“Atlas, the man who loves your sister and not you?” Tina bites back with laughter. “You did always want to be like Theadora. I guess having a man who loves her should do it for you.”
Lucy’s eyes narrow and she looks behind Tina, finally noticing me. “You going to let your friend talk to me this way?” Her eyes pin me to the spot.
Tina looks back to me when I say nothing, then she glances back at Lucy. “Now, what do you want? Before I kick you out, pregnant and all.” Tina smiles as Lucy looks down at the floor then back to me, ignoring Tina.
“He asked me to move in with him. To live with him,” she says, smiling. “Thea, I need my baby things, I know you kept them.”
“Nope, nope, nope, not a chance. Goodbye.” Tina attempts to shut the door, but Lucy stops her, putting her hand between the door and the frame. “I will cut your hand off and not care one iota, just try me,” Tina threatens.
“Thea, I want my things… the ones you kept.”
I didn’t keep much. Our mother had a box for each of us containing our favorite clothes, and photographs from when we were babies. I kept Lucy’s here at my house. I also kept mine, so when I have my own child one day, I can pass something down even if it is small.
Spinning around, I walk away, going to my closet and pulling out the box. When I step back out, Tina’s still looking at Lucy, as if she is ready to tackle her. When I go to hand her the box, she shakes her head. “Oh no, I can’t carry that. I’m pregnant.”
Tina swears under her breath as Lucy starts walking off to a car. I realize immediately whose car it is. She opens the passenger door and waves for me to put it inside, and I stand there shocked. Atlas is sitting in the driver’s seat and doesn’t even look my way. I drop the box on the ground and lean down so I can see him.
“You carry her box, you piece of shit.” I flip him off, turn, and walk away.
Tina laughs, and when she sees me watching, she quickly covers it up and follows me back inside the house, shutting the door behind us.
“You know she only did that to rub it in your face, right? She doesn’t want the baby stuff, she just wanted to show you she had him,” Tina says.
“I hate her,” I say through gritted teeth while pacing back and forth.
“About time.” She laughs. Reaching for her purse, she kisses my cheek and says, “I’ll be back, stay here.”
I spend the rest of the day in bed doing nothing. Tina announces herself when she arrives back and comes straight into my room. In her hand, she’s holding a suitcase and paperwork.
“Do you plan to tell me why Lucy was with him?” Tina asks.
“Her husband was Atlas’ cousin.”
“So, of course, she is using that to her advantage,” Tina says, sitting next to me. “You go to work tomorrow, yeah?”
“Yep.” I nod.
“And you have given your two weeks’ notice?”
“Yep,” I reply again, not wanting to talk about any of this shit for longer than necessary.
“Okay, this is for you.” Tina hands me the paperwork she’s holding. “You have to take it, and don’t try to give it back because its paid for and finalized.” I open one of the envelopes and pull out an airline ticket, followed by a document. Looking up to Tina, her eyes are wide, and she looks hopeful.
“You shouldn’t have,” I say.
Tina reaches and pulls it out fully. “It’s an around-the-world ticket, stopping in some of the places you’ve always wanted to go.”
For the first time in days, I smile as I start reading.
“I can’t accept it. At least let me give you some money for it.”
Tina waves her hand. “I got a big contract. Massive actually.”
My eyes go wide. “Oh my God, how come you never told me?”
Tina’s cheeks go red as she looks down at the floor.
“Atlas got it for me. I was planning to tell you, but then…” she trails off.
“I get it, but it’s good news for you, right? This is what you wanted. You are an official party planner, making good money now.” I smile.
“Yes, and now I get to give my best friend a present she truly deserves. Think of this as your combined birthday and Christmas present.”
“Now, my present will seem like shit next to yours.” I laugh, then lean over and wrap my arm around her, squeezing her body tight and holding her to me.
“This way you don’t have to sell, you can simply travel. And then when you’re back, you can decide what to do.”
I nod. There’s money in my bank from Nicholas, which I never touched. And I still don’t know if I should, though it’s not like I can give it back. Plus, I’ve made extra payments on my house which will cover me for a few weeks. And if worse comes to worst, I have savings.