All of Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy (3 page)

“Hi, Trish, how are you?”

“Oh, I’m great. How are you doing? What am I saying? You’re fine, you’re a tough nut aren’t you, sweetie pie? How is that Chris kid? Looking after my girl? Is she doing well? Is he making her happy?” she says, asking too many questions at once. I laugh for the first time in ages.

“She’s fine. Chris is awesome. They’re going to be one of the lucky ones I think.” I smile on the outside but frown inwardly.

Mom shows me how to use the booking system on the salon computer. She introduces me to her employees, and everyone seems cheery and nice. I think this will be good for me; they’ll keep me happy and focused. The doors open to the first customers of the day. They come in, and because I’ve been nominated the salon greeter, I greet them and lead them to the appropriate workstation.

The day is a busy one, and I feel that I’m doing quite well. I’m able to keep up with everyone’s requests, I make them coffee, and do the lunch run. I like helping people; I‘ve always been good at it because it makes me feel good about myself, and I haven’t felt like that for a while. I loved my job at ADF Automotive Repairs and wanted to go back there. The only problem is that they’d employed someone else, but more importantly, I was concerned about the fact that there were too many memories, and of course there was also the Tim factor.

The final customer leaves, and Mom shuts and locks the door behind her. Once she turns the sign to closed, we both sigh with relief.

“Great job today, honey. I’m very proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom, for letting me work for you. I really appreciate it.”

“Oh, honey, I’d do anything to help you, you know that. But this job is only for now, until you can get back on your feet. You’re far too talented to work here for long. You need to find something in reception or personal assisting. Something you will enjoy doing. In the meantime though, I love having you all to myself.”

***

It’s my fourth day working at the salon, and today, for some reason I wake feeling depressed. I think the excitement of a new job has worn off already, and now I’m back to being miserable.

I pull my car up behind Mom’s, get out, and make my way to the shop. The salon is on Main Street, and I can see O’Connell Finance in the distance. I sigh and walk into the salon.

Making my way to the front desk, Mom notices me and frowns. “Is today a bad day, honey?”

I nod my head, and she hugs me tightly as I try to take control over my depressing state.

“If it gets too much for you today, let me know, and we’ll go out for coffee.”

“Will do. Thanks, Mom.” I take in a deep breath and open the front doors to the first customer of the day. I swallow hard at the mention of her name, Bree, but take her to the workstation she’s been assigned. I can tell already this day is going to be hell.

My mood doesn’t shift as the day progresses. I notice Mom keeps watching me every time a sad song plays over the speakers, but I ignore her and try to keep busy. Then it happens, breaking point, when over the speakers Bon Jovi plays “Thank You For Loving Me”. My heart pounds and I feel faint. Mom gazes at me knowingly; I shake my head and tears well in my eyes. I rush outside onto the street, my breathing becomes erratic, and tears flow constantly down my cheeks. Mom comes outside to comfort me, placing her hand on my back. I turn and hug her tightly. She holds me while I cry into her shoulder. The emotion of being without my soul mate becomes too much to bear.

“Oh my God,” Mom says quietly. “Jeni, let’s go back inside.” She ushers me towards the door of the salon.

“What? What’s going on?”

“Jeni, just go inside. Please.”

I turn and follow her line of sight down the street. I see Mike’s car pulling up at the restaurant next to the salon. Mike stops the car and steps out to open the back door where Aiden, and a young, very thin, ridiculously pretty brunette steps out next to him. I gasp when I see her.

“Jeni, go inside.”

I continue to look at Aiden and the gorgeous, model type who’s accompanying him. He’s cleanly shaven, his hair is disheveled but in that good way, and he looks deliciously gorgeous. He puts his hand on her lower back and walks with her inside the restaurant.

Mike notices and acknowledges me. Aiden walks into the restaurant with his new girl without noticing me.

“Didn’t take him long,” I whisper.

Mike rushes into the restaurant after Aiden.

“Mom, I have to go.”

