Don’t get me wrong; I’m glad she’s making the effort to call me, even though I haven’t been doing the same. I stare at the phone, wondering if I should pick it up.
She’s stuck around for so long. She came to our office for training and stayed with me even after she went back to Canada.
The phone suddenly stopped ringing, and I pulled my eyes away from it, trying to gather my thoughts. The phone started ringing again.
I knew I had to answer because she wouldn’t stop calling until she heard from me. So, I swiped the phone and answered the call.
“Nadine,” she breathed out in relief, “you got me so worried.”
I could hear the concern in her voice, and it made me feel a bit better. But my voice choked with tears as I realized how she cared for me, even though I hadn’t been there for her.
“Nadine, are you alright?” she asked as tears started flowing down my cheeks.
I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want her to know I’d been crying and make her even more worried.
“Nadine?” she called again.
“Yes, Syd,” I said, my voice hoarse from crying.
“Oh my goodness, what happened, Nadine? Talk to me.”
“Sydney, I…” I tried to say, but the tears came freely, flowing down my face. I cried for all the pain I’ve felt, the pain I had kept hidden. I had let my guard down with someone I thought I cared about, and now it felt like everything was falling apart.
“Nadine, it’s okay. Just let it out. I’m here for you.”
I took a shaky breath, trying to control my sobs.
“It’s just… everything’s so messed up. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it feels like I’m just making things worse.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Sydney asked gently.
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and tried to steady my voice. “It’s complicated. I don’t even know where to start.”
“Take your time,” she said. “I’m listening.”
I told Sydney everything that had happened since I left the wedding reception, up until now. She listened carefully and didn’t interrupt or judge me.
“Oh my goodness, Nadine,” Sydney said, her voice filled with shock.
“You’ve been through so much, and you didn’t tell me. I thought the six months we spent together would show you how much you mean to me, but I guess you didn’t see me that way.”
Sydney’s understanding made me feel less alone, but her words also reminded me of how much I had kept to myself.
“I’m sorry,” I said, wiping away my tears. “I didn’t mean to push you away. I’ve just been so caught up in everything that I didn’t know how to reach out.”
“Come over to Canada.”
“What did you say?” I asked, trying to process her words.
“Get yourself down here to Canada,” she said firmly. “I won’t let you stay there a minute longer.”
“I… I can’t,” I stammered, thinking about my mother, my job, and everything else holding me back.
“I’m not taking no for an answer,” Sydney insisted. “How long will you keep putting others before yourself? I’m sending my dad’s private jet to pick you up right now.”
“Oh my gosh, Sydney, you don’t mean it,” I said, shocked. I knew she was well-off, but I didn’t realize she was in a position to own a private jet.
She laughed and said, “I know you don’t know, but yes, I do.”
“Know what, Sydney?” I asked.
Her laughter faded slightly. “I’ll explain more when you get here.”
“How are you so sure I’m coming over?” I asked.
She chuckled again. “Don’t push me, Nadine. I know you’re not sure about my resources, but just get yourself to the airport. We’ll sort everything out from there.”
“Are you serious, Syd?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m serious!” she replied. “Oh my gosh, I’ve missed you so much. I can’t wait to have you here so we can have our girls’ time. Yippee!” She shouted with excitement.
Smiling for the first time today, I gathered my things, waved down a taxi, and made my way to the airport.
At the airport, I was nervous. I was heading to Canada, and while it was a big step, it also felt like the right move. I checked in, went through security, and waited at the gate.
The whole time, I couldn’t stop thinking about Sydney’s words and the support she offered. It was strange to feel so cared for, especially after the mess with Logan.
Finally, it was time to board. I took a deep breath, trying to let go of the stress and sadness I’d been carrying. As the plane took off, I looked out the window, hoping this new beginning would bring some peace.
The flight was long, but I tried to relax and let the joy of seeing Sydney ease my nerves. I watched movies to distract myself.
When we landed in Canada, Sydney had already arranged for a driver to pick me up, so I didn’t have to worry about getting around.
*******
Stepping out of the car that had picked me up from the airport, I was amazed by Sydney’s luxurious life in Canada. Back in New York, she was so down-to-earth that I had no idea how wealthy she was.
Her house was huge and stunning, located in the heart of Ontario. It oozed wealth and class, with everything looking immaculate and perfectly arranged.
I looked around at how beautiful and well-put-together everything was.
The sudden screech of tires snapped me back to reality as I saw Sydney rushing out of the house.
“Oh my goodness, you made it!” she exclaimed, twirling me around. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Sydney, please put me down,” I managed to say between laughs, starting to feel a bit dizzy.
She set me down, still beaming with joy.
“Oh my goodness, Nadine, look at you! I’m so happy you came.”
“Thank you so much, Sydney. You don’t know what this means to me,” I said, feeling incredibly grateful.
“Oh, stop it, Nadine,” she said, waving her hand dismissively, though her smile said she was pleased.
She pulled me inside and as I stepped into the living room, my mouth dropped open.
The living room was huge and beautifully decorated. The high ceilings made it feel open, and big windows let in lots of light.
There was a soft, cream-colored sofa and two stylish armchairs around a glass coffee table. A big, fancy rug covered the shiny wooden floor.
One wall had a modern fireplace with bookshelves on either side, filled with books and decorations.
The walls were decorated with nice artwork and family photos, and a grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, making the room feel warm and inviting.
I couldn’t believe how rich Sydney must be.
Soon, we arrived at a room. “This is your room,” Sydney said. “I would have loved for us to stay in the same room, but I guess you might want your privacy, so here’s yours.”
I felt so emotional that I pulled her close and hugged her tightly. “Oh my goodness, Sydney, thank you so much.”
“But Sydney, I had no idea you were this rich.”
“Welcome to my world, Nadine,” she said with a smile and an eye roll.
“I’ll leave you to freshen up, and then I’ll take you on a tour of the city.”
“I’d love that. Thank you so much, Sydney.”
She reached the door and left, leaving me alone in the room. I sat down and thought about everything that had happened.
I realized there was nothing left to do but focus on myself and try to move forward.
Just as I began to relax, a sudden thought struck me, making my heart race. I hurried to my phone, then I did something I felt I should have done.