Bittersweet Love

Chapter Six: Lakeside Inn

Evelynn

I was in the Uber on my way back to my grandma’s, well, I should say, my house. My make up was running down my face, reminding myself to double check what I wore because I swore it was waterproof. Tonight definitely didn’t go the way I wanted it to go to say the least. In fact, it felt like my entire life blew up in my face more than it could have ever have in the past.

Pulling out my phone, I ignored the many messages from Evan so I could text June. It was honestly a good thing that my house was a nice drive from the city so I had time to wrap my head around everything that happened tonight. Everything that happened kept replaying in my mind and it wouldn’t stop.

I knew she would be at the house waiting for me but I just wanted to be alone. I needed to be alone to cry it out before I go back the Evan’s house and tell him myself everything that I know. It’s done and tonight just for sure proved it. Even if a part of me is slightly okay with our marriage ending, the other part is hurting because we have such a long history together and Aless was going to be the one that suffered the most.

Me: Hey. It’s going to be a late night. Can you take Aless to your place? I’m probably going to crash at the hotel where the dinner is at.

Juniper: Are you sure? We can just stay here and see you tomorrow. Everything okay? What happened? Travis has been texting Zander and he isn’t answering. Normally he says how boring these things are.

Me: I’m fine, everything is fine I just want a night to myself if you don’t mind but please, take Aless with you that way you and Travis will be more comfortable and I’ll call you in the morning when I’m about to come get her.

Juniper: Okay, if you say so. I’ll pack a bag for her now and get her there before she falls asleep and call me in the AM and we will do breakfast. We’ll meet you somewhere, okay?

Me: I’ll let you know.

I locked my phone, ignoring the rest of the messages that kept flowing through with every vibration. I just looked at the screen reading who they were from. A couple from June even though I just got off the phone with her, some from Travis, dozens from Evan and a couple from mom.

They all can screw themselves for all I care.

Every single one of them.

I couldn’t let them know I was pissed but I’m sure mom would be calling June soon and telling her what happened.

Then the phone started to ring with my mom showing up on the caller ID. I furrowed my brow, even more upset with her than all of them.

The secrets they hid from me all these years finally broke the final straw. I don’t know what they were hiding, but they all were hiding something serious. I will find out what it is and go from there but all I know is that it’s going to break my heart more than it has ever been broken in the past.

I answered the phone without saying a word only to hear my mother’s panicked voice, “Evie, please come back and we can talk about this.” I sat there in silence while I heard her sniffle on the phone, “I know what we did was wrong but I can explain everything. Zander came rushing up to me saying you overheard an argument between him and Evan and that…just please…please come back and we can talk.”

“No. I need space from everyone right now. I will call you when I’m ready.” I said quietly.

“Evie, my darling, please, let’s talk about this.”

“I am going to get Aless tomorrow after I speak with Evan and then I am turning my phone off for a bit. I don’t want to hear from anyone unless it’s life or death. I will speak with June tomorrow but right now, the thought of speaking to any of you hurts more than it ever should.”

“How can I fix this?” Mom cried out, “How can I fix us?”

“In time, maybe things will get better but right now, you all can hide your secrets from me but until you’re willing to all tell me the truth, the whole truth about everything that happened over those eight months, I don’t want to speak to any of you. And you can tell June that if you want. I won’t be home tonight because I know for sure once we’re done you’re going to call her.”

“Sweetheart, I promise I will explain everything. Please, come back. Zander and Evan…”

“Can fight it out for all I care. Goodnight.” I hung up on her before she could say anything. Even though it hurts to be so harsh to my mother, just knowing that she’s been hiding secrets from me for the past six years about what really happened hurts even more. The Uber drive looked at me through the rear view mirror only to give me a pitiful look.

“Do you want me to take you somewhere else for the night instead of the address you gave me?” he asked.

I let out a sigh, “Yeah, I suppose that would be the smart thing to do right?”

“Well, you did tell your mom you won’t be home and from the sounds of it, when she calls your friend she isn’t going anywhere, so you might as well. I don’t mind the extra driving. No charge.”

“Yeah. Take me to any decent hotel, I don’t really care.”

“Got it.” He nodded and made a U-turn to go back into the city. My phone kept going off so I turned it all the way off so I wouldn’t have to hear the ring tones or feel the vibrations and this way, Evan and June cannot track my location.

Because knowing my luck they would.

She’s done it in the past before when I was drunk in college and Evan likes to know where I am, the controlling son of a b***h he is.

As we were driving through the backroads right before heading into the city, I saw up ahead a sign for this small bed and breakfast.

Lakeside Inn

“Can you take me there instead please?” I asked the driver and he just nodded his head and pulled into the front of the building. I don’t know why but something was telling me that I knew this place even though I never really paid attention or seen it before, not that I can remember.

