Chapter 3: Carol

CHAPTER 3

CAROL

After arriving at my small apartment, which was more like an art studio, I changed into something more comfortable. It didn’t take long before Susan arrived.

“Mmm! These are delicious.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I needed something sweet to sweeten my day. By the way, I ran into your father today.”

Susan stopped chewing; her perfectly plucked eyebrows rose in surprise.

“Long story. It was pure chance…” I waved my hand to brush it off. “He asked me to tell you to call him.”

She watched me for a moment longer before continuing to eat her chocolate donut.

“I swear I’m going to end up gaining weight if I keep this up.” I laughed. The girl had an incredible body and never gained a pound.

“Sure!”

Susan was beautiful: a natural blonde with a killer body and beautiful blue eyes, just like her mother’s. Or so I had seen in the photographs she had shown me, though she looked more like her father.

“So, what happened?” Susan watched me from the other end of the sofa as she popped another donut into her mouth.

I told her everything that had happened with that idiot of an exboss.

“Wow, babe, that sucks.”

“Yeah. Don’t even tell me.” I got up from the sofa and went to the kitchen for more wine. “Do you want some more?”

“No, I have dinner tonight with Dad and Henry,” she shouted over her shoulder.

“Wow, and what’s the occasion?” I said, returning to my spot. Susan shifted somewhat nervously.

“Well… Henry asked me to move in with him, so I said yes.”

My wine stayed suspended in mid-air on the way to my mouth.

“I don’t think your father is going to like that idea.”

“Dad has to get over it. I’m not a child, Carol. I’m twenty-two years old and I can fend for myself. He can’t expect me to live with him my whole life. I know he needs his space too, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.”

“Are you sure about this? I mean, you’ve only been dating for a year and a half.”

“Yes, very sure.”

“Okay. In that case, I wish you the best, hope you guys enjoy it.” Something in my voice must have given me away because Susan frowned.

“What’s wrong, babe?” She moved closer and took my hand in hers.

“Nothing. Don’t mind me.”

“Oh, no. You’re not pulling that on me. I know you too well and I know something is up.”

I rolled my eyes. Nothing escaped her.

“I don’t have a job. I’m about to be evicted from the apartment, I have nowhere to live…” The reality of it hit me so hard that my breath hitched. “But don’t worry, don’t let my problems overshadow or ruin your happiness. I’ll find a solution.”

“Look, how am I not going to worry? You’re my best friend; obviously, I’m going to worry about you.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, babe.” We hugged.

“I hate having to call my parents and ask them for help.”

Susan’s back tensed. She slowly let go of me, a serious expression on her face.

“You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking.”

I tilted my head and shrugged. There was no need to mention it; she knew.

“No, you can’t do this to me.” She stood up and paced back and forth, agitated. “Your parents moved to Spain three years ago. How can you even think about something like that when you fought so hard to stay here?”

“Don’t you think I know that? I, more than anyone, know everything I had to do to be able to stay. Having to prove to my father that I could be on my own was hard. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget Corinne’s look of sadness either.”

Emotions overwhelmed me; tears began to roll down my cheeks.

“I don’t see what else I can do. I have no money, no job, and as if that weren’t enough, I have to vacate this place in a week.”

“When were you planning on telling me all this?”

“I don’t want to be bothering you with my business. Besides, I haven’t seen much of you lately. You have your own life, Susan. You’re even planning on living with Henry, and that’s great, you know? It’s wonderful. But I have to figure out how to put my life back together and find some stability.”

She stopped pacing and seemed to think about everything I had said.

“You are important in my life; you’ve always supported me unconditionally. So, if you need me, I will absolutely be there for you. We’re going to fix this.”