“I—” A knock on Jack’s window startles us, breaking up our moment.
“Sorry, Mr. Peters, are you able to move? Or at least pull over to the side, please.”
He gives the valet a curt nod, and then we’re off.
“I promise we’ll talk. But, B, give me some time to process everything that’s going on with me. It’s a big deal.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want.”
“It is, but I won’t keep you waiting for long. And I’m sorry again for today. For all of it.”
* * *
I’ve been tossing and turning all night. You would think I’d have passed out quickly, considering I’ve been up since the early hours. Only, I can’t get Jack’s words out of my head:It’s a big deal.
What’s a big deal, goddamnit?
I hate waiting, and I wouldn’t say I like surprises.
Only… I could tell by his vulnerability that he needed my acceptance of giving him this time with his thoughts.
So, while he’s contemplating life, my mind is in detective mode, and the only moving parts I have so far lead me to one thing.
The big deal is about…me.
5
Annabelle
“Hey,I’m leaving for my flight soon. Fancy a quick cuppa before I leave?” I swing my head into Lola’s office and freeze on the spot when I see the tears running down her cheeks. “Lo,” I say, lowering my voice. “What’s going on, darling?”
Startled by my sudden appearance, she doesn’t have a chance to wipe her tears to try and hide the evidence.
It’s too late. I’ve seen it, and I’m not giving her a pass like I have all week. “Can you please talk to me? You’ve been upset, and I don’t know how to help you. I can’t leave you like this.”
“I’m a good person, right?” she questions.
“The best,” I quickly reply, confused as to why she would ask such a thing.
“Then why can’t I find someone who wants to stick around? I want the happily ever after and the two-point-five kids. I don’t want this crazy city life if I’m all alone. I’m not happy, Belle.”
Sorrow tears my insides apart, my heart breaking for my sweet Lola.
I’ve known she’s been struggling for a while, but I wasn’t sure how to help her. I never want to seem insensitive, because Lola and I have very different views on the outcome of our lives, so I thought not saying anything was best.
Where she would have been happy marrying her uni boyfriend and having kids before twenty-two. I, on the other hand, cringe at the thought of settling for anything less than everything.
Don’t get me wrong, I want that. Maybe not the kids, but the husband… the partnership. The difference is that I wanted to establish my life and business first so I can stand on my own two feet if needed.
I never want to be in a position where I’m forced to rely on someone else.
Luckily my mum comes from money, because when my dad left, he took everything. He was spiteful and manipulative, even though he was the cheater.
But I can’t help but think… what if she didn’t?
What if my mum didn’t have the money, the security, and the support of her family when she went through what she did?
Would her depression over the situation with my dad have spiraled into something far greater than it was? My mum didn’t have much of an identity besides being a dutiful wife and mother, and because of that, I knew I never wanted to be in that situation.
