August, 2008, NYU

Chanty found herself in the company of Zach, Liam and Angelica once again.

She didn’t want to go back home to the apartment and find Cameron out again. He was probably with his law buddies doing whatever he had always been doing.

Angelica was trying to urge the two guys to tag along at the Christmas vacation she had planned since last month. Chanty knew her friend didn’t want to go home and spend the holiday with her dad.

“My mom will not like it,” Zach told Angelica.

Chanty had already said yes to Angelica because she didn’t want to go home and be bombarded with questions as to why Cameron didn’t come (because she was sure he was not coming). Philip wouldn’t be there as well because he’d be busy--as always. Angelica was her best fun option for the holiday.

She found Liam looking at her and she raised her eyebrows at him in question. “What?”

“You’re coming too?” he asked.

“Of course she is,” Angelica answered for her. “Well? How about you?”

“Well,” Liam’s eyes wavered as he looked at the group. “I might just make it.”

“You have to say yes or no now because I need to make the reservations as early as now.”

“Fine, I’ll go,” Liam quickly said without looking at Chanty.

Chanty just sighed. She could handle Liam. Well, whatever. She was not really expecting to have a great time this Christmas.

She tried talking to Cameron about their relationship and how she thought it was not going anywhere, but he kept stalling. Maybe if he found out Liam and Zach would be going, he’d freak out.

“Well? How about you, Zach? Yes or no?” she heard Angelica ask.

“Fine. Yes, I am coming. My mom will kill me, but I am coming anyway because I love you guys.”

“Oh, shut up. We know you’re only going because you can’t face your dad right now,” Angelica said, rolling her eyes. “So that’s settled. We are all going. I’ll make the reservations and no backing out.”

“Sure,” the two men answered at once.

Chanty kept quiet, feeling a little confused.

2013

As a celebration for their great grandson’s arrival into the world, Hope and William invited everyone for a late dinner in the restaurant nearby.

Philip and Cassandra, of course, couldn’t come, but everyone else did.

Willie wouldn’t leave Liam’s side so he went much to his own disappointment. He wanted to get away from the bunch and be on his own. He hated to pretend that he was Willie’s father in front of Hope, William, Mary and Cassandra’s parents.

They occupied a rather long table in the restaurant and everyone was talking jovially, excited for the new baby. Liam studied Chanty, wanting to ask her if she had any plans of breaking the truth to her grandparents and her mother before everything turned out complicated.

Drinks were served around the table and Liam took two glasses of wine to ease his mind.

Chanty was looking uncomfortable as well and he knew why. Her family had been talking to her, indicating that she should start planning on how to introduce Liam as Willie’s father.

Once, he caught her eye and they exchanged a look of understanding.

He had told her it was her problem to tell her family the truth about her lie.

Liam knew she’d eventually do that, but when?

When he couldn’t take it anymore, he stood up and told the group he’d have to go home.

“We still have a few bottles of wine,” Angelica said in contradiction.

“I’ll drive you home if that’s your concern,” Henry offered. He did not touch a single drink the entire dinner, keeping watch on his wife.

The only one who could stop Liam at that moment was Willie but the child was already asleep in his grandmother’s arms.

Hope and William let him go easily.

“I really need to go. I have a lot to do in the office tomorrow. Zach,” he added, looking at his friend who was sitting beside Julianne. “You have to be there tomorrow.”

“Of course,” Zach answered, looking at the group. “I have decided to take over Liam’s job in the company. Well, most of it anyway since I cannot do it all alone,” he added with a grin.

The old people around them seemed surprised. Liam was looking at Chanty the whole time and he couldn’t tell what her reaction was because she was bending down and looking down at her plate like it would suddenly turn into a magic well and she couldn’t blink an eye when that happened. Liam hoped she would have gotten over the news already. It would make things easier.

“Does Philip know about this?” William asked.

“I already told him when Liam broke the news,” answered Henry.

“Well, I am old and retired. I don’t give a shit what you young people would do with the company,” the old man said with a sigh, looking at his wife who was looking horrified.

Hope was looking at Liam suspiciously and then her gaze traveled to Chanty who was still pretending to be busy with her plate.

“Goodbye, guys, and congratulations,” he added to Cassandra’s parents and Philip’s family.

“Send a text once you get home,” he heard Chanty blurt out as she slipped away from his chair.

*****

Chanty couldn’t just keep quiet knowing he was leaving.

It was not for show for his family.

She really wanted to tell him something before he left.

After that announcement of leaving everything to Zach, she felt like she’d never see him again. And a sudden sensation of panic surged up inside her once again.

“Just so we know you arrived in one piece,” she added when Liam didn’t say anything.

He just nodded and walked away, giving the group one last nod.

Chanty watched him walk out the door of the restaurant with purposeful strides. And his purpose was to walk away.

*****

When dinner was finally over, Chanty was left behind with Willie who was now sleeping in her car with the windows open. She was standing outside with Henry, Angelica, Zach and Julianne.

“He didn’t text he’s home,” she said to Angelica, checking her phone.

“He’s probably tired,” Zach said dismissively.

“Or he just didn’t take your request seriously,” Henry assured her, juggling his keys in his hand.

“I was serious when I said, ‘Send a text once you get home’. What if something happened?”

Her friends almost rolled their eyes at her. “Well, that could be the case,” Angelica said. “What?” she asked around when everyone threw her a look. “That’s possible. Or he might have lost his phone. Or worse, he is homeless and doesn’t have a home so he can’t say he’s home.”

“Now you’re starting to talk nonsense. Let’s go home,” Henry told her. “Don’t worry about it, Chanty. Liam’s just not in his right mood right now.”

