Aching for Adam

Chapter 22

I wake up to 11 missed calls from Adam. He's probably worried sick, and there's nothing he's done to deserve this. Since I'm not a monster, I had texted him last night just to tell him that I wasn't coming home, that I needed space. I don't know what to think and how to process what Danielle had told me the previous day, so I decide that until I know what to do and how to handle things, I'll just stay here. I don't want to talk to Adam because I know he'll convince me to forget about the whole thing, and I know that it'll drive him further away from his parents. But I need to put him first this time.

And so, I ignore his calls and messages, and call my office to tell my assistant I'll be working from home for a few days. Of course, with the move having been just a couple days ago, she won't even question it.

____

ADAM

It's been three days. Three days since Elle left without an explanation, and hasn't returned any of my calls. Or texts. Or emails.

I'm freaking out. Not only does this sting because it feels like she's going to abandon me again, but I just don't understand what the hell happened. Everything was amazing, and then she just disappears. I can't take this anymore.

I've called her office, I've called Tamara, I've called her mom, but no one wants to tell me where she is or what's happening.

The phone rings, I don't even look at the screen, I just answer it as fast as I can. "Elle?" I say, hopeful.

"No, it's your sibling." Suzie huffs. I sigh, and regain my composure.

"What?" I say, not able to contain my irritation.

"Ok, so I'm not going to take that personally because I imagine things must be strenuous with Elle right now. I was calling to ask you how you were. I know they can be a lot, but I'm on your side, if it makes you feel any better. You'll always have me." She says in a soft voice, the one she uses when she's trying to talk me down.

"What? What are you talking about? How do you know?" I pinch the bridge of my nose. Had she spoken to Elle?

"I mean, I don't mean to pry, it's just... I spoke to mom, so, you know. She told me everything of course. Well, yeah, not everything, but I can still imagine. And I really am not on board with any of it." She replies sternly.

"Suz, I'm not in the mood right now. Please explain. I have to idea what you're talking about. What happened with mom?" I try to stay calm, but I have to fight against the anger building up in my core.

"Oh, shit, you don't know. Um... so Elle went by mom and dad's house on Monday to try and talk them into backing down a bit. But you know mom... she told me she hadn't said anything to upset Elle, but we both know she must have exploded. I'm not sure what she told her, but dad called me back after we'd hung up to tell me that Elle had ran out crying, and that I should check up on you just to make sure you didn't do anything stupid." I stay silent for a breath, just to process what Suzie had just said. And, when I'm done processing, I want to hit through the fucking wall.

"Elle left, Suz. She left and didn't tell me anything. She hasn't returned any of my calls. Everything was going great... for her to do this, mom must have said some things... I just. I'm sorry, I have to go." Before I lose it, I hang up and throw my phone across the room. It crashes into a hundred pieces with a loud bang, but I couldn't care less. I'm seeing red. How dare she?

I swing the door open, I don't care that it's passed midnight. I tried to calm myself for an hour, but it didn't work. I'm still furious.

"Oh my god, Adam, is that you? What are you d—"

"How dare you?" I say, my voice booming in the echo of the night, in my parent's home.

"What?" My mother asks.

"What did you tell her? Answer me." I command. My mother ties her robe and comes down a few stairs. My dad is close behind. I can see in his face that's he's trying to assess the situation, trying to figure out who to calm down first. Because she might look all innocent, but her fury is close behind.

"How dare I? How dare you? Come into our house like this, and at this hour? Go home Adam, we'll talk about this in the morning. She isn't worth your worry." She rolls her eyes and starts climbing the stairs again.

"You know what? I don't even care. You've crossed the line, and if you want to be out of my life and never see your grandchild, then so be it. It'll be your decision not mine. You know, I thought we could reconcile and that this would pass. I thought you would come around and actually want to be part of the big steps your son is taking. Buying a house, getting married, becoming a father... but you only care about yourselves if you can't see that this is what I want and it's what makes me the most happy I've ever been. Elle and I were destined to be together, and things will work out great because we love each other. Always have and always will. You've made your choice clear, and I hope that, whatever petty reason you have to be against her, it's worth losing your child and grandchild over. See ya." And without looking back, I walk out of the house, and out of their lives.