Chapter 20:
I fall back on the bed, exhausted. My heart is still racing and my hair is sticking to my sweaty forehead. When I feel Tobias' hand on my stomach, I turn my head to look at him.
"You are amazing." He breathes.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He kisses me slowly but passionately. Then, he lays his head on my bare chest and kisses the spot underneath it. I caress his hair.
"Love?
"Mmm?"
"What would you bring with you if you were alone on a island?"
I burst in laughter, not expecting the question at all.
"Where does that come from?"
"I don't know. It just popped in my head."
"Alright… Well… I'd say, a camping kit."
"Not a bad idea."
"I bet I can guess what you would bring."
"I doubt it but try anyway."
"Your computer."
"How did you.."
"I just know you… But without electricity?"
"If I can choose what to take, I'd choose an island where I have electricity."
"Right. Then I'd go with you."
"I'd love that."
We kiss one more time before I speak again.
"Tobias, why did you become a doctor if you love to work with computers?"
"My mother. Who else? She always said I would be a doctor one day, just like her. Don't misunderstand me, I love my job but without her, I'd be doing something else."
"How did you choose to be an anaesthetist?"
"I wanted to be a cardiologist but when I was a med student and attended surgeries, I was fascinated by the work of anaesthetists. So I changed my mind. Do you have an idea what you want to be?"
"I wanted to be a pulmonologist."
"Because of Caleb?" He says.
"Yes. I want to be able to save 8-year-old children."
"That's an amazing reason and motivation."
He moves to props himself on his elbow and with his other hand, touches my cheek. He wipes a tear that left my eye.
"You will be an amazing surgeon one day. And I'm not saying that because you're my girlfriend but because this is your professional vocation. You were made for that. Ever since you were a child, you wanted that. This isn't what you'll do to earn money, this is what you are."
Another tear escapes but he wipes it too. I don't deserve him.
"Thank you."
"I'm telling the truth."
I slowly move to lay down on him. I intend to show him exactly how much this means to me and how much I love him. From what I see, he doesn't seem to mind.
Tobias lets me go back to my room around 1 am. I know I'll be sleepwalking tomorrow because of that but he made sure I won't regret tonight. He walks me to the door of his bedroom and only lets me go after a goodnight kiss.
I quietly walk to my room. I wasn't ready to see what I see. My drawers are all open and my clothes aren't here anymore. All my stuff disappeared. What the…?
I run back to Tobias' room and knock urgently before walking in. He sits up in bed.
"What is it?"
"My clothes. They disappeared. My room is totally empty."
"What?"
"Come with me. Please!"
"Yes, of course."
He follows me to my room and nothing has changed. It's like I haven't lived here for the past seven years.
"Tobias, what happened?" I ask while crying.
"I honestly don't know."
He takes me in his arms and rubs my back.
"Okay. We are going to go downstairs and see if something else has been stolen in the house. If there was, we'll call the police immediately."
We hurry downstairs and nothing has been stolen. Evelyn's expensive vases are still where they should be. It wasn't a thief.
We split to look at every room to check but when I walk in the living room, I see full suitcases next to the couch. And on the couch, sits Evelyn Eaton with a murderous glare aimed at me.
Oh no.
"Mrs Evelyn? What… what are you…"
"Mrs Eaton to you. Sit."
I take a deep breath and do as she asks. I lower myself in the armchair.
"Seven years ago, I gave you a job. I welcomed you with arms wide open and treated you like my daughter. You were the perfect employee for seven years. But then, my son came back home. I didn't say anything about your friendship because you both went through traumatic experiences and it helped you both to cope with it. So I allowed that friendship. But now… I learn that you sleep with my son under my roof. I thought you had more respect for me and for yourself. What did you expect from this? Money? Was Tobias supposed to pay for your studies? Is that what you plotted when you started working here?"
"Mrs Eaton, I can…"
"Silence!" She yells as she stands up. "I won't hear any word from you. You'll try to deceive me again and I won't allow it. I made sure to pack your belongings. I want you gone in an hour."
As she slams the door, I finally let tears fall. What just happened? Did she just fire me? Oh my god, she kicked me out.
I was so stupid! How could I have let that happen to me? I threw away my future because I wanted to have fun. But deep down, I know I wasn't just having fun. I fell in love. But was it worth losing my dream? I don't know.
What am I going to do? I can find another job but I will have to find a place to live. I'll have to save up at least one more year to afford my studies.
And Tobias? How will I tell him?