But yet I don’t remember a lot.

I tipped the driver a bit extra for the trouble and he drove away as I stood outside this cute little house. It was small, but quaint. It reminded me of an old farmhouse with the way the shudders looked against the wood siding. There were little lanterns in the garden, lighting up a small stone walkway to the front of the porch where there was a swinging bench that faced out into the driveway.

I picked up the front of my dress just a bit so I wouldn’t walk on the bottom and made my way up the stairs to the front door. There was a sign that said All are always welcome, come right in on the door.

I turned the handle and slowly pushed it open to see a foyer decorated with old school paintings and knickknacks along the wall., The wallpaper looked a bit outdated but it went with the scheme of things. At the front desk sat an older woman who kind of reminded me of my grandmother. I couldn’t help but smile as she looked up from her word search and beamed at me.

“Oh dear! It is so late! What is a young pretty girl like you doing out on a night like this and dressed so beautifully?” she asked softly as she put her book down.

She had short gray hair that curled at the ends and wore her giant, thin framed glasses that made her eyes look just a bit bigger. As she stood up, you can see a slight hunchback but that didn’t stop her positiveness. She pulled out a book from under the table and flipped through a couple of pages.

“I just needed a place to stay. It’s really late and I’m a bit far away from home. I saw this place and it felt familiar so I figured I would stay here if you have a room available.” I walked up to the counter and placed my hand on the old wood table.

“For you my sweet, anything. It’s been years since I’ve seen you and where is that strapping young man you used to come here with?” she laughed a bit to herself and shook her head, “You two reminded me so much of me and my Phil, god rest his soul.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been here before.” She was confusing me. Maybe she was mistaking me for someone else.

“No. You used to come here all the time a few years ago, well, I guess now it was almost seven years.” She chuckled, “You two looked so in love and he is so handsome, your fella.”

“Oh…okay? I guess that would make sense. Evan and I did used to…”

“No deary. His name wasn’t Evan. Jeeze. What was it? I don’t remember but it certainly wasn’t Evan.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very. My grandson who lives in Arizona is named Evan and I would have remembered if you were with someone of that name. I may be old but I do have a pretty good memory.” Yeah, but not enough to remember the name of the guy I was with, or at least the guy my doppleganger was with because I am almost sure I've never been here before, “Anyways, sometimes that gentleman comes here alone. I always wondered if it was because you were out of town or something. You did love working with your mother. How is Jean by the way?”

Okay, so maybe she does know me but I am even more confused, “Can you tell me a bit about the guy that I come here with?”

“Oh you silly child, why would you need me to say something? You two are so smitten with each other. When you two would be here, you couldn’t keep your young paws off one another and then the big news! Tell me, how is the little one?” She beamed.

“Um, she’s good.” I smiled. She knew about Aless? What the heck. I mean, I guess that would make sense since she knows my mom.

“That’s good to hear. You should tell your momma to come visit me more often. Gosh, I haven’t seen her since I saw you last, seven years ago.” She chuckled, “But that’s enough of the chit chat. It’s getting a bit late and it’s time for you to get some beauty sleep, not that you need it. I have your room you two get available. There’s no other else in there tonight so it’s just you so you can enjoy all the accommodations, Here’s the key.” She handed me an old, rusty looking key and told me the room was on the top floor in the house behind this place. I went to go in my handbag to get some money and when I looked up, she was gone.

She confuses me but yet, not. It’s such a weird feeling.

I stood there for a moment, conflicted about if I should go to the room or not, before heading out the back door to go to this other building outside. When I did, I was faced with this beautiful, refinished barn that was turned into extra rooms. The doors slid open on tracks and when you walk in, all you can see if a modern day, log cabin country feeling living room.

There was a large couch with a giant ottoman in front of a lit fireplace that gave the room a cozy feeling. A television was mounted above the mantle and on the table were magazines and a couple remotes. I kicked off my shoes and left them on the shoe rack by the door and turned to head into the kitchen, which surprisingly was fully stocked.

I wanted to eat something but my stomach was in knots so I opted for a glass of water. A slight shiver went up my spine as I looked around. Everything about this place felt familiar. I imagined me cooking at this very stove wearing nothing but a long sleeve button down shirt, a guys, and dancing to some music as hands wrap around my waist, dancing with me as we smiled and laughed but I couldn’t see his face as he nuzzled his head into the crook of my neck, peppering kisses as I moaned.

We would sit on that very couch and cuddle naked under the soft fuzzy blankets after a round of love making. I would lay my head on his chest as we would play with each other’s fingers and talk about the future and our plans to grow a life together and start a family. He would pull me tighter to him and he said, “It was always supposed to be us Elle. I wish we would have been together sooner.”

I remember him placing a hand on my stomach and kissing it while looking at me, looking at me with all the love he has in his eyes.

