Page 34 of Could Have Been Us
All of that has resulted in my being exhausted and done. I want my life to move forward, and it feels as if I’m in neutral.
“Auntie?” Amelia calls my attention.
“Yes, Monkey?”
“Is Daddy going to marry Jessica?”
Oh, so not going there. “I don’t know, why?”
“Because I like her.” She takes a heaping spoonful of her ice cream and crams it into her mouth.
At least my brother is happy, that’s something. “I like her too.”
“Daddy does too.”
“I think you’re right.”
My sweet and loving niece is the only thing that could pull me out of my black mood.
“Do you think my mommy loves me?” she asks, causing me to jerk back.
Amelia has never asked me about Yvonne before, and I have no idea what my brother has told his daughter about the woman. “I didn’t really know your mom,” I tell her honestly.
I don’t think any of us did. I know Grayson wanted to believe they would work, but she was never content. There was never enough money or enough time. She always wanted more, and when she got pregnant, it was as though someone had stolen everything from her.
The worst part was that she gave Amelia up so easily. I know what it is like to make that impossible choice, but she seemed almost happy to make it. I don’t know if she saw having a child as a burden, but Amelia is not a burden. Not ever.
“I asked Daddy if Jessica could be my mommy.”
I smile because I can only imagine how uncomfortable that was for him. “And what did he say?”
She shrugs. “I don’t remember.”
I would bet my ass it’s because he didn’t answer.
“You all finished?” I ask when she starts licking the bowl.
Amelia looks up with the sweetest expression on her face. “Can I have more?”
“Not a chance.”
“Then I’m done.”
I lift her off the tall counter seat and kiss her cheek. “Go get ready for bed.”
She rushes to her room, which is a guest room that might as well be hers, and a second later, there’s a knock at the door. I’m not expecting anyone, but if the dinner at my parents’ went the way I’m guessing it did, Grayson may want Amelia.
I open the door, expecting to find an annoyed sibling, only it is not my brother.
“Hello, Jack. What can I do for you?” I ask acidly, not feeling very kind.
Jack has done everything he can to pretend I don’t exist and the kiss never happened. I have not been able to do that.
No, instead, I’m reliving it. Over and over like a damn movie stuck on the same scene.
“I owe you an apology.”
Wrong thing to say. “No, you owe me an explanation.”
