Out of The Box Awakening

by Theriot, Jennifer

  “I do, Abby. Thanks. We will be in touch. Oh—one more question. How long does this usually take? When should it be final?”

  “Well, we have the holidays coming up, so realistically, given that there are no surprises, I would say that by the end of February you should be a divorced, single woman. That’s just a ballpark estimate, though. You don’t have small children; there is no issue of child support and visitation. So, yes; I think a couple of months are realistic.”

  I feel like a huge burden has just been lifted off of my chest.

  I head down to the car and Reba is waiting. She is such a welcome sight! I break down when I get in the car and she takes my hand.

  “Miss Olivia, it is gonna be all right. I promise you, you will get through this. Good things happen to good people and you are good people. And I don’t want to overstep my bounds, but I can see that Mr. Harper cares for you deeply. Don’t be too hard on him, honey. He is trying. He was hurt so deeply when Mrs. Harper died. He hasn’t had anyone—found anyone who makes him happy. You bring out happiness in him and I can see that. I see it in your eyes too. Woman-to-woman, I know you feel it too. Let him be there for you. Count your blessings, count on your kids and count on Mr. Harper. You have an army in your court and you will do battle in a fine way!”

  “Reba, can we stop at the store for a minute? I want to get a pack of cigarettes.”

  “Lordy! I didn’t know you smoked, Miss Olivia!”

  “Only when I am stressed. I just need a few right now.”

  “Okay, I guess that is okay”

  “Our secret, okay?”

  “Of course. Our secret.” She gives me a thumbs up.

  I cry all the way home. I am so thankful that Reba was with me today.

  “Let’s get you inside. I made your favorite pasta and salad and I chilled a bottle of wine that Mr. Harper said you like. Go change. I’ll get your dinner ready.”

  When I come down, she has a glass of wine for me and dinner in the oven. “Go out and smoke you a few, take your wine.” She gives me a motherly hug and I hold on to her.

  “Oh, Reba, thank you for being here for me. I know you have other things to do and I feel bad that you had to babysit me today.”

  “Miss Olivia, don’t you worry. I’m gonna take care of you! Only thing I ask is that you call Mr. Harper and let him know what’s going on. He is worried sick.”

  “Of course I will!” I take my cell and go out to smoke and have a glass of wine. I dial his number and he answers immediately.

  “Olivia! Are you okay, honey?”

  “Yes, Ash, I am fine. Reba drove me today because it was icy. She took me to see Abby and everything is fine. The flowers were lovely and I do love you!”

  “Liv, I think you need to tell the kids. I have to go to Seattle day after tomorrow, so I was thinking that I would come back home tomorrow, take you to dinner, and I can help you Skype with Dalton and Lainey. It is easy and I think that would be better than you having to go to Houston alone.”

  “Ash, I am willing to do whatever you think is best. Abby says I need to find an apartment for cosmetics sake.”

  “Yes, I talked to her and I agree. I called Sarah and she has a few apartments in mind. Trust her, she can find you a temporary place. I want you at the house, mainly, but you do need your own address until after the divorce is final, honey. I arranged for some movers to move your things into storage when they arrive on Saturday. You don’t need to go through your things until I get back from Seattle. I’ll do that with you. Promise me that you will let me handle the logistics.”

  “I promise. I miss you so much and am so sorry that I went off on you the other night. You didn’t deserve that.”

  “Liv, please, don’t worry about that. Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night, and we’ll Skype the kids.”

  “Oh, ok. That would be great. I can’t really afford to go to Houston now anyway. You will be here when we Skype, right?”

  “Of course, honey, I’ll be right by your side, I promise.”

  “Okay, then, I’ll see you tomorrow. I miss you!”

  “Sleep tight, my love.”

  “Oh, and Reba was my rock today. She promised to come back tomorrow and teach me how to drive on the ice. I have never driven in these icy conditions. She said she can teach me until you get back.”

  “Yes, our Reba is the best. She is there for you. Whatever you need, you just let her know. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you, Liv! Text me when you’re in bed.”

  “Night, Ash. You sleep tight, too. I wish you were with me!”

