Case File 86

Case File Name:
Newly Arranged Plans.

♤Chapter Eighty-Six♤

July 30th. 

It was a day marked in my calendar, yet it was a constant reminder during the entire month of July. 

The specific day kept me up at night—wondering what the fuck I'm supposed to do when it finally came. 

It's been almost three weeks since Tazmin left for Italy, and I haven't heard a single word from her. 

I also haven't texted her out of respect for her boundaries. 

But I'm fucking itching to text her. 

And July 30th is my perfect excuse. 

Even if I still feel hesitant. 

"Thank you," I said to the store employee, flashing her a polite smile as she handed me the Burberry shopping bag. 

Which held a couple of their newest scents and a new wallet. 

It was simple—simpler than what I truly wanted to buy. 

But I didn't want to go too overboard. 

I suddenly glanced over to the nearby restaurant, suddenly realizing it was lunchtime and all I'd had today was a banana. 

Considering it was Saturday and I didn't necessarily have any plans—I last minutely decided to dine in for lunch. 

I've recently been doing a lot of things solo. 

From shopping to eating... I've even been doing morning runs and getting a green tea right after to enjoy at a cafe. 

Everything has truly been calm—I even feel calm internally. 

Luckily, Gia hasn't reached out and I've purposely kept my space from her as Tazmin had specified. 

Nadia's been preparing for her next year at Claremont, Marie is working on expanding her company, and the twins are busy keeping things under wraps for Tazmin. 

Everything feels normal... 

But there's that missing one piece and we can all feel it. 

We all feel the heaviness of Tazmin's absence. 

But the twins briefly mentioned that she should be back this week, which I tried to play off, but internally I was freaking the fuck out.

Mostly, because I wondered how her trip went or if she had given us any thought. 

Deep down inside, I felt okay with the idea of her never wanting to be with me again. 

It was a peace that I had come to in therapy recently. 

I felt my eyes unconsciously widen—immediately noticing her familiar blonde hair and her dark eyes which were luckily focused on her phone as she sat at one of the outdoor tables shielded by umbrellas. 

And a part of me wanted to walk past and pretend I never saw her.

But then the other part of me kind of wanted to talk to her. 

I just wasn't sure how awkward it would be. 

"Elena?" I hesitantly said, walking closer to Tazmin's mom. 

And almost immediately her dark eyes glanced up from her phone—a smile immediately growing on her face as she met my light eyes. 

"Lena," she said as I stopped in front of her table, "How are you?" she asked, setting her phone down. 

I awkwardly smiled, "Good... just doing some shopping," I said, motioning to the bag in my hands. 

Elena immediately nodded, motioning over to her shopping bags, "We think alike," she said, and somehow I knew exactly who those shopping bags were for. 

I pursed my lips together, "We do," I said, unsure of what to really say next. 

It feels like I'm basically the reason for everything going on between her daughters. 

"You should join me," Elena suddenly said, tilting her head almost like she didn't know what else to say in the moment either. 

I unconsciously shook my head, "You really don't have to offer—" 

"I ordered an entire bottle of wine, so I think I could use the company," Elena cut me short, lightening the formality between us with her usual smile. 

I pursed my lips, "Well in that case," I whispered, pulling out one of the chairs across from her to sit down. 

And as I sat my shopping bags down with my Birkin in the chair beside me, I adjusted my white top and brown flowy pants, getting comfortable in my seat. 

"I've never eaten here before," I decided to say, awkwardly glancing over the menu as Elena poured me a glass of the white wine. 

"Me either, I think it's new," Elena said, handing me the glass of chilled wine. 

Which I gratefully took from her, "Thank you," I said, immediately taking a sip of the smooth liquid. 

And as a brief silence settled over us, I could easily feel the elephant in the room slowly growing bigger and bigger. 

So much so that I just decided to address it all. 

"I'm um..." I trailed off, shaking my head at the topic that I was bringing up with her, "I'm sorry for everything currently going on," I forced myself to say. 

Elena immediately shook her head, "This has been going on long before you Lena—don't worry about it," she said. 

Which relieved me at first. 

Until it didn't? 

What does she mean long before me? 

I thought Tazmin and Gia always had a strong relationship?

"Long before me?" I hesitantly asked, unsure of my boundaries with Elena. 

I don't think I've ever had a serious conversation with her. 

"We thought Gi moved past it," Elena said, briefly pursing her lips in thought, "But even after five years, I still notice the subtle resentment and anger that she still holds." 

I furrowed my brows, about to ask her to clarify more—but before I could, our waiter suddenly approached our table. 

"Are we ready to order?" the man politely asked. 

Elena nodded, "I think I'll try the burger—can I also get the fries extra crispy?" she asked the man. 

