Eyes Deep Within A Frozen Heart

CHAPTER 4

VANESSA

I was standing outside the arrival gate anxiously awaiting the girls. Every second that passed felt like a minute as masses of people walked past me. This would be the start of two long weeks. Just as I was about to go and sit I heard a loud squeal from behind me. I turned to face to car park to see Michelle standing bright eyed and cheerful.

  “NESSY!!!!” she said excitedly and I smiled back broadly.

  “MICKEY!!!” I replied as we attacked each other with hugs. I genuinely felt happy to see my life long best friend. Breaking the hug I scanned her outfit. She was wearing a beige romper and a pair of strappy heels accented with a gorgeous handbag to match with the bold letters ‘MK’ on the front. I suddenly felt cheap and out of place in my unflattering department store bought maxi dress and flip flops. Standing not too far off with their bags was Collin in a prim cut navy blue business suit, busy on the phone. I assumed she noticed me looking at him since she waved off.

  “Don’t mind him, he was like that the entire flight”

 “Where’s Kate?” I asked and she rolled her eyes.

 “Some yacht docked up at Port Ferdinand in Barbados” she said and I smiled and shook my head. I read in some magazine at work she was dating some German producer.

  “Well, shall we get going, these heels are killing my feet” she said annoyed and I tried my hardest to muster a laugh.

   ‘Maybe you didn’t have to wear heels to fly across the state’ I wanted to say but it would be like telling Queen Elizabeth she doesn’t have to wear a hat. I glanced at Collin who was on his way to a taxicab still on his phone. Michelle groaned beside me and furiously started walking towards him.

 “So what, you expect me to take all this luggage to Vanessa’s car on my own?” she asked sounding rather upset but Collin just glared at her icily, and put his hand over the microphone.

  “You have Vanessa”

 “But it would take forever even with two and –“ Michelle began but Collin cut her off my handing a very neatly folded hundred dollar bill to a cab driver beside Michelle.

  “Take their bags up to their car would you” he said finally before getting into a cab and pulling off, without even an ‘I love you’ or ‘goodbye’ to his wife. Slightly embarrassed, Michelle pulled her long amber hair over her shoulder and started walking towards the carpark. After thanking the gentleman for loading their luggage, I decided to drive the longer route to get to the condo.

  “Never get married Nessa” she whispered, breaking the silence. I was in no position to ask for light on that statement as it was clear as the day sky the problems they were having. My grandmother always said it’s the price a girl’s gotta pay for a successful man.

   We pulled up outside my condo and began offloading the suitcases. My heart was pounding in my head as I begged for things to go smoothly. Michelle was too down about earlier to interrogate me on ‘Ryan’. I showed her the room she and Collin would be staying in. She thanked me and dejectedly complimented the place. I was more than happy that she didn’t dwell on how gorgeous it was because I would’ve felt even more guilty. She walked into the living room, mind you with her shoes still on, and sighed taking her jewelry off.

   “You have anything to drink?” she asked crossing her legs and I nodded.

 “I have some apple juice in the fridge if you- “