Julia Parker turned around, puzzled by the young woman approaching her. She couldn’t place her face or where she knew her from.
The woman came closer, almost slipping on the icy ground, but Julia caught her just in time, breathless with recognition.
“Angelina? Angelina Morris? Wow, where have you come from?”
“I was just passing the school and thought I saw you coming out. I was so surprised… How have you been? What’s going on with you these days? You left so suddenly, all business-like, and then we just lost touch.”
“What do you mean lost touch? I called, but your number was unavailable…”
“I… I lost my phone back then, and everything just spiraled. Anyway, enough about me. How are you?”
“Hey, why are we standing outside? Let’s go to my place. You know what? We’re having a small party tomorrow, just some friends coming over. Why don’t you join us?”
“Oh no, I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Don’t be silly, you’re a friend. We’ve known each other since we were in kindergarten. Here’s the address. So, where are you staying?”
“In a hotel.”
“Why don’t you stay with us? We just bought a three-bedroom house.”
“When did that happen? Oh, sorry…that’s my professional instinct kicking in. I’m working as an estate agent now, haha. But no, Julia, my job’s paying for the hotel, so thanks anyway.”
“So, will you come?”
“I’ll try my best, Julia… It was really nice to see you.”
“I’m glad we ran into each other.”
“Yeah…”
At dinner, at home, where she was just mom and Julia, she told her husband, Brian, about meeting Angelina.
“Which Angelina, Julia?”
“Angelina Morris, remember… you used to give us rides on your bike. Me on the bar, her on the back, remember?”
“Oh, those were silly times, haha. Remember how we insisted you take turns with us so neither of us would feel left out?”
“And you just kept taking me on the bar and then only me… I think Angelina was even a bit jealous.”
“I even thought she had a crush on you back then, Brian… Oh, childhood memories…”
“Hmm. So why did she come up?”
“Told you, I saw her today.”
“Here in town? What’s she doing here? Or does she live here?”
“No, she’s just here for some courses. Apparently, she’s an estate agent.”
“An estate agent? I thought she was studying for something else?”
“I don’t know, I’ll ask her tomorrow… After we all went our separate ways, we didn’t stay in contact. Why did you think she was studying?”
“I don’t know, everyone goes through courses…”
“True… I’ll ask her tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Did you plan another meetup? Don’t forget, the Vasquez family is coming over.”
“I haven’t forgotten; I invited Angelina as well.”
“Wait, what? Why?”
“Brian, she’s a childhood friend… and yours too, you know…”
“Mine too, huh?”
Julia worked as a primary school teacher, and her students adored her. It was her dream job and she approached it with enthusiasm, flying to work on invisible wings and leaving each day tired but happy.
Yet today, something seemed to weigh on her mind. Everything was fine, so what was bothering her?
At home, she and Brian cooked together, as always. Everything seemed good, but an inexplicable, unsettling feeling lingered, almost bringing her to tears. Why did she feel like that?
Their guests arrived at seven. They brought along their only child, a three-year-old, the same age as Anna, who was charmingly entertaining and kept everyone laughing.
Their son, Michael, who’s five, didn’t want to join the younger ones and went to his room to watch cartoons instead.
They gathered around the table, laughing and chatting. Julia was beginning to forget her earlier unease when the doorbell rang, causing her to jump.
“Who could that be?” Julia asked nervously.
“Didn’t you invite that childhood friend of yours, what’s her name… Allie…” Brian chuckled.
“Oh right, Angelina… yeah.”
Julia opened the door to let in Angelina, who was stunning, fragrant with perfume, her hair perfectly styled, and glistening with the faint touch of frost.
“Wow, you look amazing, friend…”
Angelina lightly brushed her cheek against Julia’s, and with a graceful step, she stepped into the large room, handing her coat to Julia.
“Meet Angela,” Julia introduced with a slightly dull tone, noticing Brian’s changed demeanor and the way Alex squared his shoulders.
The evening went on with Angelina at the center of everyone’s attention. She was full of laughter and conversation, enchanting everyone, while Julia was left feeling uneasy.
Adding to Julia’s discomfort, Angelina shared amusing childhood anecdotes that subtly painted Julia in an embarrassing light.
Needing space, Julia slipped into the kitchen, tears threatening to spill. What was happening to her? She leaned against the window that looked out onto the balcony, and could faintly hear voices.
“Well, you seem to live the good life, darling,” Julia caught Angelina’s voice, “a three-bedroom house, huh? And I’m stuck in a studio flat?”
Quite the achiever, aren’t you? Got the money for kids, I see. Your wife’s dressed nice, driving a car…
Hand over some cash for the child. I don’t care about your troubles. I need a decent three-bedroom, just like your wife’s… Or else…”
Julia couldn’t listen anymore. She composed herself and returned to the living room, where the rest of the friends were entertaining the kids.
“Julia, is something wrong? You don’t look well…”
“No, no, I’m fine… just had a bit too much wine… Where is everyone?”
“Brian stepped out to smoke. Angela too, apparently she’s a smoker?”
