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His eyes come back to mine for a split second before they return to the door. I cross my arms shielding myself from his unexpected coldness. Caleb walks over to the door, flicks on the porch light, before twisting the knob and opening the door. I can’t see who it is but Caleb steps back slightly as he peers into the stranger’s eyes.
I uncross my arms as I wait for him to greet whoever it is inside and out of the cold air.
“L…Lucy?”
My heart stops for a moment before it slowly kicks back into rhythm. He steps back holding the door open and in walks Lucy Taylor. The supposed to be deceased wife of Caleb. She has shorter, duller hair than she did in the photo I saw of her just hours ago. She is not as petite as she used to be but still incredibly beautiful.
“Caleb. Let me explain.” She walks into the living room frantically, her eyes meet mine and she stops.
I have no idea what to do.
Do I stay?
Do I go and let them discuss how the fuck she is here right now?
“Caleb.”
My voice is low and shaky as I look up at him. He doesn’t look at me, his eyes are glued to Lucy’s face, trailing all over every inch of her. I can tell he is shocked, unsure if this is real or not. I step closer to him but still he doesn’t peel his eyes off her.
“Julia, you need to go.”
His voice is stern and short. Straight to the point, he wants me gone. My heart hurts, I don’t understand. I am confused. I have so many emotions coursing through me, as I am sure he does too, but he isn’t even going to introduce me or give me reassurance that I am his and he is mine. He can’t even look at me.
“But.” I try to explain that I have nowhere to go. My house has a huge burnt hole in it. He knows this, but he cuts me off, with a type of rudeness I never heard come out of him before.
“Leave. Now. Just fucking listen for fuck sake.”
I stumble backwards as I reach the bedroom and grab my purse. I hightail it out of that stupid fucking house as quickly as my sobbing ass can run. I don’t look at him, I don’t look at her, I don’t even fucking close the damn front door. I run up the hill, unlock my car door and start my stupid fucking SUV. I cry hard, the type of ugly cry you don’t want anyone to see. I have snot coming out of my nose and I wipe it off with my sleeve not caring how nasty that is. I pull out of the driveway and speed down the hill, through downtown, right past the Tavern, and right out of this town.
That’s me, Julia Harrington, who runs when things get too complicated. Julia Harrington who opens up her heart, only to get it crushed every time. No matter how well I treat someone, I always lose more. I will never find the love I want. I drive down the snowy roads, faster than I should. I make it down the mountains and two hours later I find a hotel off the interstate.
“Room for one?” The front desk agent asks.
“Yes.” I hand over my card before I continue looking for my phone. I could have sworn I grabbed it.
“Name?”
“Ali.”
The front desk agent looks at me and then back at the card. She looks back at me and tilts her head.
“Look, I don’t want anyone to know I am here. Check my ID, but please put Ali as my name.”
She takes my ID to confirm before handing them back.
“What are you famous or something?”
“Something like that.” I reach out for the room key and head to my room.
401.
When I enter the room, I toss my purse on to the couch and flop onto the bed. Have you ever tried to sleep when you are so completely and emotionally drained? It sucks. You’re tossing and turning, kicking your feet to go to sleep, smushing the pillow against your ears, and flipping through channels to fall asleep to some boring infomercial. It was no use though. I got about one hour of sleep.
Ihead to the nearest mall and obtain a new phone. I must have left mine at Caleb’s. I don’t use my same phone number for this phone. I need space from everyone, again. I keep doing this to myself. I let people in and forget what my goals are, forget who I am. I can’t keep doing this.
“Vi, it’s me. I know. Just shut up and listen.”
She shuts up as I tell her what is going on and what I need her to do.
