Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Audrey
A week later, I was standing in the middle of my tiny apartment’s living room. I hadn’t missed it. I never did and I knew it was time for me to move on. I was moving on from Brian, the school, and now my home. Everything in this little space meant nothing to me. There were a bunch of boxes in the back of my SUV but it didn’t even matter. The things I cared about would probably fit in one box. As quickly as I could, I snapped pictures of my furniture and posted them for sale on the little community’s social media page. I posted them cheaply too; I didn’t want to worry about haggling or anything. I wanted it all gone as soon as possible. The faster I got this done with, the quicker I could get out of this town, and begin the rest of my life.
A resignation letter sat on my passenger seat, and I planned to see Carina’s mother before I left as well. If anyone could talk some sense into her, it would be me.
I piled up all of my belongings that I would need in my new life, wherever that ended up. My coffee pot, framed pictures of my family. The ones with Brian would go straight into the dumpster. A few of my house plants could come with. I grabbed my flattened pillows that were worn in just right and of course all of my blankets. I had a few books, but the rest were in my classroom. Many of the things that meant the most to me were in my classroom, starting with my students. There was no reason to say goodbye, I hadn’t met this year’s class, but I felt sad all the same. Teaching was such a big part of my life, but I knew it was just time to move on.
With rising anxiety, I clicked my mom’s contact in my phone to FaceTime. After a few rings, there was no answer. It was somewhat of a relief. The bruising was completely gone from my face and I was ready to talk to my parents since everything happened. Now was the time.
I looked over the pile of things in the middle of the room. I didn’t even need my clothes in the closet. I wrapped my arms around the clothes there and left them in a huge pile in the center of the room. They were nice and professional clothing but nothing like the quality of clothes Carina bought me. There was no point in even bringing them back with me to her home. I could donate it all to the church around the corner. I deleted the listing of items and, instead, dialed the church’s number before thinking better of it. As soon as I called the church, book club would be called immediately and the whole town would know I was leaving.
Everything I actually wanted took no time to be loaded into the car. I jogged back to the apartment complex and knocked on the office door on the first floor. Mr. Aims opened the door and blinked at the sunlight. “Ms. Wilde, how can I help you?”
“I’m going to call the church and donate all of my belongings to them in a bit. When they come, can you let them in?”
“What if they don’t take everything or make a mess?” He pushed his wireframe glasses up his nose and squinted down at me.
“I don’t need my deposit back,” I shrugged. I was ready to be done with everything.
“Thank you for being such a good tenant. I’m guessing you won’t be renewing your lease next month?”
I shook my head. “Thank you for taking care of this for me!”
Just as I was rounding the corner to get to my SUV, Brian came into view. I almost slid to a stop. My hands shook as I wiped them down the front of my jeans. What the hell did he think he was doing? I hadn’t answered his calls for a reason. I was planning to break things off on my way out of this place.
“Hi,” He straightened up. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his suit was wrinkled. His eyes searched my finger for the ring that exploded in the sky. “I’ve been trying to call you.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and scowled at him. “I thought Ace told you to never talk to me again.”
He looked down at his shoes. “Yeah, he did. I didn’t think he would tell you about that.”
I shrugged. “He just told me what he said to you, nothing else.”
His eyes flicked to the backseat of my vehicle. “Are you going somewhere?”
Why was this so hard? Why did it matter? He’d hurt me and alluded to doing it again if I didn’t start doing what he said to do. I didn’t want this man. I hadn’t wanted this man in a long time. I wanted this man because I thought I needed him. I wanted this man because I thought my time was up and that this was all I had. Now that Carina wasn’t in this small town, it no longer mattered to me. My parents and siblings left a long time ago and didn’t look back. The only thing that kept me here was him and he couldn’t even give me an orgasm. That was almost more important than anything else.
“I’m leaving.”
“Me or this town?”
Here we go.
“Both.”
He nodded his head and I took a hesitant step away from him, afraid he would swing at me or try something stupid out of anger. The man I thought I knew didn’t exist. “I don’t think I loved you.”
