Chapter 48

Jane has slept in her bed for two days, not opening the blinds, not taking a shower, and not answering the phone. She has hardly eaten anything.

There is a knock at the door.

“Jane? Jane. Are you there? It’s me, Martha. I’m worried about you. I know you’ve been home for the last couple of days. Brad called me.”

“Go away, Martha. I don’t want to talk. I don’t want you to see me this way.”

“I’m not leaving, Jane. Let’s talk, please dear. I will only listen. No judgement. I brought you some cupcakes, your favorite kind, chocolate peanut butter. Come on, sweetie,” Martha encourages.

Jane slowly walks over to the door and unlatches the lock.

“Oh, Jane! Dear, you look... oh gosh…” Martha is shocked at how disheveled Jane looks. “Come here, sweetie,” she says, reaching out to hug her.

Jane falls into Martha’s arms and starts sobbing.

“He lied to me, Martha, he lied to me. I hate myself. I should have known better.”

Jane sobs and sobs.

“There, there, sweetie. Let it all out. It’s okay. Just keep it coming,” Martha assures her.

“I hate men, Martha. They are all liars, and they just use you for one thing,” Jane says, jumping to a ton of conclusions from her pain.

“Now, Jane, there, there,” she holds her. When Jane stops sobbing so much, Martha grabs her face and looks her straight in the eyes.

“Okay, Jane, I have to tell you something. You have to listen to me, okay. You may not believe what I have to say, but I have to tell you this.”

Jane nods.

“Dear, I’ve had my heart broken three times in my life. I vowed I’d never let it happen again. I hated men, and saw them as nothing but dirty, cheating bastards. I wanted nothing to do with them, and you know what? I stopped talking to them.

“Until I found out I was wrong about one of them. I turned my back and wouldn’t even listen to anyone who told me differently about him. I was stubborn and set in my ways, and it turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life, you hear me?” Martha explains.

Jane nods.

“Well, I’m going to tell you, Brad is not an asshole. I don’t know what he did to you. I don’t know what happened. All I know is, you are here. He is still there. There is a newspaper headline saying they want to arrest him, and he’s stuck on the island.

“He’s called me five times in the last two days, desperate to get through to you. He wants me to assure you that he is innocent. He is absolutely frantic and wants you to believe him. He also said, and I don’t know what this means, but he had beautiful plans for the two of you that morning. He only thought he was going to be out of the room for 10 minutes. He is so sorry, and he never wanted it to be this way.”

“Oh Martha, I desperately want to believe you. I keep getting mixed messages from people. This is terrible on my nerves. I fall in love with him, but then I hear awful things about him.

“What if he isn’t innocent? What if he really does treat women this way? I’d be a fool to get involved with this man at this point.”

“Jane, I’ve met a ton of people in my life. I can smell a jackass from a mile away. I’m sure Brad isn’t innocent in some things. He’s a very powerful man, after all, but when it comes to you, I’d put my money on the fact he is as sincere as a newly born lamb.”

Jane sniffles, lifts her head, and dries her tears.

“I’m just so naïve, Martha. I really am. I have to tell you a secret, and you need to promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

“Yes, of course, dear, what is it?”

“I lost my virginity with him,” Jane says, terrified that Martha will judge her.

“Oh, Jane, that’s wonderful. Was it enjoyable for you? I hope he treated you like a lady.”

“Oh, he did, Martha. He was so respectful and patient with me, and it was the most memorable experience of my life. He has no idea how it made me feel, but then to have this taint it all, is so… painful.”

Jane starts tearing up again.

Martha puts her arm around Jane and rubs her back.

“Oh, Jane, don’t let this misunderstanding harden your heart. Please,” she reassures. “I know he cares about you. I just know it.”

“But he’s hired escorts before, Martha. People have told me this, and he even admits to it. Can I really trust him?”

“Dear, a lot of men have hired escorts. My sense is that he has been waiting for that special someone in his life. His heart is tender, and he won’t let just anyone in.”

Jane feels relieved that she can talk to Martha this way. She was holding it all in and had no one to talk to about all of this.

“Oh, Martha, you’re making me feel better. Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you didn’t come over.

Can I make you some tea?” Martha offers.

“Yes, that would be lovely,” replies Jane.

“Let’s get you back on your feet, dear. Here, I’ll help you clean up.”

In a matter of half an hour, Martha makes her way around the apartment and tidies everything up.

“Come back to class, Jane, okay? We all miss you there.”

“Well, I’m not sure everyone misses me there, Martha, but I know it would be good for me to go back. Thanks again.”

Martha eventually leaves the apartment, and Jane goes to freshen up. She takes a walk outside, and life feels sunnier again.