I smiled, thinking about her words and how I wanted fulfillment in my life, beyond working for my parents and looking forward to a fruitless marriage to Russell.
I hated that my traitorous heart was not happy, that it was yearning for more. Why couldn’t I be satisfied with the way things were going? I had known this was my future for most of my life, and it never bothered me.
Until I’d run into Lake again.
Until I’d fucked Lake again.
“You know, I think you missed your calling. You should come to work for us here at the orphanage,” Ariel offered.
I smiled and shook my head. “No, my life plans are mapped out for me. My family needs me.”
“And what do you need, Xiomara?”
I looked away from the knowing look in her eyes, my heart aching for what she had. That true happiness. I thought about the picture of her husband on her desk. It was a picture of her and her husband and their three-year-old son at the beach. There was genuine happiness in all of their eyes.
Why couldn’t I have the career I wanted and the man of my dreams?
“I need...I need to head back into town,” I said with a smile.
Walking up to me, she grabbed my hands into her own. “I sure hope that we don’t lose you when you get married. And if you have second thoughts about coming to work for us, please know that I have a place for you here.”
“Thank you, Ariel,” I said, accepting the hug she offered.
“Okay, well, let me get back. I’d just finished a meeting with the board of directors and stepped out briefly while they voted on an important matter. But I’m pretty sure they’re finished now,” she said, rushing out of the room.
“All right. See you next week,” I called after her.
I barely heard her mumbled reply before I turned off the lights and headed to the parking lot. The half-hour trip back to Sunset Harbor would give me plenty of time to think.
“Come on!” I cried out, banging my hand on the steering wheel when the engine wouldn’t turn over.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t taken as good care of my 2011 BMW 740i as I should have. It had seen me through some of the best and worst of times. It looked as if now was one of the worst times. I just needed it to get me home. If it could do that much, then I would go shopping for another vehicle tomorrow.
My mom had been all over me about buying a new car. I knew my parents would purchase a new one, and all I needed to do was say the word.
But I was determined to be as financially independent as I could be. It was bad enough that I was still living with them and paying no expenses. My parents expected my sister and me to remain home, as they ensured that we remained virtuous.
That was a joke.
We could have moved out on our own if we wanted, but they were happier this way.
Unfortunately, I’d inherited my father’s miserly ways. So, I’d put off several things that should have been important. This was also why I didn’t want to call a cab, and Uber didn’t run to the little town of Sunset Harbor.
Turning the ignition again, I bit on my bottom lip, sending up a whispered prayer that it would start.
Nothing.
Popping the hood, I got out of the car with my phone and looked underneath. I had no idea what I was doing or looking at. But somehow, looking under the hood made me feel accomplished.
I dialed my father first because I knew that he was in Durham earlier handling business, but I received his voicemail. Glancing at the time on my phone, I realized he was probably in a meeting or a business lunch. Not that a call from me would warrant an emergency in his book.
I opted to call my mother next.
“Hello?”
“Mom, my car broke down.”
“Oh, no, honey. I’ve told you you needed a new one. But you wouldn’t listen.”
I rolled my eyes. I knew she meant well, but now was not the time for a lecture.
“Where are you?” she asked as if she suddenly remembered my predicament.
“In Durham.”
“Have you tried calling your father?”
“Yes, and I got the voicemail.”
“Oh, darling, Senait and I are in New York,” she said, reminding me she was attending a fashion show there.
I’d forgotten my mother and sister had left early for the airport this morning.
“Ohhh, what am I going to do,” I groaned.
“Have you tried calling Russell?”
Rolling my eyes, I bit my bottom lip. “I hadn’t.”
“You should get used to it. He will soon be your husband.”
“All right. I will,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
“Call me back and let me know what he says.”
I dialed Russell next.
“Hello?”
“Russell, it’s me, Xiomara. My car broke down in Durham. Is there a way that you can come and get me?”
“Um...I can’t right now. My father just called an important business meeting, and I don’t know when I’ll be free again. Have you tried your parents?”
“Yes, I did, and they can’t come.”
“Is there someone else who could be there for you?”
Damn, it should’ve been you, I thought but didn’t say. We’d never relied on each other before.
“Um, sure. I’ll figure something out.”
“Okay, well, just let me know when you get back safely, all right?”
Rolling my eyes, I inhaled deeply and forced a smile into my voice when I said, “Sure.”
It took everything in my power not to disconnect the call on him.
“All right, I’ll talk to you this evening.”
“Okay, goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” he said, ending the call.
Tears stung the backs of my eyes as my frustration pooled inside of me. Slamming the hood down, I headed back to the driver’s side. Pulling the door open, I tossed my phone to the passenger seat as I tried to think of
