Chapter Twenty-Four

 

Melissa wrapped tissue paper around the vase and tucked the excess into the opening, making sure the fit was snug. She handed the vase to Pam, who placed it in the last of the boxes. “Okay, I think we’re all finished, and it only took us a week. I couldn’t have done it without you, Pam. Everything I need is packed and all ready to go.”

Pam stood in the middle of the living room with her hands on her curvy hips. The room was nearly empty. “I figure I owe you since you let me stay here while all my stuff was on its way across the country. Besides, when I was falling to pieces, you helped pull me together.”

“I’m not falling to pieces,” Melissa huffed.

“Just because you keep your emotions inside doesn’t mean you’re handling everything. I know you pretty well, Melissa, and I bet you’re still crying every night.”

“Then you’d just lose your money, because I’m not.”

“Okay, most nights then. You think I can’t hear you down the hall.”

“Bunking in the spare bedroom doesn’t give you permission to eavesdrop on me.”

“I can hear you without leaving the bed.” Pam sat back down on the floor beside her. “I can’t believe how this all turned out. I’m more surprised by what happened with you and Darius than I am with what happened with Steve and me. I just knew you guys would live happily ever after. If you two couldn’t, then nobody can.”

“I’m not co-signing on your statement. Look at Asa and Simeon. They are happy. And Dakota and Bishop seem quite blissful too. We just have to find the right person.” She taped the flaps on the box. “I even understand why Darius is so angry. He thinks I betrayed him. And maybe I did. I knew I should have told him about seeing a lawyer. I kept waiting for the right time. I just didn’t trust our love enough to tell him. Now, I feel betrayed. He should have let me explain what I was going through. But he still won’t talk to me, and it’s been months.”

“Maybe one day you’ll get the chance. You still love him, don’t you?”

Melissa fought the tears collecting in her eyes and nodded.

The room minus the furniture looked just as abandoned as she felt. Not a day went by when she didn’t still dial Darius’s number. But she’d stopped sharing that information so her friends and sisters wouldn’t think she was desperate. “I’ll always love Darius. One day he just might forgive me. But, I’ll never live in another person’s shadow.”

“And what are you going to do until then?”

“I’m going to start my life over again in Philly. I’m going to open the gallery like I planned, on South Street. I lost the deal with Vincent Michaels, another thing I can blame Darius for. Anyway, all this must be some kinda sign and I just haven’t figured it out yet. I bet Mim would have a saying for this very thing, and I’m going to figure out what it is.”

“You make starting over sound so easy.”

“It won’t be. With the gallery and moving, I have to live on a budget now. No more huge shopping sprees and designer shoes.” She displayed her flip-flops. “I’ll be fine and soon I’ll start to believe it,” she said.

“I still don’t understand why we can’t be roommates in Philly.”

Melissa ran her finger along the tape, pressing it firmly in place. “The last thing we need is to become crutches for each other. Until we both are able to put our lives back together, we need to live in separate places. Our condos are only a few blocks apart.”

“Still no word from Darius?” Pam asked.

She bit her bottom lip. “No. But he had Dan call to arrange pick up for some of his things. He was more interested in getting his precious record player than he was in hearing anything I had to say.”

“Do you think you guys will ever talk? I just can’t imagine ending a marriage without a discussion.” Pam shook her head.

“It’s been two months now. Talking seems so inadequate. The things we needed to say should have been said weeks ago.” Melissa unfolded her legs and stood. She swayed and rested her hands on her knees until her head stopped spinning.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I think I stood up too fast.” Melissa took a deep breath.

“When are you going to see a doctor? The lightheadedness, the upset stomach, and the no appetite thing is getting old.”

“As soon as I get settled. Can you blame me for being discombobulated? Look at my life.” She threw her hands up.

“So, you get to keep the dog?”

“I think he would have asked for him back too, but you can’t put him in a box and ship him. Besides, I dare him to take Turbo. I’ve spent more time with that dog than he has.” She rubbed the dog’s head.

Pam laid flat against the floor and placed her hands behind her head. “Aren’t you just a little scared of the future?”

“I’m scared to death, Pam.”