A dream trip to Cabo could be what ends Elsie and Tommy’s relationship. Trouble rears its ugly head at the airport when it turns out that Tommy’s mother, Linette, got first-class tickets for everyone but Elsie, who’s booked in coach. Tommy fails to convince Elsie to go on the trip and they break up. Tommy, however, unwilling to let things go has a proposal about how they can go forward. While waiting for her response, he has a revealing conversation with his friend Matt. Then Elsie comes over. What has she decided? Start Elsie and Tommy’s story here – Not Even Cabo – Will This Vacation Be What Ends It? – Part 1
Chapter 9
They were seated on his bed. Her leaning against the headboard, hand over her eyes impeding his ability to read her expressions. Him at the foot of the bed, facing her, trying to compose himself.
How was it possible that he was still gutted by something that had happened so long ago? Also, he’d already recounted the story once this evening, why was he still being so emotional about it?
After he’d ushered her into the house, they’d suffered through painfully unfamiliar small talk while she drank some diluted juice and he waited for her verdict. He’d been a little shaken up but not shocked when she’d turned to him and said, “I need you to tell me what happened with your parents. I know you don’t like talking about it. But Tommy, I need to know.”
Tommy told her about applying to med school for his parents, and how proud they’d been when he was accepted. How it felt to bask in the glow of their pride, how something in him had been in pursuit of that feeling ever since. He told her how hard med school had been for him, how he’d pushed himself and tried, yet known with paralyzing certainty that it could only end one way.
How depressed he’d been. He told her bits he’d never told anyone about, like the insomnia and the nightmares that claimed him on the rare occasions when he slept. How he only slept with the aid of sleeping pills that entire second semester. How afraid he’d been of getting addicted. How frightened he’d been when he finally told his parents. How lonely he’d been.
How both he and Marcus had cried like babies that first time they’d met covertly. How his parents had finally let him come home but not before telling him he was on his own financially because of all the money they’d wasted on him and med school so far. How he’d convinced himself that doing economics would thaw them just a bit and how wrong he’d been. How embarrassed his parents had been about having a child who was a drop-out. How they’d never recovered from it among their friends, family, and social circles. How he couldn’t explain it but he’d always felt like he was disappointing his parents, even as a child, way before the whole dropping out of school fiasco.
“I can’t explain it. It’s just the way my family is.” He finished with a shrug.
He’d watched her rising anger and her failed attempts at concealing it, her pity and empathy which had gutted him and now he was seeing her battle with herself about what to say, how to respond.
“Whatever you’re feeling is okay. You don’t have to sanitize it for me.” He assured her.
“I kinda hate your parents,” she replied without missing a bit.
He cracked a small, involuntary smile. “I figured you would.”
“But you don’t,” she said with certainty.
“I don’t. They’re not my favourite people but I don’t hate them.”
“That’s okay, you don’t have to. I’ll do it for you.”
Another smile slipped past. “You don’t have to either. You don’t need that kind of energy.”
She crawled to him and wrapped him in a warm embrace. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking, and he felt tears pool in his eyes. She held the embrace and he unashamedly clung to her.
She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “They’re wrong about you. You’re not a failure. You’re kind and generous, smart and creative, sweet, so sweet, and loving. That’s not nothing. It’s everything. I’m so proud of you.”
She was killing him. His throat tightened painfully and he closed his eyes against the sudden assault of raw emotion. He drew her to him when he felt the tears fall. She wrapped her hands around him, holding him tight, comforting him, reassuring him.
“I’ll make it right.” He choked out.
“I know you will,” she whispered back.
They’re good now, right? They’ll be fine whatever storms his parents put them through, right? Only one way to find out. Not Even Cabo: It’s Better – Part 10
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How A Bad Relationship Messed Up Her Life
My Best Friend Fell For Me And Now Our Relationship Is Ruined
Her Ex’s Wife Threatened To Bewitch Her Because He Was Still In Love With Her