  “Tomorrow, my sweet, I promise!”

  I am famished and eat my whole plate of pasta and the whole salad. I have also consumed a whole bottle of wine and too many cigarettes.

  “Miss Olivia,” Reba says, “I have everything cleaned up, so think I will head home. You okay?”

  “Yes, Reba, thanks so much. I called Ash, and he is coming in tomorrow night. Can you drive with me to work tomorrow and show me how to drive on the ice?”

  “I said I would. I will be here bright and early. You’ll be driving like a pro before Mr. Harper gets back!” She gives me a bear hug and takes my face into her hands. “The apple cart is gonna turn your way—I promise!”

  Tears well up in my eyes and I hug her back. “Reba, more than you know, my heart appreciates you!”

  “Night, Miss Olivia, see you in the morning. I have coffee set to be ready when you get up. I’ll bring some bagels in the morning for breakfast, too. See you tomorrow!”

  I drink another glass of wine after she leaves and have a few more cigarettes. I head up to shower before bed. I am empty without Ash. My thoughts are with him, not Alan. Alan has been written out of my life. My next hurdle is telling Dalton and Lainey. I dread it, but it has to be done. Thank God for Skype.

  I hop into bed and turn on my music. I text Ash and let him know that I am in bed. “Bathed and tucked safely into bed. Thinking of you—good happy thoughts. I will sleep well and can’t wait to see you tomorrow. ILY! Liv”

  I immediately get a text back. “ILY back! Wish my arms were around you tonight, but will see you tomorrow XOXOXOXO! Ash”

  I sleep like a baby. I haven’t slept this well in a few nights. Knowing that I will see Ash tomorrow makes me feel safe and secure. I know I have to tell the kids about the divorce tomorrow, but I don’t care, because Ash will be here with me. I am invincible—I can do it!

  On Wednesday Emily arrives at the shop. She is adorable, and soaks up knowledge like a sponge. Her look just screams interior designer. She’s wearing a classy pair of skinny pants, a turtleneck sweater with an awesome scarf, a denim jacket, and a pair of knee boots. She’s got a tiny, petite figure and a natural beauty. I greet her as she comes in

  “Welcome Emily! We are so excited you will be working for us!”

  “Me too, Mrs. Petersen! This is such an amazing opportunity. Thank you so much for hiring me. This is just where I wanted to work!”

  “Sarah is a great lady. I know she will take you under her wing and train you perfectly. So, tell me a little bit about you.”

  “Well, where to start? I got my business degree from DePaul and then decided that interior design was my real passion. I got grants to go to DePaul and Harrington, thank God!”

  “Your parents must be so proud!” I say.

  “Well, my parents aren’t really in my life” Her expression turns sad.

  “Really? Why“

  “Well, my parents aren’t together. Before I graduated high school, my dad lost his job. He was a gambler and lost it all. He left us for a younger lady he met in a bar and my mom totally lost it. She started drinking really bad and just up and left. She moved to Utah, so I went to live with her sister, my aunt, and her family. It was all I could do to graduate and get the heck out of there. My aunt and uncle…they were nice enough, but they had younger kids and I think they just took me in out of a sense of duty. Once I graduated from high school, I got grants and was accepted
at DePaul, so I moved out of their house. I got my degree and went on to Harrington.”

  “Do you see your family much?”

  “Nope. Once I left my aunt’s house, I lost touch. I figured it was up to me to make a go of my life. I don’t see or talk to my parents—haven’t talked to them since I graduated from high school”

  “Oh my God! How sad Emily!”

  “I can’t think about that. It would drive me nuts. I just focus on my studies and on making a life for myself.”

  “Well, you are a better person than them. I admire you so much for taking that attitude!”

  “So, Mrs. Petersen, how did you come to work for Sarah?”

  “Please, call me Olivia—Mrs. Petersen makes me feel so old! I started working for Sarah about a month ago. I moved here with my husband. He was transferred to Chicago with his company from Houston. Big culture shock!”

  As I take her around the shop and Sarah grabs her. “Emily! Grab your purse; we are going to a client’s! Let’s get your feet wet!!”

