Chapter Twenty-six

Her world crumbled right before her eyes. She immediately imagined herself pulling that woman’s hair and strangling her neck. She wanted to confront her and ask her why she would do that to her husband. Ask her where did she find the audacity to steal a married man. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and cry like no one was around.

In reality, her self-worth was gone even when she remained composed.

She wanted to put all the blame on the woman when her husband seemed to equally enjoy the ass that was on his lap. She could not even bring herself to defend Jack. He willingly kissed and did even more with another woman.

“Mommy, are you okay?” Elias asked.

“Sweetie,” She sighed. “Mommy will make a quick call, okay?”

It would be an impossible task to drive safely with the state of mind she was in. Hyacinth doesn’t care if even a truck would go hit her. She can take that as a fair punishment for kissing Nikolai. Jack's cheating does not erase the sin that she also committed. 

But she has to make sure that her child is and will be safe.

“Hi.”

All her life, she has never been this hopeless. Her tears wouldn’t stop falling from her eyes. The best that she can do is hide those tears from Elias.

“Can you help me without asking any questions?” She asked Nikolai on the phone.

He shouldn’t be the first and only person that popped into her mind when she wanted help. She was only new to the city with no other friends. All the people she knows know Jack too. They would surely ask why she couldn’t drive herself, why her eyes were swollen red, why her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

“Of course,” Nikolai thankfully answered.

“Hi, what’s your name?” Nikolai smiled at Elias. He seemed calm and composed, unlike her. As promised, he immediately came. No questions asked. She simply gave him the car fob.

“My name is Elias.”

“Oh, so you’re Elias. My son, Liam, said he is good friends with you. Is that true?”

“He’s nice and he knows a lot about fish and sharks and dolphins too. His birthday is cool. I like Liam.”

Nikolai was great at making small talk with Elias. If one of his goals was to distract the kid as Hyacinth cried on the passenger seat, he was effortlessly doing it.

It was already too late but with the little dignity that was left of her, Hyacinth continued to face the window. She looked pathetic and she can see that on her reflection. Of all the people she could ask for help, he asked the man who hadn’t moved on yet from his wife who looked like her. None of it was ordinary, but she was too wrecked to care.

“That’s great to know, Elias. I like you too.”

She thought Nikolai was ignoring her, or pretending to do so. As she saw her miserable reflection, his worried glances at her didn’t escape her eyes either. Nikolai was trying to give her something. She saw the handkerchief that was in her hand. He kept driving as if he didn’t do anything just now.

“You’re not going to ask?” She said when there were only the two of them in the car.

“You told me not to.”

“Thank you for that.” 

She wanted to be the professional teacher that she was claiming to be at the party. There was no sense in that, it appears.

“Can I ask one more favor?”

Nikolai took a long piercing gaze at Hyacinth. His eyes were saying a million even when he wasn’t saying a word.

“Anything.”

She quietly and calmly packed some of her and Elias’ things. She ended up with a large suitcase. The kid quietly observed his mother.

“Mommy, are you leaving me too?” It was the first time Elias said something since they arrived.

“What?” She kneeled to meet Elias’ eyes. “No. We’re going somewhere.”

“We’re going to leave Daddy?”

“We’ll only go for a short vacation. Daddy is busy with work so he can’t come with us yet.”

There were surely a thousand things running inside Elias’ head. She was trying not to tell a lot of lies. Elias is bright, he knows something is wrong. That is why he has been keeping his silence all this time. He’s an observant kid who would rather listen than get involved. When she thinks of a plan and her head is not clouded with sadness and anger, she will let Elias know. He deserves to.

“I’m sorry if it’s a bit far.” She apologized to Nikolai who agreed to drive her. “We can take a taxi-”

“No need.” He interjected.

She picked a hotel that was two hours away from their home. She made a quick internet search and picked the first hotel on the list. It had to be far enough so it would be hard for Jack to come, but close enough so Elias could still see his father soon.

“But can Liam come with us? I left him with Preston and he texted me he had to go somewhere. I don’t want to leave him with his nanny.”

“Oh, of course.” What a horrible thing for her to ask all this on Liam’s birthday. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I-I really can’t explain anything right now. You know what, you can go home, Nikolai. We can call a driver or take a taxi.”

“Hyacinth, I insist. Besides, I don’t think Liam would mind.”

Their party of three became four. Liam and Elias had fun talking about anything under the sun. The two-hour ride didn’t feel too long. If they had taken another route, she would’ve felt worse the farther they went. To her surprise, she even felt better and comforted with their giggles. By the time they arrived at the hotel, they were calling each other best friends.

“I’m sorry about what happened earlier,” Nikolai said.

“Let’s both forget about it.” Hyacinth forced herself to say. How is it even possible to forget the kiss they shared?

Nikolai agreed. Both knew they were lying to themselves.

“Thank you for doing this.”

“See you at school, Miss Hya!”

Hyacinth hugged Liam and even kissed the side of his head. “Goodbye, Liam. Happy birthday. I wish all of your dreams come true.”

Elias was waving until it was barely visible at the leaving car. They promised to meet again next time and even be classmates in the future.

Her heart was beating so loudly as she safely held onto Liam’s single strand of hair in her hands.