By My Side by Dara Girard

Author:Dara Girard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ilori Press Books

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The rush of water being sucked down a toilet bowl assaulted her ears the moment Alicia entered the ladies’ room. Thankfully only one stall seemed to be occupied. Alicia crinkled her nose as the faint stench of Lavinia’s purged dinner lingered in the air. She heard a faint groan.

“Lavinia? It’s me, Alicia.”

“I feel like such a fool,” she said in a small voice.

“I thought what you did was very brave.”

“Is everyone laughing?”

“No.”

“I can’t stop shaking.”

“You were great.”

“I was scared.”

“You don’t have to be scared anymore. You took control. You were fierce.”

“Until I got sick.”

“He made us all sick.”

Lavinia giggle. “No one would ever admit that.”

“You made your point.”

She sighed then opened the stall door. “You can go, I’m okay now.” She washed her hands.

“Um…not an option. Either I leave here with you or Trey’s coming to get you. If I didn’t know you were getting married, I’d be jealous of your relationship.”

Lavinia laughed. She laughed so hard she had to hold her sides. “Trey and me?” She gasped before she laughed harder. Alicia didn’t understand why Lavinia found the thought so funny, but she preferred it to seeing her sad.

Lavinia wiped her eyes. “Thank you so much for that.” She turned to the mirror and patted her face. “I’m so glad you convinced Trey to come.”

Alicia began to shake her head then decided now was not the time to reveal Trey’s lie.

“He wanted to be here, he’s just using me as an excuse.”

“No, that’s not Trey at all.” Lavinia spun to her and grabbed her hands. “I know my idea was silly and crazy and I should have been strong enough to do it on my own, but just knowing that Trey was there, will be with me at my wedding, gave me the courage I needed to finally stand up to my dad.”

“You don’t have to explain to me.”

“Yes, I do. Trey’s always there for others, but he doesn’t let people be there for him. The fact that you’re here means you’re special.”

Alicia smiled and accepted the nervous bride’s delusions. Special? Her? To Trey of all people? She would laugh if Lavinia didn’t look so earnest. “We’d better get back or people will really start worrying.”

Fear entered Lavinia’s gaze. “Do you think he’s still out there?”

Alicia didn’t misunderstand her, as powerful as her speech had been, Lavinia’s father still had a hold over her. “Yes. But the moment you return to the table you will have won. Don’t let him bully you anymore or be ashamed. Your words mattered. He’ll expect me to return to the table and tell everyone that you went back to your room to rest. But instead you’ll face him. You don’t even have to say a word.”

Lavinia took a deep breath. “Okay.”

“I’m right behind you.”

But when they returned to the table Lavinia’s father was gone. Lavinia looked relieved as did everyone around her.

Alicia took a seat beside Trey and whispered, “What happened?”

He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “Thanks.”

The touch

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.