Tia's Revenge

Week 5 Conflict

 Tia was finally on vacation and could come back home. It would good to be able to see her family again. Mara was waiting for her at the airport and it was going to be a rock and roll time, oh not in a good way. Since she has been gone for a year and a half and has not been back since two weeks after the wedding. Her family has frozen her out since she left for her job. Her and her husband has been back and forth, but talk about once a week since that's the only time they can fit each other in. Not that he was happy with her either. As usual they had a fight. Seems like since she left all they do is fight. She wanted to surprise him with this visit. She wanted to really talk to him to see how he is. She wanted to fix things between them so that they were at least cordial with each other. She would never admit it but she missed him, but most importantly she missed being friends with him, just telling him how things were going. Unfortunately they started fighting as he got busier with his company and then the only polite thing they said was hello because she would ask about him a question, he'd get snarky and she gave it back to him, then it was twenty minutes of fighting before hanging up. What he and everyone else didn't know is that  after the calls she would cry herself to sleep. She hated fighting with him, the truth of the matter is that she was in love with him. This was the moment that she is going to decide if she was going to fight or just let him go. She was scared that he didn't want her anymore. She heard the call that they could disembark and waited for most people to leave before she stood up, got her bag and got off hoping that Mara is on time. 

 Tia came into the airport and looked for Mara but she wasn't there, she headed to baggage claim to get her bags and as she turn around to look for  Mara she sees Kyle with his arm around another woman looking really cozy. "Hey, what's wrong" Mara said.

"Nothing" Tia said smiling at Mara. Only Mara could see that something was wrong.

  "Okay. Let's go home. We'll get something to eat and you can tell me what this face is about. Oh, I have some news for you but after we eat, catch up and talk about that face" Mara said

They went to Mara's house, as they walked in they were greeted by Mylin, which was a surprise to Tia. The surprise on Mylin's face could not be missed by either woman. Mara vowed to get that information later when Tia was all tucked in sleeping. 

"Hey Mylin. How are you?" Tia said hugging Mylin.

"I'm great, how are you? Does Kyle know you are in town?" He asked shocked.

"No, when we spoke two weeks ago we argued  and it ended with him hanging up on me. He have no clue. I plan to see him at some point over the next week that I'm in town. I don't know how to start. I will figure some things and I will call to have dinner, breakfast, coffee something to see him. Please don't tell him I'm here." Tia said.

"Um question for you, Why are you at my bestie house like this is your home? Don't give me no slick talk because I have seen where you live." Tia said.

"Well, I guess I'll tell you. We have been dating for seven months now. I was going to wait to tell you, but I like having Mylin around and I'm not willing to give that up, so as long as he wants to be here." Mara said hugging Mylin to her while he pulls her close and place a kiss on her temple. 

Wow, what it would feel like to have someone want me like they want each other. Maybe I should start dating in Austin. What I just saw, he doesn't have time to talk to me because he have to be with his woman. She felt sad for a second. She had to find a way out of her emotions. Looks like she wouldn't fight and grant him a divorce. 

"I need to use the bathroom Mara." She excused herself.

Tia went up to her room, dropping her bags. She laid across the bed and they tears came. She didn't realize that she was crying. 

"Tia, dinner is ready." Mia said from the door.

Tia didn't even realize she fell asleep. "Coming, I fell asleep". She went to the bathroom to freshen up. When she arrived at the kitchen, she walked into a Mylin and Mara canoodling at the table. "I'm here now." She announced heading to the stove to fix her plate. 

"So Tia time to dish. What is going on?" Mara asked

"Nothing, just time for me to clear things with my family and HUSBAND. Mara I'm tired of fighting with everyone but you and being alone. I'm nervous of dating someone there because I am married. I think I'm just going to file for divorce, we have really grown apart and I don't see myself moving back to Cali unless something happens with my family, I think that it's time to just stop and let go. Time to build me a new life where I want to be and be the woman I choose to be." Tia said

"Where is this coming from? What happened between three days ago and today?" Mylin asked.

Tia looked at Mylin perplexed, then understood. Mylin has been with Mara when they have been talking.

"I saw your brother at the airport, with what looked like his girlfriend going somewhere. Since it's over for him, I will just go to sign the divorce papers and we can both be free of each other." Tia said.

Mylin didn't like the way that she said it, as if she was positive. He didn't know his brother was going anywhere so he took out his phone and dial him. 

"Where are you? Who are you with?" Mylin asked.

"On a flight with Patricia." Kyle answered confused.  The line went dead. What is up with Mylin now.

Shit. I have to talk to Mara alone about this but how to  get her alone.

"Are you sure you want to cut ties with Kyle?" Mara asked

"Yes. He has moved on so I have to and the first order of business is allowing him to stop hiding what's going on in our lack of a marriage and get the stipulations and speculations off of him. I will feel comfortable to date and not worry about who I run into. Quiet as it is kept a lot of  people in our circle is in Austin regularly, so I can't be seen with other men until he and I are not connected. Mara I had a slim hope but there is none." Sending a quick text. She looked up and smiled at Mara and Mylin. 

