Love and Dogs in Romania

By Emma Keene

The trip of a lifetime is just mere hours away for Liz. All that's left is for to go back to her apartment and head to the airport with Ben, her boyfriend of three years. They both have family ties to Romania and it's a day she's been dreaming of for years.

Liz gets off work a few hours early and heads home, only to have her entire world smashed into a million pieces when she gets there.

With a little help from her mother, Liz decides an adventure is exactly what she needs to start the next chapter of her life.

A story of heartbreak, love, and animals that need a little bit of help.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outfox Digital Publishing
• Release date: Aug 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386065418

Emma Keene

I live in beautiful Seattle, WA with my amazing, supportive husband and our two German Shepherds that truly believe it's all about them. I love the rain and it gives me plenty of time to read and write. Visit emmakeene.com to find out more about Emma or to join her mailing list.

Book preview

1

Ilook up at the clock for what must be the hundredth time this afternoon. Two hours to go. My last day of work has flown by, which was thanks in part to the afternoon cake they got for me. We all paused to meet in the conference room to have a slice and to gab a little. It was nice. I’m going to miss them, that’s for sure. I’m still not sure if quitting my job was the right move… I’m only planning to be gone for a month. Oh well. I mean, they never offered me any kind of vacation time while I was here, so I’m not exactly sure there was a better alternative. This is the trip of a lifetime… one that I’ve been looking forward to since the moment Ben mentioned it… so there was no way I was going to give up that chance to stay working here. It started off as a temp job that evolved into my being here for the last eight months, so it’s not like I can’t find something similar… or even wind up back here... once I get back from Romania.

Liz?

I look up from my desk. My boss, Andrew Brown, is standing in front of me.

What’s up?

Well, I was thinking… it’s your last day… so maybe you should just go ahead and take off now.

Really?

He nods and smiles.

I can’t imagine you’re in a space of mind to be getting much work done.

Sorry.

He shakes his head.

It’s all good… I would be doing the same thing if I were going on a great trip.

I tilt my head and smile. He’s been a little cold since I gave my two-week notice and turned down the raise he offered me to stay. I was hoping Andrew would tell me that my job would still be here when I came back, but I know that they’re looking to fill it right away, so no such luck.

Thanks, I say, as I stand up from my desk and grab my purse.

I shake his hand.

It was a pleasure having you here, Liz, and good luck in your travels and whatever you do next.

I appreciate it.

I smile and head for the door. I said my goodbyes when we were having cake, so I’m not sticking around any longer than I have to… plus I’ll keep in touch with a few of my favorite co-workers via social media.

I’m starting to get excited by the time I reach my car. The trip is finally here! I finished packing this morning, so all that’s left now is for me to check that I’ve got everything and head to the airport with Ben.

I hurry home and go to pull into my parking spot at the apartment where we live, but there’s a silver sedan parked in my spot. Ugh. One of our neighbors must have a visitor who didn’t feel like parking in the guest parking area. It happens from time to time, but it’s still a pain. I end up having to park there myself, so I hope I can track down who the car belongs to before we head to the airport because I want to leave my car in my assigned spot since we’re going on such a long trip.

The apartment door sticks a little as I try to open it, which is normal, and it’s easily solved as I push against it with my shoulder. I’ve been meaning to have the manager fix it for months and I seem to always forget about it two seconds after getting into the apartment. I should make a note to do it when we get back or I’ll keep forgetting.

Yesss!

I freeze. It’s Ben’s voice coming from the bedroom. Weird. I drop my purse on the couch and walk down the hallway.

Ben?

No reply.

I push the bedroom door open and freeze. Ben is in bed with someone. A woman with long blonde hair. They’re both naked. She quickly grabs the sheet and jumps off the bed.

It’s not what it looks like, Ben says.

He jumps out of bed and covers himself with his hands.

I don’t even know what to do or say. The woman scoops her clothes off the floor and rushes past me. I hear the door to our apartment open and close.

Liz?

I blink a few times and look at Ben. He takes a step toward me and I back up into the hallway.

Is this really happening?

I walk into the living room and sit down on the couch as tears start to roll down my cheek. I never imagined coming home to this. Ben walks into the living room a few seconds later with a t-shirt and shorts on. He squats down on the floor in front of me.

I’m so sorry, babe… it’s… it’s not what it looks like. I swear.

I take a deep breath as I try to collect my thoughts.

I… I don’t even know what to say.

We’ve been together for three years. I really thought I knew what kind of person Ben was… but I guess I was dead wrong.

Just… I’m so sorry. I… I didn’t mean for this to happen.

