Page 4 of Beautiful Life

I sigh. “I don’t know what’s happening. But I do know it’s not done. Tony made me sign all kinds of new papers, said I don’t get a choice … and well, some other stuff I really don’t understand. Can we go?”

Gabby’s an interior decorator and is dressed to the hilt because she came from a client meeting. She’s wearing a blue and cream scroll print wrap around dress that fits her curves perfectly, showing just enough cleavage to be professionally sexy. I’m normally taller than her, but her spiked blue heels have boosted her higher than me today since I hardly had the energy to slip on a pair of flats. It’s hard getting dressed with only one hand.

Gabby, who insisted on driving me here so I wouldn’t have to come by myself, is now frowning. “I thought it was supposed to be done today.”

“Me too,” I mutter and look to Paige. “See ya later.”

Paige smiles sweetly. “Yeah, I’ll see you soon. How about I make some junk food and bring it over to Gabby’s? We’ll have a movie marathon, anything you want to watch. How does that sound?”

Honestly. Gabby’s family is so nice. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with it all. I try to muster a smile. “Thanks. Sounds fun.”

I need to get out of here. I start to move to the door as Gabby says goodbye and her shoes click on the marble floors following me. We step into the elevator and I lean to the wall, shutting my eyes.

“Leigh, please. Tell me what happened,” Gabby implores.

“I don’t know. I told you I didn’t want anything from him but your uncle had an emergency. Tony took over and said something about me taking him to the bank and then made me sign all kinds of new papers and then told Preston’s attorneys they had five days to respond or we will see them in court.”

“Tony said you need to take him to the bank?” When I look up, she’s wearing a big smile. I immediately frown and she quickly bites her lip.

“Gabby. There is nothing to be happy about,” I warn. “I told you I don’t want anything from him. I need a clean start, he’s given me plenty to remember and none of it’s good. I don’t want his money on top of everything else.”

“Well, I can’t imagine Tony would do anything that isn’t in your best interest. Maybe you should trust him on this. I know he specializes in Business Law, but this is pretty basic stuff.”

As we walk out of the building, I plead, “Can we just stop talking about this and go home. Or … to your house?”

“Stop it, Leigh. My house is your home and will be for quite some time. I’m not letting you leave. Besides, I think you’ve stolen my dog. She won’t leave your side and doesn’t even sleep with us anymore. What will Mia do if you leave?”

I look over at her as we climb into her Tahoe. Gabby hasn’t let me go anywhere by myself since I was released from the hospital two weeks ago and she moved me into her house. Her boyfriend, Jude, hasn’t officially moved in yet but I’m sure that will happen soon enough. They’re never apart unless they’re working. He’s deeply devoted to her already and they’ve only been together for a couple months. It’s almost hard to be around them right now, but I’m happy for Gabby because he makes her happy. She lost her parents in a horrific car accident. She’s had a rough and lonely couple of years herself. It’s good to see her with someone who makes her face light up.

The three of us are living in Gabby’s enormous childhood home her parents left her, but I’ve been keeping to myself in the basement as much as I can. Gabby’s right, Mia won’t leave my side. She’s some type of Shih-Tzu designer dog mix and the sweetest thing ever. I’ve always wanted a dog but my mom could never afford one and Preston would never let me have one. I’ve heard dogs can sense when something is wrong and this must be the case with Mia. She sticks to me like glue unless she’s eating or playing outside. I don’t know what I’d do without her. I’m not trying to be ungrateful because all the Caprinos are being caring and generous with me, but Mia’s the only being in my life right now that doesn’t try to get me to talk about what happened.

“I’m sorry about Mia,” I say. “Thank you for sharing her with me, I don’t know what I’d do without her. Thank you for everything. I would be all on my own with nothing if it weren’t for you. Or worse, I would still be with Preston since I wouldn’t have anywhere else to go.”

My beautiful friend reaches across the console to squeeze my knee. “We’re going to make everything okay, Leigh. I promise. Come hell or high water, you’re going to find yourself again. I really wish you would talk to a professional. I know my dog is perfect and believe you me, she got me through the loss of my parents when my uncles got her for me, but don’t let her fool you. She may be a professional cuddler but she’s no psychologist.” She throws me a sympathetic smile while giving my knee one more squeeze before driving us home.

Gabby pulls into her garage as Jude is getting out of his truck which is parked behind my car that hasn’t moved an inch since Gabby parked it there two weeks ago while I was in the hospital. He stalks straight to Gabby and hooks her behind her neck to pull her in for a kiss. She melts into him, fitting herself to him perfectly. Jude, who is tall and dark with a hint of Latin, is the perfect complement to my best friend who works her bombshell figure with olive skin, dark blonde hair, and blue eyes.

As I move by them, I hear him mummer, “Sugar,” before he kisses her again, quickly this time before letting her go. Gabby has a dazed look on her face and sighs.

But it’s Jude who gets my attention. “Leigh, I’m glad you changed your mind about going after Preston in the divorce. He deserves worse, but maybe he’ll get that from a judge. At least now you can start fresh when you’re ready without worrying about finances.”

I come to a standstill in Gabby’s messy garage. “How do you know what happened? Who told you I changed my mind?”

Jude continues to talk as he shuffles Gabby through the garage that’s a mess of old furniture and boxes, toward the house. “I just got off the phone with Tony. He called to say he’s coming for dinner and to watch the game tonight. He filled me in.”

Jude and Gabby have disappeared into the house and I hear Mia attacking them both. I can’t move from my spot in the messy garage as Mia makes her way to greet me next. Tony comes over to Gabby’s once in a while, but why tonight? I don’t want to see him tonight, especially after he railroaded me today. I should be divorced right now, but no. I’m still married and apparently taking Preston to the bank, damn-it.

“Girlie!” Gabby yells sticking her head out of the door from the house. “You coming? Jude’s grilling hamburgers, is that okay with you?”

“Sure, whatever’s fine,” I mutter and slowly make my way into the house.

Now I have to find an excuse to hide in my room all night. Unfortunately, I only have about ten thousand legitimate excuses to be depressed and want to be by myself. I just have to pick one.

Chapter 2 – Tony Torture

Thanksgiving

Leigh

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