Abby

The cruise ship landed back in Los Angeles and I was actually happy to be home. Colin wanted me to go back to his place immediately, but I told him there were a few things I did need to pack up at mine. Reluctantly, he agreed to drop me off at my place, but I reassured him I would start moving my things back into his place starting tomorrow.

By the time our vow renewal ceremony came around that weekend, my goal was to be moved and unpacked in my new home.

But, when we pulled up to my apartment complex there was a swarm of paparazzi. My stomach dropped to my toes as the cameras began to flash. Colin held me close to him as I tried to keep my footing stable, but a microphone was shoved in my face the minute we stepped out.

“How does it feel to be labeled a gold digger, Mrs. Murphy?”

My head shot up at the question before I grabbed the newspaper from his hand. Sure enough, there was a picture of Colin and I enjoying our time on the boat, only the headline wasn’t as nice as the picture. Instead, the article painted me as a woman who married Colin only to get his money.

I felt the world fall back behind me as the newspaper fluttered to the ground. I dashed to the entrance of my apartment, leaving behind Colin’s yells for me to wait. I pushed through the crowd, shoving people to the side as I went tearing through the front doors.

Someone held the elevator for me as I collapsed to my knees crying.

How the hell was this going to work? They were already painting me to be a terrible human being. All I did was marry the man I loved, and somehow they found a way to turn it into this horrible, disgusting event. I felt my breath shallowing out as the elevator doors opened, and I scurried from the floor before the other person could touch me. I knew I looked crazy and I’m sure something would appear on the internet about it later, but I didn’t care.

All I wanted to go was get back to the safety of my apartment.

“M-M-Mom?”

“Abby? What’s wrong? Did something happen with the boat? Have you guys docked yet?”

“They—they hate me again,” I said.

“Who hates you?” my mother asked.

“Them. All—all of them. They—they think I’m a gold digger, Mom.”

“Who does, sweetheart?”

“The newspapers. The press. The tabloids. They’re all—running this stupid story about how I— how I married Colin for his money!”

“Sweetheart, I love you. You know I do. So, with all the love in the world, I’m going to give you the one piece of advice that is going to save your marriage with Colin time and time again.”

“Okay,” I said, sniffling.

“Grow up.”

“What?” I asked.

“Grow up. Abby, this was the life you signed up for. You knew of Colin’s fame and wealth when you met him. You knew the cameras and the attention that followed him. And I raised you to be smarter than this. You’ve allowed Derek to break you down into a weak-minded woman, and I won’t coddle you any longer. You can either get broken up about the things they say and be miserable half the time, or you can take it all with a grain of salt and remember that you are a good person. That you married Colin for the right reasons, despite whatever hogwash story someone wants to print to sell papers.”

Sitting on my couch, I wiped away my tears. I knew my mother was right. And not only that, but I’d run away from Colin again. The one thing I told him I was done doing. Less than a week into our marriage, I was already breaking my vows to him.

Then, a knock came at my door.

“I gotta go, Mom.”

“Keep your chin up. Find your strength again. No man is going to give it to you, just like no man should ever take it from you.”

“Thanks,” I said.

Hanging up the phone, I opened the door and found Colin standing there. He immediately embraced me, pulling me close to him as he rocked us side to side. I threw my arms around him and held him close, sniffling into his neck.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“No, I’m sorry. If it makes you feel better, we can sue the magazine for libel. We have a strong case, witnesses like Doris and Bernie, as well as the captain of the ship—”

“That’s not necessary,” I said, as I looked into his eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for. But I do.”

“Why?” Colin asked. “You did nothing wrong.”

“My wedding vows to you. I already broke them. I ran from you instead of leaning into you, and I left you there to fend for yourself. I’m sorry. I’m really trying, I just—have to find my strength again, I guess.”

“Abby,” he said. “A promise like that takes work. It takes practice. And this lifestyle? It takes time to adjust. Are you sure you don’t want to sue the magazine? Because I’ll do anything as long as it doesn’t cost me you.”

“Colin, you’re not losing me,” I said.

I could see relief wash over his face and it made me feel terrible.

“I’m so sorry,” I said breathlessly. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like I’d leave you.”

“It’s my one biggest fear, and it always will be. You are important to me, Abby. The most important person to me. Okay?”

“Okay. I just—need to develop tough skin.”

“And again, that takes time. So long as you promise to work on what you know you need to do, and I will do the same. Together, we’ll be better and stronger for it. Both as individuals, and as a couple.”

I fell into Colin’s body and breathed in his comforting scent. I could still hear the growing horde of people gathered outside at my apartment complex. It made me angry and solidified the fact that my life was forever going to change. People would always want a story. They would always want details. They would stop at nothing to make sure they got a story about us that got them paid, no matter what it did to us.

I had to find my strength again.

I had to start healing myself.

“I don’t want to stay here tonight after all,” I said.

“Then you can come back with me.”

“But the paparazzi. Since I ran from them, they’re going to be on my like piranhas now. How do I fix this?” I asked.

“You call on your P.R. knowledge. If you were coaching someone through this situation in order to spin the story, what would you tell them?”

I took a step back from Colin as my eyes scanned the room. I drew in a deep breath as I centered my mind and stuffed away my emotional state. I locked it away for another time as the logical side of me emerged, and a grin tugged at my lips as I reached down for a box.

“You ready to take some of these boxes to your place?” I asked.

“Brilliant. We’ll make it look like we’re simply moving you out. How many trips do you want to make?”

“I don’t know, how many do you think would look good?” I asked.

“Let’s do this one, then make one more. The focus should be your clothes and toiletries. We can come back for the rest tomorrow, like we said originally.”

“Sounds good to me.” I put the box down and we headed for my room. We picked up suitcases and bags, then headed downstairs towards the crowds. The driver of our car was keeping the people back as they took pictures of us, and we quickly tossed my things in the trunk and headed back in for one more trip. Once we were done, we had all my clothes, shoes, and toiletries in the car and we were ready to head back to his place.

And as I slipped into the car beside my husband, I smiled as we left the paparazzi in the background. I loved that we came up with that plan on our own. Together, like a couple should have. It solidified the fact that we made a good team, and it solidified the fact that Colin would always have my back and that we could face obstacles together.

I slid my hand into his and held it tightly as the car took us to his penthouse apartment. Between us and the driver, we got all my things upstairs in one trip. The moment I emerged from the elevator, I dropped my load and breathed in deep. I could smell Colin’s cologne and the faint odor of lemon that permeated his apartment when it had been freshly cleaned. I smiled as I walked over to the couch, then dropped myself onto the cushions as I gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Home.

For the first time in almost a year, I felt like I was finally home.