Page 118 of Loving the CEO

His blank expression told me that it was exactly what he’d expected.

I was so rid of this man. Thank heavens I didn't get married to him. I had no idea what I'd ever seen in him or why I'd been with him for so long.

I stared him down until he got in his car. Only then did I turn to my mom.

"I made a terrible mistake by listening to him, dear,” she said quietly.

“Yes, you did.”

“But listen, my girl, we can still find a B&B."

I shook my head. "No, Mom. I'm sorry, but what I told you before wasn’t just because I was angry. It’s true. I don’t think it’s in either of our best interests to open a business together. Besides, that wasyourdream. I love you, and I respect you because you're my mom. And I want you to be happy. But working together wouldn't work."

"Honey, I'm sorry you're seeing things that way." Mom pressed her lips together. "So, when are you coming back to New Orleans?"

I knew what that meant. She thought that if I came back here, she would eventually convince me.

"I'm not," I said, holding my head high. "Coming here, today, actually sealed my decision. My life isn't in New Orleans anymore. It's in Boston."

I didn't even want to give her details about me and Leo. She would just start on me all over again. And frankly, I didn't care if she knew. I didn't need her approval. Not anymore.

Mom and I needed some time away from each other for us both to think through this situation: both Walter and the B&B.

“Are you serious?”

I could see she was hurt, but she needed to understand what happened here. What she did to me.

"Yes. Listen, Mom, this was all exhausting. I love you. Let’s just call it a day."

"We could go to dinner together." She was trying, and that was a step, but we needed a break from each other.

"Debbie is cooking for me at her home."

"I don't understand why you're staying with her instead of with me."

The honest answer was"Because we’d drive each other crazy.”And because I just didn’t want to rehash this shit anymore, but I didn’t say it out loud. Things between Mom and me were tense and probably always would be, but I knew she loved me. Maybe in time, things would change. Maybe when I had a family of my own, she’d come to respect me and my decisions... but for now, this was how it had to be.

"I’ll stay with you another time, Mom."

"I can drop you off somewhere in the city."

"That would be great. I need to take the ferry."

"She's still living in Algiers?"

"Yes," I said defensively. "And it's a lovely place and neighborhood. I like it."

She rolled her eyes. "Taking that ferry is such a nuisance."

"I like that too," I said. Not because I was determined to be contrary with my mom, but because I actually did.

On the drive to the ferry, we were both silent.

My thoughts turned to Leo. God, I missed him so much. I wondered how he’d take my news. He'd beentoosilent on the topic. I’d really tried to get his opinion, but it had been impossible. Frankly, it was a bit infuriating, and I didn't know what to make of it. Did he really not care, or was it that he simply didn't want to influence me?

I couldn't help but notice the glaring difference between him and Walter. Walter would have preferred to dictate every aspect of my life while I was an obedient wife to him. Thank heavens I got rid of him.

I couldn't wait to get back to Boston. But right now, I was excited for my evening with Debbie.

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