Quickly dialing Lisa’s number, he waited while it rang and eventually was answered.
“Tristan," Lisa said, sounding concerned. “Where are you?”
“I’m about to head home,” Tristan answered, starting his car, “Have you heard from Heather?”
“I’ll meet you at your place,” Lisa said, her voice grave.
“What? Has she been in an accident? I set up everything tonight, but she never showed up.”
"No, Tristan. No accident, but I'll meet you at your place. I’m heading there now,” Lisa said quickly, hanging up before Tristan could ask any more questions.
Arriving home, Tristan sighed. Heather’s car wasn’t in the driveway. Unlocking the door, he sensed a certain emptiness in the house, which puzzled him.
"Heather?" he called out, thinking maybe her car had broken down and she had taken a taxi home.
Walking up the stairs to the bedrooms, he looked into the bathroom and frowned. “Where’s her stuff,” he said out loud, noticing the bathroom counter was clear.
“Heather,” he called out again only to be met with silence.
A feeling of dread washed over him as he walked to the closet and opened the door. Empty. All of Heather’s clothes were gone. Her dresses, shoes, purses. Everything. Quickly running over to the dresser, he opened each drawer only to find them all empty.
“Tristan, where are you?” Lisa’s voice rang out from downstairs.
“I’m upstairs,” he said, filled with confusion as he sat on the bed, his body slowly going numb.
"Oh, Tristan,” Lisa said breathlessly as she ran into the room. “I’m so sorry.”
Tristan looked up at her. “She’s gone.”
Lisa looked at him, her heart breaking as she walked over to him and sat down beside him on the bed, putting an arm around his shoulders. “Yes, Tristan. I’m afraid she’s gone.”
Chapter 10
Lisa sat at her desk, trying desperately to concentrate on her work. Finally, throwing her pen down, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. In less than half an hour, Tristan was going to propose to Heather.
Normally she would feel happy and excited for her friends, but for some reason, she had a feeling of foreboding, and she didn’t know why. Heather had told her that she loved Tristan, but Lisa still doubted her.
Ever since Heather had told her about the stolen kiss with Troy, she wondered if Heather had feelings for the guy. Heather had said it was a one-time thing and that she had no feelings for him, but she continued going to the gym, and when they got together for coffee or drinks, all Heather would talk about was Troy. Troy was helping her with this, Troy suggested she eat this, Troy told this joke. Lisa was actually starting to dislike Troy, and she didn't even know him.
The ringing of her phone was a welcome distraction from her thoughts. Noticing it was Heather, she quickly answered it.
“I was just thinking about you. What are you up to?” Lisa asked, waiting for Heather to start asking her why Tristan was being so secretive. “Are you on your way to meet Tristan?”
“It’s over,” Heather sobbed into the phone.
“Heather? What’s wrong? What’s over?”
‘Tristan. It’s over. I’m leaving him.”
“You’re what?” Lisa cried into the phone. Checking her watch, Lisa shook her head. How could it be over? She should be on her way to the restaurant at this time. "I don't understand, Heather."
“I’m leaving him for Troy. I love Troy. As much as I fought to forget the kiss and move on, I have to be honest with myself. We love each other, and we want to be together.”
“Where’s Tristan?”
"I don't know, at a restaurant or something. He wanted me to meet there, but I'm done. I've packed up my stuff, and Troy and I are just getting ready to leave."
“You mean to tell me you haven’t even told Tristan yet?” Lisa said, anger flooding through her. Tristan, at this very moment, was sitting at a table on the beach, waiting for the love of his life to come so he could surprise her with a diamond ring.
“No, I can't face him. It's better if I just leave," Heather said. "I'm sorry, Lisa. Please don't hate me. I want to be happy, and I realized I can't be happy with Tristan.”
Lisa sat very still, feeling her stomach turn. “You have no idea what Tristan had planned, do you?”
“No. What?”
"You know what, Heather? You don’t deserve to know, and you don’t deserve my friendship. I really thought you were better than this. Go and have a nice life with Troy,” she growled as she hung up the phone.
“That bitch,” she said out loud, banging her fist on the table. How could she do that to Tristan?
“Hey Lisa,” her boss said, coming into her office. “You’re here later than usual.”
“I wanted to finish up a few things before I left,” Lisa said, trying to remain calm but still feeling angry.
“I wanted to know if you had any ideas on the Lampson account. Have you drawn up any sketches?” he asked, sitting down in the chair.
Lisa swallowed, wishing he would leave and stop asking her questions. She needed to get ahold of Tristan. He was waiting all by himself, excited. He needed to know the truth as soon as possible.
“Umm, no, I haven't, Larry, but I'm working on it. I’ll have something done by tomorrow for sure,” Lisa said, picking up her purse, hoping that Larry would get the hint that she wanted to leave.
"So, how are things otherwise?” Larry asked, leaning back and making himself comfortable.
Lisa smiled tightly, checking her watch and realizing that it was past seven. Tristan had to know by now that Heather wasn’t showing up.
“Things are good, Larry, but unfortunately, I just realized I have to run,” she said, quickly jumping up.
"Oh, okay. Fair enough. I look forward to your sketches for the Lampson account,” Larry sighed as he stood up, disappointment clear on his face.
Feeling bad that she was brushing him off, Lisa turned and looked at Larry. “Lunch next week, maybe?”
He smiled and gave her a thumbs up. Lisa ran out the front door just as her cell phone rang. She knew who it was even before she looked at the screen and didn’t know what to say to him.
✽✽✽
My Darling Tristan,
I have been torn the last few months trying to be happy and do the right thing. You have been nothing but patient with me and supported me. You always told me that when there is a difficult decision to make, I needed to follow my heart. Well, I have to do that now. I’m in love with Troy. Nothing has happened between us other than a kiss, because I couldn’t do that to you, but we feel very strongly about each other, and I have to follow my heart.
I hope you can understand and forgive me. It's nothing you have done; it's just me.
I wish you the best in your future and hope that you will one day find a woman who can love you the way you deserve to be loved.
Heather
“So, this is supposed to make me feel fucking better?” Tristan snapped, throwing the note across the kitchen table. “Troy. That fucking guy from the gym. The one she told me was gay? Holy fuck. I didn’t see this coming.”