Lena was already throwing his things over the balcony and to the bottom floor. Marta turned and started to help her. I realized as Ed protested, “You can’t do this. We never officially got divorced.”
“What?”
He laughed, “I never signed the papers. I sent them to you, but mine didn’t have the witness signature. So, you can’t throw me out, because we’re still married.”
“Is…”
I needed money to make ends meet. I never worried about if we were officially divorced. It didn’t feel important to me back then. Right now, it seemed irrelevant. I hadn’t seen the man for close to five years, and he had moved in, and I hated mom for letting him.
“Well, she just found out that you could still be married and besides I've known her for years and never met you. So, until she speaks to her lawyer, you’re divorced. Now get out before I kick your skinny ass out!”
“If I were you, I would hurry. There are some people grabbing your things below.’
“Shit, my TV’s in one of them and my iPad.”
“If he can afford those things, then he must have money to find somewhere to stay,” Tiana said as she walked up to the door as Ed ran out and slammed it.
I felt all emotional as I watched a few women who I thought were my friends stick up for me. Something that had never happened to me in life.
“You okay girlfriend?” Tiana said as she came close.
“He hurt you?” Marta asked as she was concerned.
I shook my head and said, “You guys. I never knew you cared.”
Then we all got together in a group hug and then Tiana said, “You need to get it together girl. Everyone’s expecting you at the meeting. You can’t miss it two weeks in a row.”
That’s what I used to say to her and then she winked.
“How comes you guys are cool with Tiana?”
My question was directed at both Marta and Lena, but Tiana answered, “I said I was sorry and Marta said if I didn’t shape up she would kick my ass.”
That made me laugh, Marta was a lot smaller than her. I never doubted that she was tough. But the whole idea of her even attempting to kick Tiana’s ass, made me laugh. I smiled as I gave them all a big hug. They had helped me in more ways than my family had ever done. I went to the room and then I thought about the same shirt and skirt that I wore to every meeting, and I decided that this time I would go as me.
I turned around and said, “Ready!”
I wasn’t a lawyer or anything fancy, and I was fed up of dressing and acting that I was something that I never could be or ever was. This was me and for once in my life. I felt comfortable going to the meeting as the real me. Not anyone else.
“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” Lena said as she put her arm around me.
“About time you stopped wearing the same tired skirt and shirt. Just let it loose.”
“Tiana I noticed that you’re not wearing make-up. You look prettier without it.”
She shook her head, “I don’t. But thanks for saying that.”
“She left it in my car. She’ll be putting it on as soon as she gets in my car,” Marta said, and then Tiana gave her a friendly pat, and I felt happy that everything in my life was finally coming together. If I wasn't divorced, I would work a triple shift just to make sure that I would be soon. I looked over the balcony and saw Ed trying to put the rest of his things in his car. I felt good that he had been defeated, not just by me. But by my friends.
Chapter Twelve
Hunter
I was sitting impatiently and waiting for Nia to turn up. The guys had called and said that we were having a meeting this week. It seemed that a few of them had hooked up, but the rest of them were just happy to be part of a group. And I wondered if the son and dad who were sitting next to each other were the same two that the woman, Marta, and I met at the kindergarten gate?
My mind was wondering about it, trying to picture their faces. Then I decided to make small talk with them and I was just about to ask the question when Nia entered. Everyone stood up and started to clap.
“She’s here.”