Who immediately nodded, "Of course, any sauce on the side?" he asked. 

"Just ranch please," Elena said, handing her menu to the waiter. 

Who suddenly looked at me, "I'll just do the Greek salad," I said, deciding I was actually in the mood for a salad. 

The man nodded as I handed him my menu, "I'll have that out soon for you guys," he said, flashing us one last smile as he backed away. 

Which left me and Elena surrounded by the familiar awkward silence. 

Until I suddenly cleared my throat, "So um..." I trailed off, unsure of how to bring the topic back up, "What happened between them?" I decided to flat-out ask her. 

Elena pursed her lips, glancing down as she set her wine glass down.

And almost immediately, I realized I had crossed a boundary. 

Clearly, she doesn't want to discuss what happened. 

"Gi had just turned twenty-seven," Elena suddenly said before I could take my question back, "I remember the excitement leading up to her birthday."

I nodded, now piecing together that Gia and Tazmin were five years apart—so Tazmin was twenty-two when this happened. 

"Taz spared no expense for her birthday and even opened a new club for her," Elena said, smiling slightly as she visibly thought back to it all. 

Until her smile slowly faded. 

Which left me slightly unsettled, wondering what could've happened. 

"Gi realized she was pregnant that night," Elena suddenly whispered, glancing away from me as she picked her wine glass back up, "I was finally going to have a granddaughter," she forced out, taking a long sip of her wine. 

I blinked a few times, realizing something had to happen considering Gia doesn't have children?

"Gi didn't disclose anything regarding the father since it wasn't anything serious," Elena said, setting her wine glass down as she met my stare, "But the father didn't matter when she would have us—and Taz was the most excited out of us all," she said, smiling slightly. 

Even if it looked forced. 

Which immediately made a frown grow on my lips, realizing that something terrible must have happened to this baby. 

"We spent months decorating and preparing for her—Taz and Gi grew inseparable at some point too," Elena said, letting out a deep sigh as she shook her head to herself, "So Taz of course was with her that night when it happened." 

I nodded hesitantly, wondering what sort of turn this would all take. 

"Gi went into labor a few weeks earlier than planned," Elena said, glancing away from me yet again, "Taz was driving that night and—" 

She suddenly cut herself short, drawing in a deep breath. 

"They got into an accident," Elena whispered, and almost immediately my eyes widened. 

And before I could think it through, I grabbed her hand resting on the table—hoping to be there for her in some way. 

Especially because I had never seen her like this. 

"I'm so sorry," I said, my tone softened with genuine. 

Elena forced a smile, "It's not your fault," she said, briefly squeezing my hand as she let out a deep sigh, "And it wasn't Taz's fault either," she clarified as our hands naturally fell apart. 

I furrowed my brows, "What do you mean?" I asked, realizing there was more to the story. 

"The doctors said that Gi lost the baby before the accident—that she was stillborn," Elena explained, pursing her lips with furrowed brows, "But Taz insisted that the doctors didn't tell Gi that because..." she trailed off. 

And after letting out a deep sigh, she suddenly said—

"Because Taz didn't want Gi to blame herself." 

I felt my chest grow tight with remorse, knowing how hard that must have been for them both. 

How hard of a decision that was for Tazmin to make. 

"Gi was so angry at her," Elena told me, frowning slightly to herself, "She didn't talk to Taz for over a year." 

I felt my brows unconsciously raise, realizing that Tazmin had not only lost her niece but also her sister that day. 

I'm not even sure what I would do if I was in a remotely similar situation. 

"Even after they patched things up, I still notice the small things Gi does out of resentment," Elena said, picking her wine glass up, "I think Taz chooses to ignore it, but I know deep down it hurts her." 

I remained silent for a moment, truly realizing how much Tazmin had gone through. 

And hadn't told me about. 

I wish she would've told me. 

"What does Gia do?" I asked, watching as Elena took a brief sip of her wine. 

"Well, for starters, Adriana wouldn't have even gone for FBI Director without Gi planting the idea in the first place," Elena explained, setting her wine glass back down, "Which was the entire reason why she had to break up with Taz." 

I raised a brow, not realizing Gia had played a part in anything regarding Adriana. 

I remember when she first told me about her, she claimed how Adriana always acted a certain way for the approval of everyone. 

Was that a lie? 

Were they closer than she led on?

Or even different than I imagined the situation to be?

Because I always assumed everyone hated Adriana, but maybe it never started out like that. 

Maybe there was a moment when everything was going well for her and Tazmin. 

"Now you're in Taz's life and I think Gi is trying to get in the way again," Elena suddenly said, her dark eyes never wavering from mine, "I think she genuinely doesn't want Taz to be happy after what happened—and Pierre and I still struggle with how to handle that." 

