Nick doesn’t say anything to me that first morning—the first morning that I don’t show up for breakfast, but I do notice an awful lot of uneaten omelet in the trash later that day. The next day, there is oatmeal in the trash, and I consider ceasing my Nick embargo and sucking it up—it’s wasting food, after all. But the day after that… nothing. I guess he finally got the hint.
A couple of weeks pass, and each day Nick comes home exhausted from his job. I always leave immediately to my guesthouse, equally as exhausted from playing with Bria. He always invites me to stay for dinner, but I always decline. I almost never go into the house except for work. On my weekends off, I visit Violet and my family, grocery shop, and run errands. I even make a trip to Target to get some decorations, like a duvet cover and some wall art, as long as it gets me away from the vicinity of Nick.
The money is nice, which is also a good reminder of why I’m avoiding Nick. I do need a job, and I put most of my paycheck straight into the bank. I even do some research about teaching abroad, and I bookmark a website with information about the certificate that I need to obtain in order to do so. One day, I think.
September passes into October, and the leaves begin to change colors. This is my favorite time of year in the Pacific Northwest. It’s cool, but not cold yet, and the air is crisp. I always feel really inspired and happy in the fall. Bria begins going to a Pre-K class one morning a week, so I dedicate that time to reading. In my guesthouse, of course, away from Nick. It’s nice to have dedicated me time.
On the other four days, Bria and I do all sorts of things. We go to the park, museums, the beach, the library (my favorite activity), bake cookies, and watch movies. I have yet to bake my famous cupcakes.
Bria and I even survive a few all-nighters together while Nick teaches in Portland once a week. I convinced Nick to let Bria sleep in my room, in the guesthouse, to minimize any possibility of ending up in his bed again because of a nightmare. Bria loves it. She calls it a sleepover. And so far, she hasn’t had any more nightmares.
It’s fun being Bria’s nanny. I never knew kids could be so much fun. I wake up excited to go to work, so that’s good I guess. Cecelia stops by every few days to say hello and hang out.
The second week of October, Nick forwards me an email with our flight confirmation and our hotel information. I’ve come to dread the upcoming trip, because I know I’ll be unable to avoid him. I’m lying in bed—it’s late, a Friday night, and it’s been a grueling week. Bria got roller blades, and Nick bought some for me, too, so I could ride with her. My thighs ache, and I’m just about to go take a bath.
I send a quick reply—something along the lines of—Okay, great!
Just as I shut my computer down, my phone dings, and I see Nick’s name pop up.
I’m not surprised. Nick’s taken to emailing and texting me about things rather than talking to me directly. He even texts me every night to say good night. It’s sweet, but I try not to overanalyze it.
I read his current text, and I have to read it twice, three times, because my jaw is on the floor.
You awake?
I glance at it, and my palms begin to sweat.
You awake? What the hell does that mean?
I quickly text Violet. Maybe it’s totally innocent.
But I can’t help but feel like there’s a certain weight behind his words.
CALL ME! EMERGENCRY.
NICK ASKED IF I WAS AWAKE.
FREAKING OUT.
I wait for her call, fidgeting anxiously. It takes her a few minutes, and my eyes scan the letters in Nick’s text over and over and over. I pick up halfway through the first ring.
“Fi-nal-ly!” I say, out of breath.
“Sorry, I’m with Marcus,” she replies, clearly annoyed.
“Oh. Sorry.”
“So, what happened?” I explain the situation. She’s already been filled in on my Nick embargo and the upcoming trip to Mexico, so it doesn’t take long. When I’m done, I hear her whistle. “Hold on, let me ask Marcus,” she says, and before I can stop her, I hear her mumbling to him. A few seconds later, Marcus comes on the line. “Yeah, he’s totally looking for some lovin’, Ev.”