Page 2 of No Right To Love You
“Yes, sir.”
Chapter 2
Ocean
Two weeksago
“Hey honey,”Honey…Another pet name that we use but don’t really give a damn about anymore or its meaning is what I call her as soon as she picks up her phone. “Are you going to be home early tonight?”
The reason for my asking isn’t related to anything like not wanting to see her. No, it’s more or less to know. We’ve built this routine. One that has changed who we are as parents and lovers.
January works at her dad’s law firm and while she’s doing amazing as a corporate lawyer, her father has gotten into her head over the years because she missed out on certain clients all because of her wanting to spend more time with our six-year-old, Zoe. I don’t blame her at all. While her family Evans & Evans is known for the lawyer world, mine is more about landscaping. Mahoe & Sons is a family company out of Toronto and my father made it his life’s work to make it more than just a simple one. Our clients were big, and the name was well known but like my father also taught me, having a family company should remind you why you are doing what you’re doing, for family.
“Ocean? Did you hear what I just said?” January’s voice brings me back to focusing on now.
“Sorry, honey, what did you say?”
“I said I won’t be back home in time for dinner,” she answers me and then I hear her father in the background telling her that she needs to go and sit with the clients. They were looking for her.
“What about when the kids go to bed?”
This was our routine, and this was something we had put ourselves into and it didn’t seem like it was changing. I didn’t care too much for it to change and I wonder if I still care now for it to be something else now.
“I’ll try.”
“Okay, but I’m sure Jaz and Jer will be alright. Tanya is watching them right now, but she said Zoe has a zoo trip that you signed off on, but I don’t remember that. Do you?”
“I don’t remem–.” January cuts out for a second and then she comes back with a sigh. “Okay, I promise I’ll come home early enough for us to talk it out. She said she really wanted to go. I promised I would be a chaperone.”
“You’re taking the day off for her?” I ask because I don’t really believe her when she says it. I’ve gotten used to the disappointment of not keeping her promises, but these are our kids. I don’t want her to set them up like that. To hurt them.
“I said I would. I mean it.”
“Jany, baby, listen don’t disappoint Zoe. You won’t be there to see that little sweet face cry all night because you didn’t show up.”
“There’s no need to lecture me, Ocean. I know what I said, I am her mother.”
“Watch it, Flower.” I say to her, and January sucks a breath in. It slipped out and I hadn’t called her that in a while. “I never said you weren’t her mother; would I ever take that away from you?”
“No, you wouldn’t.” she answers.
“Good. Now, are you going to break your promise to our daughter, my sweet little lamb?” I don’t know where that came from considering I haven’t called her that in a year. Since the last time we went to Club Desire in Chicago.
“No, sir. I won’t.” she answers in such a sweet way, I almost forget that I’m mad she missed one of Jasmine’s volleyball games. A game that would take our baby girl to nationals. The only game that she claimed she could have made it to.
“Okay, good, sweet January. I will see you later, right?”
“Yes, baby.”
“Or else.” I usher my final warning because I know where we’re falling back into. A routine that’s become foreign to us.
Something has to change even if I have to reintroduce myself to my sub, my sweet January.
Chapter 3
January
Taking a deep breath,I rub my forehead as I walk into the quiet house. I miss when I was around for all the activity but now, every time I come back, everyone has retired for bed. I discard my heels and walk toward the low light in the living room area. I stop as I watch my husband sleeping on the couch. I walk over closer to where the remote is resting on Ocean’s thigh and I reach out for it.
