CHAPTER 8
After speaking with David, Arlene got into her car and drove over to a high-rise condo building in Buckhead, where her first foster mother Elizabeth Collins lived. She pulled up to the front of Buckhead Estates, gave her keys to the valet then she made her way to the lobby.
Inside she spoke to Jerry the doorman, he picked up the phone and called Liz to let her know that Arlene was on her way up to see her. She told him to send Arlene right up. Arlene made her way over to the elevator that would take her up to Liz's penthouse.
Arlene's and Liz's relationship started when Arlene was three years old. Elizabeth and Hugh Collins were her first foster parents. She stayed with them for two years leaving them a month after she started grade school. Arlene believed they would've been her only foster parents if the company Hugh worked for hadn't promoted him and transferred him out of state. Arlene was sent back to a group home, then a week later to another foster home.
When Liz and Hugh left her life, it was a sad and painful time for Arlene because it was totally unexpected. They unexpectedly came back into her life when they surprised her by showing up for her high school graduation.
When she asked them how they knew about her graduation they told her they'd been keeping up with her and what was going on in her life and they wanted to be a part of this moment in her life. Liz and Hugh further surprised her by presenting with her car as a graduation gift and offering to pay for her to go to college by paying her tuition to any college she wanted to attend.
Arlene gladly accepted their offer because she'd gotten a scholarship to the college, she wanted to attend but it didn't cover all her expenses and Liz and Hugh's gift would do that. It meant she could concentrate on studying and not have to get a job.
Arlene was glad she could reestablish her relationship with Liz and Hugh enabling her to be there for Liz when Hugh died ten years later.
Hugh's death was a sad, tragic time for Liz. The pain Liz experienced was made bearable because of the support she received from her family, friends, and Arlene.
At their suggestion a year after Hugh's death Liz started traveling. Every year since Liz would spend time away from all the things that would cause her to become depressed because she missed her beloved husband so much. This year she decided to go to Fiji. Liz would still be there if she hadn't called Arlene a few days ago and heard something in her voice alerting her that something was wrong. Arlene tried to convince her that nothing was wrong, and that she was alright, and that Liz should stay in Fiji and enjoy herself. But Liz couldn't do it, not when everything inside of her was screaming that Arlene needed her, she had to see for herself that everything was alright.
She was pacing in her penthouse waiting for Arlene to arrive.
Elizabeth Collins stands five feet, six and half inches tall. She weighs one hundred forty-five pounds, flaming red hair, pale skin, and green eyes. She was dressed from head to toe in designer clothes. She hoped and prayed that there wasn't anything wrong with Arlene because if there was heads would roll. Liz was a woman that if she loved you were blessed, if she disliked you, you best be armed.
Thinking she heard the elevator bell ding and the doors open, Liz opened the door to her penthouse, her heart jumping for joy when Arlene step off the elevator.
"Arlene!" Liz said her arms spread wide as she approached her. "It's so-o-o-o-o good to see you."
Arlene smiled and rushed into the arms of the woman whom she had come to think of as the closest thing she would ever have to a mother.
"It's so good to see you," Arlene said hugging Liz. "How was your cruise?"
"Boring," Liz replied as she took Arlene by the hand and led her into her penthouse, into the living room, over to her couch where they both sat down.
"There were no young people on the ship?" Arlene asked.
"Only teenagers," Liz complained.
"I'm sure there had to be people older than that on the cruise," Arlene teased.
"There were some in their twenties," Liz replied, "I stayed away from them too because I could still smell the breast milk on their breaths and baby powder on their bottoms, so I couldn't party with them."
"I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your trip," Arlene said. "I'm also sorry you cut it short because of me."
"My trip isn't over," Liz said. "And it was my decision to cut it short, not yours. I came back early because I knew you needed me."
"I'm fine," Arlene said, trying to infuse calmness into her voice. "You didn't have to come back early."
Liz could see right through what Arlene was trying to do the way she used to when Arlene was a little girl.
Arlene was showing all the signs that she was lying. Her eyebrows were going up and down, she was trying not to wipe her sweaty palms on her jeans, and her tongue was going back and forth across her lips because they were dry and the number one clue she couldn't and wouldn't look Liz in the eyes.
Liz remained silent and just watched Arlene knowing that she wouldn't be able to keep her little charade going too much longer.
"It's nothing for you to worry about, Liz," Arlene said, becoming uncomfortable under Liz's unwavering gaze. "I'm alright."
Liz remained silent, her eyes still on Arlene, waiting for her to tell her what was wrong.
"I'm married," Arlene blurted out.
Liz's mouth fell open, and her eyes grew wide.
"What...when...how?" Liz stuttered.
Arlene told her everything. About hers and David's drinks being spiked and them waking up in bed together.
"Who spiked your drink?" Liz asked, her voice tight, tense and filled with anger.
"Brenda," Arlene replied.
"I knew she couldn't be trusted," Liz said getting up from the couch and pacing. "I told you to stay away from that little tramp. Did you and this David...?"
"Yes," Arlene replied.
"Oh, my god," Liz said going back over to the couch, sitting down, and pulling Arlene into her arms.
They both cried.
"How could they do this to you?" Liz asked tightening her hold on Arlene.