I run inside the salon, grab my bag, and run back out to the street to get into my car. I put my keys in the ignition. I see Mike and Aiden exit quickly from the restaurant and look directly at me. I look down, start my car, and speed off before they can reach me. I pull over on a side street, put my head in my hands, and flop down onto the steering wheel.
How could he move on so quickly?
He was a mess when I left, and now he seems fine, and I’m a mess? Guess this is what karma feels like. I’m so stupid. Of course he’s going to move on. He is after all, one of the most eligible bachelors in Mornington Vale, and there are lots of willing women out there ready to latch on.

I eventually stop crying and gather enough strength to make my way back to Sarah’s. I walk in the front door and down the hallway. I hear music playing in the living room but Sarah and Chris are nowhere to be seen. I know where they are immediately. I walk to the bathroom, strip down, and take a shower. I let the warm water cascade over me. I see the image in my head, Aiden with that pretty bitch. I rest my head against the wall and eventually my emotions get the better of me and I slide down the wall into a ball on the shower floor.

***

I have a pounding head and very sore, puffy eyes. I can’t decide if I’m going to work today; I’ll won’t be of any use to my mom in the mood I’m in. My cell
beep
s, and I check to see who it is. It’s a message from my mom.

Morning honey, just wondering if you’re coming in today? We could really use a hand if you’re able. I love you so much. xxx

I instantly feel guilty about wallowing instead of helping Mom out, so I get out of bed. I hit
Reply
.

Hi, Mom. Yes of course I’ll be in. I love you too
:-)

I hit
Send
and make my way to work. I walk slowly into the salon with my head down. Mom rushes over, throwing her arms around me.

“Hey, honey, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.” I make my way to the reception desk.

She smiles, walks over to the door, and turns the open sign.

I manage to work without incident into the late afternoon, when a customer comes into the salon that I recognize.

“Jenifer?” she asks, walking toward me.

“Sandy, how are you?” I give the nurse who helped me a hug.

“Good thanks. You look much better physically than you did last time I saw you. How are you holding up otherwise?” She holds me at arm’s length, her eyes moving over my body.

“I’m…” Words fail me.

“Yeah, you seem like you are still troubled.” I guess that’s because I still have dark bags under my eyes, and even though I do my hair and makeup to come in to work, I guess I don’t put that much effort into my appearance as I probably should.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No. Actually, I was just walking by and thought I would come in to make one.”

“I can help you with that.”

“What time do you finish? We should get coffee, and you can fill me in with what’s been happening in your life.”

“I’d like that, a lot. I can probably go now. My mom owns the salon. I’m sure she won’t mind if I skip out ten minutes early.”

“Sounds great.”

After getting permission from Mom to leave a few minutes early, I gather my things. Sandy and I walk across the street to the café where we sit and order coffee.

“Tell me, how’s Aiden?”

I frown and she winces.

“I sense there’s a story.”

I take in a deep breath and confide in her once again.

“Where do I start?”

“The beginning is usually a good place. I remember you were afraid of Aiden. Did that escalate?”

“I guess I wasn’t so much scared of him as I was angry. I blame him for what Jason… what Jason did to me.”

She looks at me, scratching her head and grimacing. “Jeni, how’s it Aiden’s fault?”

“If he didn’t leave me alone when Jason came for me, then maybe he could’ve saved me from this nightmare.”

“You feel angry towards him, because he wasn’t there to protect you?”

I nod my head.

“Well then, can I ask why he wasn’t in the apartment at the time?”

I swallow hard. “Because I’d broken a glass and cut my feet. He was out getting bandages for my cuts from his mother’s apartment.”

“Alright then, so now you’ve said it out loud, can you see how crazy it is that you’re blaming him?”

I open my eyes wide with shock.

“To me it sounds like he left the apartment to take care of you. I think that’s all he ever wanted to do, take care of you. He was gone for a moment and something terrible happened in that moment that was out of his control. He loves you, that was painfully obvious to me in the hospital, and I can tell from looking at you that you miss him terribly. So why are you here and not with him?” she asks, making me see the situation differently.

“He has a new girlfriend.”

She narrows her eyes and places her head to one side.