  “Sure thing Sarah—I’m ready.” Sarah and Emily head off to a consultation and I am left to tend the shop. It’s the Christmas season, so I decide I need to put up a tree at the house. It is slow today, so I text Ash, “Can I put up a tree?” I would love to do that this weekend while Ash was in Seattle.

  He immediately texts back, “Of course you can. I’d love that! We can plan it tonight. Hope you’re having a good day and I will see you soon. ILY!”

  Oh, yeah! I can hardly concentrate on work, anticipating the night with him. I was so ugly to him the other night, and I feel just awful. I want to make it up to him and let him know just how bad I feel.

  Around two, Sarah and Emily arrive back at the shop.

  “So, how was it, Emily?”

  “Oh, my God! It was so much fun! Sarah is an amazing designer. I am so lucky!”

  Sarah tells me to take Emily down to the coffee shop for lunch. Once at the coffee shop, we order. I can’t help but think this girl is perfect for Tommy.

  “So, Emily, do you have a significant other in your life?”

  “No, Olivia. In the men’s department, I definitely have struck out. I dated a few guys, but they turned out to be abusive and toxic relationships. I just seem to attract that type of guy. So I’ve decided that I don’t want to even date anyone until I get my life in order.”

  “Do you have brothers and sisters?”

  “Nope, I am an only child, and that was probably best. My folks just had to abandon one instead of a brood of kids.”

  I sense sadness in that comment and wonder how a mother and father could abandon such a great girl.

  “I had my heart broken more times than I can count,” she continues, “so I figure it needs to just be me. I need to stay focused on my studies anyway. I managed to keep a 4.0 all through DePaul, and have stayed on course so far.”

  “You remind me so much of my daughter Lainey. She got a degree in architecture from Tulane University. She wasn’t in a sorority like her friends, and alienated most of her friends because she was so focused on her studies. It didn’t bother her, because she had a goal—and she achieved it. She has a very successful design-build firm in Houston, and it all paid off. So you just keep doing what you are doing and get to where you want to be!”

  “Thanks, Olivia. I feel so comfortable talking to you. I don’t talk to anyone much about my personal life. It isn’t something to brag about!” she laughed, wryly.

  “Well, anytime you need to talk, please feel free to do so. I’m a good listener, or so I have been told.” She smiles and I am glad we had this little talk.

  We head back to the shop. The rest of the day goes by fast. Reba is there at five to pick me up and take me home.

  “Reba, I promise I am going to learn to drive in winter conditions so you don’t have to drive me around town.”

  “I know you will! It takes time, though. I really don’t mind at all.”

  Once we get home, I rush upstairs and grab a quick shower and freshen up. I hear Ash come up the stairs.

  “Liv? You up here?”

  I run out of my room into his arms. “Oh Ash! God I missed you. I am so sorry I behaved like I did the other night. I don’t know why I did that. Can I just take it back?”

  “Olivia, I know that you just needed some time and space. Please, no regrets! I’m hungry—how about you? Ready for a nice dinner? We can Skype the kids when we get back.”

  I realize that the ugly truth has to be told tonight and I am not looking forward to that. I just hope the kids will understand and won’t be upset with me. “Yes, I am famished and am so glad you will be here with me when I tell them.”

  Ash has made a reservation, which doesn’t surprise me in the least. They know him in the restaurant and we’re treated like royalty, complete with a nice private table that’s away from everyone. Wine is waiting, and we toast to us. Sitting at the table we gaze into each other’s eyes. God! I could just look at him all night and not even eat.

  He brings me back to reality, saying, “Let’s order and eat so we can get back at a decent hour. You have some Skyping to do, little lady! Oh, and so I hear you want a Christmas tree? How big? Ten to twelve feet?”

  “Well I think it would have to be twelve feet—don’t you?”

  “Yep, that’s what I was thinking. Look, why don’t you go to the nursery tomorrow on your lunch break? Pick out a tree and ask them to deliver it on Saturday. I have an account there, so put it on my bill. Also pick out any lights you need. Jose, my handyman, puts up outdoor lights, so I could ask him if he could come by the house and meet with you to see what you want for the outside. Listen, I’m not trying to be controlling or anything, let me know what you want to do. I have the resources, you have the decorating skills, and so you tell me.”

