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The good news is Bowie has the night off and he doesn’t work tomorrow, so he asked to keep Kingston so he and his mom can take him to the zoo in the morning, meaning I get a night to myself for the first time ever. And my plans involve nothing but a hot shower, a glass of wine, and my bed. Even the boxes I still have left to go through and unpack are not on my list of things to do this evening. Tomorrow, when I’m rested, I’ll start that project.
When I get to the alcove where my apartment door is, I notice the door across the way is open, moving boxes in the hall, and voices coming from inside.
When Emma’s client April found this place for me, the leasing agent showed her and I both apartments that were available, but I chose mine since it has a bigger second bedroom and a master bath. A luxury I could have done without, but since it was only twenty dollars more a month, I figured why not.
Taking out my key, too tired to even think about introducing myself to my new neighbors, I let myself into my place and lock the door behind myself. Kicking off my heels, I leave them where they land, then drop my purse on top of a stack of boxes and take off my coat. After hanging it in the hall closet, I pad to the living room that is open to the kitchen and flip on the light.
Our apartment may not be as big as the house we shared with Bowie, but we’re settling in, making it our own. And thanks to Emma, I have furniture that I didn’t think I’d have for a lot longer, and really nice furniture at that. I expected everything to be worn and obviously used, but it all still looks brand-new and great in the space. The couch is simple, with the added bonus of being a pullout bed. The dining table matches the couch, with the chairs having a similar beige color on the cushions, and the floral art she got is also beautiful in peach, pinks, and gold. Plus, the king-size bed frame she got for me is gorgeous, and I got a mattress for free from my boss Polly, who was upgrading to one of those fancy ones that constantly contours to your body while you sleep.
To top off all that goodness, Bowie has been cool about letting me take stuff we need from the house, including the TV from the living room that he loved. Really, he’s been cool about everything, which has been a huge weight off my shoulders. I don’t know if that’s because he’s still seeing Naomie and enjoying his time with her without the worry of me finding out. I’m not asking; I’m also trying not to think about it, because when I do think about Bowie and Naomie, I think about Tucker and wonder how he’s doing and if he’s okay.
I had Emma call to tell him that things between Bowie and me were done, so he could do whatever he needed to do with Naomie, but all he said to her was “okay” before he ended the call. A call I maybe should have made myself but didn’t, because again, I don’t want to think about him, and hearing his deep voice would definitely make me do that more than I already am.
Right now, I’m just focused on Kingston and glad there’s no drama between Bowie and me. I mean, sure, we still have to meet with a lawyer to go over a custody agreement and sign the divorce papers, but the last week has given me faith that we’ll be able to work things out like two adults who only care about their son’s welfare.
Going to the fridge, I open it up and stare at the contents. Since it’s just me, I don’t need to cook a full meal like I normally do, so I grab a container of hummus and a bag of peeled carrots. Standing at the counter, I start to eat, and the quiet hits me like a ton of bricks. Until this moment, I didn’t think about how it would be here without Kingston around, his laughter filling the air or his shows playing way too loud in the background as he dances to the music. It’s going to take time to get used to my new normal of sharing my time with him when it’s been the two of us every day since he was born. Though I doubt time will make it any easier.
When I finish eating, I pour myself a glass of wine and take it with me to the bathroom, where I start the shower. Since I can, I take the extra time to scrub, buff, and shave, then get out and put on my robe.
