As Vanessa’s gaze fell upon Carolyn, her emotions overflowed, and tears began to stream down her face. Carolyn, noticing Vanessa’s distress, swiftly exited her car and rushed towards her.
With a warm and comforting smile, Carolyn enveloped Vanessa in a tight hug, offering her best friend a comfortable shoulder for her to express her feelings.
“Shush! Shush!” Carolyn said, patting Vanessa’s back calmly. “Stop crying already. You will hurt your eyes from crying too much.”
Instead of halting her tears, Vanessa’s body shook with sobs as she buried her face in Carolyn’s shoulder, releasing all the repressed emotions she had been carrying.
Carolyn held her close, stroking her hair and whispering soothing words, providing a sense of security and comfort. After a while, Vanessa had stopped crying and her sobs had morphed into hiccups.
“Let’s leave this place.” Carolyn said as she scanned the surroundings with her eyes. She couldn’t tell if the security in the area was tight. Moreover, she and Vanessa couldn’t stand there all night.
Vanessa nodded her head in response, in agreement to Carolyn’s suggestions. With cautious steps, she walked behind Carolyn, who led her towards her car. As they got into the car, both women fastened their seatbelts, and Carolyn started the car.
“Where should we go?” Carolyn asked Vanessa with her eyes fixed on the road.
“Anywhere that is not my apartment. I don’t want to be alone.” Vanessa sobs softly.
With one of her hands, Carolyn fumbled for Vanessa’s hands without taking her eyes off the road. As she found Vanessa’s hand, she squeezed it gently for reassurance.
“You are not alone dear. I don’t have plans to leave you all by yourself,” Carolyn said.
A bar was the only option Carolyn had in mind. Maybe a drink would help Vanessa relax, she thought as she pulled out of the driveway.
“I’m such an idiot. How could I make the same mistake again?” Vanessa’s voice trembled as she talked.
“Don’t say that. Don’t. What happened exactly?” Carolyn asked, stealing glances at Vanessa, but her concentration remained on the road.
“Have I told you about my conversation with Tania?” Vanessa turned her face to Carolyn as she inquired.
“You had a conversation with Tania? How did you meet her? What did she say to you?” Carolyn asked curiously.
She was surprised to hear that Tania and Vanessa had met, not to talk about having a conversation. Just by the little revelation from Vanessa, she could tell that something terrible had happened in Mrs Peter’s house and Darryl was probably in dip shit.
“You know Tania?” Vanessa asked with a surprise look on her face.
“Who doesn’t know Tania?” Carolyn muttered under her breath.
“How come I’m always the last to know things?” Vanessa whined.
She shouldn’t have been surprised that Carolyn knew Tania, but she was. After all, Carolyn’s husband is Darryl’s best friend and Tania was Darryl’s lover. It would not make sense if Carolyn didn’t know her.
“Tell me how you met Tania.” Carolyn urged her to continue.
“I’ve seen her around the company but the first time I spoke with her was around Darryl’s house, she told me she was his neighbor, and we had a chat, whiling away time.” Vanessa paused.
“And.” Carolyn glanced at her to see the expression on her face.
“After my first encounter with her, I met her crying furiously, so I offered her a safe haven. We went to a coffee shop, and she told me about the man who dumped her with her unborn child after doing so much to help him.” Vanessa inhaled deeply and exhaled as she tried to stop herself from crying.
“A man dumped her with her unborn baby?” Curiosity gnawed at Carolyn as she asked her question.
“That’s what she told me,” Vanessa answered.
“I’m sorry, I really don’t get why Tania’s story made you cry tonight.” Carolyn said as she took a turn to the alley that led to the bar she was headed to.
“Just listen to me. I’m trying to give you the details from the beginning.” Vanessa snapped.
“I’m sorry. Henceforth, I will talk less and listen more, but before then, we are here. Let’s get you something to drink.”
“A bar?” Vanessa’s eyes scanned through the window, observing the environment.
“Yes, a bar where drinks are sold.” Carolyn answered. “This is not a time to wallow in self-pity, a couple of shots would help you loosen up a little.”
Carolyn and Vanessa stepped out of the car. As they entered, they made their way through the crowd, their eyes scanning the room for the perfect spot to settle in. Spotting a secluded corner, they exchanged a knowing glance and headed towards it.
They slid into the comfortable chairs, before signaling the bartender to take their order. With their drinks on the way, Carolyn leaned back, prepared for the story Vanessa was around to tell her.
“As you were saying,” Carolyn said, reminding Vanessa of their unfinished conversation.
“I’m certain you already know that my fake wedding with Darryl happened today.” Vanessa started.
“You were supposed to get married to Darryl today?” Carolyn’s eyes widened in surprise.
“We already got married.” Vanessa said, flashing the ring on her fingers across Carolyn’s face.
“Damn! That’s a ring.” Carolyn said, making a grimace.
“My tragic experience all began when I met myself at Darryl’s parents’ at house. I didn’t know why he took me there to begin with. I wanted to leave, but my curiosity got the best of me.”
Vanessa paused as she poured herself a glass of vodka, taking the contents in one gulp. She was already used to the sour taste of the alcohol on her tongue.
“I agreed to join Darryl’s family for dinner, just to get a glimpse of my fake in-laws. Never had I imagined that I would receive the greatest humiliation of my life. To my greatest surprise, Tania’s man and the father of her baby was Darryl. And his mother intentionally invited Tania because she didn’t approve of me for her son. I never wanted her son.”
“What?” Carolyn gasped in shock. “That is a lot for a day. I’m sorry about everything that has happened to you. It is not your fault that you didn’t know Darryl had a thing for Tania.”
“The hurtful part of everything is that he lied to me about the whole fake marriage thing. If I had known him that he was avoiding his responsibilities, I wouldn’t have agreed to his stupid scheme. He used my ignorance against me and I foolishly agreed to everything he wanted me to do.”
“You can’t blame yourself for getting used to Darryl. You never knew his plans.” Carolyn interrupted her blabbering.
“I don’t even know how I would act around Tania. I can’t even face her. I feel like a fraud, it is like I stole her man from her after she opened up to me.” Tears dropped from Vanessa’s eyes as she closed her eyes in disgust.
“Hey, you didn’t do anything wrong. You should stop blaming yourself, you are a victim in this situation. Do you get me?” Carolyn gripped Vanessa’s hands as she spoke to her.
“You don’t get it, Carolyn. I can’t face this humiliation again.
I need a break from everything and everyone.”