Chapter 36A
ROXY
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The door had closed, and Roxy was just standing there, totally frozen.
Was that a real event that just took place?
Was Ellen truly here to visit her?
Did she agree to go on a date with Roxy?
Did Roxy pledge to cease telling further lies?
Roxy hurried to the living room window, catching the sight of Ellen slipping into the back of a sleek black saloon car. Their eyes connected for a moment. Yes. Yeah, it all happened.
The years eroded Roxy's memory, making her forget the profound feeling of love for life she was living right now.
She was single, openly in love with Ellen Caldwell, and finally had the chance to show it to her.
She made a solemn vow to herself: Ellen would never see her like this version of her again, perhaps the most dangerous version of Roxy—the self-destructive one.
Her phone buzzed and shook. She'd hated it just an hour ago, but now it made her happy.
Charles Roberts - 3:06 PM Kim and I are heading to the house tonight. Want to make sure if it's OK with you first? We could grab dinner on our way and eat together.
She stared at the screen for a moment, and something changed inside her. A quiet determination washed over her. Roxy wanted Charles to see the Roxy he had known long ago, or perhaps a Roxy he hadn't fully known yet.
She also wanted Kimberly to see a better version of herself than she'd been allowed to see until now. She didn't want perfection, just proof she was back and, above all, she was trying to be the real Roxy again.
Roxanne Powell - 3:08 PM What a wonderful idea. Don't bother about the food; I am taking care of it.
Charles Roberts - 3:09 PM Are you sure?
A quick glance around made her realize the overwhelming scope of her mission. She had really let herself go, knowing that Charles had spent the last week at Kimberly's. So, there was a lot of work to do to get herself and the house back in order.
Roxanne Powell - 3:09 PM Definitely, but maybe aim for 7:30?
Charles Roberts - 3:10 PM All good.
She put herself in hyperconcentration mode. All that matters now were the tasks and the actions, as she would do without a highly sensitive mission.
She began by showering, which was the first time she had done so in three days.
She hoped to clean off the muck and disgrace.
The shampoo and conditioner made her hair feel so good; it was like it was weeping with happiness.
That was all she needed to feel more energized.
Roxy felt a lightness she hadn't experienced in ages, possibly even before Ellen became a part of her life in December 2024.
She then tackled the house, her hands slick with suds as she scrubbed the floors and wiped down every surface. After doing the dishes, she gathered her laundry that had been strewn about. She even got around to unpacking the remaining bags she had ignored after her return.
She looked at her watch and planned the rest of the sequence in her head.
Her plan was to cook veal parmigiana, Charles's most loved dish.
So, the next step was somewhat more difficult: leaving the house to go to Woolworths.
It may have been only three blocks away, but it was her first outing in days, and she found it deeply satisfying.
She pulled her damp hair back, grabbed her wallet, and left the house.
She efficiently shopped, getting all her ingredients for a swift return home and cooking. She wrapped up cooking and cleaning with twenty-five minutes to spare before 7:30. Tonight was a celebration, so she hastened to set the table using the special cutlery and crockery.
Now, all she had to do was wait.
The front door opened quietly, but Roxy immediately stood up with Olympian calm. She adjusted the clean shirt she had just put on one last time, took a deep breath, and waited for them to join her in the living room.
A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach as she felt her nervousness grow.
She yearned to take them completely by surprise.
Roxy was eager to prove to them that she had returned to life.
Charles and Kimberly were probably expecting to find the ghost they had been dealing with over the past few weeks.
Perhaps this forced stay at home was even an excuse to come and cheer Roxy up.
Charles entered the kitchen and stopped short, as if he had mistakenly entered someone else's house.
"What's happened here, for Christ's sake?" he said, still stunned.
Roxy's soft smile spread gently at the edges, revealing her genuine happiness. "Oh, come on, I just cooked, did some cleaning, and washed myself. No big deal." But it was a real big deal for Roxy.
He locked eyes with her for a long time, his gaze piercing and inquisitive. Suddenly, something inside him snapped, and he stepped forward, prompting Roxy to do the same. She put her arms around him, not tightly, just to reassure him. As if it were the only thing she knew how to do at that moment.
But Charles wasn't satisfied with that. He hugged her without hesitation, and Roxy felt the knot in her chest loosen.
"I don't know what you said to her, but thank you so much," she whispered in his ear. "You just saved my life, Charles."
Roxy knew she wasn't living in a fairy tale; nothing was settled, and Ellen and she weren't suddenly reunited. But she said yes to the possibility. Despite the difficulties, the possibility of a future existed again. It wasn't guaranteed or planned, but it was still there.