The Vines'

** *The Vines - Fourth View

"Alayna! You have a nerve!", Natalie scolded.

It's been 3 months since I last spoke to her. Exactly 3 months since the steamy "Tyna" affair.

"I know you are mad at me but.."

Natalie interrupted me aggressively, "Mad? You honestly think that mad cuts it? Not this time. I was beside myself with worry! I thought something happened to you and Eli! Now you call me? After 3 whole months?"

There was a deafening silence. How do I explain everything to her? I remember texting her from Ty's phone as soon as he fell asleep. He still used his old password, my birthday digits, which also turned out to be the code to my freedom!
I told her that I am okay and that I am leaving. Leaving meant not coming back.
I found my bag on the love couch and made a run for it. I was not about to wait until the morning. That was about it.

I left everything behind. Natalie was meant to be there on the day Eli came into this world. This cruel world. Instead, I gave birth in my hometown with my mom by my side. I knew neither one of them, Ty and Natalie, would ever consider the possibility of me going back home. My mom and I seldom see eye to eye.

I understood that the repercussions of my decision would be severe but I had to take care of myself and my little boy first before anyone else.

How do I find the words to tell my best friend that without breaking her heart, again? The next best thing was to go with a subtle approach. Ignore the elephant in the room and just be business minded. Sucks, I know.

"Natalie, I am speaking at a women's conference in 3 days. I will come by. Please let me see you. I will explain everything. I am sorry, Nats."

"You know what? It is evident that Alayna Watson does what she wants, when she wants to. So do whatever the fuck you want."

She dropped the call. I stared at the phone in disbelief. Don't ask me what I expected! A warm Natalie welcoming me home? Unrealistic, but that would have involved less admin, don't you think?

My mom's voice interrupted my train of thought. "Layna, dear, are you all right?"

"I am okay, mom" I walked towards her and extended my arms to my bundle of joy. Eli had his dad's gorgeous eyes. He was a chubby one and such a pleasant soul. There was a time when I doubted that I had a maternal side to me. That changed the second I held him.

I knew then that my decision to leave was worth it. My child's wellbeing was worth it.

"Hey there, little one! It's feeding time." My mom handed little Eli to me. I stared into his kind beady eyes and all of a sudden a wave of guilt washed over me.

Do I even know what I am doing?

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Natalie handed me the cup of coffee, made with no love and 3 scoops of hostility.

Eli stayed with my mom and my breasts were sensing it! I just wanted to get tonight over and done with but first, Natalie.

The house still looked the same. She left my room the way I left it. Untouched. I sat on the comfortable L- shaped corner unit staring at the coffee table. We've literally only greeted one another.

Natalie sat down and stirred her coffee. Non-stop. It's a thing she does when she has a lot weighing on her mind. I suppose the task of initiating the conversation was assigned to me.

I cleared my throat.

"Nats--" Oops, I said the wrong thing.

"Don't call me that." Natalie abruptly interrupted me.