Zach nodded. “He’s acting like a woman with PMS, really.”

“He’s angry with me,” Chanty said.

“Well, he’s being angry with exaggeration,” Angelica pointed out.

“Or maybe he is angrier with himself,” Julianne spoke for the first time.

Everyone looked at her.

“He’s angry because he let himself be fooled by the lie. He should have been wise enough to listen to you when you tried to tell him the truth,” Julianne continued.

Zach nodded. “I have to agree with Jules. Liam had always been a fool where you are concerned, Chanty. I guess he is just coming into terms of how a fool he had been since the moment he met you.” He grimaced when he realized what he just said. “That came out quite wrong, I guess.”

Chanty closed her eyes and sighed. “I need a good sleep. I have a lot in my mind right now.”

That night, Chanty drove feeling uncertain with everything: Cameron, her family and Liam. But first, she had to face Cameron. She wanted the guy out of her life once and for all.

*****

Chanty never had the chance to talk or even be around Liam after that night because she was planning a battle that she had to fight alone the next few days.

She had an appointment with Cameron on Friday and she better be ready. No more lies. No more secrets. She’d tell him everything. But they had to do the test, she thought. It would ease everyone’s mind.

And then, she had to tell her family the truth the following day, Saturday. She had already set up the date and the place for the reveal. She chose one that was near a hospital in case something bad happened and someone took the news badly.

Philip had told her he’d be there to back her up. He had been in a good mood lately now that his son was finally born.

Angelica kept on giving her ideas on how she should pursue Liam (bombing his house was also considered if he continued with his PMS-like attitude), but Chanty was already going through a lot of things at the moment to even bother making an effort to make Liam stay, much more consider giving her another chance.

She had set her priorities: Willie, her problem with Cameron and then her family. Liam would have to wait until she was ready and recharged. He’d be the final battle and she had to clean up her mess to make it right with him.

*****

Liam was sitting in his office with Zach. His friend had been studying some documents he needed to sign to make things official. They had only a week to sort everything and then Liam would be gone.

He was staring into space, thinking about that moment when he could finally go away and have some time for himself. Where would he go? How long would he be gone? How long would it take?

“I can’t deal with this,” Zach murmured. “Friday’s not my day ever since I started school. I always get distracted.”

“What?” Liam asked, his mind absently wandering around the imaginary map he had in his head.

“I said I am not a Friday person. I always look forward for the weekend and I can’t focus right now. Jules and I have some plans for tomorrow and I can’t focus on these documents.”

“It’s Friday?” Liam asked, suddenly alert. He straightened in his chair.

“Didn’t I just tell you?” his friend asked with a frown. “Were you even listening?”

But Liam was already busy checking his watch. He grabbed his phone and called Henry.

*****

Chanty paced around her office. She was nervous as hell.

She almost jumped when Dana poked her head inside her office and announced, “Cam-Cam is on his way.”

Chanty nodded after taking a deep breath.

“You need anything?” her secretary asked with concern.

“Send us some coffee when he gets here. And just water for me. I don’t think I can take more caffeine. How do I look? Do I look frail or confident?”

Dana looked at her outfit which was the usual collared blouse and pencil skirt and pumps. “You look like a warrior. You need a sword?”

Chanty smiled. “I can manage, but thank you for the offer. I might ring for a bomb though so keep watch.”

“Aye, aye!” Dana said with a salute and left, gently closing the door behind her.

Chanty sat behind her desk and arched her back. She had to be strong.

You can do it, Chanty. Just tell him the truth. Be wise. Be confident.

A knock came on the door and Dana opened it, and this time, she was delivering Cameron. But he was not alone. He was with Beth the Bitch and another guy Chanty couldn’t recognize.

She frowned. “I thought this is going to be a one-on-one meeting?” she asked with an accusing glare at Cameron.

“I am here to support him,” Beth said, flipping her hair and pretending to check out Chanty’s office as she strode inside.

“I brought my lawyer with me,” Cameron said with a smile. “I just thought it is better to have one in case you have more surprises for me, Chanty.”

Chanty felt betrayed and weak. She was beginning to feel like she was looking at a losing battle. She was up against three people who were determined to see her fall.

“This is Raymund Flint, my lawyer. Raymund, Ms. Chanty Strindberg.”

The lawyer with graying hair and wrinkled face walked up to Chanty and held out his hand. Chanty stood up and took his hand in a grip she prayed was enough to break someone’s neck.

“Good morning, Ms. Strindberg. Don’t be alarmed with my presence. I am only here to make sure that things go well for both you and Cameron.”

“You mean only for him,” she uttered strongly. “You should have told me you are with a lawyer, Cameron, but that’s okay since I cannot possibly kick these two out of my office now. That would be unprofessional of me, wouldn’t it? Please take a seat, all of you,” she offered in the end, sitting back in her chair because her knees were almost giving up.

This is now or never, she thought as she fixed a firm smile on her face. “Should we start?”

And just as everyone nodded, including Beth the Bitch who sat in the couch at the corner of the room with her leg crossed over the other, her office door opened and Liam burst in.

“Sorry we are late,” he said in his confident voice, his smile fixed on Cameron, Beth the Bitch and the old lawyer. “Henry was caught on traffic.”

And that was when Henry came in looking like he ran a mile. “Good morning, everyone. I hope you didn’t start without us.”

Chanty’s mouth was hanging open as she watched Liam close the door. He walked toward her, grabbing a chair along the way, and settled beside her. Henry did the same, sitting at her other side.

“So, let’s start?” Liam asked the group before them who was looking as startled as Chanty.