You didn’t mean for me to walk in on you with another woman? I ask.

Yes… I mean… no. I don’t know. It was a one-time thing… and I swear to you that it’ll never happen again.

I shake my head.

Ben… you just slept with someone else. In our home… in our bed.

I know… I messed up.

He gets up and sits down on the couch next to me. Ben tries to take my hand in his, but I pull away. The idea of him touching me is repulsive.

Don’t.

Sorry.

Just… I need a second.

We sit there, in silence, for the next few minutes as I try to figure out what happens now.

Liz… say something.

I shake my head. I’m not ready. I wait another minute and take a deep breath.

How could you do this?

I’m still shaking and I feel like I’m going to throw up. Today was supposed to be a good day. No, it was supposed to be a great day. Now, though, Ben has ruined that. I just want to scream. I want to cry. If I hadn’t gotten off work early, none of this would have happened. I’m not sure if I would have felt better never knowing. I guess… I mean… is it better that I caught him? That I know what kind of man he truly is? Why would he do something like this to me?

I don’t even know what to say.

Just… I’m so sorry.

You’re sorry because I caught you or because you cheated on me?

It was a one-time thing. It will never happen again… I swear.

That doesn’t make me feel any better.

I just… it just happened. I never wanted it for this to happen.

Then why did you do it? I ask.

I look over at Ben and he shakes his head.

I don’t know. I… it happened in a moment of weakness.

Who is she?

Ben opens his mouth to respond, but I cut him off.

You know what, I say, I don’t even care. It doesn’t matter.

Was this my fault? Is he not happy with the life we built together? I mean… we had started talking about getting married and having kids at some point. I really thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with Ben.

It didn’t mean anything… it was just sex. I love you, Liz. I really do.

I don’t know if I believe you.

I swear, he says.

It doesn’t matter what he says at this moment… there’s no way I’ll believe a word coming out of his mouth. I stand up from the couch and grab my purse.

Wait… what about our trip? Ben asks.

I spin around and give him the dirtiest look I can conjure.

You really expect I’d want to spend a month stuck in another country with you?

He opens his mouth, but quickly closes it before looking at the floor and shaking his head.

Not to mention, there’s no way I’d be able to sit next to you on a plane for over ten hours.

I walk out of the apartment and wipe the tears from my cheek as I walk to my car. My parking spot is empty. Whatever. I should have told Ben to have her come back because I’m done with him forever. There are so many things I want to say to him, but none of them really matter—he just threw away the life we had started to build together and I couldn’t care less if I never see him again.

I get into my car and take out my phone. I scroll through my contacts and call my mom. She answers on the second ring and I take a deep breath.

Hey, honey, is this you calling me before you head to the airport.

No.

What’s wrong?

The tone of her voice shifts instantly.

I… I got off work a few hours early, so… I… I went back to our apartment… and I… I caught Ben in bed with another woman.

I’m gonna kill him.

Mom.

I’m so sorry, sweetheart.

I don’t even know what to do.

Come over to the house.

Would you mind? I ask.

Of course not, honey. I was just doing some cleaning… nothing more important than this.

OK, I’m on my way.

Drive safe, please.

I will.

I end the call and toss my phone back into my purse. This wasn’t how I imagined today would go, that’s for sure. I thought I’d be getting ready to go on the trip of a lifetime with the man I loved… not hanging out with my mom as I try to figure out how to pick up the shattered pieces of my life.

2

The drive took me a little longer than expected, my mind was wandering the entire time as I tried to make sense of everything that has just happened.

My mom opens the door as soon as I ring the bell. She wraps her arms around and squeezes me like she hasn’t seen me for years.

I’m so sorry, she says, when she finally pulls back.

Thanks, mom.

We head inside and I follow her into the kitchen.

Can I get you something to eat? You look pale.

I shake my head.

No, I’m fine, thanks.

Are you sure?

I sit down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar.

Yeah, I think I’m still just in shock.

She sits down next to me and puts her hand on my leg.

I’m sure, sweetheart.

I just….

I can’t even finish my thought, so I just shake my head.

He’s a vile little boy. I never liked him.

Mom....

I’m sorry, but he doesn’t deserve to continue breathing after what he did to my baby.

She’s never been so zealous about protecting me, but I guess we’re in uncharted territory with Ben. It feels kind of good, even though I’d never want her to physically harm Ben… no matter what he did. Not to mention, she’s the kind of person who’d never hurt a fly.

I just… the timing is terrible.

I know. You’ve really been looking forward to this trip.

He even had the audacity to ask me about it right before I walked out of the apartment.

My mom scoffs.

The nerve of that boy.

