The Life that Was

Toni started her car and pulled out onto the street, by the time she got to the highway and turned toward Glenridge everything was a blur. Thank goodness she hadn’t cried in Richie’s office she thought but it hurt. He was hurt she could see it in his eyes. She hadn’t been to the house but now she cut off and went to her house and sat in the car for a moment, not wanting to go inside.

She called Travis, he’d be wondering why she was late.

“Travis, hey honey I just wanted you to know, oh…I uh went by to see Ritchie and we um talked, I think we’re settled now.”

“Toni are you crying?”

“Um..no…I’m…yes.”

“Where are you honey?”

“In my car sitting in front of my house.”

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

Travis couldn’t believe she’d gone to see that bastard by herself. He pulled up behind her car and she was still in it. He opened her door.

“Come on baby,” He pulled her out of her vehicle and put his arms around her. “What happened Toni?”

“Nothing really, I just um…I guess it hit me when I left his office. It’s over it’s all over my marriage, everything. We are down to who gets what now and I don’t know what I’m going to do with all the stuff in the house. Nobody is going to live there anymore.”

“Do you want to go in Toni?”

“Yes, I need to get my scrubs and my clothes Travis, my things are…” she started crying again.

Travis hadn’t had to deal with this Tomalee had packed up all of Jan’s things at the house and shipped them to Sydney while he was still at the penthouse. “Let’s get out of the driveway have you got keys, let me have them.”

Once inside he let go of her and followed her though the house, he’d been inside a couple of times. It was a nice house with nice furnishings, he remembered the lounge room and walked in there with Toni.

“I don’t know what to do with this stuff Travis,” she wiped her eyes. “The only thing he wants is his den and weight room and the furniture out of one of the guest rooms. That leaves seven rooms full of stuff plus the kitchen. This room was hardly used at all.”

“You don’t have to make a decision tonight honey, let’s get your clothes and go.”

Toni got up and walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge, “Oh gosh all this stuff.”

“Toni…we’re not doing this tonight. I’ll get somebody over here to clean out the kitchen.”

Toni closed the door and leaned on it, “Travis this was my life here in this house.”

“I know honey it WAS but it isn’t anymore. If you want your things around you we’ll bring them over to Glenridge, I don’t have a problem with that but you don’t need to be standing around in here getting yourself all upset all over again.”

“I know you’re right, let’s go upstairs and get my clothes I hope there’s a piece of luggage left to pack them in.”

“I’ll tell you what, you go pick out exactly what you want to keep from your closet or wherever, don’t go bringing everything you own, take what you want the rest will be replaced Toni. I’ll take you shopping like you’ve never been shopping before you understand ?” He put his hands on either side of the fridge door and looked into her eyes. “You can buy anything you’re with me now it’s a different life and you’ve got to learn to live it.”

Toni took his face in her hands and kissed him, “I’ve got a long way to go Travis be patient with me.”

Travis smiled, “I’m learning patience I can even spell it now get your shit and let’s get out of here.”