8. Chapter Eight
Chapter eight
Inés
My brother Teddy lives in the Bronx, in a duplex he bought at auction and renovated himself over a decade. He works as a public defender, so his days are spent dealing with the fallout of other people's bad decisions. It makes him a patient man.
When I call him and ask if he can help me grab some things from the loft, he doesn't ask questions.
"Sure thing, sis. When do you need me?"
I tell him tomorrow is good, but I know he'll be outside in a moment, dropping what he was doing to help me. I smile a little. It's just like him, always ready to drop everything for family.
And in the back of my mind, I can't help but think, What if I had gone to Teddy before I married Harrison? Would he have seen the signs of what was coming and warned me? Or would I have ignored his advice anyway?
I'll never know. But as I wait for him to arrive, I feel a strange mix of guilt and relief wash over me.
Guilt, because I've neglected my relationship with Teddy these past few years, caught up in my own world.
Relief, because no matter what happens with Harrison, at least I still have my brother on my side.
When his old Jeep pulls up outside the shop, I go out to meet him, wrapping my arms around his big frame in a hug. He's still a head taller than me, even though we're both adults now. Some things never change.
"Hey, sis," he says, his voice low and comforting as he hugs me back. "You okay?"
I nod against his chest. "I'm okay," I say softly, knowing he won't push for more than that.
We head up to the loft together, using my keys to let ourselves in.
It's midday, and Harrison is at the office, so the place is empty and quiet, but it's more than that.
Without him here to fill it with his voice, his energy, his presence, the loft feels hollowed out.
Like a stage set waiting for an actor who never shows.
The life we built here is all around me, but it doesn't feel like mine anymore.
Teddy doesn't comment on it as we walk through the rooms, collecting my clothes and personal items into boxes. But I can tell he's taking note of everything, storing it away in that quiet way he does when he's worried about someone.
When we get to the guest bedroom, he stops short when he sees the violin case under the bed. He looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "This yours?"
I blush, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Yeah... I haven't played in ages though."
He picks up the case, dusting it off with gentle hands. "You should," he says simply, holding it out to me. "Music is good for the soul."
I take it from him, my fingers tracing the familiar lines of the case. It's been so long since I even opened it up. Too long.
"Thanks, Teddy." I smile up at him, grateful for this small reminder that there's more to me than just my work at L&B.
I move with a bit more haste realizing Harrison might know I was here by now. We load everything into his Jeep, and just as we're about to leave, I remember the manuscript, the one I started years ago before I met Harrison and put aside for the sake of my job.
It's still in my old laptop, buried under layers of newer files. I hesitate, unsure if I want to see it again after all this time.
But Teddy is waiting patiently by the door, giving me space to make my own decision.
I take it and follow him out of the loft. It feels like I'm leaving behind a chapter of my life that feels finished now.
***
Back at the bookshop, I thank Teddy again and watch him drive away. He waves one last time before disappearing around the corner.
I stand there for a moment, feeling the weight of what I've done today finally settling on me. I've packed up my things, taken back a piece of myself from Harrison's world. And it feels both terrifying and exhilarating.
Ruth finds me staring at the empty sidewalk, a curious expression on my face.
"You good, girlie?" she asks gently, standing beside me.
I nod slowly, then smile. "Yeah," I say softly. "I think so."
She squeezes my arm and guides me back inside the store, where she makes me another cup of coffee as I sit down with my laptop in the back room.
It's time to start something new. And this time, it'll be for me.
I open my laptop and navigate to the folder where I kept my half-written novel. The last time I opened it was...god, years ago? Before Harrison even entered my life. I read over what little I have, feeling both nostalgia and bit of regret.
I thought I'd left my dreams of writing behind, trading them for the more practical job at Locke & Burgess. But maybe now, after all this time...I can try again. Maybe this is my chance to reclaim what I lost along the way.
So, with a deep breath, I delete the last few paragraphs and start typing fresh words. These new words are mine alone, not shaped or edited by anyone else's expectations.