I told him I had no desire to spend a month anywhere with him… or to fly on a plane.

Good for you.

I guess maybe I can ask for my job back… and I have to look for somewhere to live.

Don’t think about that… you can always stay here for however long you need.

She gently squeezes my leg.

Thanks, mom.

Of course, sweetheart. I just wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.

I think it’s just going to take some time.

She nods.

I know this is going to sound crazy, but what if you went on the trip without him?

I don’t even want to go. We planned out the whole trip together… and I think it would remind me too much of him.

I get that, but everything is already paid for. It seems like such a waste… especially since you already quit your job and everything.

I guess I’ll just have to chalk it up to being an expensive life lesson.

Ben hasn’t really been working since he’s in school right now, so I saved my money for the last few months and used all of it to pay for our flights, apartment rentals, all that kind of stuff. None of it is refundable, either, since I went with the cheapest option. I didn’t think there’d be any reason in the world for us not going on the trip. I just never saw something like this coming.

Who was the woman he slept with?

I shrug.

I have no idea. I’ve never seen her before.

Do you think this is the first time he’s done something like this?

I have no idea. He said it was, and he swore that it’d never happen again, but I don’t know what to believe anymore.

Yeah, I get that.

I just… I can’t believe he would betray me like that.

I hate to say it, honey, but thank god it happened now and you found out… because if you ended up marrying Ben and having kids with him and then something like this happened… it would be… it would be so much worse.

As much as it pains me to agree with her, just because it’s hard to be thankful for anything in this moment, I know that she’s right. If Ben cheated on me once we were married and had kids… that would be a thousand times worse. If there’s any positive about this, it’s that I can cut him out of my life and I never have to see his stupid face again.

You’re right.

I’m sure things will get easier as time passes, but right now… I just want to curl up in a dark room and cry until the world ends. I loved Ben with all my heart and he just smashed it with a hammer. Nothing he could say would make it better.

I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.

I sigh and force a smile onto my face. I don’t want my mom to worry so much about me. She has plenty going on in her own life that she doesn’t need the added stress that this whole thing is bringing. I should really get out of here and try to process this on my own.

I think maybe I should go, I say.

Where? Not back to Ben, right?

I shake my head.

No, I’m done with him.

Then where?

I don’t know. Maybe I can stay with one of my friends?

Whatever you want, but you can stay here as long as you want… I’m serious.

I know, and thank you for that. I just… I don’t know. Part of me feels like it would be good for me to be on my own right now... so I can try to process this. And then… there’s also a part of me that isn’t even sure what to do.

Well, I’m serious about you going on the trip. I think it would be really good. It would give you the chance to escape from this mess and then start to work through it when you’re ready.

When she first suggested it, I didn’t think going was a good idea. I’m still not sure, but… I don’t know. I would really hate to waste all that money. I mean, I guess I could go on the trip myself. It would be kind of weird, though.

I don’t know. Isn’t it awkward for me to go on that kind of trip alone?

Why? Tons of people go on solo trips all the time.

Yeah, I guess you’re right.

All I’m saying is that this trip is an amazing opportunity for you… even without Ben there.

Maybe she’s right. I have wanted to visit Romania for years. Her parents came from there when they were first married… they moved to America with nothing and built a life for themselves. I have a lot of fond memories of them from when I was young. When they died a few years back, I promised myself that I’d make a pilgrimage, of sorts, to their homeland to see the country they left behind. They always talked about going back to visit, but they never made it happen. I think they would have liked the idea of me going and seeing it for myself.

What are you thinking? she asks.

I dunno… it’s… I just feel like going will remind me of Ben,

Fair enough, but you might also find that being away from here will help you get over him.

Maybe.

There’s only one way to find out.

I look up at the clock in the kitchen. I’ve still got time to make it to the airport on time, but I’d have to leave in the next few minutes.

I left my suitcase at the apartment.

Well, we could swing by and get it. I could go in if you don’t want to see Ben.

I shake my head.

I don’t think we’d have time… it’ll be close enough as is.

My apartment is in the opposite direction of here from the airport. There’s a chance we’d have just enough time, but she’d have to run in and get my suitcase and come back out without stopping to talk to Ben. I already know that he’d try to stop my mom… and to convince her that he’s sorry and that he regrets what happened. It’s not a position I want to put her in and I don’t think I could take seeing him.

My mom stands up from the stool and walks over to the kitchen table.

What are you doing? I ask.

Grabbing my purse and driving you to the airport.

What about the fact that I have no clothes or toiletries… or anything.

"They have clothes and drug stores in Romania. You can buy whatever you need once you