I carefully stand up on wobbly legs and take my things. I have to leave now. I don't want to stay one more minute in this house. As I roll my suitcase to the main door, I try to call a taxi to take me to an hotel for the night. I'll decide tomorrow what I can do. But I have nowhere else to go. I have no family… no friends out there.
When I roll the last suitcase, I find Tobias taking a look at all my stuff by the door. He hears me and turns around.
"Tris? What the hell?"
I see desperation in his eyes. Does he really think I am leaving willingly? I can't keep in my tears.
"Your mother kicked me out." I state.
"What?"
"She knows Tobias. I don't know how she figured it out but she did. And now…"
I burst in tears .
"What am I going to do? I have nowhere to go."
He rushes to my side and takes me in his arms.
"Love, look at me! Do you remember what I said? I won't let her do that! Wait here. I'll talk to her."
"Tobias! No! You'll only make it worse!"
"How worse can it be? I can't let her do that." He argues.
"Please, honey. Don't. I'll go to the hotel tonight. I'll think of a solution tomorrow."
He looks me in the eye with a pained face.
"Wait for me. I'm coming with you."
"No, that's not what…"
"I'm coming with you. That's it. Wait for me, I'll get some clothes."
He kisses me then runs to his room. I sit on my suitcase as I wait. After ten minutes, I start to worry as he doesn't come back.
Suddenly, I hear yelling. Tobias is running down the stairs, his mother behind him. Oh no.
"Tobias! Come here! I forbid you to go with that whore!"
He stops in his track, his backpack in hand.
"What did you say?"
"She doesn't love you! She just wants your money! Do you really think she would have opened her legs for you if you weren't rich?"
He slowly climbs the steps left between him and his mother.
"Don't you dare say that again. What do you know about love? You sent your only child in England to study for years. If you speak another ill word about her, you'll regret it."
"She's only temporary in your life! I am permanent!"
"Not anymore! I'm moving out tomorrow."
"What? You're not seriously considering…"
"I am not considering, I am telling you. I am done with you. If you can't see that I love Tris with all my heart and that she makes me happy, well you're not someone that cares for me."
"She is a maid!"
"Yes, and? How does a job define a person? She's an amazing person! Look at you, a brilliant neurosurgeon but an awful person. This is your proof that a job doesn't define a person."
By the look on her face, he crushed her. She takes a hold of the railing to prevent from falling. She slowly sits on the steps as he walks away from her. When he is next to me, he kisses me deeply with his hands holding my head.
He helps me take my things outside to wait for the cab.
"You really meant that?"
"Of course. She had no right to call you like that. And honestly, I can't let her have it her way."
"She is your mother."
"I'm not pushing her out of my life yet. But she can't get away with what she said about the love of my life."
"The love of your life?"
"You don't like that? You prefer future wife? Because I intend to marry you one day. This isn't just a fling in my life. You are it for me."
Once again, I feel tears in my eyes. I raise my hand to trace his lips with my finger.
"I like the sound of that."
"Good."
The cab parks in front of the house and Tobias helps the driver to load the car. He leaves us in front of one of the best hotels in Chicago. One that I can't afford.
"Tobias, I can't pay for this."
"But I can. Let me pay. I owe you that."
For once, I accept because I have no other option. The man behind the desk gives us one of the last empty room and Tobias books it for at least three days. He sends me with the man carrying my bags before he has to pay. I don't object for once.
I enter the wonderful room and immediately spot the bed. However, I decide to take a shower first. After everything that happened, I have to clean up.
Tobias is waiting for me when I walk out. The smile he gives me makes me almost forget it all.
"You are so beautiful."
I walk to him and glide my arms around his neck.
"You are a wonderful man. You stood up for us. I thought I was alone in all this but you proved how much you love me."
He holds me tightly by my waist.
"You are worth it. I couldn't just let you go alone. I promised I wouldn't let her do that and I intend to keep that promise. I know how important this job is to you. And how much you care for my parents."
"They treated me like their daughter when my parents died. I've done everything I could to make them happy for the past seven years. Knowing that she just threw me away so easily. I feel like an orphan all over again."
"I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you. You were right about my mother. I couldn't believe she would be able to do that. But I'll make it right."
"You told her you were moving out."
"Just because I said I will talk to her, doesn't mean I forgive her for what she said. By the way, I'd understand if you never want to see her again after what she said."
"It hurt to hear that but I also know she feels betrayed and she probably doesn't mean them. I just wish to talk to her about it."
"I'll make it happen. You are so strong. And even if she doesn't listen, you are more than welcome to come live with me next week."
"Thank you."
We stay like that, in each other's embrace for a long time before we eventually try to get some sleep after such a long night. Tomorrow will be a long day.