Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Thomas: You seriously left me on our wedding day? Do you even realize what you’ve done? There are journalists here, Norah. Do you have any idea what they’re going to say about you?
Thomas: I’ve given you everything. EVERYTHING. And this is how you repay me?
Thomas: Do you have any idea how this looks for me? For my family?
Thomas: NORAH CALL ME FUCKING BACK.
Thomas: You are making the biggest mistake of your life.
Thomas: Your mother is devasted, Norah. I can’t believe how selfish you are right now. It’s like you don’t even care what you’re putting everyone else through.
Somehow, I’m the selfish one in all of this because I didn’t go along with what everyone else wanted me for me, and the person whose feelings I should be worried about the most are my mother’s. I’m not surprised, but it still hurts.
“You okay?” my best friend asks and sits down beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders.
“Well, it wasn’t easy reading these, but I’ll be okay,” I tell her and hand off my phone so she can take a look at the text assault from my mother and Thomas.
Her brow furrows as she reads. First, Thomas. Then, my mother, and by the end her eyes are narrowed and her mouth is set in a firm line.
“You do realize this is all bullshit, right?” When I don’t answer, she reaches forward with her index finger to tilt my chin up, bringing my eyes toward her. “It’s bullshit, Nor. All of it.”
I nod, but it’s more for her than for myself. Whether it’s bullshit or not, it doesn’t stop their words from slithering under my skin.
Lillian still doesn’t know all of the gory details about the catalyst for me walking out on my wedding day, but she’s still on my side. I can’t imagine what she’d be thinking if I told her the rest.
“And it’s incredibly manipulative,” she adds. “Not once did either one of them ask you if you were okay. Not once did they reach out a hand. They were only focused on themselves.”
“I don’t think I have any place to live,” I admit. “I can’t stay at my apartment because it’s Thomas’s apartment. I barely have any money in my checking account. I have no job. No college degree because Thomas wanted me to be more available for all of his stupid business social events. And it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that my mother and stepdad have cut me off completely.”
I’ve been reliant on Thomas for everything. Which is the dumbest thing any woman can do for herself.
“It’s going to be okay, Nor,” Lillian tries to reassure me. “You can stay here until you get back on your feet.”
“You and I both know I can’t stay here. This will be the first place they look for me.”
“Okay, but what are you going to do? Live on the fucking street?” Lil questions. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not going to live on the street. At least, not in New York. I’m going to go to Red Bridge.”
It’s where my father grew up. It’s where I lived for the first six years of my life. And it’s where my sister, Josie, still lives. Though, it’s been five years since I’ve seen or spoken to her, and they didn’t come without a reason.
I was an awful, naïve leech at my mother’s side at our Grandma Rose’s funeral, and I wouldn’t blame Josie if she still isn’t ready to forgive me.
But it’s the only option that feels right.
I’m starting over now, and as such, I’ve got to go back to the beginning.
Back to where it all began.
Red Bridge, Vermont, here I come.