“Cut the crap,” she says. “It’s not possible to go from madly in love to utterly detached overnight.”
“Maybe for some people, but when I make up my mind, it’s set. Now is there anything else you wish to discuss? Because I’m really quite busy today. The conference set me back on my correspondence.”
“Fine. If that’s how you want to be, I’ll leave you to it,” Tessa says. “Just know that I’ll be here when you’re ready to fall apart.”
“Won’t happen.”
“Good God, you are so much more like your brother than I ever thought.”
“Am not.”
“Are too, but I love you both anyway.”
With that, she hangs up. I stare at my computer screen, knowing I’ll likely have a parade of concerned family members and the P.R. gurus trying to see me all day, which is exactly why I sent the notice when I did—because I’ll be in meetings from now until after five this evening. My hope is, by then, they’ll have forgotten about this and moved on with their lives so I can avoidthatconversation.
Ha! And here is my first appointment now. Oh, no it’s not. It’s Mrs. Chapman. I hope she doesn’t want to talk about my silly break up. She strides across the room, holding a file folder.
“Oh, I hope you’re not going to bring up the email I just sent because I really don’t want to discuss it.”
“I hadn’t planned on it,” she says.
“Good, because I’ve written all I plan to say on the matter,” I say, taking the folder from her.
And then, for some strange reason, I find myself telling her the entire story from start to finish (save the bit about my mum). I go on and on, even though I know I should stop, but she’s such a wise person that I’m hoping she’ll have some nugget of wisdom that will save me from my grief. Also, she can’t tell anyone on account of the NDA the staff had to sign.
Finally, I end by saying, “So, it was very clear that, although he’s undoubtedly a good man, he’s not the right man for me. I truly need someone who sees me as more of an equal partner than what Will’s willing to do. Oh, that’s funny, I just said Will’s willing. Anyway…”
Mrs. Chapman blinks at me a few times, then says, “The Minister of Education is here to discuss your participation in National Learning Day.”
Oh fuck. “Brilliant, please send him in.”
Okay, that’s it. Not another word about him.
* * *
“…It’s been a week since we broke up. Well, if you want to get technical, it’s actually been eight days, six hours, and twelve minutes, but who’s counting? Ha ha. Certainly not me. And don’t worry, I’m not devastated at all. In fact, I feel very strong. Very strong indeed, knowing that I made the very best choice possible for the new me. We women have to learn to hear our own voices. Yes, that’s the secret to greatness. But just out of curiosity, doyouthink I made the right decision?”
Yvonne, my maid, stares at me, her arms full of clean towels.
Apparently, I’m not done just yet…
She gives me a thoughtful look. “I…well, honestly, Your Highness, if you don’t mind me saying, it seems to me that, other than his unfortunate decision not to tell you what was going on, he did act as a very good partner in that he knew you were busy with something of vital importance, so he quickly changed his plans and took care of something on your behalf. Depending on how you look at it, he actuallywasviewing you as an equal because he was valuing what you were doing in Vienna. My boyfriend never would have stepped up like that, to be honest. He would’ve insisted that I come back and deal with it myself. But then, my job isn’t as important as what you’re doing for the United Nations, now is it?”
“No, it’s absolutely vital, Yvonne. I probably don’t tell you often enough, but I appreciate you greatly.”
“Thanks, Miss. I should get going though. My shift ended half an hour ago.”
“Right. Sorry to have kept you.”
“That’s all right,” she says, walking to the closet to deposit the towels. “Good luck with your decision.”
“Thanks.”
Well, bugger. NowI’mconfused.
28
All by Myself…Don’t Wanna Be…
