Page 34 of Succeeding Love

“I told you that Preston won’t spend time with me here. I have no reason to make him either.”

Hurt flashed in her eyes. “What about Jessie? Jessie and I were close.”

I know they were. It was the only thing that had made me hesitate and caused me to doubt leaving sooner. But that was before my daughter told me she wanted me to be happy with her mom again.

“You’re not her mom, Arlene. You keep trying to be, but you’re not, and I’m not comfortable bringing her here with your misconceptions. It’s not right.”

Tears were spilling from her eyes now. She hurried to look away, dragging her acrylic nails across her face to drag the moisture away.

“I know I’m not her mother. I’m not trying to be. I just…. I just love that girl, too.”

The guilt was creeping in, but I kept it from showing. “That changes nothing, Arlene.”

Her eyes sharpened, staring at a single point at the ceiling while she willed away her tears. I could see the resentment building in her strict features from my words. She was once so vibrant, still youthful for someone so driven. Now, she looks older than I remember, worry lines looking like wrinkles in the soft light shadowing her face.

“Fine. If you don’t care about me enough to include me in your daytime affairs, I shouldn’t be at night.”

My brows pulled down in confusion. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” she sniffed, wiping the last of her tears away, “if I’m not good enough to be included in your family, then you can’t stay here any longer, Nick. I’m not just here for your convenience. Include me, or get out.”

I closed my eyes, trying not to show my relief.

She said it first.

When I opened them, I felt a resolve settle in my chest. “Okay.”

Her eyes widened. “Okay?”

“Okay,” I said again, picking back up my tie from the bed. “I’ll get out.”

She sputtered, opening and closing her mouth several times like she didn’t believe I had just agreed to leave so easily.

“I’ll pack what I can for tonight and send for the rest.” I moved past her, heading to the bedroom to get everything I could. Seconds later, she was in the room too, mouth gaping open and eyes wide.

I had most of my clothes in a suitcase and was pulling out a duffel bag when she found her voice.

“You’re just going to leave? Really?”

“You told me to,” I muttered, going through the drawers.

“It didn’t have to be right now,” she huffed. “You can, well, sleep on it or something.”

“I’m not going to change, Arlene. You were right. I’m not being fair to you.”

She looked at the ceiling as her eyes started to fill and glisten again. “Fine.” With that, she left the room, going to sit in the living room to finish her wine as I finished gathering my belongings. I left my key on the kitchen counter on the way out. She didn’t even look up at me. She just stared into the void blackness of the night over the city, her reflection clear in the plane window.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured before walking out, closing the door behind me. As I got in the elevator and traveled down to the parking garage, a sense of déjà vu washed over me, but I was surprised at how easily I left the place I had lived for the past year.

Can’t Wait

Feighlynn

“You seem to be in a good mood, mama,” Jessie said, coming down the stairs for breakfast.

“Am I?” I smiled to myself, arranging a couple of chicken breasts in a crock pot to slow cook.

“I could hear you singingDon’t Stop Believingall the way from my bathroom.”

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