Nouveau

Chapter 44: Loose Ends

Laive

Today was the day.

Tomorrow was Easter, Resurrection Sunday and Laive was getting put out today.

Whatever God was trying to show her, L prayed he made it plain. She tried everything. Doing applications for more jobs, over qualified. Trying to get a car, not enough money. Trying to lease an apartment, definitely not enough money. Laive even considered moving to Dallas with her baby sister Cassidy.

Nope.

Laive's mom nagged how Cassidy's husband and L didn't really get along, and they had kids. So what? L planned on being there two weeks while working and then move into an apartment. That plan fell through once her mom got in her sister's ear.

Great. Just great.

Atlanta.

That was an idea!

The man Laive thought she loved wanted to pick up where they left off. Promised to help her get back on her feet and apologized for not appreciating her. Walking down memory lane, he recalled how L was always happy and in good spirits while they were both struggling college students. How he hid the key to his apartment under the mat for Laive to crash after work. It was a ten minute walk to get there, but anything was better than catching a bus in Metairie so late.

By the time she got there, L would be exhausted. She showed appreciation by cooking and cleaning. Fixing his plate, Laive would set the table for when he returned. He was a server at the best fine dining restaurant in the French Quarters and it was always 1 or 2 a.m. when he got off. L slept on the couch until he finished his food, then he would wake Laive up and take her home.

Knowing each other since freshman year, they were both graduating seniors when they started dating the last semester of undergrad. L never shared how much she was struggling. One night, he saw her at a bus stop at midnight and lost it.  He was livid that she was going through so much and didn't tell anyone.

The apartment rent and 30 day bus pass were draining her dry while her jobs were barely giving enough hours. Laive had been washing clothes with detergent by hand. She stocked up on paper towels and toilet paper from the janitors at school. Living off campus, L didn't have a meal plan. She couldn't afford it and her food stamps were the only reason she could eat.

They never decided to be a couple, but he cared for her. He changed shifts to make sure Laive could drive to school and all her jobs while he worked. He let her use his washer and dryer. He would always leave at least $40 in the console for gas, food, clothes, whatever. She never touched it. He even packed up her apartment and moved Laive back home when her parents said they wouldn't help.

The young man claimed he loved and wanted to marry her. After graduating, they each returned home with a commitment of effort to make it through the distance. After two visits and a conversation with his dad, he went AWOL. He coldly stated he was too young to settle down. Said something about his dad giving confirmation that he needed to experience other things, have fun, and enjoy dating multiple women.

Fucking coward.

Now a year later, he wanted forgiveness. Asking  Laive to marry him and saying he would do whatever it took to earn her back. It was too late. She couldn't marry a man who was so selfish. The audacity to think she'd be waiting on him. Hell no! L had bigger fish to fry. She needed to get away from her family. If he was the only way, Laive wouldn't hesitate. If this was the sign from God to leave, she would take it.

Today her mother was putting her out and Atlanta was the only option.

"Laive!"

Her mom was back.