Taking Flight: Departure Read online

  “I was hoping your folks would let me stay with them, but I’d be bad company right now,” Stella said, addressing Audrey’s assumption that her mom, Nina, would want her to stay at the Tobias’ home. “And Japan is a bit far for me to drop in to visit you.”

  “Yeah, I figured as much, but are you kiddin’ me about being bad company? Mom’s specialty is spoiling her kids when they need it. Go see Dad at work. He’ll hook you up. Don’t call – just go.”

  “Ma’am, yes Ma’am,” Stella teased, thinking how her friend was always such a bossy little thing. But like her parents, George and Nina, Audrey had a heart of gold. They’d taken Stella under their wing and virtually adopted her when she was just eight years old. It was thanks to them that she’d turned out even remotely normal. God knew they’d tried to counter the insanity Calista heaped upon her through the years.

  “Alright, smart ass, knock it off.” Audrey teased back. “Stella, you know Dad will be happy to see you and pissed if you don’t go to him. He’s all about our family – and that includes you, too, never forget that.”

  Stella let out a sigh. The day’s events showed just how badly she needed a real family, given how disgusting her own had turned out. “Being part of your family sounds pretty fabulous about now.” She choked up as she continued, “I can’t believe my own mother would betray me like that.”

  Audrey scoffed. “With Calista, anything is possible – not that I saw this one coming. The woman is toxic and unbalanced. Please tell me you’re done with Mommy Dearest now.”

  It was Stella’s turn to scoff and send Audrey’s words back at her, “Uh...ya think?”

  Their laughter at the macabre situation was messed up, but she’d learned that during times like that she needed to laugh or she’d cry – and she’d cried enough over her mother’s terrible choices and actions over the years. She was done dealing with her crap.

  “Yeah, I think I’ll go see him now to get the ball rolling,” Stella said with conviction.

  “Good. I’m serious. Talk to the guys and get them to help you before She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named clears out your entire house and savings.”

  “Oh great, I hadn’t even thought of that. That’s all I need now, Calista robbing me blind.”

  “Well, get going before they know what’s coming,” Audrey replied in an exasperated tone.

  “Chill, mamacita…I’m going now,” Stella said before hanging up.

  Like salt water in a gaping wound, the sympathetic expressions surrounding Stella stung as she paid her bill. She didn’t need their pity. What she needed was to hold tight to her anger and strength, as well as her last shred of dignity to get through this ordeal. She checked the GPS on her phone and plotted her course back toward the Western suburbs, genuinely surprised that she had driven to such a far-off place.

  After a brief stop at the bank to remove Fabian from her accounts, she arrived at George’s law office and was relieved to find Nina, Audrey’s mom, waiting in the reception. Stella had never been so happy to see the spit-fire matron.

  “I take it Audrey called you?” Stella choked out, overwhelmed by emotion, at seeing her dear friend and “mom.”

  “C’mere, baby,” Nina cooed as she pulled Stella into a hug.

  The floodgates immediately opened as Stella sobbed into Nina’s neck. She breathed in her scent – cinnamon, orange blossoms, and…home. Only a real mom’s hug could be so warm and comforting.

  She couldn’t remember the last time Calista had hugged her, and it’d certainly never felt so safe or loving. Come to think of it, Stella couldn’t remember the last time anyone had hugged her. How had she been so blind to the situation, and especially to Fabian’s true nature? He was a taker – he took and took and took from her, rarely giving back.

  Stella felt like such an idiot. He’d made her feel so special when he sought her out on campus at The University of Chicago. She was a freshman, and he’d been in his last year before med school. He was handsome and smart, and his pursuit made her feel attractive and desired. Apparently, she’d allowed herself to be caught too easily.

  Another sob worked its way up her throat as the realization of everything she’d sacrificed hit her. She’d worked so hard to earn her way into that school. God forbid Calista pay toward a school like that – or any other. No. Tuition, books, and living expenses added up, so Stella had saved all through high school while she bused tables and kept her grades sky high.

