The Destitute Heiress

Zip-Tied

If anyone could take a walk in my brain right now, they would see a buzz of words, a mash of thoughts, unable to jumble a good idea out of my mouth. So I do what I can, I run. Before both men can fathom what is happening, I’m halfway down the street, the cold air coming right at me, my trench coat flapping around in the breeze and my ankle burning.

I take a quick look behind me and when I see no one coming, I slow down and trot to a walk. I look around my surroundings and realise I’m far away from a bus station so I walk to one and take a seat to wait for the bus. Work starts in an hour and I need to be there before my overbearing boss comes in for the day.

As I scan my bus card and settle into the warm seat previously occupied by a woman, I take a deep breath I could not bring myself to take earlier. So much is happening, none of it is my business or it could even be a trafficking ploy. These traffickers have gotten way smarter than they were when I was a high schooler.

I forget the entire morning’s debacle as soon as I hang my coat on my locker and properly lock my bag. My loose change and credit card were hidden in the zip slip I made in my skirt once I found out there was a light-fingered thief among the waiters.

“Good Morning, I’m Carina. What can I get you today?” I greet my first customers, they’re a frazzled looking husband and wife who look like they need a night of sleep, but they can’t get it because they have children.

Children. I’m somewhat glad I did not make that mistake with Kevin. I even begged for us to try more after my miscarriage, but he must have met Carol around that time because he stopped doing his grunting s*x routine and started sleeping more.

“We will have the breakfast sandwich. My bread will be a bagel please, my wife likes her bagel extra toasted.” I nod and help them fit their child into the high chair better before going to set their order for the kitchen to process.

“What is that stain on your shirt, Carina?” I look down at my shirt immediately, panicking because the voice of my boss spells doom every time. There’s no spot or any visible stain because I washed and ironed this shirt last night. I look back up and ask him to point out the spot.

“It’s there, near your armpit. Calling me a liar? A dollar off every hour you work today.” My shoulders slump as I look at my armpit and sure there’s a yellow stain from my perfume there. I look back up at him and restrain myself from slamming his face with the writing pad in my hand. Reina and I need the money very badly, our rent for this month is almost sorted but it would be really nice to have a small emergency fund.

I continue my day, remarkably trying harder than ever so that customers can tip me more today. Though our boss takes ten percent of the tips for himself, there’s nothing I can do. This was the only place that agreed to hire me knowing I had never done a paid job in my life. I have stopped referring to my time as Kevin’s wife as a time when I was jobless. It was an unpaid, thankless job that came back to bite me in the as.s.

As soon as my shift is over, I take my share of the tips and leave the restaurant out back, but as I try to get to the bus-stop to my helper job at a goodwill near our place, my phone starts to ring.

“Hello, Carina Hammond speaking.” I cursed myself silently for being so foolish to change my name. I went to check and it costs an arm and a leg to change it back.

“Mrs Hammond, you may please come to the Beacon Hill courthouse today at noon to pick up your signed documents. The divorce is completed.” I compose myself but I cannot help the wide grin that spreads on my face. Once the call is over, I jump up and down, forgetting about my aching feet.

I’m no longer Carina Hammond! What a wonderful day to have.

I walk to the bus stop and a bus goingbthe way of the beacon hill courthouse stops almost immediately. I giggle as I swipe my card in excitement of the universe making things easier for me. Normally, I should have waited at least an hour and it would have cut into my shift at the Rosie place thrift store. Though I only have to work four hours each time, they helped Reina and I out to get clean clothes to start work.

I reached the courthouse in no time but took my time getting to the office, finding a table nearby to eat my sandwich and taking a sip of the water bottle I took when my boss was not watching.

Once I’m full, I chuck the rest into my large tote and toss the bottle water into it. I take heavy steps to the side offices where I present my documents to the lady there. When she asks for me to sign, I smell a familiar perfume and turn around to see Kevin face to face. He’s standing there with his brunette girlfriend with her wavy hair shining in a way mine cannot because I’m working every single day with no break.

“What are you looking at?” I want to turn and ask her what she is doing here, but I refrain. Reina would be very proud if I told her I ignored my husband’s mistress. Wait, he’s no longer my husband. I sign the document and he steps forward to sign as well, and then the stamps follow before we’re each given a sheet of paper signaling our divorce.

“I’m sorry it had to happen this way, Carina. I wish you well in the future. You’re beautiful, you’ll still find yourself a good man.” I chuckle as I tuck the sheet of paper into the ziplock bag in my purse and walk away. He no longer has any relevance in my life.

I have a pep in my step until I get home, turning off the alarm and using my key as I go inside the two bedroom apartment Reina and I share. She said she was going to be here all day reading, so I got us some lemon pepper wings to have with rice and steamed broccoli later tonight.

“Hii-“ I stop speaking and the carton of pepper wings falls from my hands to the floor because Reina is taped up and her hands are bound with a zip tie.

“She would not stop screaming. We had to do something.” I cannot form words, cannot bring myself to say anymore. Who did Reina and I offend?