Gardenia
Six days. It had only taken six days for a once promising marriage to fall apart and be legally dissolved. Seven days ago she had been Elizabeth O’Connor, beautiful wife to business mogul Angelus O’Connor. Then she woke up six days ago to a phone call from her husbands assistant, Harmony. The bubbly blonde cheerfully informed her that Angel’s meeting was running late and he wouldn’t be able to make their breakfast date on time. When Liz, as Angel preferred her to be called, questioned what breakfast date Harmony freaked. It seemed that Harmony had made a mistake, Angel’s breakfast was supposed to be with Darla Chase. Angel’s longtime mistress, the one everyone knew about but Angel’s longtime wife.
Elizabeth called Angel right away, and when she had demanded to know what was going on he simply sighed, annoyed that she had bothered him at work. After a short conversation that pretty much entailed her husband of six years telling her to suck it up and deal with it, she was finished. It took one day to pack, three days to finalize the papers and less than 72 hours after the lawyers shook hands she was back in California, her layered chestnut hair blowing in the breeze.
It all seemed so simple and yet so complicated. She had been so sure when she had meet Angel that he was the one. They had enjoyed a wonderful courtship, he had millions and he had wowed her daily. She had been fresh out of high school, just starting college at NYU. When they were first engaged she had wanted to wait until after college. But Angel was determined. So they had a lavish wedding the summer after her freshman year. After that she never seemed to have time to go back to school. They were always shopping trips, business dinners, galas, trips. It seemed wonderful for the first few years, but after a while it had started to take a toll. She had started to notice things, how she had been changed, almost molded into the perfect wife. Her golden, sun-bleached locks had been dyed brown. Her speech improved, her wardrobe, her name even. He had made her into what he wanted and the girl she had once been was sitting in the passenger seat, bored to tears and miserable. It was almost a relief to be free of it all. To have herself back, her life back. But still, it hurt, the loss of what she had thought was a wonderful love.
The cool beach air was the first step in her therapy. She had always loved the beach. Somehow she had forgotten that. Squishing her toes in the damp sand and gazing over the moonlit water, she struggled to figure out how she had lived without this for so long. This was where she belonged. She had grown up here, a California girl at heart. But these last few years in New York had made her doubt that for some reason. But that was all over now. She was back for good.
Laying there not caring that her six hundred dollar sundress was soaked through with sand and saltwater she sighed, breathing in the crisp air, the smell of home. New York had never been her home, looking back now she realized it was her prison. The tall buildings and loud noises keeping her trapped and suffocated. Her husband had been the warden, her six karat diamond her shackles.
She sat up looking at the absurd piece of jewelry , her lip curled in disgust. With a sigh of pleasure she slid the ring off and tossed as far as possible into the quiet waves. The soft splash brought on a immense feeling of calm and freedom.
Running her hands through the sand she smiled as she climbed to her feet and picked her three hundred dollar sandals out of the tide. She walked slowly to her over priced sporty red convertible and tossed the shoes into a trash bin by the fence.
The sun was starting to come up over the horizon when she sped off, sand flying up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was a little over a hour later when she pulled up outside of her childhood home. The street was still quiet, only a few joggers around. Summer was in full bloom and she smiled at how the neighborhood was still so colorful and alive. She quietly shut the door to her car, not bothering to lock it, this was a good area.
She took her time walking up the front steps. She looked around, memories of this place filing her mind and tears sprung to her eyes. God, she hadn’t been here since her freshman year of college. Finally ready she reached the front door, deciding against using her long forgotten key she opted to knock. She listened to the familiar sounds of footsteps, calls of “I’ll get it.” and then quicker steps. She smiled when she saw her sisters head bob in front of the doors window.
The door swung open and suddenly she was looking at her baby sister, all grown up. Six years older and still full of energy.
“Buffy!” The younger woman screamed, her whole body bouncing up and down.
Years, it had been almost six years since anyone had called her that. God, she had forgotten that she liked that. “Dawnie.” Buffy said, her eyes misting. Then she laughed as the breath was knocked from her lungs and her arms were full of a bouncing nineteen year old.
They stayed glued together for what seemed like hours, laughing and crying there in the doorway, and then Buffy looked up. “Mommy.” She whispered as she pulled from her sister and ran into the waiting arms of her smiling Mother.
Buffy took in deep breaths, taking so much comfort in the smells of her mom. She squeezed her tight, never wanting to leave her arms again. She couldn’t believe she had been away so long. She would never forgive herself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hours later, the three women all huddled together on the couch. All cried out they had decided to have one of their once infamous movie nights. Full of anti-love, anti-men movies and the cheesiest pizza with the most fattening ice cream sundae’s available in the state.
Six years. For six years Buffy had lived without this. Six long cold years living in New York with a uncaring husband, no family, snobby friends and no greasy foods. But starting now the past six years were just that, the past. She curled up in her bed, in her childhood bedroom with all the sounds and smells of her previous life. For the first time in a while she felt at peace. She was finally Buffy Summers again and again for the first time in so long she actually looked forward to waking up to a new day.
~TBC~
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!