Cathy says nothing. She looks at the floor, deep in thought. I bet even she is shocked by all the mistakes I’ve made trying to take care of Maisie.
I draw a deep breath and head to the door. “I’m going to the garden for some air. Don’t follow me. I need to be alone.”
I need to think of a way to keep my daughter. The possibility of losing her is driving me crazy. If I do lose her, I don’t know what will become of me.
~
As I head back to Cathy’s room after an hour, I feel a little calmer. I still don’t know what I’m going to do, though. maybe I’ll sleep on it. Who knows? Maybe in the morning, a solution will come to me.
I open the door. To my surprise, Cathy is still awake. She’s not even in her pajamas. She’s sitting on the edge of the bed. A suitcase sits at her feet.
A suitcase?
“What’s going on?” I ask Cathy.
She stands up. “I’m leaving.”
“What?” I let out a sigh as I scratch my head. “Cathy, please. It’s been a long day. Whatever this is, we’ll talk in the morning.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “In the morning, I’ll be gone.”
I narrow my eyes at her as I realize she’s serious. “Why are you doing this?”
Cathy draws a deep breath. “You told me to give you an answer, to carefully think about what I want. This is my answer. This is what I want – to leave. I don’t want to stay here with you, Jackson. I’m not ready for a serious, long-term relationship, and I’m not ready to… be a mother. And managing your restaurant is just too stressful for me.”
My eyes grow wide because I can’t believe my ears. Is this what Cathy really wants? Have I been burdening her all this time?
“I’m sorry, Jackson, but I’m leaving,” she tells me. “And you can’t stop me.”
My heart sinks. My face falls.
“So it’s true. You don’t love me, after all.”
“No.”
That single word feels like a cleaver cleanly chopping my heart in two.
So, all this time, Cathy’s just been – what? Tolerating me because I’m Trisha’s brother?
Then again, that’s like her. She’s always been too kind. Right now, though, that kindness feels like the cruelest thing in the world.
“I was going to wait a bit,” Cathy adds. “But it seems like things are going to be a mess around here, so I’ll just go. The sooner I leave, the better.”
I nod. There’s no point in her staying now.
She hands me a piece of paper. “I wrote Maisie a letter to say sorry for leaving. It’s up to you whether you give it to her or not.”
I take it reluctantly. I know it will break Maisie’s heart. Still, I think it’s only fair that I give it to her.
“And here’s your ring.” Cathy drops the diamond ring on top of the note on my palm. “Thank you for letting me wear it.”
I say nothing. Letting her wear it? I was the one who asked her to wear it. No. I made her wear it. All this time, I’ve been selfishly imposing my feelings and desires on her. I guess it’s for the best, then, that I set her free.
Cathy grabs the handle of her suitcase. “Goodbye, Jackson.”
“Goodbye.”
She walks past me and heads out of the room. The soft click of the door closing behind her feels as loud as the sound of a boulder being dropped on top of me, leaving me in pieces, too shattered to move.
I’ve loved Cathy for years, and just like that, she’s gone.
Gone.
Chapter 23
Cathy
The wheels of my suitcase don’t make a sound on the carpet as I pull it behind me, just as my tears trickle silently down my cheeks, just as my heart doesn’t make a sound while it continues to shatter inside my chest.
I place my hand over my chest and try to breathe.
I had no idea leaving Jackson and Maisie would hurt this much. But what choice do I have? If I don’t leave, those two are going to be separated. I can’t let that happen.
Love is a choice. You can choose to be with the people you love and make them happy, or you can choose to be away from them to make them happy.
If I have to leave Jackson and Maisie so they can be together, so be it. This is my fault anyway. It’s because of all those mean things I said to Betty that she’s trying to tear them apart. Jackson already lost his sister because of me. I’m not going to let him lose his daughter, too.
I wipe my tears and draw a deep breath.
I’m not going to let this family get torn apart because of me. First, I’m leaving this house. Then I’m talking to Betty.
~
I ring the bell at Suite 1209 and wait for someone to open the door. After a minute has passed, I ring the doorbell again. After the third ring, I hear footsteps approaching the door. A maid opens it.