Web of Deceit

Call Me Scrooge

Moving upstate in the winter is for the birds. I don't know why I thought this was a good idea. It took two weeks instead of one for my place to be ready. Within that time I turned off my location, blocked both of those assholes, and put a halt on all of Maribela's finances. I removed my name from all credit cards, household accounts, and car payments. I went to the bank to close everything with my name on it and moved it to another institution. As my father's oldest child, I was named executor of the trust that my Mo- Maribela receives an allowance from monthly. She obviously didn't think that through... I reset the allowance from 20k a month to 5k. She now has to request more money if there is a need and must show proof of that need in writing.

As for Emil, that man has never paid a bill on his own in 5-6 years. He doesn't even make his own doctor's appointments. He probably doesn't even know that it was all set up through the law firm that handles the family business, the jerk. I know that I have to finish lining up the custody arrangments and whatnot, but until my daughter gets here, he can kiss where I twist.

The petty in me had Stacia remove the batteries from all the remotes and take every one of his left shoes and place them in the attic... that he has never been in. I hope he had fun finding those.

I looked up options for new Obstetricians and a therapist in Ithica. Lord knows I don't want this blowing back on my baby girl. I'm thinking of naming her, Evelyn... Evie for short.

This drive is so long. I'm glad AJ is here to help me. He is pissed at Maribela and blocked her too. She's tried whining to him about him being "unreasonable and to try to see things from her end."If she has nothing else Maribela has audacity. She's ruined our relationship completely, there is no coming back from this. She hasn't even tried to reach out to me, she's unapologetic.

"Hey, Emmy did you hear me," asked AJ.

"Huh, I was off in la-la land whatchu say?"

"Sis, you been spacing out a lot lately. You want to talk about it?"

"Nah, that's what I'm gonna be paying that therapist big bucks for bro!! I just need time to wrap my head around this move and my new normal."

"I feel that. Just let me know how I can help and I'm there."

"Mangoes.... you know Cali is calling you!! Mangoes... Mangoes....."

"Eh!! We not doin that Emmy or should I say MelDiDi? No one has called me Mangoes in years!!"

"Yeah, that's cause you learned how to fight!!"

[In 1-mile exit left.]

We're almost there. I'm excited and terrified. I need this though, a fresh start.

As we pull off the highway and drive down the road leading to Ithica. This sleepy little college town blew me away. The downtown area is gorgeous. Small storefronts with Christmas decorations in the windows line the streets on both sides. A cute trendy-looking coffee place called Nothing Nowhere looks like it might be my new favorite hangout. Red and white candy canes hang from the streetlights. The snow on the ground looks like powder. I spot a vintage shop and a few woman's stores as we circle the Commons.

AJ starts to laugh. "Yoo this looks like a straight-up Hallmark movie" he snorts. I sigh. " I need this AJ. I need a new normal. I don't want to be a bitter bish when my princess comes" I explain. "I'm giving myself til after the holidays to pull it together and get serious about healing. Right now... I'm going to lean into the petty and the hurt. Call me Scrooge out this b*tch!!

AJ turns right on the 79. "What do you mean you're going to lean into the petty? What else is there to do", asks AJ. " I'm waiting to hear back from Stacia about the sale of the house. I didn't want to sell, cause Papi helped me get it together, but they ruined it. I wanted to burn all the beds in that house. They screwed in my bed AJ!! I know the lawyer filed the eviction paperwork last week. You should be getting calls from Maribela soon. You know she will cry to you about what a terrible and irrational person I am."