
Each word is like the lash of a whip against my skin.
It takes every ounce of strength I have to open my mouth and speak without crying. I look her in the eye. My voice surprisingly steady in the face of her verbal assault. I try to remember why I came there.
“I came to give him this letter. If I could leave it with you, I would be grateful.”
She snatches it from me and puts in her apron pocket.
“Oh, I’ll give it to him. But he won’t believe whatever lies you’ve written. We have read all about you in the paper. Watched the story about your family. Good luck finding a new place to run your little con.”
And without another word or me getting to one last sniff, touch, or kiss from Henry, she slams the door in my face.
I stand there for a long moment. My feet glued to the mat.
Did that really just happen? Does Simon really believe the things Mercy said about me? Why wouldn’t he? I lied to him. Repeatedly. What else would he believe?
I can only hope when he reads the letter he will know I love him more than I have ever loved anyone. I pray he will be able to forgive me.
With one last glance at the door, I turn away to run down to my waiting cab and head to the airport.
December 1, 2014
We came home from Paris and as soon as she ran off at the train station the world blew up.
I thought her behavior was bizarre, but I know how serious she takes her work. It wasn’t until I got home and Kyle practically jumped me that I knew she had lied to me.
