When you realise

10. Hunter's Gift

Dear Hunter,

This year has been the best year of my life, having you accept me into your life has given me a family that I never knew was possible, there are no words to describe your father, he welcomed me with open arms from day one, I know your mother is just looking out for you with things that she says to me but I respect her so much for raising a strong and loving man, a man that I hopefully will always get to say is mine. Rosie melts my heart and I feel myself falling more and more in love with you both every day. I hope that as the years move on we will always have what we have now, if not even stronger.

You have my heart, I knew I loved you the first time I saw you, I just never knew how much that love would grow.

I really wanted to do something special for you this year, not only to say happy birthday but to also celebrate the anniversary of us first meeting, our first kiss and the first time we made love. I will cherish that night forever.

Thank you for everything you have made me feel this year, I had almost given up on being happy, but with you I feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world, you take my breath away each and every time you smile at me, I know when you look at me I will now be happy forever.

Love now, always and forever Eliana

PS your present is in the garage xx

I looked down at the key I was now holding in my hand, my heart felt like it was being torn apart bit by bit, the words that I have just read on that card made me feel like I could not breath properly, I was shocked, how did I not realise that this was how she felt, maybe I did and I just ignored it. I guess the signs were all there.

Tim reached for the card, I guess that the look on my face had him questioning what was written, after a few minutes or me just staring at the key.

"Damn, are you alright man", I heard him say as he passed the card onto someone else to read, I stood up and walked through the sliding door till I reached the door leading to the garage, how was there something in here that I did not know about, what could she of possibly put behind this door, no matter what it is, I know it is going to make me feel even worse than I do right now if that is at all possible.

By the time I had enough courage to open the garage door everyone was standing behind me, I guess they had all read the card by now and were wondering what was hidden behind that door.

I slowly opened the door and all I could see sitting in the middle of the garage was a white sheet sitting over what I believed to be a car, I walked over the sheet and placed one hand on it, gripping it tight, my heart was racing, I did not know what was under that sheet but with one fast pull the sheet pulled away from the car and fell on the ground and my eyes were fixed on perfection.

Sitting in my garage right before my eyes was a Maserati Limited edition Grand Turismo. From the moment I had ever laid my eyes on the sports car in the cherry red, I had wanted one.

I was always looking up cars when Ellie was around and told her my dream of owning one of these cars. Being able to go on drives through the city and in the country but also having something that I could release some power doing track days, I loved feeling the adrenaline kick in when I was on a track, I have been out on a few track days with drivers, the rush it gives you is insane, but I have never had a car good enough for the track.

The key felt like it was burning my hand, I walked over to the driver's side of the car and just put my hand on the handle, I wanted so badly to sit in the car but at the same time I thought that I couldn't do it without Ellie, I wanted her here to experience this moment with me.

How did she even afford it, I knew she worked in an office but we never really discussed what she did or where she worked, I guess I just never asked the questions to get the answers. It seems that when she was here, it never mattered and now that she is gone I want to know everything about the girl that has walked away with my heart without me realising it.  

I became painfully aware that everyone was now in the garage and has witnessed for themselves what laid under that sheet. They were starting to talk louder and I needed to drown them out, so I did the only thing I could think of and I finally opened the driver side door and sat in the car, closing the door behind me.

Finally a bit of silence took over me.

After the shock had worn off a bit, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and pressed call on Ellie's name, I had planned to call her but I wanted to do it once everyone had left, the phone started ringing and ringing "You have reached Eliana, please leave a message", shit, I hung up and dialled again, the same message came over the speaker. I tried a third time to call and when the same message replayed again I let in finish and what may of sounded like I was breathless due to all the emotions that were going through me right now "Elle, please call me baby, I need to talk to you" it probably sounded desperate but at this stage I was.

I could see everyone looking at me as I was sitting in the car. I felt completely lost. I knew I couldn't sit in here forever, Ellie was not answering her phone and I had no idea how to find her. I slowly reached for the handle taking a deep breath knowing that when I open this door and step out of this car I am going to hear an earful from every single person that is standing there looking at me. I managed to open the door and step out, still having my back to everyone I closed the door.

I slowly turned around to face everyone again.

Rachel was the first person to speak up and I really wish she hadn't. What she said made me feel like someone was pushing a knife straight through my heart.

"You know what, I hope you are suffering, I hope you feel like complete and utter fucking shit".

"Rach" James tried to cut her off. "No James, since high school, I have seen him use women for his own needs, Hell even at our wedding he slept with my best friend, even though she knew his reputation from high school and after me warning her not to fall for him, she truly thought he liked her, he just dismissed her the next morning and now she barely speaks to me.

I have never spoken up before because what you did was none of my business, but I really like Eliana and she deserves someone so much better than you, I thought when she continued to show up, you had changed and were actually ready to commit, you were actually ready to fucking grow up for once, you had the most amazing women and yet you still only treated her as a piece of arse, How the hell did you get so fucked up". Rachel was breathing heavy after she lashed out and needed to calm down.

"You know what I'm out of here, James I'll see you at home, I need to calm down". Rachel claimed as she started walking out the door to get her things and leave.

"Hey Rach, wait up I'll drop you off and Marcus can take James home later" Bianca ran out after her without even looking back.

I looked at who was left in the garage, my 3 best friends and my father. My mother had taken Rosie out of the room when I was trying to call Ellie.

I looked to my dad with tears in my eyes "What do I do dad"

He walked up and hugged me, one of those mighty bear hugs you sometimes need from your parents. He then pulled away and held me at arm's length "Fight for her" and with that he walked out of the room.

The boys followed my dad out of the garage and I looked back at my dream car all thoughts are saying fight for her and don't stop until she is yours again.

After walking back into the kitchen, my mum walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek, "I have put Rosie back to sleep, she was really exhausted, and so your father and I will head home now". I gave her a slight nod and watched my parents walk out the door.

The four of us left went back out to the patio and opened another beer each.