  By the end of her sophomore year in college, she’d married Fabian. Somehow, they’d agreed she’d leave school and take a job so he could continue in college. They’d planned for her to return to classes after he finished.

  Humiliation choked at her throat, clawing away at her dignity, fueled by fury. She didn’t know which part fed that rage more – her filthy, cheating soon-to-be ex, that whore of a mother, or herself for having been so blind and foolish. Disgust swam through her veins like poison, and made her shake all the harder.

  Nina held Stella despite the way her sobs drenched the shirt she wore, and then she held her longer still. That was a real mom’s hug. She vowed to herself that if she ever became a mom she would do her best to be just like Nina.

  With a round of deep breaths, Stella finally stopped crying. A few sniffles still erupted before she could silence them. Embarrassment stung her eyes and heated her face – both at her outburst and the way her lungs still gasped as they struggled for breath. But Nina brushed that off as she handed her a tissue and nudged her toward the ladies’ room to freshen up. After splashing cool water on her puffy, red face, she felt considerably better. She even smiled at Nina, who promptly handed over her mascara and lip gloss so Stella could fix her face.

  “What’s the old saying? Oh yeah...looking good is the best revenge,” Nina said with a giggle as she held her top beneath the wall-mounted hand dryer.

  “Wow. This has been a day from hell,” Stella complained as she checked her reflection one last time. It was strange how cleaning up and looking almost put together helped her mood.

  Nina nodded at her statement, then squared her shoulders.

  “Now, how about we see my husband about an overdue divorce?” Nina’s voice contained an enthusiasm that was encouraging, if not contagious.

  “Definitely,” Stella agreed. And the two walked arm-in-arm into George’s office.

  “Stella, baby! How are ya, darling,” George called out. It was amazing how he always seemed pleased to see her. That was one of the things she loved about the Tobias Family, they were always so warm and welcoming. Sadly, that was a foreign feeling to Stella.

  She watched the smile slip from George’s face. Perceptive as ever.

  He gestured for them to take a seat on the chairs at his desk. “What’s the matter?”

  As Stella and Nina shared her story, she watched George morph from warm father into cold, powerful attorney. She knew he’d never liked her mother, in fact he made no bones about it. She’d once overheard a conversation between him and Nina where they’d discussed trying to get custody of her. That’d meant more to her than she could ever describe. Even though Calista had prevented it, she’d be eternally grateful for their attempt, and especially for the lengths they went to every day afterward to make her feel welcomed and loved in their home.

  Over the years they’d found their way around Calista, and kept Stella with them as often as possible, as they attended every event the girls participated in at school, always cheering as loudly for Stella as they did for Audrey. And they’d been the ones to enroll and pay for her to participate on teams through the park district and field trip fees for school.

  He’d shed tears the day he walked Stella down the aisle. She knew he’d been honored at her request, but he’d also tried to talk her into reconsidering. When she stupidly refused, George made his own vow to her that day. He’d sworn they’d always, always be there for her. And then he escorted her to the altar.

  As she shared the whole sordid tale, she watched rage spread through George
’s expression.

  “Alright, baby girl, listen up,” he said as he handed Stella more tissues. “We’re gonna get that bastard. Don’t worry about a thing. Leave it to me.” He smirked. “Ya done good getting the picture, Stella. That’ll help our case.”

  “What’ll you do?” Stella asked, she didn’t want him to get himself in trouble.

  “Don’t worry about it, darling. I got this,” he smirked again as he gave her a wink. “We’ll simply make sure you get every penny you earned over the years.”

  Fire swam in her veins.

  “I don’t want his damned money. I want my dignity back,” her voice hitched on a sob. Fury caused her body to shake when she thought about how stupid she’d been to ever trust those two scumbags.

  “Oh no, Stella...listen to me. I don’t care if you give it all away to charity. He will not get the pleasure of keeping that money.”

