Page 109 of Born to Make You Smile

Dorina frowned, putting a curl behind my ear. “You know I love that house with all my heart. And the memories with your mom there are irreplaceable and so important to you. But Grace, you’re drowning. We can’t watch you do this to yourself anymore.”

“I need to sell it,” I said with a wince. “Don’t I?”

I put my hands over my face. The thought of my mother’s house being turned to rubble made my entire body go numb.

“Yes,” she said gently. “But selling doesn't mean forgetting her. It means building a new life. New memories.”

“She’s right, you know,” added Joshua.

“I don’t want to lose myself. And become everything my mom warned me not to.”

“I know you want to be independent,” Dorina said. “But sometimes, no matter how self-sufficient we are, we can't do everything for ourselves.”

“My mother relied on my father. According to her, he controlled every part of her life. She couldn’t go to the hairdresser without his permission. She couldn’t even buy milk without checking in. Then one day, he decided he couldn’t handle us and took everything away, pulling the rug from under her.”

I sniffled as tears fell.

Dorina took a tissue to my cheeks. “You have to trust Gavin. I know he's much, much older. But he's nothing like your father.He would do anything for you. You just have to accept that and let him in.”

She was right. Gavin wasn't like my father at all. He wouldn't abandon me. He'd always take care of me. And I'd take care of him too.

“Honestly,” Joshua said. “You need to let that hot British dentist spoil you. Rotten. I’m talking first-class, five-star vacations. Diamonds. Head to toe.”

“Okay, okay,” I said. “I get it. How do I fix this? I miss him so much.”

“First, let us help you sell the house,” Dorina said. “And then we'll help you get Gavin back.”

The words sounded so easy.

“What if I messed everything up so bad that he never wants me back? What if I’m never enough?”

The idea of living the rest of my life without Gavin was physically painful. My chest ached so badly I had to tuck my knees against myself to ease the hurt.

“The only thing you can do is try,pollita. You can’t give up on true love.”

Joshua sighed. “Okay, kids. Let’s get our minds off this and watch a movie.”

“But please,” I said. “No romance.”

Joshua shook his head. “Fuck that. We’re watching something scary.”

“Screammarathon?” Dorina suggested.

Joshua clapped. “Yes!”

“I’ll make the popcorn. Oh, and speaking ofscream.” Dorina turned to Joshua. “Do I have a story for you…”

THIRTY-THREE

My real estate agent,Shirley, had suggested not to bother with house staging for photos and open houses. “Most likely, the buyers will only be looking at the land,” she’d said. “We’ll have the photographer focus on your yard. It’ll sell fast. Believe me.”

Her words made my stomach twist into knots. I had to face the reality of the situation. Knowing this house would be torn down or, at the very least, completely gutted.

Before the photographers arrived, I walked through each room of the house. As I stood in the living room, I admired the way the morning sun painted the yellow patterned wallpaper and the collectibles in the display case. Mom and I would sit on the couch by the fireplace. She’d flip through her fashion magazines while I read my comic books. Sometimes she’d blast music, and we’d dance and sing without a care in the world.

Moving to the kitchen, I ran my hand along the speckled granite countertop. I let out a sigh, as I thought about the countless meals and desserts Mom and I made here together. I looked at the backyard and recalled those warm summer nights when we’d set up a tent and camp out back there. I thought of the bug-filled picnics, lazing in the hammock together, sharing fresh lemonade. I went into her bedroom and sat on her gray duvet, remembering all the times I’d come to her and cuddle after a nightmare.

So many memories. Soon to be gone, forever. I let myself have a good cry, then with several deep breaths, I put on my big girl pants and went to pack.

---