“I don’t mind lending a helping hand.”
“You’re very sweet and it is much appreciated. I have to head to Mr. Hayes’ parents’ place now to help set up for the party tonight.”
“Will you be there?” I asked, excitement to know at least one more person took over as I bounced on my heels.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“See you later, then.”
Amanda finished putting all of the products away and said her goodbyes.
Shopping time.
I finally took a shower and got dressed in some of the clothes that Lee had packed for me. If he could have at least left me things that matched, I would have been happy but I was left with navy pants and I weird reddish-pink tie-dye tank top that I didn’t even know I owned.
I threw on my wool pea coat and running shoes and was out the door to get the essentials to get me through the next week or so. I hated that I was about to buy things that I already owned, but who the hell knew when that all was going to arrive or when I would be able to make it out to Colorado to retrieve it.
Crap. Mom!
As I started walking to the Subway, I finally dialed her number.
“Hello, honey,” my mom’s singsong voice called through the phone.
“Hey mom. How’re you?”
“Getting the ornaments on the tree finally. Jimmy has Christmas off so his kids are going to drive in for the day. It’ll be a full house again this year.”
Jimmy—another source of tension in our relationship. My mother’s long-term, mooch of a boyfriend made my skin crawl. I couldn’t put my finger on why, but I couldn’t stand the man.
“That sounds great,” I lied through my teeth.
“Anyway, sweetheart, if you don’t really have anything to say, I am going to run.”
“Mom, I do have something to tell you.”
“Then out with it, kid.”
“Lee and I broke up last night. He is having my things shipped to your place. I hope that is all right. I’ll arrange to get it somehow.”
“Why the hell would you have him send your things here? I don’t have that kind of room.”
As I stood in front of the stairs to the Subway, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I knew that my mom wouldn’t be the happiest about the boxes arriving, but not even a ‘Sweetheart, that is awful’ or a ‘good riddance to the jerkface’.
“I didn’t have a choice. He made up his mind. Moved away. Left me here. End of story,” I clarified.
“Well, you’re going to have to figure something out,” she barked.
“And I will. This all happened about twelve hours ago. I am just trying to wrap my head around it.”
“I told you that you were making a huge mistake.”
“And you were right but this is the situation and I just need a little bit of help.”
“I’ll try to find room in the shed for your things for the time being.”
“That’s all I ask.”
“Have to go, Etta. Talk soon.”