It’s Only Make Believe

Chapter 34

Chapter

Thirty-Four

TIA

I texted Louisa earlier and asked if I could come to her place and talk to her, but she said she was out and that she would come to mine once she was done. It’s just after six o’clock and she’s here now. I kind of hoped to catch her within the working day so I could ask for her help in getting her father to not fire Luke. Whatever consequences there are for Louisa and me are deserved because we did this. Luke did nothing wrong.

I press the unlock button on the intercom and open my front door and wait for Louisa to come up. I can hear her heels clicking on the stairs and then she’s there and I feel tears prickle in the corners of my eyes at the sight of her.

“The shit has really hit the fan Lou,” I say.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” she says.

She comes towards me, and I think she’s going to hug me, but instead, she just walks past me and goes into my living room. I close my front door and start to follow her, but then I think of a better idea, and I pop to the kitchen and grab a bottle of left over Chablis from my book club meeting and two glasses and then I go to the living room. Louisa and I sit in silence while I pour the drinks and then I finally force myself to look at her.

“How did you find out?” I say.

“My father called me. I missed his call, but he left a voice mail giving me the basic gist of it. I haven’t called him back yet. I figured it would make sense to get the full story first. So, what happened?” Louisa asks.

“Justin fucking happened. You were right about him. He wanted to get back with me, and when I refused, he decided to implode my whole life,” I say.

“Wait, I don’t get it. How did Justin know?” Louisa says. My face must say it all. “Oh, I see.”

“I’m sorry. It just kind of slipped out,” I say.

Louisa shrugs.

“It’s ok. You thought you could trust him. But I still don’t get how he thought getting you fired would make you want to get back with him,” Louisa says.

Here comes the tough part. I take a big gulp of wine.

“Well, you see, the thing is, I don’t think that was his main aim. I’ve been seeing Luke, and Justin wanted to break us up. He tried …” I’m saying when Louisa cuts in, her face a mask of anger.

“Wait. You’re dating Luke? While he thinks you’re me?” she snaps.

I nod.

“I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how you would react,” I say.

“Do you know Neil and I nearly broke up because of you?” Louisa says. She’s getting really angry now. “He half knows Luke. They move in similar circles. And he heard a rumor that Luke and I were dating. He thought I was cheating on him. In the end, the only way I could prove my innocence was to tell him the truth – that Luke doesn’t even know who I am and if anyone asked him, he would point to you.”

“I’m so sorry,” I say. “God I’ve really messed everything up.”

I try to stop myself from crying, but I can’t. Sobs wrack my body, and I just want to go to bed and curl up in a ball and stay there.

“No, come on Tee, don’t cry,” Louisa says. “I’m sorry. I know this was my idea not yours so if anything, all of this is my fault.”

“I’m the one who told Justin,” I say.

“And I’m the one who talked you into doing it,” Louisa says. She smiles at me. “How about we agree that we both fucked up?”

I smile back and nod.

“Are you and Neil ok now?” I ask.

“No,” Louisa says. “But it’s not because of this. We just kind of fizzled out.”

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“I’m not,” Louisa says. “Let’s not waste any more time talking about him. That’s another mess that’s been cleaned up, just like this one.”

“What am I going to do about Luke though,” I say.

“I can save his job easily enough. Let me talk to my father real quick, and as for you two being together, I guess you just have to hope he likes you more than he hates what you’ve done,” Louisa says.

It’s all I can do really, but I kind of hoped Louisa would have some miracle solution for me. I top up our glasses and sit back and sip my wine while Louisa gets her cell phone out and calls her father.

“Hi Daddy,” she says, putting the call on speaker phone. “How’s Europe?”

“Never mind bloody Europe girl. I know about the stunt you pulled. And I say you because I don’t blame Tia for a second. I know this was all you,” he says.

I feel a bit better for that one. At least Enrique isn’t mad at me too.

“I can explain,” Louisa says. “I know you think I’m work shy or whatever, but that just isn’t true.”

“And you thought having someone pretend to be you and doing the job I got for you would prove this, did you?” he snaps, not sounding convinced. I have to say he makes a good point, but Louisa isn’t done yet.

“That’s it, though. The job you got for me. I would have always felt like I was being judged as your daughter rather than as myself. So, I found my own internship and I didn’t tell you because I was afraid that I would fail, so I let you think I was doing the one you got me, and I haven’t failed. I have actually got an offer from them too and I’m trying to choose between them. And I knew Tia needed an internship as much as I did so I offered her the one you got me,” she says.

My mouth drops open. God she’s good.

“But why didn’t you just tell me Tia was taking the internship? Do you think I would have stood in her way?” Enrique says.

“No, but you would have demanded to know why I wasn’t taking it,” she says. “I’m really sorry I lied, but I hope you understand why I did it.”

Enrique sighs.

“I understand,” he says, and he actually sounds pleased when he goes on. “So, you have two offers now?”

“Yes,” Louisa says. “I’m kind of hoping you can give me some advice on which one to take when you come home.”

“My clever girl. Of course I will,” he says.

“One other thing,” Louisa says. “Please don’t fire Luke. He had no idea about any of this. I mean what would you have said on Tia’s first day if he had called you and basically said this girl is too white to be your daughter and you had adopted her or something?”

“Ok, ok, point taken,” Enrique says. “I won’t fire Luke. And seeing as Tia is almost my adopted daughter at this point anyway, I don’t want any of the money back.”

“What money?” Louisa says.

“The wages. The internship was unpaid, but I knew you would never agree to do that, so I paid the wages,” he says.

I gasp and put my hand over my mouth.

“Oh my God, I swear I will pay the money back Mr Sanchez,” I say.

“Oh, you’re here Tia,” he says. “You will do no such thing, and let’s drop the Mr Sanchez thing ok? Like I said, you’re practically family girl.”

“O … OK,” I stutter. “Thank you so much.”

“No more scheming you two, ok?” he says.

We both laugh and promise him no more schemes and then he and Louisa say their goodbyes and she ends the call.

“I feel awful now,” I say.

“About the money?” Louisa asks and I nod. “Look I’m not trying to knock what my dad has done because I think it’s very sweet of him, but it’s pocket change to him Tee. Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s not that. I mean he’s giving me that money and we’re still lying to him,” I say.

“Oh God, what haven’t you told me?” Louisa says.

“Nothing,” I say. “I meant your internship and second job offer.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Louisa says. “It’s why I’m never around when you call me through the working day.”

“Oh wow. You dark horse,” I laugh. “Congratulations.”

I clink my glass off hers and we drink.

“I’ll text Luke and tell him his job is safe,” I say. “At least that bit is corrected. Now I just have to get him to forgive me and find a new job and everything is good.”

“To everything being good again,” Louisa says, raising her glass again. We clink again, but this time, it doesn’t really feel like a celebration to me.