17
Three days later, I drove home. I did text Carmine to tell her that I was fine, that I loved her, and that I was not leaving her. But I also told her that I wanted to arrive without fanfare and that I wanted to just go on with my life.
I also sent an email to Ellen, apologizing for going off grid, but I was safe and would be back to work shortly. In the aftermath of Florida, I pulled out of a few shoots. No shows, no runways, but I do not normally do that.
It was the afternoon when I arrived home. I had some crap driving into the States with boy Shannon’s IDs, but they let me in. I apparently was “cute enough”; that was what I was told anyway. At that exact time and place, I really did not care.
However, my British passport was useless coming in this direction without a green card or visa.
As I said, right now, I really did not care.
And it was about 4 when I pulled into the garage and turned the 911 off. And yes, I do love it. This was my first real drive in the car, and I am very pleased with it. Around Toronto, well, around Toronto, these are far more common than in the States, and I felt right at home.
And I grabbed my bag and handbag and walked directly to my rooms, and started unpacking. Kelley found me first. She knocked, and I told her, “Come in.”
And once she had come in and sat on the love seat, she said, “I suppose this was part of my fault, wasn't it?”
“Kelley, it is part of everyone's fault, and since you are part of everyone, then yes, you are at fault.”
“I am sorry about Florida.”
“Why? If I had been grabbed wrong, the asshole would have found some private parts that I was not hiding as well as I could, and then I may have died or been injured, and you would have had reason to apologize. But you got there first,
and all I got was a boob and an ass grabbed a bit harder than I would have preferred.”
“But Kelley, there is actually another side to all of that. NOW I know I do NOT want a male groping me sexually. I have had to kiss a man, and I suppose, what? Got to second base? And believe me, that is not going to happen again if I have anything to say about it.”
Kelly did laugh, which is what I wanted.
“OK, Kelley, are they threatening you with removal from your position working for me?”
“They are going to give you the choice, with the strong recommendation that Sarah and I be replaced, but they want your word first.”
“Kelley, I will tell you right now, you and Sarah are not being replaced, got that? I am NOT firing you. AND if they fire you anyway, I will hire you both direct, OK?”