I shook my head, partially understanding that Gia suffered a loss. 

But it wasn't Tazmin's fault, yet Gia is led to believe so. 

And I fucking hate that for Tazmin. 

She's so selfless and I love that about her, but at the same time, I hate what she's gone through because of it. 

Tazmin deserves happiness—she deserves everything good in the world, even if that's not with me. 

And I hate that Gia is secretly trying to take that away from her. 

"I wish Gia knew," I suddenly sighed. 

Elena nodded, "I do too," she admitted with a deep sigh, "But Pierre and I respect Taz's choices always." 

I smiled slightly at her choice of words. 

She seemed confident that Tazmin's choices were never wrong—and to me, that shows her support for her daughter. 

Who clearly needs it. 

"Maybe one day Tazmin will clear the air," I said, deciding I would side with Tazmin's parents on this. 

It's not my place to involve myself and say anything. 

"I truly hope so," Elena whispered with a forced smile—glancing over when the waiter suddenly approached us with our food. 

Which looked so fucking good. 

Especially considering how hungry I was. 

By the time our dishes were set down on the table, I already had my silverware unraveled from the cloth napkin. 

"You know Taz came over after what happened between you guys," Elena suddenly said, picking up a few fries to dip in ranch, "She really loves you, Lena."

I smiled slightly at her words, "I really love her too," I whispered as I grabbed my fork, "And I hate that I hurt her like that," I admitted, drawing in a deep breath as I began digging into my salad with hopes of a distraction from the heavy topic. 

"I don't think it was just about you or the kiss," Elena suddenly said, which immediately piqued my interest, "This is something that's between them—and after years of ignoring it, I think Taz finally realized how much Gi resents her that night." 

I frowned at her words—knowing I wouldn't know what to do with myself if Morana resented me. 

So I couldn't begin to understand how Tazmin felt. 

"I hate that for her," I whispered as I poked my fork into the salad. 

Elena sighed as she reached for her wine glass, "Me too, Lena," she admitted, her tone nothing but truthful, "It was really hard that night—I don't think I had ever seen her so upset." 

I nodded silently, pursing my lips as I thought back to that awful night. 

I know Tazmin was angry—I recall the yelling and the harsh words.

But now with Elena sitting in front of me and hearing what truly happened between her and Gia, I can only imagine the hurt behind Tazmin's anger. 

I can also imagine how things went after I left her house. 

How she drove to her parents—and them both being there for her in the moment of it all. 

All I can hope is that they held her through the pain that I had partially caused alongside Gia. 

I genuinely wish I could take it all back. 

"I hope she's doing well in Italy," I suddenly said, taking a bite of my salad. 

Elena suddenly smiled, "I just spoke to her earlier and she's been enjoying Sicily," she assured me, which unconsciously made a smile grow on my lips. 

"That makes me happy then," I determined, wanting nothing more than for her to be happy, "I was actually just shopping for her birthday, but I'm not sure if I'll end up seeing her or not." 

Elena sighed, "Yeah, I was shopping for her too, but then she told me she would be in Sicily for just a little longer," she said, which immediately made defeat shoot through me, twisting my stomach in harsh knots, "But you should still send her something and wish her a happy birthday—she would love to hear from you." 

I nodded almost hesitantly, "Yeah, I think I will," I said, knowing I was better off taking her mom's advice than my own. 

"Maybe you could come with me after this?" Elena suddenly asked, now picking her burger up, "I was planning to visit some stores and specify the things I want delivered to her place."

I raised a brow, not realizing Tazmin had a place in Sicily. 

But inevitably shook the thought off with a nod, "Sounds perfect to me," I determined, knowing Elena would be a huge help with picking out gifts. 

"Great," Elena said, chewing the bite that she had just taken from her burger, "I'm really glad we ran into each other." 

I smiled slightly, "Me too," I determined, especially because this talk seemed to soothe something inside of me. 

Elena's presence was also really comforting—which was something I felt with both her and Pierre. 

My therapist would probably say it's because I look up to them as parents in a way. 

"So I'm thinking we go to Dior," I said, eating more of my salad. 

Elena nodded, "Yes and Taz also loves Saint Laurent," she added, setting her burger down to eat more fries, "Maybe we could get her a jewelry piece? I'll have to ask Pierre what he's already picked out." 

I hummed as I chewed my food, "Perfect," I said, smiling at my newly arranged plans with Tazmin's mom. 

Which turned out better than any other plans I could've made for myself. 

All I probably would've been doing is catching up on cases back at my apartment anyway.

Now I would be shopping with Elena for Tazmin's birthday and drinking champagne in the different luxury stores.