Page 13 of Mommy Calls Me Princess

“Great, thank you. Would you mind sitting in and taking notes?”

She raised her brow, and I immediately pictured Darcy and her challenge with it this morning. “Sorry, not laughing at you. That just reminded me of something silly Darcy did. I’m hoping to cut my hours back. I’ve already moved some of my clients to other Dom’s and I have a proposition that we’ll need the lawyer to draw up contracts for if Dressler accepts.”

That had her eyes widening. “Are you okay? Are you sick?”

I laughed. “I’m perfectly healthy but I’d like more time with my girl so I’m sliding into a more of an administrative management role which still requires the perfect assistant.” She visibly relaxed, having feared her job would fade away. “As long as I’m here, you have a job, Abby.”

“Thank you. My heart stopped for a second there. You know you’re more than a boss to me, Viv, you’re family. Hell, you brought Shane and I together and helped us grow as a couple.” Abby hugged me.

Family. For someone who once considered they had none, suddenly my life overflowed with the love and support of one.

“Thanks, Abby. That means more than you know. I don’t foresee your duties changing but hopefully we can get you home to your family at a decent time.” She laughed but I owed that woman a lot. Far too many nights she spent here with me while Shane took care of their kids. Reflection didn’t always show us our best sides, but it allowed us the ability to turn our lives around.

In the end, the meeting with Dressler went well and Abby and I were able to call it a night after a normal eight-hour shift. I can’t remember the last time we did that, but the excitement of talking to Darcy and seeing what the contractors had accomplished today had me sprinting up the stairs to the loft.

“Mommy!” she squealed into the phone screen. I’d just stepped inside and had to be careful with the screen and not giveaway what was going on.

“Hello Princess. How was your playdate.”

“It was so much fun. Jalen has a playroom on the ship. Who does that?”

“Evidentlyel Capitandoes.”

“Jalen has Barbies too. It was so much fun.” She came down from her euphoric high far too fast.

“Princess, what’s wrong?”

“Uh, it was such a great day until my mom messaged me. She really has a way of bringing me down.”

“What did she want?” As though I didn’t already know that answer to that.

“Money for rent.”

“Didn’t you tell her you moved out?”

“Not really,” she shied away from the phone.

“Princess, look at me. Quit chewing on your lip. Why haven’t you told her?”

“Honestly, I hadn’t heard from her in a month, so I figured I’d just never come back, and she’d never know. I just don’t get what she does with her money. If she really is working two jobs, and she’s only feeding herself, it makes no sense. I bought my car. I pay for my own car insurance, and I feed myself. I haven’t been in that apartment in five months so I used no utilities.”

“All the more reason to tell her you moved out and the bank is closed.” Was I pushing too much? Where was the line drawn?

“You’re right. I’ll message her now and tell her I won’t be back. If she can’t afford that place then it’s time to downsize.”

“That’s my girl. I’m so proud of you.”

Hopefully, she’ll stand tall. Otherwise, her incubator and I were having words, and that mother would not come out the winner.

Chapter Five

Darcy

I want my mommy.

During our bedtime stories I’d fall asleep to the comforting sound of her voice, then a couple hours later I’d be wide awake. I’m exhausted. I can’t think straight and all I want to do is curl up with my stuffies and cry.

What’s wrong with me?

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