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure, I saw him with her yesterday.”

“Was it obvious that they were together? How do you know?”

I shake my head. “I saw him walking into a restaurant; he was talking to her and guiding her in with his hand on her back, like he used to do with me,”

She scoffs, laughing at me. “Jeni, it could’ve been anyone. If he wasn’t showing some kind of affection, then I’d say she’s a new client or something.”

I guess I didn’t think of that. I hear a song playing in the café, “Six Degrees Of Separation” by The Script. I listen intently to the lyrics. How fitting—it’s exactly what I’ve been going through, and maybe right now, in this minute, I’m at the sixth degree of separation. I’m starting to see that I maybe I’ve
fucked
up.

“Sandy, do you think he still loves me?”

“Of course he does, Jeni. You don’t just wake up and stop loving someone.”

Have I been out of my mind, crazy all this time, and I’m only now realizing that he isn’t anything like his father or Jason?
He’s special, a kind, loving, caring man who’s done nothing but love and adore me.
Oh my God.

“What about the rule of like father like son?”

“There’s always that chance, but maybe, just maybe, Aiden is an exception to that rule.”

I watch her while she repeats what I’ve been saying about Aiden all along. He’s not just an exception, he’s
my
exception!

I stand up, realizing what I need to do.

“Go get him, Jeni.”

“Thank you so much, Sandy.” I kiss her on the cheek and start to run. I run as fast as I can down the block to O’Connell Finance. I’m completely out of breath by the time I reach the parking garage. I spot Mike and run over to him.

“Mike. Mike, is he here?”
I yell.

“Yes, he’s in his office. It’s so good to see you, Miss. Taylor.”

“You too, Mike,” I blurt out, running past him. I take the stairs two at a time and run through the sliding door into the main foyer. It’s strange not seeing Josie at her desk. I continue to the elevator.

The doors open to Aiden’s floor, and I spot that pretty brunette bitch sitting at
my
desk. Argh, she must be his new PA.

“Bree!” I call out.

“He’s in the boardroom!”

I run to the boardroom and swing open the door, puffing loudly. Everyone glances up at me, including Alistair who has a look of complete disgust written all over his face.

“Aiden, I’m so sorry. I love you,” I spill out in front of the boardroom full of people.

Aiden exhales. “Excuse me.” He walks over, takes me by the arm, and guides me towards his office.

“Jeni, you just burst in on an important meeting.”

I notice right away that he can’t look me in the eye. I swallow a lump in my throat.

“Did you hear what I said, Aiden? I love you. I’m so sorry for being such an idiot and blaming you. It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. I’m sorry, can we just—”

“You broke me,”
he interrupts loudly.

I grimace, shaking my head slightly.

“You. Broke. Me, Jeni,” he reiterates with his head hanging down.

I see everyone in the Boardroom watching. Brielle and pretty bitch are also listening to our conversation.

“Aiden, I’m so sorry.” I take hold of his hand and cry in despair.

He pulls away. “I can’t, Jeni. I’m leaving.”

I stand watching him in shock.
He can’t leave!
“Where are you going?” I ask, tears streaming down my face.

“Tokyo.”

“I thought your father was going?”

“He was, but then I said I’d go when you… you left me. Jeni, I’m moving there.”

My heart sinks to the floor; I’m going to lose him forever.
How can this be going so wrong?

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

I stumble on the spot as a wave of unimaginable regret surges through me.

“I think you should go.” His voice is cold and distant. He turns and heads toward his office. Pretty bitch stares at me, biting her bottom lip.

Brielle stands up and walks over.

“Jeni, I’m so sorry, but I think you’re too late.” A tear escapes, running down her cheek.

“I miss you, Bree. I miss everyone, especially Aiden.” I take a deep breath and try to compose myself.

“We miss you too, Jeni, especially him.” She wipes a tear from her cheek.

“Guess I
fucked
up big time.”

She gives me an understanding nod. “Maybe he’ll come around. I’ll talk to him.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s fine. I’m obviously too late.” I hit my forehead with my hand a few times and wince.
How could I have been so stupid?