Page 65 of Second Chance Husband

My fingers slid across the keys as I answered another email, my phone ringing once again as my assistant forwarded a call, and I kept going.

I wouldn’t think about the fact that August hadn’t wanted forever. And I had for just one instant, thought I could trust that. But he hadn’t wanted forever before and wouldn’t tell me why. So why would I have to be the one to get on my knees and ask?

I ended the call with a reporter, this time about a charity organization I was running, and went to work on the next gala. Each charity gala I did brought in thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands for specific charities. I worked my ass off on them, and because I didn’t have a social life now, I could continue to work my ass off.

Maybe I would get back in those jeans and sparkly shoes of mine and go line dancing again, albeit this time sober. And maybe I would just enjoy the town on my own. There were thousands of things I hadn’t done yet, and I was no longer waiting for a man or a family to make that happen.

I went back to work, as lunch passed, and people came in and out of my office. When my phone buzzed, I looked down, and my heart ached. I hated the fact that it did. Because it wasn’t going to be him, of course it wasn’t going to be, but it was someone close.

Devney: Girls’ night this weekend?

Addison: Why are you even asking? The answer is yes.

I pressed my lips together, before letting out a breath.

Me: I have that deadline for the gala coming up, and I’m planning a trip. But maybe next time? Rain check?

Devney: Oh. We can help you with the gala if you want.

Addison: Of course we’re going to help you with the gala, but what you’re also going to do is freaking go with us to girls’ night. You don’t get to hide.

I loved and hated my friends.

Me: I’m not hiding. I’m working. And I do have a trip coming up. I’m okay, girls. You don’t have to worry about me.

Addison: Maybe we want you to worry about us. Because I’m selfish.

My lips twitched and I shook my head even though my two best friends couldn’t see me.

Me: You couldn’t be selfish.

Addison: I could try.

Devney: We can all try. We can be selfish together. I think that sort of negates the process.

Me: I love you both. Let me get back to work. And I’ll think about it.

But I wouldn’t. I would join them on another day. When the hurt wasn’t too fresh. When I got through the agonizing pain part of grief and hit the anger part. Yes, anger would be good. And as if I had summoned my own anger, my mother and Jacob walked through the door.

I set my palms down on my desk on either side of my keyboard, and stared at two people that I honestly hated. I didn’t like the word hate because it created a sense of ownership in my opinion, but hate felt good.

“You don’t need to bother closing the door, Jacob, because you will be leaving right away.” I stood up, my chin lifted, as I stared at my mother and my ex-husband, wondering why they were even here. And I was sure I wasn’t going to like the answer.

“Paisley, we are here as a show of unity.”

I held up my hand and shook my head. “No. You’re not. You’re here with some form of a scheme that doesn’t make any sense.” I turned to Jacob. “Your engagement was just announced. Why are you in the office of your ex-wife? With my mother? What kind of bullshit did the two of you think you could work together in order to shine your profiles simultaneously? The cheating is already out, but you’re a politician. We’re used to it.”

“Paisley,” my mother snapped. “Look what you’re giving up with your selfishness and coldness. There is so much out there for you and so much you can offer these propositions. You will sit down and listen. I am your mother. I sacrificed everything for you. You will listen to me.”

I wasn’t even sure my mother believed the words coming out of her mouth at this point. “No. I’m done. I don’t know what you two think you’re going to accomplish by being in this room, but it literally makes no sense to me right now. So just leave. I don’t want you here.” I turned to her, my shoulders straight. “And you never sacrificed for me. Not in the end. You said you did, but no, you used me. All of my life I’ve been your ticket. We had money growing up, but it was never enough. We had a family between the two of us, or at least we could have, but it was never enough. I played beauty queen and prodigy for you. I was a poet and an ice princess for you. But when I wanted to find my own way, to be myself, you took that from me. You made me feel like I was nothing. So I’m done, Mother. I’ve been done for a while but you never listened. I moved away from you, and you followed. Leave. Leave and cut the ties. It’s beyond time.”

“How could you say those things to me?” my mother asked, her voice full of shock. I could almost imagine it was real.

“I should have said them a long time ago.” I turned to Jacob. “Go home. To your next wife or whatever decision you decide to make. But I won’t be part of it.”

“Lydia and I will not be getting married.”

I blinked for a moment, trying to come up with words to Jacob’s exclamation, but instead I just threw my head back and laughed. It was a good laugh, one of humor and sarcasm with a little bit of hatred. Oh, there was that anger, it was starting to bubble up. I had missed it.

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