Zander…

I shook my head as tears started to pool in my eyes. Why would I think that? Why would I remember something like that? Only one person has ever called me Elle and we were never together…

Right?

I walked to the closet and took out a fuzzy white blanket, holding it close to my chest and for some reason, breathing it in. It smelled like sugar cookies and it was wonderful. I took it to the couch where I plopped down and hiked my dress up a bit and covered myself with the blanket and just cuddled while staring at the fire.

I wanted to turn my phone on and see what the messages were saying but a part of me didn’t, but I turned it on anyways. It should be on because of Aless. If anything happened to her and I didn’t know, I would never forgive myself.

As soon as it turned on, I instantly regretted it. Dozens of messages flooded my phone but something stood out. It was an unknown number and it said We need to talk. Sooner rather than later. It’s time all the bullshit and drama ends.

I didn’t reply to any of them and just sat there watching the flames dance until my eyes got heavy and I was soon off to a quiet slumber.

“No! What you did is unforgivable!” I yelled at Evan while grabbing clothes out of my closet. I pulled out a bag and slammed all of it on our bed, the bed that he used with some other woman. I didn’t bother looking at what I was packing because I didn’t care. I just needed to get the hell out of this room. I just wanted my stuff and to start the rest of my life.

“You left me six months ago and now you want to come and get your things? I thought because you left it here you just needed time to forgive me and come back home. Please, baby, don’t go.” He pleaded, “What I did with her was nothing. It meant nothing. You are the one I want.”

“I don’t care what you want. I don’t deserve this . I've been nothing but loving and supportive in every aspect of this relationship and you've done nothing in return. Do you want to know why I never came back after I left you all that time ago to get my things is because I couldn’t face you without wanting to throat punch you so I went and bought new things. I’m only here to grab what I want so you can make room for your slut.”

“Don’t do that.” He whispered, coming over and grabbing my hand and trying to hold it. I ripped it away from him, not wanting him to touch me, “Let me talk to her and make her stop. She doesn’t mean anything to me Evelynn. It’s you. It’s been you since college. Don’t do this. Don’t end something that could be amazing.”

I sighed and shook my head, “The sad part Evan, is that it was never amazing. Not from the beginning and not then and definitely not now. It’s done. I’ve moved on and so should you.” I continued to grab some of the things I wanted and zipped up my bag and headed to the door without looking at hm, “I’m pregnant and I’m not coming back.”

“It’s him, isn’t it.” He spat. I just paused my step and looked at him with arms crossed over my chest, “It was always him from the beginning wasn’t it? Tell me, did you cheat on me with him before I slept with her? How often were you two together? f**k, it must have been going on for a long time for you to be knocked up with his bastard child. Tell me, now who’s the goddamn slut.”

“I can promise you this, we have never been together while we were together.” I laughed and shook my head, “It was always him Evan. Everything from the beginning was a lie and I hate you even more for it. You can spit all the words at me you want but it will just show your ugly side and nothing, I mean nothing will take the happiness away that I have with him.”

I opened the door and took a couple steps out towards my car where I saw someone sitting in the front seat, waiting for me, “You’ll come crawling back! I know you will! They always do!”

“No. The only way I’ll ever come back to you is if for some ungodly reason I wake up one day and don’t remember your betrayal.” And without saying goodbye, I opened the door to the car and leaned forward to kiss the man in the seat. I heard Evan screaming at me from the front door but I ignored him, “Take me to our place.”

“Anything for you Elle.” He whispered as his hand cupped my cheek and I leaned into his touch as his hand trailed down to my stomach and rubbed it. His voice sounded so familiar and when I went to open my eyes…

I woke up, breathing a bit hard as I sat up and looked around the room, my head was hurting more than it ever has in the past. I looked around and noticed I was still alone and the fire was still dancing, watching me sleep. I grabbed the glass of water on the table and took a couple of large sips, thinking about what I just dreamt.

Why do I not remember that? When did it happen?

While deep in thought, the door opened behind me, making me freeze in place, afraid to move. The footsteps stopped behind me, not coming any closer.

“Are you going to turn around?” He asked.

“Should I?” I whispered, “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“I’ll tell you everything if you answer my questions.” He grunted out.

I bit my lip and looked down at my lap. I didn’t want to do this now. Not right now. I needed to make sure everything is settled with Evan first and then I am more than happy to hear everyone out, “I want to go to sleep and then go home. Once things are officially over with Evan, then we all can talk.”

“Fair enough. You take the room.”

And without saying another word or looking at him, I grabbed the fuzzy blanket and brought it upstairs with me only to have a restless sleep knowing he was downstairs.

One thing at a time. One thing…at a time.

And as I started to walk up the stairs, “Elle…” he said, making me pause, “Just so you know…I am sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t going to fix whatever happened. Goodnight Zander.”