Gale waited looking around her dream house. She couldn't believe that all they had to do was sign the paperwork and this was there and then they could really start their life together. She wanted him to meet her here just to get one look at their future. Her mother already told her how proud she was of her that she was getting ready to graduate college, try to open her own business, and marry the man that she loved more than breathing. He proposed to her a week ago when he showed her the house. She didn't think that they could afford it but apparently with his family they would be able to afford the house and with his job that he was going to get soon.
She turned around when she saw the familiar green Lexus pulling up. She smiled when she saw him slowly get out the car. She doesn't know what it was about him, but she always thought that he moved in slow motion. He was so hot to her; sometimes she would ask herself how she got someone like him to fall in love with her. It didn't matter though because now everything will start for them. She was about to rush to him but something stopped her. He didn't have the smile he always seemed to have when he saw her. His face read blank, something must be bothering him. He did say that he had to see his parents. They came into town two weeks ago and she met them a couple of days ago. His mother seemed really nice but his dad was unreadable. He didn't really acknowledge her. She didn't know what to think about what moment, but Patrick said that it was something that could be fixed.
He had his hands stuffed into his pocket and he glanced at everywhere but her, "Hey baby." She said trying to snap him out of his stupor.
"Hey." He simply said.
"Well, I talked to the realtor and she said that everything is set for us to sign the paperwork and bring her the down payment. She said that our appointment is going to be around 2. I took tomorrow off from work baby, were you able to get off of work?" he paused still not able to look at her, "Rick, is something wrong?"
"I can't." he whispered in his thick Irish accent.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I can't do this. I can't marry you." He said.
Gale never thought her heart could leap into her throat as fast as it did at that moment. She must have heard him wrong, she had too.
"What did you say?" she said.
He took a deep breath, "I can't do this anymore."
"Well, if you can't get the house, it's okay. We can get an apartment, but I thought you had everything under control."
"No, I mean all of this: the house, the marriage. I don't want this anymore."
Gale's whole body cringed and she almost fell over in pain. He couldn't be saying this, "Rick, we were going to get this house together. You just asked me to marry you. Hell, you told me this morning how much you loved me."
"Look this went on long enough and I can't keep pretending. You are a very pretty women Gale, but I can't be with you."
"Why? Why after everything that we have gone through together in the past two years?" she didn't even feel the tears that streamed down her face.
"It was fun Gale. I admit, I always wanted to bang a black girl, but let's be honest. You're not good for me." She wanted to say something but she let him continue, "Gale I come from one of the richest families around and you can't handle that lifestyle. You think I will be content staying in some little house trying to play house with you."
"I don't understand Patrick. You said you love me. Please baby, whatever I did I'm sorry but we can fix this." She said nearly throwing herself on him.
Patrick swallowed hard trying not to let her words get to him, this was hard enough already. He wanted to comfort her and tell her everything that was going on but he decided against it. He needed to end this.
"This is something you can't fix. We are from two different backgrounds and you are not good enough for me. I'm just sorry that I did let this go on for so long." Gale felt like she just shattered like glass hitting the floor and pieces of her went everywhere, "You will find someone that will be right for you. I'm sorry." With that he turned around slowly heading to the car.
She could barely breathe and felt little pieces of her dying. This can't be happening. This was all a horrible dream. She was going to wake up any moment with Patrick holding on to her. She looked up and saw him still heading to the car.
"Rick." She softly cried, "Rick!" she said again but he didn't flinch as he kept his pace to the car, "Patrick!" she called loudly not caring if the neighbors heard her.
He didn't look back once as he got in his car, confirming her heart break, "Patrick, please." She cried. The next sound she heard was the car turning over and him pulling away from her life forever.
She felt the numbness slowly creep up her body as she watched his tail lights disappear into the night leaving her alone. No new life, no dream house, and more importantly, no Patrick. Her body felt ice cold as the numbness rose up her legs to her stomach.
"What about our family?" she whispered as she finally sank to the ground, bawling.
"You need to get laid." Tara said as Gale tried her best to maneuver through traffic.
"Gee, thanks a lot best friend."
"What kind of friend would I be if I didn't tell you the truth?" Gale could feel Tara smiling through the phone.
"The kind of friend that shouldn't remind me how much I need to get laid?"
"Yea I love you too, anyway, are you going to that job?"
"Well, Jade said that she recommended me to the guy and it could definitely be something that gets me known since the job is so big." Gail smiled.
"Imagine! You get to decorate a whole hotel. That does sound like a good paying job, especially since you are moving to get closer to your sisters."
Gale nodded thinking about the big change that has gone on. She finally admitted to herself about the sham of a marriage she was in and finally let him go. She couldn't stand to be the person she was back then; it almost cost her Jade. She still felt a twinge of shame every time she thinks about how she easily let Dante manipulate her.
She can finally admit that James is the perfect man for her. He has treated Jade with nothing but respect and he love Nicole. Speaking of Nicole, she was doing great in school, running track and working. She even noticed her buying some clothes that fit, more than likely the work of her roommate Eva. Sometimes it hurts to think that her little sisters don't need her anymore, but she needed to get her own life in order.
It's hard being a 34 year old divorce woman trying to move and keep her business running. Especially when it comes to those lonely nights when she longed for someone to be next to her. It's been so long since she has been loved so well and through, even before her husband. She hasn't experience deep passionate love making since...
"Hey," she was broken out of her thoughts, "I'm going to fly in Wednesday, can you come get me?"
"Of course, Jade has been asking me when you were going to get here."
"I know; I haven't seen her since the wedding. I know Jessica and I are excited about moving. I swear your sister is trying to get us there."
"You know how she feels about family being around, that's why mom is just a couple of feet away. I'm about to pull up Tara, so I will call you and tell you how it went."
"Hey, if the guy is younger and hot, this may be your opportunity."
"Oh please, more than likely this is old money that just wants something to invest in. I'll call you later." Gale said hanging up the phone pulling up to the building.
