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“Mm…Yes. We’re having a barbecue,” Elizabeth sounded apologetic.
“On a Tuesday?”
“Garret took the day off. The kids are free.” I could almost see her shrugging it off.
“And you invited my mother? When did you even get so close?” I couldn’t picture the two of them as friends.
“I didn’t invite her,” Elizabeth sounded secretive. Then she sighed and added. “Lucas did. He visits her from time to time. He thinks she’s lonely.”
Lucas Cole and his fragile ego interacting with Sylvia Hartley and her scornful personality? I burst out laughing. I laughed so hard and so long my stomach hurt and my eyes watered.
“Just come home already,” I heard Elizabeth smile on the other side.
“Will you buy me a plane ticket?” I teased.
“Oh? Another secret travel?” she replied. I thought about it for a moment.
“It would be a nice final touch. I left on the sly. Why not come back the same way? But I’ll ask someone else to wait for me at the airport if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure. Go pack your bags. I’ll call you later.”
Three days later I was looking around at the airport trying to spot my best friend’s golden hair.
I had sent her a text to ask her to come get me when I land.
Clementine: I’m coming home, but it’s a secret. We have to talk. Can you come get me from the airport?
Her answer was infuriating because I couldn’t figure out if she was being sarcastic or she would really come.
Hannah: Sure.
I sent her the details of my flight, and she didn’t say another word.
Lingering around for ten minutes now, I began to wonder if I had to call Elizabeth. It was two in the morning. It wasn’t a great time, but I didn’t want to hang around here for hours.
“Did you miss me?” I heard the familiar but not so friendly voice of my best friend. I turned around, and Hannah was looking at me with a raised brow.
“Immensely” I answered.
She looked at my suitcase, turned around, and waved me to follow her.
“I’m not helping you with that.”
Hannah drove in total silence for about ten minutes. She hadn’t even turned on the radio. I finally lost my patience.
“Are you giving me the silent treatment?”
She cocked her head, her eyes not leaving the road.
“I thought you were the one doing that for the past four months.”
I took a deep breath and shook my head.
“I’m sorry. It’s unforgivable. I left in such a hurry, and I…”
“You tend to make bad decisions under pressure,” she finished the sentence for me with her icy tone. I let it go without a comment. I didn’t want to argue. Mainly because it was true.
“…needed some time to distance myself from everything,” I continued. “When I finally summoned the courage to read my messages, I understood how much damage I had caused to everyone, and I just returned back to ignoring you all. It was easier.”
