Negative Positives

5: Moving on

Elise

Tuesday, February 6th, 2024

6 weeks and 2 days gestation

The service station is nice and cool when I go to grab myself a coffee. There aren't any coffee shops open today, that I know of. It's a public holiday and a bright sunny day.

Much too bloody cheerful for me. My head hurts from lack of sleep and crying too much.

I'd stupidly spent the night in my car, parked in the locked carpark outside the salon where I work. It was probably not safe. I certainly hadn't felt safe. But it was much preferable to sitting at home and waiting for my husband to return, or not.

I laugh to myself at that thought. He probably hadn't even come home until he needed to get ready for work. I could have had our nice comfortable king-sized bed all to myself.

I never would again. My mind was set on that. I couldn't go back there after what James had said. I wanted this baby, even if he didn't.

Part of me wondered why he hadn't called or text to ask where I was, but I would have been surprised if he had.

I could have gone to my best friend Kate's house but I hadn't been ready to tell anyone yet. I had to figure all this out on my own.

I don't have work today because it's Waitangi Day. I'll have to go tomorrow or Tania will start getting annoyed with me if all of my clients are passed on to her, although some of those clients would reschedule because they liked to keep to the same stylist.

I had no idea where to start. I need to get some things from home. I need a place to stay. I need... I didn't even know what I need. How do you even divorce someone?

Sighing, I pick up my phone to call Kate.

Kate is a stay-at-home mum of two little boys. Harley is almost three and Cruise is six months old. Their dad likes motorcycles. Can you tell?

"Heya, Babes. What's up?" Kate answers.

"Hi, Boo." I reply, using our nicknames for each other. "Mind if I call round?"

"Yeah, sure, I'd love you to. Cruise is about to go down for a nap. No work today, of course."

"Nah." She hears my tone of voice and asks if I'm okay. "I'm going through some stuff and I need some advice." I explain.

"Oh Babes. Come see Aunty Boo. I've got chocolate cake."

"Thanks Kate. That sounds amazing."

"Cake fixes everything."

I laugh.

"Yeah, I wish." I mumble. "See you soon."