"Tia, what did you just do?" Mara felt a sense of doom all of a sudden.

"Text Kyle that I'm in town to sign the divorce papers. Mara, I give up. If I'm going to be alone it will be by my own choice, not because I'm unwanted and there is no hope of happiness. I'm letting everyone that want out of my life out. I'm tired of missing people who don't want me. For the past year I've only had one friend in California and that's you. I didn't tell you that my family hasn't spoken to me since I left and I'm going by there tomorrow  to get the last of the things they want me to take and disappear from them. I'll call you with my new phone number and I don't want you to give it to anyone got it. This is my chance to be truly happy, if I wait for my family to love me or anyone to want me, I'll never have anyone and it's no reason for that. I am changing my flight to Tuesday then everyone can be done with me and I can find my own happiness when i'm not attached to California." She declared resigned to what she needed to do.

"So my brother don't have any chance of winning you back?" Mylin asked.

"Your brother don't want me. Neither of us wanted each other in our arranged marriage. I think we have proven that we are not a good match, we want different things and want to live in separate states so I don't think he would want me anyway."

"What if he do."

"He looked content with his friend, rather she is his girlfriend, fiance or whoever. I just want him to be happy, I don't want to stop anyone else. With that settled and said, tell me about how this came about?"

Mara looked at Mylin, he leaned over kissed her and excused himself.

"Tia are you sure you just want to give up California?"

"Hey man, you have a situation."

"What do you mean?"

"Are you alone?"

"No. We are landing now. Can I call you when I get on the ground?"

"Yes as soon as you can."

"Okay. I am alone, what's up?"

"Tia's here to give you a divorce. I just want to give you a heads up."

"Yeah you're late, I already got the let's get divorced text."

"What did you say?"

"I haven't responded yet. I thought I wanted that but her saying she wants one when we have been fighting so much. I don't know how this went so wrong."

"But you've been dating for two months now. I thought you would be relieved."

"I thought so too until I saw that text. My heart dropped and it felt like someone squeezed my heart. I don't know if I could do this. Where is she staying?"

"Mara, she is leaving in three days. She's decided that she is coming to say her final goodbye to everyone but Mara. You better figure out what you want before she comes to sign those divorce papers. When she leaves this time, her only reason for coming back will be Mara, she plans to say bye to her family too. This is your last chance to save the marriage. By the time Mara and I get married it will probably be too late to get her. I have no doubt some man in Austin will sweep her off her feet. I'm just giving you a heads up. I love you bro and I want you to be happy too."

"Thanks, love you bro, thank you for looking out for me. I think I'm going to need all the help I can get. Can you come by so you can help me strategize how to win her back. Will you just make sure I have a chance?" Kyle asked.

"Yes I will get you as much intel and aid to win her back. Talk to you later, sounds like their private moment is over. I'll be by when I leave. I'll let her know you got her text but is a little busy and will text or call her back. " Mylin said

"Ok. Thanks for helping me out." Kyle said.

Mylin went back to the kitchen to clean up since the girls left.

Tia was ready to face hurdle number one in her life, her family. She knocked on the door. Bettie the housekeeper opened the door and yanked her inside in a bear hug. "I miss you Tia, why haven't you been back before now?" "It's a long story. I've been very busy with my job and getting settled in Texas." "All of us in the house miss you." "Thanks Bettie, is my parents or siblings here?" "Yes they are in the living room"

Tia took a deep breath and walked around the corner into her parents and siblings. 

"Hey" they rushed over to her and bear hugged her. She missed them so much.  

"My baby, why haven't you called or been home? We have been worried sick about you." Her mother said.

"I was looking at flights to come check on my baby sister. I don't like not hearing from you." This from her brother Mark.

"It's not that big a deal, any of you could have called." Tia said pointedly.

"You look great princess, even if a little tired, have you been eating and sleeping properly there in Texas? He dad said.

"Thanks dad. Yes I am eating and sleeping properly."

"Can we address the elephant in the room before lunch?" Her mother asked

"Which elephant mom?" Jolie, her sister,asked.

"The husband elephant, why is he not here with you?"

"We are getting a divorce. He already have the papers ready and I'm in town to sign." Tia said.

The family gathered around her. "Did he do something to you because I will take him out then you'll just be a widow." Her brother David said.

"No, we've been going through some things and he's been here with his company and family business' and I don't want to give up my job so we decided to get divorced before we get any worse." Tia said.

"Ohh baby, are you ok. I know you were both in love with each other. I have to admit watching you at the alter at the ceremony, I was sure that you two had what it took to have a long healthy marriage." Her mom said.

