"What are you—how are you here?" I ask with a firm voice. I get closer a little bit. But she ignores me and walks past me to my father and hands him the tray of what she is carrying. After that she stands next to him.
"Dad, how do you know this woman?" I turn to my father with irritation and confusion.
"Oh, she—" my father started talking but Clara cut him off.
"We met at the corporate after party yesterday night. He seemed so nice. So, he invited me to come over for lunch the next day, which is today." She smiles as she runs her eyes over me while tracing her fingers through her hair "you act nothing like your father. He's so gentle and nice, unlike—you"
I suck in my breath as I think to myself. What exactly is the deal with this woman? Why is she bent on making me always feel like I'm no longer a part of where I used to belong? She knows nothing about me.
My lips askew in a weird smile. "You are so—"
"Come on, Lyn, don't talk to my guest like that" my father's voice interrupts me. This makes me look at my father with disbelief. He is defending this woman that he doesn't know anything about. Someone who appeared from the blues to taunt my—his daughter's—life.
I watch my father with disdain as he takes Clara's hand and leads her to a seat to sit down.
After a few seconds, I shake my head as I glare at both of them, then I let out a sigh. Instead of my father to worry about his late wife's legacy, he is more worried about protecting a strange woman. Didn't I come to meet him so we'll talk?
"You both should just, enjoy your lunch" I say with the closest normal voice I have. I turn around and walk out from there.
Once I'm out of the house building, I take my phone and call my friend Maya. She picks the call almost immediately. I ask her if she's home and if I can meet her. She tells me she's not home and that we can meet somewhere else. I really need to see her and talk to her. Right now I feel like I can explode.
During the drive to the local restaurant I'm meeting Maya, I think of many things. I think of the disappointment that'll be on Mom's face if I have to see it now. I think of Leonard, will he ever see me the way I want him to see me? The drive is quiet and short.
When the car pulls over and comes to a stop, I step out and walk inside the restaurant. From the entrance, I see where Maya is already seated and waiting for me. I walk up to her and grab a seat beside her.
She turns around to place an order for water but she doesn't miss to notice the downcast on my face.
"Hey, are you okay?" She asks, reaching for my hand.
I nod my head with an instant plan to just not bother Maya with my problems but she doesn't buy it.
"You are not. It's written all over you. Tell me Eve, what is it?" she presses on.
Her voice is soft and convincing, so I give in. "The company is going to shut down" I say.
"What do you mean?"
"Marcus said we can't save it from bankruptcy. He suggested we shutdown for now"
Her face knits with concern. "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
I shake my head because I'm not. "I—I don't…" my words trails off as I try to blink back the tears lurking at the edges of my eyes.
"No, I'm not. Mom will be so disappointed in me. I should have tried harder to keep the company away from my father. How did I not see this coming?" I say as a tear falls from my eyes and I wipe it off immediately.
"Come on," Maya says "don't blame yourself. You did your best. Don't forget you had to get married to someone who you couldn't stand. But look how far you've come."
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. "It's hard not to blame myself. I'm supposed to help fix things, but every time I try, it feels like everything just slips away."
She shakes her head, her voice firm. "You're not your mother. This is not your burden to carry. Your mom will be proud of you for all you've done so far"
I want to believe her. I really do. But it's hard when I feel like I'm watching everything around me unravel and I can't do a damn thing to stop it.
"I'm sure Leo is grateful you accepted his offer to stay married with him. And your father should take responsibility for his actions. Just this once, friend"
Maya's words strikes something in me as the image of Clara standing next to my father graces my memory making me to agree with my friend.
"Thank you May," I tell her.
I need to stop worrying about the company. It's already ruined. I can't do anything to save it. With that, I adjust my sitting position. Getting some relief, I cross my legs together.
"Leonard said something about starting a company for me. Now I want to go with his plan. But I don't know what I'm good at anymore" I say, suddenly changing the topic.
"Errr…." Maya thinks out loud "What about event planning? Or like a large bakery, you like to bake" She smiles brightly.
"I don't know, but I'll think about it" I say and sip my water.
"Good. Cheer up, okay? Don't ruin your beautiful face with that frown. Now, let's order so you can relax." Maya says with a smile which makes me smile too. She signals a waiter who comes to take our orders.
"What will you order?" Maya asks me.
"Anything you order for yourself is fine by me. I'll have whatever you are having" I smile as I see the surprised look on her face.
This decision is a risk though. Maya eats weirdly but I don't have anything else in mind.
Seconds later, our order arrives. Thank God she ordered like a normal human today. She ordered salmon tacos with lobster.
After the meal, my only plan is to head back home. As I stand up from the seat, my head pulls back with dizziness but I catch myself.
"Eve, are you okay?" Maya's voice is laced with panic, but I can barely nod in response before the room spins.
The last thing I see before everything goes black is her reaching out to catch me