I get in the car like she asks and look once more at the trailer. It looks so sad and empty now. Not that it ever looked that great before. “Is all my stuff gone, too?”

She clicks her tongue, impatient. “Yes, dear, the whole place is emptied out.” She quickly returns to her chipper attitude, smiling from ear to ear. “It has been a very big couple of weeks. I would have called you at your grandmother’s, but I wanted it to be a surprise.”

She succeeded. “So what’s the big surprise? What happened? Did you win the lottery?”

“In a way, yes. I hit the jackpot.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, I fell in love! I met the man of my dreams, and we’re getting married next week.”

If she crashed the car right now, I wouldn’t be more surprised. “You’re what?” It’s not April Fool’s Day, is it?

“Is it so surprising a man could fall in love with me?” she chirps, giggling. “Yes, we’re in love. I know it’s all happened so fast, but like they say, when you know…” She gives another little giggle. “He is the most incredible man. Kind, generous, funny, intelligent. And all he wants, Leni, is to take care of us. This is the end of all of our struggles and concerns. We’re finally going to live the life we both deserve.”

I’m still stuck. I can’t piece any of this together in my head. “So where are we going?”

“To his house—our house, now.”

“We’ve moved in with him?”

“Well, silly, what did you think? Yes, naturally, we’re moving in with him. Actually, I already have. It was only a matter of waiting for you. Now, everything is complete. We’ll be a family together.”

Maybe I fell asleep on the bus and haven’t woken up yet. I actually pinch myself just in case that’s true, but no, I’m awake. And more confused than I can remember being in a long time.

“I know it’s cliché, falling for your boss,” she continues, oblivious to my shock. “But there was no stopping it. The second we set eyes on each other, it’s like it was meant to be. Destiny.”

“So this is your boss? At the new law firm you started at?” She was only there a few days before I left for my trip.

“Yes. I can’t wait for you to see the house! It’s a mansion. James is so looking forward to having you there, too. He’s been so excited all day. He even wanted to pick you up, but I thought it would be better if I did since this is all such a big surprise. You deserved to hear all about it from me.”

“What’s his last name again? James what?”

“James Alistair.”

Alistair. Fuck no.