Page 103 of Somewhere We Belong

I laughed. “She’s gonna be easy.”

“Don’t jinx us.” Atlas grinned, his earlier mood completely gone.

“She’s an angel,” Theo whispered. “We have that school hike this weekend and she is super excited. The weather is supposed to be good, so we might take a little hike ourselves.”

“I hope she is an angel and be careful on the hike,” Nova chuckled. “Ok, I better get going.”

“She didn’t sound too convinced that she should get moving as she pulled herself away from our embrace.

“One of us can go with you,” I said. “You don’t have to go alone.”

She chewed on her lip. “No, I'm going to be fine.”

“I’ll miss you.” Atlas kissed her forehead.

“I’ll miss you too.” She embraced him quickly.

We packed her up into Atlas’ car because it was newer and I really didn’t think her car would make it there. Denver was only a few hours away if the road stayed clear. Sol was still at school while we said bye again and I don’t think she would have left if she had been here.

I really wanted her to do this on her own. Nova needed to be her own person again and since we had started dating, I had seen bits and pieces of her finally starting to breathe. I never realized how much a woman lost herself in being a mom and I had spent so many years being mad at my mom that I didn't stop to realize she was only doing her best. I should have been more upset with my father for leaving her, but since it was only her, I regretted blaming my mom for my childhood. She tried her best, given our circumstances, and now that I see how much Nova had to deal with, I knew that I was wrong. I wished I had gotten the chance to tell my mom she was doing the best she could and I appreciated it.

I wanted Nova to be so much more than just a mom because she was incredible. She deserved to keep blossoming and I would water and nurture her so that every year she kept growing.

30

nova

The first dayof the class was amazing with an amazing set of women in attendance. A few of my old coworkers were here and after class was over, a few of us went out for dinner and drinks. Lauryn, Regan, Kiersten and I hit one of our favorite hang-outs from when I still lived here, T-Sushi.

We laughed, we ate, we drank and did something I hadn’t done in years. With these girls, I wasn’t mom, momma or mommy. I was Nova, the hairstylist, the girl who worked her ass off to get where she was today and damn it felt good.

“I can't believe you have a daughter,” Regan said. “I just never pictured you as a mom, especially since you were against having kids.”

I shrugged, always hating this topic. “Things change and being pregnant and thinking about your future or the future of your child, well, it changes you. I couldn’t give her up. She’s gonna be six soon and it still blows my mind!”

“Kids change you,” Kiersten said, as I glanced at Lauryn who grew quiet. “I never thought I would become a teen mom, but here we are. She’s almost eleven and my boy is four.”

Kiersten grabbed my hand, and I squeezed hers.

“Lauryn should know too,” Kiersten said. “She’s got a daughter who is almost six.”

“Awww, that's amazing,” I grinned, seeing Lauryn look a little upset.

“Actually, you know what, I didn’t realize it was so late.” Lauryn stood up abruptly. “I have to go.”

She pulled out her wallet.

“It’s on me,” I smiled, and when she didn’t return it, something nagged at me that she wasn’t ok.

“It’s fine.” She threw two twenties on the table.

She left without saying anything else, leaving the girls and I speechless.

“Is she ok?” I asked, breaking our silence.

“That was strange, but honestly that's not the first time she’s done this,” Regan said. “She’s been stressed lately, and she probably just needs to sleep it off.”

I looked out the door she had just come out of. Kiersten and I were both still wary of what had just happened, but we spent the next hour catching up and exchanging horror stories about past clients.

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