"We’ve paid for everything," I murmured.
"We have a cancellation policy on almost all of it. I'll call the venue and caterers in the morning. I'll more than likely lose the security deposit, but that isn’t a big deal considering the alternative." He shrugged, getting up from the table, throwing his napkin down on top of his half-eaten dinner. "You should call and cancel the trip. We won't be needing it anymore. Since the house is yours, I will pack up my things and be out by the end of the week." He shoved his chair under the table and left the kitchen. I could hear him make his way upstairs.
With tears in my eyes, I grabbed the dishes from the table. When I heard his office door slam shut, I smashed the dishes into the sink and closed my eyes tightly. I breathed deeply and opened my eyes, standing there looking down at the mess of broken dishes and half-eaten food lying in the sink as tears poured down my cheeks.
I woke late the following morning and lay in bed listening to the silence of the house. I’d heard Derrick leave the house around six this morning, more than likely to head to the office, or perhaps to go to her, whomever she was. He hadn’t come to bed last night, and for that I’d been grateful. There would have been no way I could have slept beside him.
I lay under the heavy blankets staring at the wall of our bedroom, his side of the bed cold, when I heard the doorbell ring. I didn't have an ounce of energy, and I really didn't want to see anyone, so I just stayed in bed, pretending I wasn't home. Then I remembered that I’d parked my car in the driveway and not the garage. Whoever was at the door would know I was home. I let out a sigh and heard the doorbell ring again for a second time.
I didn’t bother to get dressed. I just kicked the covers off myself and made my way down the stairs. I pulled the door open to see Laura standing there, a smile on her face, until she laid eyes on me. Her eyes ran down my pajama-clad body. “Are you sick?” she questioned, frowning as she reached out and smoothed down my hair, which I was sure was a disaster.
I didn't answer her, just shrugged.
"What is the matter with you? Did you forget we were going to take some of that stuff back today and get some different accent pieces for the dinner table?"
"Doesn't matter anymore," I muttered and turned to make my way into the kitchen, leaving Laura standing in the front door.
I put the kettle on and dumped the old coffee grounds out of my French press into the garbage. I added three tablespoons of grounds and turned to see Laura standing in the kitchen's doorway watching me.
"What is going on? You are acting really strange. Did someone die? Should I call Derrick? Perhaps he should come home." She reached for her phone and started searching her contacts.
"The wedding is off," I murmured, turning, my eyes full of tears.
Laura's eyes bulged out of her head as she heard the words leave my lips. "What? Oh my God, Tess." She immediately walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me.
"We have to cancel everything," I muttered as tears poured down my cheeks. "I have to call the caterer and the venue, and oh God, I have to call all the guests." I cried into her shoulder.
"What happened?"
I swallowed hard as the kettle whistled. "He found someone else and figures it's better to not get married."
"That good for nothing, lying asshole!" Laura yelled, stomping her foot. “Did he say who?”
I shook my head while she wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me tight, doing her best to comfort me. It didn’t matter who he had met. I didn’t care to know. All I wanted was for him to get out of the house and be gone out of my life.
Laura and I sat in the living room working on calling all the guests. Derrick carried the last few boxes of his stuff down the stairs, followed by Maddox, who’d agreed to help him move. Derrick marched out the door without another word, we had done nothing but argue since he had arrived. Maddox placed the box he'd been carrying on the floor and then poked his head into the living room.
"I think that is it, Tess. Just call me if he forgot anything and I'll come by and pick it up."
I looked up at him and nodded. "Okay, thanks, but please don't let him come with you. I don't want to see him again," I said, standing up and going over to him.
"I won't bring him back here. I promise. You can call me if you need anything." He smiled, pulling me in for a hug.
Maddox and Derrick had been best friends growing up. The couple of years I had been with Derrick, Maddox had become a very good friend to me. He was someone I cherished, and I hoped that with the news of us breaking up meant that he, too, wouldn’t disappear from my life.
"Let's go," I heard Derrick call from outside.
"He beckons.” He gave me a half smile and rolled his eyes. “Guess I’ve got to go," Maddox said, winking at me. He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. “I’m on holidays for the next week, so if you’re feeling lonely, just call or text, okay.”
I nodded and watched as he walked out the front door, pulling it shut behind him.
I went in and flopped down on the couch just as Laura crossed off another name on the list and hung up her phone. “Another person off the list,” she said, smiling.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I guess I should now call and try to cancel that trip. Even if I won't get my money back, perhaps they can offer me some sort of credit."
Laura looked up from the list of names and shook her head. "No way. Don't you dare.”
“Don’t cancel the trip?” I questioned, rubbing the tension from my neck.