Home Again

ADRIENNE

To say I was shocked to see her standing in my front door would be an understatement. Why was she here early? Did Eddie know she arrived earlier than they planned? My eyes narrowed at her but that didn’t seem to faze her.

The smug on her face only seemed to deepen. Ignoring me completely, she strolled into the house, pushing past me like she owned the place. I gritted me teeth, clenching my fist to keep from lashing out.

“What are you doing here?” the question escaped my lips before I could stop myself.

Lydia turned around sharply, an innocent smile flirting up her face. “Oh,” she said softly, a spark of amusement dancing in her eyes. “Eddie was expecting me to arrive tomorrow. But I planned a small gift for him.” She shrugged.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, gripping my luggage so tight my knuckles turned white. Even now, when I thought I’d let go of everything , I couldn’t help the jealousy that surfed in my chest.

Lydia was beautiful, even more than she was in the photos I’d seen. Beautiful blonde hair cascaded down her back in a wave of bouncing curls, a stark contrast to my short brown which framed my face.

I’d decided to change my hairstyle and color from red and long to short and brown because I knew that was what Eddie preferred. Still, he hadn’t batted an eyelash my way, let alone notice me. Lydia had blonde long hair and he was head over heels for her.

I smiled bitterly.

Her puppy doe eyes assessed me and her lips pouted in disappointment. Just then, she suddenly looked frail, her eyes darted to the door frantically and she pretended to faint right there at my feet.

I frowned, wondering what this was about but just as the door opened and Eddie stepped, it clicked. I watched as his eyes widened in alarm at seeing Lydia on the ground. He ran for her, carrying her into his arms swiftly while shooting daggers at me.

“Adrienne Hanson!” he shouted, the veins on his neck protruding. “What did you do?”

I was about to open my mouth and argue that I did nothing I didn’t even touch her but Lydia was faster. She held out a hand, then smiled softly. “Don’t blame her, Ed. I’m sure she only acted out of the vastness of her love for you. If I was in her shoes, maybe I’d have done the same thing.”

Eddie shook his head. “You wouldn’t have,” he defended. “I know you, you’re kinder than that.” He turned his heated stare on me and all I saw there was loathing. “She, on the other hand, is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

He clenched his jaw as he began moving to his bedroom, Lydia still nestled in his arms. Without looking back, he said; “Leave my house this instant and don’t try to reach me until I reach you.”

Without waiting for his last words to drop, I began walking away – there was no reason left for me to stay here. When the news of our falling out got out, my parents would be livid but I knew Grandma would take my side.

She always did and besides, she already had a countermeasure in place to help me.

With that in mind, I stepped into the night taking nothing from the house but my luggage. All the gifts he’d sent to me in the past, I left them behind. After all, he hadn’t done those out of love but because he grandfather kept mounting pressure on him.

Knowing Eddie wouldn’t appreciate it, I didn’t take any of his cars and opted to call a cab instead. I glanced out the window as we drove back to my apartment. Once we arrived at the sprawling building, I let myself out and looked up at it with a sense of longing.

Once, this two story building had been my entire life. It had been my home and my place of comfort but for the past three years since the engagement, I had never step foot in it. Instead, I’d left it in the care of my best friend.

That best friend now peeked through the blinds at me. Her eyes squinted then she came running to the door with a look of surprise on her face. When she saw me standing there, luggage in hand, she squealed.

“Adrienne!” she gasped, her eyes already teary. Seeing her at the verge of tears broke the dam inside me and I broke down myself, the tears flowing like a river down my face as she held me in her arms.

I don’t know how long we stood there crying, communicating without words all my hurt, pains and patience which resulted in nothing but more pain, but by the time the tears eventually dried out, we were both exhausted and the car had disappeared.

Arlene looked around then pulled me into the house, snatching my luggage from me. “That jerk broke your heart!” she said coldly once we were both settled on a stool in front of the kitchen counter. “I’ll kill him.”

I shook my head, sipping the steaming cup of coffees she’d given me. “There’s no need. Officially, we are still together. I don’t know if he plans to announce his relationship with Lydia in the future but for now, I have to keep going to these events with him. To keep up the charade.”

Arlene looked at me like I was completely out of my mind. “Don’t tell me you’re still trying to make the jerk fall in love with you. Addy, that –”

I patted her arm softly, urging her to drop the topic. “I’m a bit tired, Lili. Maybe tomorrow we can talk more about it? For now, I just want to… sleep and forget all about the last three years.”

Her eyes softened and she nodded as understanding dawned on her. “Alright.” She answered, standing up from the stool to stand behind me and give my shoulder a soft squeeze. “I wish I could stay with you tonight but it’s my shift at the ICU. Your room is in immaculate condition though. I cleaned it out daily.”

I smiled at her, reaching out to squeeze her hand. It was only then that I noticed the scrubs she was wearing. A wave of nostalgia hit me as I watched her. Arlene and I had graduated medical school together and while she’d went on to become a practicing nurse, I’d taken one year off to attend a culinary competition as the prodigy of one of the most renowned chefs.

Although I’d won the competition with flying colors, it didn’t matter because that same year, I threw everything away to become the fiancé of the love of my life. I regretted that decision every single day.

Just as I walked Arlene to the door, my phone buzzed with a new notification but I waited until she was gone to open it. It was a message from my mentor and looking at it shocked me. I didn’t think he would reach out to me, not after three years.

The message said he’s sent me an urgent mail and I hurried to check it.