A laugh escaped me. “What the fuck?”
His lips screwed up, disgusted. “I definitely didn’t love that mouth.”
I wanted to rear back and slap the hell out of him, but instead, I shook my head and laughed again. “Okay, Brian. I hope you find the nice, obedient wife you always wanted.”
He went to say something and I held my hand up to stop him as I unlocked my car and got in the driver’s seat. If he tried anything, I would hit him with my car. “I don’t need to hear it. I’m over it. I’ve been over it. You suck in every aspect of your life except maybe your career. I don’t know. What I do know is that you are terrible in bed and you hit like a bitch.”
He stared at me as I slammed my door closed and started my car. He gaped at me like a fish. “What about the ring?” He shouted on the other side of the glass.
I rolled down the window just a little bit. “Oh, that fake piece of shit? It’s in pieces covering the Cristof’s estate in New York. I’m sure if you go up there to try to piece it back together, they’ll kill you.” I shrugged. “But what do I know?”
Without looking back, I drove straight to Carina’s mom’s house. I hoped she would let me spend the night or I would be driving to New York earlier than I planned. I hit the number to the church and Mrs. Mareen answered.
“Oak View Methodist Church, how can I help you?” Her southern drawl almost melted my cold interior.
“Hi, Mrs. Mareen, this is Audrey Wilde, I was calling to let you know I have an entire apartment of clothes, shoes, and furniture to donate.”
“Oh! Ms. Wilde, are you moving in with Brian so soon? Do you have a date picked out?”
I let out a breath. “Actually, Mrs. Mareen, Brian is a piece of crap and I dumped him this morning after he hit me last weekend and left bruises all over my face.”
She gasped into the phone and then lowered her voice. “Good for you, honey! You were always too good for him. I take it you’re moving out of town?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good for you! You were always too good for this town too. Thank you for the generous donation. I’ll keep you in my prayers for whatever comes next on your journey.”
“Thank you!”
Maybe Mrs. Mareen wasn’t a part of the book club after all.
Carina’s mom was working a double. I had to hunt her down at the diner. She would hardly look at me. I switched tables six times before she finally came over to take my order, which I didn’t even want. It looked like my chances of spending the night at her house were slim.
I slapped my menu down on the table. Mrs. Phipps stared down at me with tired eyes, her pen poised and ready to write my order. “You missed Carina trying on wedding dresses.” Her eyes grew glassy as she blinked rapidly.
“I can’t do it,” she whispered.
I pointed to the seat across from me. “Why don't you sit for a second and if they have anything to say about it, you can quit like I did and go live with your daughter. Live out the rest of your days in luxury. You’ve worked hard enough to take the load off, Mrs. Phipps.”
“They got to you too, didn't they? You sold your soul that easily?”
I sighed. “No, Brian got to me when he put his hands on me and marked me up really bad. I have pictures if you’d like to see them.”
Her blue eyes grew wide and she sat down across from me. Her pen and notebook now forgotten. “What do you mean?”
“Those people are definitely into some illegal business, but they care about Carina and they care about me. How many people would have turned a blind eye to Brian doing that to me here? Almost all of them. Ace’s family didn’t even see what happened and they sent him packing with so many death threats I know it scared him badly.”
Her shoulders slumped and she wiped her hands on her bright yellow uniform. It was so ugly. “I don’t know how to let go.”
I hitched my thumb over my shoulder in the direction of my car. “I packed up everything and I’m ready to go. I’m not looking back. There is nothing left for us here. Your husband is gone and left you with nothing. Your daughter just wants you to be cared for and live the life you always deserved. Put yourself first. Put Carina first. If you don’t, you’ll be alone and I know you don’t want that.”
A tear slid down her cheek and she nodded. “I don’t think I’m that brave.”
“Think about it, okay?”
“Can I see pictures from the wedding dress shopping trip?”
I smiled as I slid her my phone.