  Understanding dawned. The corner of her mouth lifted a little at the thought of hitting him where it hurt most.

  “We’re taking him to the cleaners and I, for one, won’t lose a moment’s sleep over it,” he pressed on.

  “Well, I suppose some of it is my money. I worked really hard to support that loser,” Stella said, as she felt some weight lift from her shoulders.

  George was going to school Fabian. It was written all over his face as he jotted notes on his legal pad.

  Speaking with much more confidence than she had in a long while, she asked, “How soon can I be rid of that scumbag?”

  “That’s my girl,” Nina piped in. “You’re coming with me. I get to spoil you now. Leave everything else to George, right dear?” She looked to her husband with a smile, that showed her faith that he’d sort it all out.

  “You know it,” was George’s response. “I’ll get my best investigators on this, and fast. We’ll dig up enough skeletons to bury that bastard in court.”

  “Audrey told me I should get over to the house with Tommy and Max to get my stuff. I think Fabian has a shift this afternoon. Should I go?” she asked, wringing her hands in her lap.

  George looked deep into her eyes. “Nu uh…you leave this to me. Is there anything you absolutely need over there?”

  She shook her head no. “Nothing I can’t replace. I mean, eventually I’ll need some of my clothes and files. Otherwise, I want nothing to do with that life anymore.” She nodded her head as if to punctuate her statement.

  “Good girl. We’ll get your things. Leave me your keys and write down what you need and where to find it. I’ll take care of everything.”

  With that accomplished, Stella and Nina started toward the door, but Stella doubled back, having forgotten her car keys were with the keys she’d given George. Nina stopped her and smirked. “Leave it here, sweetie. Come with me. Let Fabian worry about why your car is parked here.”

  Chapter 3: “BFO”

  – An anagram meaning blinding flash of the obvious.

  Stella made her list and left the details to George. Nina swept her out the door, and a cloud of numbness settled over Stella that left her feeling as if she was underwater and unable to focus.

  After choking down some soup, Nina nudged her along nagging between bites about keeping up her strength, Stella found herself tucked into Audrey’s old bed, snug in some fluffy, warm pajamas.

  Though it felt as if she was outside herself witnessing everything unfold, like watching a movie, a small corner of her brain noted how foreign it was to have someone fuss over her. It wasn’t something she’d experienced anywhere else. As Nina retreated, leaving Stella to her thoughts, the numbness of shock fully conquered her as she spent the rest of the day in hibernation, where she eventually fell into a fitful sleep.

  The following morning dawned with a deluge of tears as awareness crept in. Her entire life had been a sham. As she lay cocooned in Audrey’s old bed, staring up at the ceiling, she hosted a pity party of epic proportions. She bawled so hard that Nina heard her from the kitchen and came to check on her. The woman crawled on the bed and simply held Stella as the tears fell unchecked.

  Dangerously close to falling fully into the abyss of hurt and fury that threatened to consume her heart, Stella greedily absorbing the comfort of kind words, nourishing food, and gentle hugs from a genuine mother. Days blurred together under an assault of random memories and tearful breakdowns that caused her stomach to rebel against Nina’s culinary genius. Stella cried herself to sleep each night only to wake the following day and repeat the previous day’s mourning.

  Two weeks later, there was no mistaking the invasion as Audrey’s brothers, Max and Tommy, returned home from college laden with dirty laundry, to forage for food in the kitchen. From her perch on the bed, Stella sat willing herself to get up and put on actual clothing, as their laughter reverberated up the stairs and down the hall.

  Their early arrival surprised her. Didn’t college kids sleep the day away? Stella glanced at the clock and did a double-take. It was almost noon? Who cares? She shook her head, rolled back into bed, and covered her head with a pillow to block their noise.

  Suddenly, her door burst open.

  “Oh no you don’t,” Tommy said as he stomped across the room with Max in his wake. “You’re coming with us.”

