Page 33 of Succeeding Love

She shrugged. “That you need to quit bugging mom.”

That hurt. My son might be the biggest obstacle to getting my wife back, and he’s an obstacle I’m not willing to fight. I want Fay back, but I love my son too much to keep driving the wedge deeper between us.

“It’s an adult problem, Jess.” I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “Don’t worry about any of that. Your mom and I can handle these issues ourselves.”

“I know,” Jessie sighed, hugging me back. She tilted up her face to smile sadly at me. “I want you and mom both to be happy. I thought you said Arlene would make you happy. I’m sad she couldn’t.”

I kissed her forehead, loving my sweet little girl. “I’m sorry too. I’m sorry I made such a huge mistake to begin with.”

Jessie held my hand as we walked to the front of the store. I paid for all the purchases and arranged for them to be delivered at the end of the week. Jessie was quiet until we got out to the car. She just buckled in and looked out the window, seemingly deep in thought.

“What are you thinking about, sweetie?” I reached over and squeezed her hand.

She smiled and shrugged. “I’m just daydreaming, I guess.”

“Are you daydreaming about what you want for dinner? I’m thinking burgers,” I wiggled my eyebrows. Arlene hates food you eat with your hands, so burgers are a common meal when it’s just me and Jessie.

“Sure,” Jessie giggled, looking in a more upbeat mood.

After dinner, Jessie called her brother, but I insisted on taking her home. I told her I would just drop her off at the door and not go inside, so her brother wouldn’t be upset. She agreed, but judging by the faces she made while looking at her phone for the few minutes after, I’m guessing Preston still didn’t like that plan. I was going to have to talk to him soon.

“Thanks for dinner, daddy,” Jessie said happily when I pulled up to the curb.

“No, thank you,” I grinned. “You helped me a lot today.”

“I know,” she giggled. “Your apartment would have looked like a western spaceship if I didn’t come.”

“Hey. My taste isn’t that bad.”

“It kinda is,” she laughed, making my father’s heart happy. Her laughter died down, and she looked a little moreserious as she leaned over and hugged me. “I love you, daddy, and I hope you can be happy with mom again soon.”

With that, she grabbed her backpack and hurried to the door, waving at me with a glee-filled expression before going inside. I just sat there in stunned silence, my chest feeling like it was being squeezed tight.

I may not have my son’s approval, but I think I just got my daughter’s blessing.

As I pulled into the parking garage for Arlene’s, my smile still hadn’t faded from my face. I felt hope for the first time in a long time.

Arlene looked at me questioningly as I strode in through the front door. She was sitting in one of her leather wingbacks with a glass of red wine in her hands. She couldn’t even temper my good mood.

Or so I thought.

I nodded at her perplexed expression, then walked back to the guest room to change out of my suit and ponder over what to do next. I felt like I was on a high. I wanted to use this energy for something productive before the inevitable gloom returned.

Arlene must have followed me back. She was looking at me with scrutiny while I hung up my jacket and undid my cuffs and tie.

“You seem to be in a good mood for once,” Arlene said, leaning against the open doorway. She was watching my every movement with a sharp stare, probably still hung up on our tiff earlier this afternoon.

“I had an excellent dinner with my daughter,” I offered blandly. My glee is already fading in her presence. She has that look like she wants to fight.

“I had takeout sushi and wine for dinner,” she said snarkily, holding up her glass. “Thanks for asking.”

“Don’t start, Arlene,” I huffed, throwing my tie down on the bed.

“No, you don’t start. I’m tired of this, Nick. I’m tired of you treating me like I don’t matter. I’m tired of you going off with your family during the day, a family you don’t feel inclined to involve me with any longer, and then coming back to my place at night like some distant roommate.”

I glared at her, heated with fury for so many reasons. “Are you telling me to quit spending time with my children?”

“What?!” She looked at me like I was the crazy one. “No! I’m saying that if we’re partners, I want to be included. You used to include me. I don’t know why you stopped, but I want to feel like I matter, too.”

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