  “Oh, Ash. It all sounds perfect. Yes, I would love for Jose to come do outside lights! I’ll go by the nursery and pick out a tree and then to the store to get lights. Sarah has decorations at the store and I get a discount, so that will be just perfect. Thank you so much!”

  “No, thank you, Olivia. It’s been ages since we’ve decorated for Christmas and I look forward to seeing what you can do for this house. I haven’t looked forward to the Christmas season in an awfully long time…I’m actually kinda excited!”

  The waiter brings our dinner and we eat so we can get back home. On the drive back home, Ash senses that I am nervous.

  “Liv, this is all going to go smoothly—the kids are going to understand, so please don’t worry honey.”

  “Do you know how to Skype, Ash?”

  “Yes, I’ve Skyped with the boys. Never a three-way though. Bradley called me today and sent me the link to get the setup. He’s talked to Lainey and Dalton and they are setup as well. So, all we need to do is get you on the computer. We set 9:00 p.m. as our time to call.”

  “Arghhhhh, I don’t know about this. Will you be in the room with me?”

  “Of course, if you want me to be, yes, I’ll be here.”

  We still have an hour. The phone rings and the caller ID says its Ellen. Ash answers.

  “Hey there, big brother! What’s going on?”

  “Well, Olivia and I just got back from dinner. We are messing around on the computer.”

  “Hmmmm…what kind of messing around?”

  “Ellen, get your head out of the gutter girl! I’m showing her how to Skype, silly!”

  “Well, I need to get those serving pieces I borrowed for Melissa’s shower back to you and was wondering if you were gonna be around on Saturday evening.”

  “I’m not, but Olivia will be here. I think she’s going to put up the tree Saturday night.” When I nod, he grins and says, “Here, you talk to her.” He gives the phone to me.

  “Hi Ellen! Yes, I’m having a tree delivered on Saturday and was going to decorate it.”

  “That sounds like fun! David is out of town on business, so if you don’t mind I’d love to stop by and help. Ash hasn’t put up a
tree in…Geez! I can’t remember when. What can I bring?”

  “Not a thing. I’ll make dinner—we can have a girl’s night. Was thinking of asking our new intern at work if she would like to come over, too.”

  “It’s a date. I’ll see you Saturday evening, then.”

  Ash tells me that he has called Jose to do the lights Saturday morning and has asked Tommy and the guys to stop by and put the lights on the tree for me. “I figured that if you got a twelve-foot tree, you might need some help getting the lights on.”

  “Oh—I hadn’t even thought about that. Yes, I would probably kill myself getting up and down from a ladder. You think of everything, don’t you? I was going to ask Emily to come over, too. She is such a cute smart girl. She’s had a pretty shitty life, but has made it on her own. I think she and Tommy would get along, too!”

  “Well, Miss Matchmaker, don’t count on it. Tommy is really funny when it comes to getting setup. Don’t let him know what you’re planning.”

  “Why, Ash Harper, I certainly know that! This has to be unstaged. I’ve got it under control, thank you very much.”

  I look at the clock. It’s time. We get on the computer and I see Lainey and Dalton.

  “Hi there, guys!” Lainey begins. “Hi Mom! How are you?”

  “Well, Lainey, I’ve been better. Have you talked to Bradley?”

  “He called me and said that you had something to tell Dalton and me about Dad. What’s going on?”

  “Well, remember when you asked me if something was going on with Dad when you were here?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Well, honey, Dad wants a divorce.”

  “Mom—I knew something was going on!”

  “Shit, Mom! When did this happen,” Dalton asks.

  “Before Thanksgiving. I called Dad to see when his flight would be here and he said that he wasn’t coming home. I had no idea that he had been seeing someone else and had no indications that our marriage was in trouble. Yesterday I was served with divorce papers at work. So, I guess this is the real deal. I have to step out of the box and out of my comfort zone now and face this. I’m so sorry to have to tell you both like this. Dad called Bradley. That’s how he found out.”