  Max yanked the covers back as Tommy grabbed the pillow from her grip, uncovering her head.

  “No,” Stella whined. “Leave me alone.”

  “No can do, Stella,” Max replied, sounding a whole lot like his dad. “You’ve moped long enough. It’s time to move.”

  Tommy held up her running shoes, letting them dangle from his fingertips.

  “Get up. You’re coming with us,” Tommy said.

  The boys left her no choice as they each grabbed a shoulder and yanked her out of bed and upright.

  “You’ve got ten minutes, then we’re hitting Prairie Path,” Max said with a menacing grin.

  “The sun is actually shining, and the path is mostly dry,” Tommy added.

  She groaned, but complied. She knew they wouldn’t take no for an answer. When they got like this, it was better to just go along with whatever scheme they’d cooked up.

  Fifteen minutes later the trio jogged down Myrtle Avenue toward the running path.

  The wind was chilly, but the sting in her lungs felt good. The pain reminded her she was alive. Soon her heart rate climbed and she reveled in the feel of her blood pumping, waking up her dormant mind.

  They jogged onto the crushed limestone of Prairie Path as the sun cleared the clouds. The light strained her eyes after so many days of crying in the dark. Jeez when did she get so pathetic? She blinked and allowed them to adjust, then spied the boys ahead of her. She took a deep breath and picked up the pace.

  But her legs, so much shorter than theirs, meant she worked twice as hard to run at their pace.

  Max, ever the joker, noticed and began to run in circles around her.

  “This is what happens when you sit on your ass for weeks on end,” Tommy said as he joined his brother in his antics.

  Stella felt the first smile in weeks stretch across her face. When an on-coming runner shook his head and pulled a face at the site of tiny Stella with two behemoth guys orbiting her steps, Stella finally laughed.

  The world hadn’t stopped spinning when her life fell apart. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken time out to goof off with Max and Tommy, or Nina and George for that matter. Maybe there was something to this new single life of hers?

  Two hours of good company, fresh air, and exercise forced Stella back into action. The boys had always made her smile, and jogging set her blood and adrenaline pumping. The experience was a one-two punch to her self-pity, as it gave her some much-needed perspective and inertia.

  During a long, hot shower after their jaunt, she indulged in one last good crying jag to clear out her system.

  Enough was enough!

  She imagined the shower washing the pollution and stink from her old life down the drain. Sure she was sad
and her heart hurt, but it was time to stop moping and figure out what to do next.

  She followed this with a primp session where she tried out some of the goodies Nina had bought. Talk about a fairy Godmother…the woman hadn’t been joking about spoiling her. Nina had replenished Stella’s wardrobe – undergarments to toiletries, and everything in between. Stella, eager to keep up this new momentum, dressed in actual clothes – no pajamas or yoga pants – before she ventured downstairs for lunch.

  Nina, God love her, had been kind enough to overlook Stella’s breakdown, despite having had a front-row seat. Instead of dwelling, Nina acted as if none of it’d happened.

  She was all a flurry, working on her current passion and pet project, Quilts of Valor, an organization that she’d worked with since Audrey enlisted years ago. They were a network of artisans who made quilts for wounded veterans, and it was Nina’s new mission, with her children all grown and out of the home.

  She immediately put Stella to work in helping with the annual fundraiser her ladies group held for the organization. Folding letters, stuffing envelopes, and making phone calls to confirm donations promised for the event kept Stella busy enough to keep her mind from lingering in dark places. The distraction was a welcome reprieve from the drama of her so-called life.

  The days passed quickly, but after going over the plans for the thousandth time, Stella began a new lament – she wished she’d helped with this sooner. Planning events was a task that came easily to her. She loved to coordinate all the details, and she was extremely proud of Audrey for her military service.

  Fabian always used to call her a sap and made fun of her for stopping random people in uniform to thank them for their service. But she didn’t let it bug her, she understood that it was a sacrifice they made to keep her free.