Confessions of an Heiress

Leaving Robi

So you went to visit George, and you fooled around and went home?

Well, yeah, I couldn't live with myself if I just cheated on Robi like that.

But you could live with yourself if you just flat out left with no warning and didn't tell anyone?

Oh. That. You know? How do you know about that?

Yes, we know about that. You put the entire legacy in jeopardy. That affects all of us. So if you don't mind, an explanation is in order.

I don't even know if I can explain. It doesn't even make sense to me. I know I have the perfect life. It's just that no one stops to realize what that really might be like. Robi is a great husband. He understands me, he listens to me, he doesn't even pressure me to have kids like everyone else in the world seems to. He's my best friend and he gets sexier with every bug that he kills. But that's just it. There's nothing wrong with him. He doesn't leave the cap off the toothpaste, he doesn't mix the peanut butter into the jelly jar, he's never rude or arrogant or selfish or thoughtless. It seems great at first, being married to someone so perfect, but then I started to think. If Robi's perfect.... what am I? And that bothers me.

Everyone loves him, because he's so great. My parents adore him like a long lost son, they probably even like him better than their own kids. No, really. Ever since they started running UggBugg with him he's all they ever talk about.

When Robi's around, it's like I'm not even in the room. Robi with the successful company. Robi patented another bug spray. Robi's so smart and funny. Robi will make such a great Dad. Robi voted 'Exterminator of the Year'. Robi Robi Robi. It's like I don't exist. I'm just Robi's wife. I mean, I'm The Heiress, but what do I do? I sell potato chips. And shop. And party. It's really sad to discover that once things get 'as good as it gets', that's it, it doesn't get any better.

The day I left wasn't any different from any other day. Robi and I had breakfast with my parents, where they talked to him the entire time about the bug business. It's like I wasn't even there. If it was just one day, just a busy morning, I wouldn't mind. But this has become my life - watching Robi and my parents. And when my parents do talk to me, it's only to tell me how great Robi is. I KNOW how great he is, I married him. What else am I supposed to do?

Later Gorgeous!

I love Robi. But lately, I'm not alone in that. Everyone loves Robi. I felt my identity slipping away. I was The Heiress, but even more, I was Robi's wife. So who was Caliopie? I never told anyone how I felt, it all sounds so selfish of me. But people had stopped asking about me a long time ago. I'd run into friends and they'd always ask "how's Robi?" Doesn't anyone want to know how I am? Why can't my parents ask me about my job? This whole Heiress thing is their fault. I just felt completely alone, and I missed being me. It was a hole inside me that had grown to a proportion I could no longer bear.

If I stayed, I would die. I was desperate. I didn't want to go. But I had to. I was suffocating under the Rainbow of Robi.

I packed a bag, and I called a cab. There was only one place I could go. One place where I could truly be myself, and maybe, live my own life.

I never thought I'd say goodbye to Shanley Manor, but it no longer felt like home.

It's not that I thought it was the right thing to do. It's the only thing I could do.

I found myself in a place I hadn't been for a very long time.

Three months had passed since I'd stood before these steps. The building had significantly improved and there had been a lot of renovations done. I hadn't seen George since that night I was here with him, but I knew he'd still be here, and I knew he'd know why I had come. We've always had that impeccable bond to pick up where we left off, no matter how much time had passed.

I thought about the last words he'd said to me...

I should be sorry Cal. I will if you want me to be. But if it's up to me, I'm not sorry. I never regret any minute I get to spend with you. I must've had my head up my ass my whole life to let a girl like you get away from me. I know I belong with you.

But George...

I'm not finished. I know I belong with you. But you belong with Robi. You're his wife, and I know I have to respect that. But Cal, there's something in your eyes. Something you're still longing for. I know it's there because I feel it too, and I'm only going to say this once. I think it sucks that you don't get to make your own choices. I think you should have the life you want, and more than anything in the world, I wish I could be the man to give that to you. I want to give you everything you've ever wanted. I want to make all of your dreams come true.

I tried to plan what to say but I was so excited I didn't even have words. I couldn't wait to see the look on George's face when he realized I was standing there with my suitcase. If I'd thought about Robi, I would have felt guilty, but there were enough people thinking about Robi, and I was here because of me, because it was time that I lived my own life. It was clear to me that this was where I belonged. It was taking a long time for someone to answer the door.

"Oh good! You're here! Mr. McCarthy has been waiting for you . He's had to step out for a bit, but he's instructed me to let you in and make you comfortable. My name is Gwen, I work for Mr. McCarthy and I try to keep things running around here."

George? Expecting me? I hadn't even introduced myself. That did seem strange, but she acted like she knew who I was. I hadn't told anyone what I was doing, I certainly wouldn't tell anyone I was coming here. It wasn't making sense, but she'd invited me inside and I knew once George got back he would know what was going on, He certainly wasn't going to mind me being there, and if he had this housekeeper working for him, then he was definitely doing better. No more green toilets - I hoped.

I followed Gwen upstairs. It was like a completely different building, it was beautiful.

I froze at the top of the stairs, I caught a whiff of George's cologne that lingered in the air. Christmas Trees. Yes, this was his house, this was my George, successful Java Tycoon, and he wasn't far away. I could almost taste him. How had we managed to keep missing each other all these years?

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