6. Is Divorce the Answer?

"Why are you following me?" I glanced around and began walking to the left of the hotel, where I saw a taxi. Copeland had the nerve to follow me and tried to help me down the steps, but I said, "Don't. Please."

Copeland put up his hands. "Alright! Alright, I never knew you were so stubborn! Just calm down."

"Calm down, calm down. Oooh! Tell Lizzy to calm down!" I replied angrily.

I got inside the taxi and closed the door. "Where to miss?"

I had the taxi take me to the wedding house. I was steaming angry; II slumped against the rear seat in the cab and closed my eyes, feeling emotionally exhausted. "The nerve of him to accuse me of cheating!"

I had no idea this night would turn out like this. Now I'm sure I should have left the past in the past and stayed in Paris. But instead, I felt entirely out of sorts. All I wanted to do was call my mom, then take a hot shower and get in a firm bed with a soft, fluffy pillow. And first thing tomorrow, I'm going to sign those divorce papers and return to Paris. 

Tonight was a tragedy of significant proportions that I want to forget. I decided to step out on a limb, thinking I would be with his family and friends as Copeland's supportive wife on his special night. Instead, it turns into a complete mess, ending with a cherry on top, having Champagne spilled all over me. By none other than Copeland! In front of all his guests. I see the taxi driver looking at me in the back seat. Granted, I was mumbling under my breath with my eyes closed. 

"Ms., are you okay?" The taxi driver asked me.

'I should have never come back to the States. But I'm fine, Sir, thanks for asking.' 

The car thumps hard! My eyes pop back open as I shout out loud. "What was that?!"

I sat up straight. My heart slammed against my ribs. The taxi driver tells me he had to swerve to avoid hitting a deer, who leaped out in front of the car only a few feet ahead. My purse slid off the seat and onto the floor violently, spilling its contents. Bending over, I retrieved my cell phone, wallet, passport, and a pack of mints.

It was plausible that a deer ran out in front of the car. You see, our house is thirty minutes outside of the city limits. Our home was in a lovely area called the countryside. Deer were present on the outskirts of the gardens, and I saw them grazing.

"Are you alright back there, Ms.?" The driver asked over his shoulder.

I exhaled audibly. "I'm good," I lied smoothly. I wasn't good. It would be some time before I could adjust my heart to something that feels normal again after tonight.

Settling back again in the rear of the cab as my heart ached. I closed my eyes again. All I wanted to do was talk to my mother and sleep away the rest of this awful night. About fifteen minutes later, the taxi pulled up to her supposedly wedding house. It appeared like I'd fallen asleep when the car's motion stopped, and I opened my eyes. 

I sighed, gathering my shawl and purse. I paid the fare to the taxi driver and stepped out of the cab. I opened the front door to the house and stood in the foyer, looking as I closed the door and leaning against it as I stood in the entryway. The sigh of sadness parted my lips. I felt wetness on my cheek as tears fell from the skin around my eyes. 

I walked into the house with my 6-inch heels straight to the main bedroom. I pulled out my phone and called my mother. It was 1 am. 

"Tameka! You made it home. How was the party? What did Copeland say when he saw you?!" 

"It was devastating, mom. Most people I didn't know looked at me like I was a spectacle. It felt more like I was intruding on his party. So I'm going to sign those divorce papers."

"Oh, sweetheart, I'm sorry. But I know Copeland didn't treat you that way. Right?"

"No, but he kept his distance for most of the night, and when he did come up to me. He had the nerve to accuse me of having an affair with Joel. That hurt me because he's been involved with someone else from the beginning. He's the one intentionally blocking this marriage from amounting to anything." I start crying heavily while saying.

"He spilled champagne all over meeeee!"

"What?! He did what?!" Tameka's mother said in an angry, panicked tone.

"It, it, was an accident...But it was so humiliating."

 "Ah, my poor baby. It would be best if you didn't come home. You deserve this vacation! You work so hard, Tameka. You don't have to see him, but stay here and enjoy yourself."

"I..I...I don't want to be here anymore, mom."

"Well, I don't think you should leave. You said the other day when I talked to you that you saw a glimmer of hope. Look, sweetie, get some rest, and I promise you, it'll be better tomorrow. You and Copeland need time to find one another. Have you had a real talk with him about how you feel?"

I sighed heavily. "No, Copeland snatches it away every chance I think I might have."

"I hate to tell you this, but if you don't give it all you got, you will always regret it. Once you give all you got, and if you want to come home and stay with me, you can. I'll be waiting for you. I love you, Tameka."

"I love you too, mom. I've decided to sign the divorce papers and leave this house for good. I'll call you tomorrow."

I sat on the bed and removed my heels from my tired feet. 'What was I thinking? Did I think he would give up Lizzy for me? Sadly I admit this was one of the poorest decisions I had ever made. I should have declined to come here and left the past in the past."

Methodically, I removed the damp gown, stockings, and panties, leaving them on the floor. Copeland, no doubt, wasn't going to come home tonight. I'm sure he happily ran back to Lizzy to tell her the good news that I'm more than ready to sign the divorce papers! Where are those papers? I begin searching through his desk drawers. I'm prepared to sign them right now! I'm so angry and done with him! After a few minutes of digging everywhere, I had yet to find those divorce papers.

So exhausted and too tired to think I had forgotten to grab my robe, pajamas, and even underwear to bring to the bathroom. Before I realized it, I had turned on the shower and stepped, letting my tears blend with the pouring water.

What should I do? Take my mom's wise advice or follow my heart?