Page 13 of Ripple Effect
All my best,
Libby
I finish typing in my new email contact information for Deja Vu. Even though the company paperwork has just been filed, I made certain I owned the email domain. Pushing away from my desk at Salt for the last time, a small, self-satisfied smile crosses my face.
I’m going to do it.
My phone rings. My heart begins to pound. Not so quickly after I just sent the message, surely… “Thank you for calling Salt Gallery. This is Elizabeth. How may I help you?” Even as I say the words, they seem odd rolling off my tongue.
I don’t belong here anymore.
“Hey, Libs,” Josh, my older brother by three and a half years, drawls. “Do you need an escort to the ball tonight? It would not be a hardship to have two beautiful women on my arm,” he teases.
Since I’m well aware his wife, Bailey, will be on the other side, I merely roll my eyes and hold my tongue. Tonight is Nonna’s annual charity ball. “I’ll accept the arm to walk in with the heels I’m wearing, you dork. After that, I plan to enjoy myself all on my own. I’m a grown woman,” I remind him.
“Stop reminding me. I’m getting sick of warning off all the idiots who work for us,” he mutters.
“Then stop warning them off.”
“Like that will ever happen.”
“I’ll see you at seven?” I check my personal email one last time, but it’s empty. There’s nothing in the inbox.
And, my heart is beginning to realize, there may never be.
So much for flowery promises, I think bitterly, as I close the lid of the laptop smartly.
“Just promise me you’re not going to fall for some yahoo,” Josh groans.
“I wouldn’t bet the estate on it,” I tease him breezily, before I hang up the phone in his ear. Gathering up my purse, I say goodbye to my boss, thank her again for the wonderful opportunity she gave me.
And then I leave to try to fall in love with my future.
Elizabeth
Thirteen Years ago from Present Day
Calhoun,
I overheard Iris and Sam discussing the fact you work with them at Alliance. This tells me everything I need to know.
I wish you nothing but the best in all of your future endeavors.
Respectfully,
Elizabeth
A few minutes go by before I get a ping in my email box. Startled, I open it. Somehow, I’m not surprised by the contents. The technical jargon just leads to a few simple words that solidify the unspoken message I was receiving since a month after I graduated from college.
[[Message returned to sender.Address Unknown]]
Very carefully,I file the message before I shut down my email program and head home.
There are people who actually care about me there. People who want to hear about what I’ve done today and every day over the last few years. People who understand I’ve finally bloomed into the woman I was always meant to be.
Strong, self-sufficient, and independent.
Even if that means alone.
