Snowflakes and Second chances

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I had somehow managed to take myself out of the rain last night and found my way to a nearby hotel with no other alternative, and I still continued to relive their betrayal over and over.

It wasn't just the truth of Jacob's infidelity that hurt me, I had been suspicious of his faithfulness long before now already, what hurt more was that of all the women out there, it had to be Rita.

She was one of the first friends I had made after moving from our small-town Berkeley in Chicago to the city, Beverly Hills, she might as well have been my only friend and one of the first people employed to the company.

Rita and I were the only people who knew about the abuse I suffered in Jacob's hands, she was my best confidant, and they wasn't a thing I didn't share with her and vice versa, little did I know the level of secrets and evil she had plotted behind my back.

Maybe I should be grateful to her even, catching them in the act might just be the final push I needed to save me from the self-destruction of the toxic relationship I had thrown myself into.

Being on my own entirely for the first time in a long while gave me all the clear head and space I needed to think about my past, present and the next steps to take and before evening time, I'm booking the first flight out of here, I was going back home.

Once the flight booking is all concluded, I find myself dialing a number I shamefully hadn't dialed in the past years, and all I can do is hold my breath in anticipation as it rings until the person picks up on the third ring.

“Amelia? Are you alright, darling?” At the comforting sound of my dad's voice, I break into a fresh round of sobs.

“I'm so sorry daddy, I-I-he, I can't- I truly miss you guys.” I can barely form clear sentences between my sobs as I cry into the hotel pillow.

“What is it, Sweet Pea? Did he hurt you? Calm down and talk to me, please.” His voice is drowning with worry, and I can almost feel the warmth of his infamous bear hugs as I sniff and wipe at my face.

“I-I, everything's crashing, and I don't know what to do anymore.” I whisper sadly, and he sighs worriedly on the other side of the phone.

“When everything's crashing down munchkin, you do what you always should, you come home. Come over and spend a few days, okay? We'll talk about what the matter is together and get through it as a family.” He assures me and I hum in reply, letting him know that my flight was booked for tomorrow afternoon already as I smile fondly at one of his many nicknames for me.

We talked for a while, but the conversation wasn't as easygoing and free flowing as it should've been, and I had only myself to blame for that. He had put in so much effort and all I did over the years was push him and everyone else away until a point were they gave up on fighting.

Whatever estranged relationship I now had been as a result of my initial rebellion years back and the continuing effects of one of Jacob's many destructive attributes in my life, enough was enough, he wasn't going to weaken my family ties any further.

I sleep soundly throughout the night, my body weak from all the drama and very much in need of proper recuperation and by the time I'm clear eyed sometime the next morning, the first thing I do is to take a look at the divorce papers I had shoved into my suitcase.

I read through every part I found necessary and seeing as nothing was too pressing to require a lawyer, I signed undoubtedly this time.

Staring at the wedding band on my finger, I slip it off, staring at it for a while as the memories we had shared together flashes through my mind, the good, and the bad, and with a sigh, I put it into the envelope along with the papers.

We were going to go through sharing the rights to the company as it was funded from both of our pockets, he'd be taking back his house and the car was mine, along with some other official here's and there's.

I then called the lawyer and told him I'd be leaving the envelope at the receptionist of the hotel for him to come pick up and for him to please help me finalize selling the car and wiring the money to my account.

By the time I'm off the phone and everything has been finalized, I feel lighter than I can remember feeling with a sense of peace filling me as I try to picture how my dad would look now after five years of zero contact or communication.

Just on time before it's time for my flight, I leave for the airport, and we pass through the necessary check-ins and boarding and soon, the plane takes off and I find myself being nervous all through as to how everyone would react seeing me.

The plane arrives at our destination a few hours later, and I board off along with the other passengers using my eyes to search around for anyone holding up my name or something that'd signify me I was being waited for.

I'm about to give up and just call my dad again before the sight of a young very much familiar man standing beside a petite woman with a rounded belly holding up a sign with my name gets my attention, I tentatively wave with a small smile he doesn't attempt to return, and I swallow my initial nerves tripling.

The woman dashes towards me as our eyes meet, and before I can react, she has me locked into a tight hug as she squeals, swaying us from side to side with surprising strength.

“Hello, sister.” My big brother Julian greets curtly, his eyes void of any spec of familiarity or warmth and as the case stood, I deserved every level of hostility he'd decide to throw at me as I hadn't left on the best of terms.

The question now though was, who was this cute waddling pregnant woman strangling me into a very excited hug?