“Really? I had no idea…”
Julia forced herself to engage, trying to relax into the party spirit, but her mind was in turmoil. She felt uneasy, her thoughts swirling, unable to sit still.
Brian and Angela returned, with Angela now more exuberant and drinking more wine, while Brian seemed… puzzled?
When the guests finally left, Julia felt a sense of impending change and mentally bade farewell to her husband.
It seemed obvious she was losing him. When did he even have the time?
He was never late from work, they were always together, everything was open, phone, computer – always accessible. He had covered his tracks so well…
Julia anxiously waited for the friends to leave, sensing underlying tension, while Angelina behaved as if nothing was wrong, continuing to enjoy herself.
Once the door closed, Julia sent the children to bed and sat down opposite Angelina and Brian.
“So, lovebirds, when were you going to tell me everything? I really don’t understand, Brian… If there’s love between you, why do you need me? I don’t bring in much money, there’s no inheritance here… Why torture yourself? Pack up and go to her. Angela, is my house bothering you? It’s still under a mortgage, take it… I’ll manage with the kids.
Been jealous since childhood and that hasn’t changed? Go on, have him, enjoy…”
Brian tried to explain, but Julia was having none of it.
“Hahaha, what’s gotten into you? Why would I want your fool… He only owes me, well sort of… for the kid…”
“Whose child is this?”
“Julia, let me explain everything,” Brian tried moving closer to his wife, who stopped him.
“Brian, do you have a child with this… woman?”
“Brian, do you have a child with this woman?” Angelina mocked Julia with a laugh. “Well, aren’t you answering?”
“I’ll explain it all, Julia.”
“You better, because I’ll tell you what I know… Remember the summer after school? When you went away with your family? And your Brian, he was quite happy spending nights with me, eventually leading to my… expecting.”
“Why?” Julia looked up, tears brimming, asking no one in particular… “Why? Why keep me around?”
“She’s lying, Julia.”
“I don’t remember much – it was just that one time… At Rus Tyler’s send-off party, the first time I tried homemade wine.
She was hanging on to me all evening, giving me drinks… I’m not making excuses, it’s my fault. A week later, she claimed I… forced myself on her and now she was…pregnant. Her mother’s forcing her to press charges, but she assured me she loved me too much to do that… Said I should marry her.”
“I refused, she threatened, cried, pleaded, then said I’d regret it.
I told her if the child’s really mine, I won’t abandon him, and if I was in the wrong, let the law punish me.
She never followed through, I wanted to take her to the police, she refused.. hospital…
Then, you went off to study, I followed, our families moved. I lost track of her…
Five years ago, when Michael was born, she showed up again.
Started demanding money for our son…”
“And?”
“I gave her all my bonuses, extra earnings… even pay rises, everything went for the child, he’s blameless, after all…”
“Of course,” Angela chimed in slyly, “in all this time, it must have accumulated.”
“So that’s it, Julia… The child’s innocent.”
“What’s the name of your son?” Julia asked.
Brian and Angela simultaneously said… different names.
“Really? So, is it Alex or John, Angela?”
“He’s got a double name,” Angela stammered, fishing for excuses.
“Have you ever seen your son?”
“No, not in person, she just sent photos, I have a separate folder… I… you know, the child…
Julia, I’d like to keep supporting him…”
“Brian,” Julia asked softly, “isn’t that folder titled AAAA?”
Brian turned red and nodded.
“Oh, I thought you’d lost your mind, putting aside photos of a child star from old English films. Angela, do you take him for a complete fool? He’s been sending you money for five years based on edited pictures of an actor?”
“Just sod off, both of you. Punishing you was my goal… When I saw your Brian back then, a plan came to mind… It didn’t work out before, but now it did, and he fell for it, the idiot.
So long…”
“Stop,” Julia blocked her exit, “do you really think you can just walk away like that? You’ll have to return every single penny my husband gave you, dear friend.”
“Yes, I’m leaving, simple as that,” Angela smiled, “you’ve got no proof, he gave me the money because he fancied me all along, not you, you boring old sponge.
I’ll prove in any court that we were lovers, he was just gifting me. So why don’t you sit back and be glad it’s settled this way… friend.”
Angela left.
Julia and Brian sat quietly for a long time.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared of losing you…”
“How absurd, Brian… You’re a modern guy, pregnancy after a week, really… what were you thinking?”
Brian shrugged helplessly.
“I promise, Julia, no more secrets…”
If you feel the author used a phrase incorrectly, or that something similar doesn’t happen, or you didn’t like the author’s style, the author isn’t going to apologize daily or admit faults…
Then this isn’t for you.
Don’t bother telling me that at sixty-something you listen to rock and wear mini-skirts, I don’t care.
Trying to annoy, belittle, or cause anger or shame won’t work.
I’m a person of flesh and blood, not a sweetshop to appease everyone.
If you have opinions on my shortcomings, this isn’t the place.
This is my space where friends come for good vibes.
Close this page and quietly walk away, the critical commentators go into the bin.
And I don’t care if you don’t care.
The exit is over there…