"Thanks, but it's my fault for not coming back to him. I fell in love with my job and we can't figure out how to make this work. We have been constantly fighting for the last few months and I feel like I'm holding him back. So I'm letting go to let him find his own happiness." Tia said.

"Tia I really want to clear our misunderstanding up. I don't want you to leave again thinking that I don't love you or care about you. You are my baby sister and nothing is more important then you. I'm sorry I sided with mom and dad about forcing you to marry. After seeing you now, I regret not respecting your opinion and life. If I had known then what I know now then I wouldn't have pushed you so hard. I don't like the residual look on your face. I could go and beat him myself for hurting the most special person in our family. I want you to know that you were right, when you said it's not fair everybody else got to pick their mate but you had to be saddled to someone that may never love you. I'm so sorry." Jolie said

"It's Ok, Jo. I'm over that." Tia said honestly to her sister.

As they were getting up from lunch Tia's phone pinged signaling a new text message. 

"Please call me so we can set up at time to meet and discuss things."

"Really you want to discuss things. Yeah right, the way we fight, I'm having a uber waiting as soon as I arrive at your house" Tia said to the phone.

"Hello"

"Hey Tia." Kyle said

"Hi, do  you have a time that I can come by tomorrow to sign the divorce papers?" Tia asked, just wanting to get it over with.

"Do you mind if we do dinner tomorrow night. I kind of have a lot on my plate tomorrow, but I have plenty of room after work. I'd really like to have dinner with you." Kyle said.

"Fine, what time?" Tia asked.

"Can you arrive at our house at 6:30. I'll take care of everything, don't worry about anything."

"I will see you tomorrow at 6:30."

"Wait, don't hang up. I miss you" Kyle said

"I miss you too, but that is something we will have to discuss." Tia said.

"I'll see you tomorrow at 6:30. Love you, night" Kyle said.

"6:30" Tia said.

He's going to kill me. I'm sitting in traffic, it's already 6:45, so surly when she arrive, there would be an argument and it will be easier to sign the papers. She can be free of him and he of her. She arrived at his house at 7 pm on the dot.

"Why are you late? Is it that you don't want to see me?" Kyle asked Tia.

"Traffic was back up for ten miles, so i've been sitting in traffic trying to get to you for the  hour and a half, it looks like you don't believe me anyway so I'll just shut up. Where are the papers?" Tia said.

"Didn't I tell you we were going to talk first? So you are going to sit and listen to me, then respond. Only THEN will we decide if signing them papers are the best option. you got it?"

"Fine."

"Tia, I love you, I want there to be an us. I don't want to lose you. I don't know how we got so off track that we are sitting here with divorce papers ready to go. I love you, I need you in my life. Let's tear up these divorce papers." Kyle said

"What about the lady I saw you in the airport with the other day, look like you and her were pretty close. I came to set you free so you can rightfully choose the woman you want to marry....." Tia said interrupted.

"Who the hell told you that you had the right to make a snap judgement and snap decision about my life. You're not asking me what I want, rather you are telling me what you think I want. I married you because I want to be with you, not because of our families, the companies, or a stupid promise made years ago. It's been you since you pushed me in New York." Kyle said.

"Well from the way we have been progressing since I left I'm sure you mean well but the pressure of life is too much and it has pushed us apart. Since you seem to have moved on why shouldn't I move out of your way. I have decided I'm not coming back to California, so it only makes sense for us to divorce, I won't live with you again. So divorce is the best option. It's my fault for being stubborn about wanting my own career which is so far away. I'll take all the blame, you just go and be happy."

"Have you considered you are my happiness."

"Right, with the way you bite my head off every time we talk. Hell I'm surprised we have not started fighting yet."

"We're not fighting because when I look at you, I can't fight with you. I only want to love you and make you smile. Do you know how hard it is for me to see you unhappy? Especially when just being near you makes me happy."

"Funny, i couldn't tell that when you were at the airport with your girlfriend. You were very oblivious to your surroundings at the airport. If you were paying attention you would have seen me standing at baggage claim. You know, I just want to put all my cards on the table so you know what you are walking away from. I love you and I'm in love with you. I love you enough to not put you through any craziness. I have decided that I don't want to move back to California, It would be selfish to ask you to leave your company to be with me, when I don't want to give up my company to come and play socialite again. I found where I am personally fulfilled with almost every area of my life and I won't ask you to do something I'm not willing to do." She said.

"Why do you have to always f**k up my mood? Why can't you just be like other girls and try to impress me and throw yourself at me? Why can't you just make me you priority and we can have something that is beautiful and timeless. Why do you screw with my head? You make me love you and hate you just the same. You know what f**k it, you don't want me, I don't want you. I've already signed so just sign and let's move on." He dropped the divorce letter in front her. "You can sign and leave, I think i'm better off without you." He left her sitting there.

"Well that went great." Tia said to no one. She signed the divorce decree and left.