Chapter 6
“Are you going to be okay?” Shirley asked Tia as she packed a few things from her desk into her briefcase.
Tia smiled at her. Weakly. “I have to be. I just have some things to sort out. And going to the farm is the only place that I can think clearly.”
“I know. You’ll call me if you need anything?” Shirley had been Tia’s friend for the last three years.
But she had never seen her this stressed.
“I’ll call. No worries. You’ll hold down the fort?”
“For as long as you need.”
Tia rolled down her window as she drove along the freeway. It was a bright sunny day.
She smiled and looked over at Sammy. Her black lab. Her best friend.
Sammy loved going to the farm. Lots of room to run.
Tia’s thoughts returned once again to Zayn. She hadn’t slept well.
She snuck out of her sister’s apartment early in the morning and returned to hers to pack some of her things.
Before locking her door, she turned and grabbed the pictures from the mantle. She stuffed them in her bag and hurried to the elevator.
Zayn rolled over on Harry’s couch. His head ached like nothing before. He groaned when he saw daylight.
Immediately his thoughts were on Tia. Today was a new day. And he was going to try to get her to give them a new start.
He looked and saw a piece of paper on the coffee table.
There’s coffee on in the kitchen. I had to run out. Have faith.H.P.S. Call this number. You’ll want to talk to this person. 555-1515.
He recognized the number. It was Tia’s sister. He hurried off of the couch and searched for the phone.
He banged his knee on an end table.“Bloody hell!” he yelled, gripping his knee.
He found the phone on the dining room table. Picking it up, he quickly dialed the number.
“Hello?”
“Lisa?”
“I’m surprised you took this long to call.”
“Where is she Lisa? Please!” he begged.
“Answer me this Zayn. Do you hate her?”
“No. She is the love of my life.”
Lisa smiled on the other end. She knew in her heart that they belonged together.
She stood behind her sister, but she had told her more often than not that she was stupid for leaving Zayn like she did.
Zayn ran his hand through his hair, waiting for Lisa to speak.
“Do you have a piece of paper?”
Zayn looked around and found a pen. He would just use the paper that Harry wrote his note on.“Ready.”
“1150 W. 54th street.”
“Is this where Tia lives?” He was extremely anxious now. Wanting to see her.
“No. It’s mine. You get over here and I’ll give you something.” She hung up. Knowing that it wouldn’t be long before he arrived.
Zayn hurriedly pulled on his shoes and left Harry’s place. He hailed a cab to Lisa’s apartment.
Lisa couldn’t believe how terrible he actually looked. Almost as bad as Tia.“You look like hell.” She said upon opening her door.
“Thanks Lisa.”
“Anytime.” She smirked at him.
She had always teased him.
He hardly returned her smile.
She ushered him in and he sat down.
“Do you know where Tia is?” he asked.
“Yes.” Lisa reached over and handed him a set of keys and a piece of paper.
“What’s this?”
“How much time do you have to just get away?”
“As much as I want right now. We don’t have anything pressing. Except for talking to Tia.”
“Good. The keys are to my SUV. The paper has directions to upstate.”
“Upstate? I don’t understand.”
Lisa came to sit next to him. “She loves you Zayn. More than she’ll admit. She came here last night in terrible shape. I knew without asking that she had seen you. She has gone to her farm.”
“Her farm? Again, please enlighten me.”
“She inherited our grandparents farm when they passed away a few years ago. It’s a three hour drive. She’s gone there for an indefinite amount of time. To get away and think. You’ll love it there. She’ll never expect to see you there.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I love my sister and want her to be happy. She was happy when she was with you. So go make her happy!”
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Get your ass out of here is thanks enough!” she said with a smile.
“When do you want your truck back?”
“No worries. I’m going to L.A. for the next two months. So keep it as long as you need.”
“Thank you Lisa.” He turned and hugged her tight.
She returned it. Knowing this is what they both needed.“Just take care of my sister.”
Two hours later, Zayn found himself on the highway out of the city. Heading towards his future. The woman he loved.
