smart enough to transfer my phone number onto my own plan. He couldn’t disconnect my service or use it to find me.
Caitlyn: There are messages but I am not reading or answering. TTYL
K?
Thomas: xoxo
I sat down on one of the lounge chairs by the window and stared at the mountains. It was peaceful here. I understood why Vivian called it ‘her sanctuary’.
My mind felt clear. Clear enough to acknowledge I had left a mess I needed
to fix. As much as Jeremy deserved to be hurt, I wasn’t a better person for trying to ruin his life.
Caitlyn: Tad, I need you to stop slandering Jeremy’s name. If he has to
take you to court, I’ll have to be honest about everything, including
personal details like size and stamina. I am not sure you want court
documents to be available with that kind of information. It was a mistake
and you need to just leave it alone.
Tad: The whole thing was a mess. You’re right. I overreacted. I’ll back
off with the smear campaign.
Caitlyn: I’m sorry I dragged you into my sick marriage, but it’s over
now.
Tad: I want to see you again, Caitlyn. I haven’t felt so alive in a very
long time. I don’t want you to be just a cheap fling. I need to see you
again.
Caitlyn: Sorry, Tad. I’m out of the game now. I’m a new woman.
Setting the phone down, I stared again at the clouds floating in the blue sky
over the mountain range. There wasn’t anything I could do to change what I had
done. I didn’t owe Jeremy anything else, and revenge left a sour taste in my mouth. One I never wanted to sample again.
Twenty-Seven
October flew by. My first fall was truly magical. Trees shed their
leaves in California, but it felt different here. It was like the season
slowly turned for me. I wanted to be here for my first true Christmas,
too.
My days were filled. Vivian only allowed one hour a day to talk about her life and two hours for writing. During our talks, I confessed to Vivian what I had done too. She listened without judgment.
In late November, I had just finished typing up the chapter about Viv’s second husband when she came bouncing into the room. Yes, Vivian was so full
of energy when she was excited. Sometimes, it felt like her teenage-self came to
life in front of me.
“Do I have a surprise for you.” She swayed dramatically. “A Thanksgiving present.”
“It is that time already?”
“Can you guess what your present is?”
“We will be eating turkey.” I smirked.
Vivian threw back her head and laughed. “Yes, we’re having turkey and the
rest of the spread. Your surprise is that Thomas and Jacob will be joining us.”
My heart fell. That meant my mother would be alone on the holiday.
“You don’t look pleased. Did you not want to see them?” She sat next to me
