“I love you too, Ma.”
I waited until the phone call dropped. I locked my cell screen and placed my cell phone on the counter. I was so glad no customers came into the store while I was on that call.
We had one hour left until we closed and it couldn’t get here fast enough for me. Erik Bilson was a whole bastard. I was so happy I decided to get rid of his last name. I was tempted to keep my married name because of my children. I was glad I dropped it. That last name was my past and no matter how I tried to escape my ex-husband’s bullshit, it always had a way of creeping back into my life. It was clear he had been cheating on me while we were married with not one, but two different women. Stephanie and LaTasha and whoever else could have that fool.
“Hey.” Jason’s voice jarred my back to the present. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Family drama.”
“I heard some of it. Your ex-husband?”
“Yes.” I sighed.
“He’s a bit of a tool.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Don’t hang your head. You’re better off without him.”
Well, that was the truth. That man caused me too many tears, wrinkles, and bags under my eyes. I wouldn’t wish that hurt on my worse enemy. I thought I was going crazy at the end of my marriage. My actual sanity was in question. I could barely function. I went through so many emotions before I said to myself this man is gone. Let him go. Bon, voyage bitch.
This little baby revelation made me miss my son Aaron even more. I knew he was a teen but he was my baby. My daughter Kennedy moved out years ago and Aaron and I had become really tight while his sister was away in college. His personality was so close to mine. We had the same interests. He had the same temperament as me. Having my son on my side made my survival and healing happen quickly. I had to be strong for him. His family had blown up before his eyes. The divorce made us closer. I got the support from him that I needed not to break into a million little pieces, and not to cut that cheating bastard into a billion little pieces.
Chapter 11
KATRINA
Hours after the phone call, I feverishly cleaned the store. I had to try to get my mind off of this child my ex-husband fathered while we were still married. That child is here and she didn’t ask to come here. I had a hundred and one questions but it wasn’t healthy to ask them. Even if I had the answers they wouldn’t matter. The answers wouldn’t change a thing. I could guarantee they would make me feel worse than I already felt.
As soon as the front door was locked I was going to send Jason on his way. I had an entire bottle of wine waiting for me to drown my sorrows. I was going to call my girl Rolanda and tell her about this ass-of-a-hole ex-husband that I gave my entire youth to.
I needed to vent to someone that could understand what I was going through. I really didn’t want to lie around and think about how Erik was cheating. Or how he was making babies with these broads right behind my back. Or was it right in front of my face? Regardless, I had never cheated on my husband and that’s one of the reasons it hurt so much. If I would’ve been out in the streets doing me I probably would’ve felt better or stronger, or whatever.
I took marriage seriously. I grew up in the church. Erik didn’t. Erik’s parents weren’t married. I wondered if that was why he was okay with chipping away at our union and the foundation we built as husband and wife. Thinking about it now was senseless. I couldn’t begin to figure out why that man was the whoring asshole he turned out to be. He’s trash, just a sack of damn trash. I didn’t see any treasure in any of this.
“Hey, it’s time to go,” I shouted out across the room to Jason. There was an impolite tone to my delivery but I wasn’t trying to be rude. My mind was cluttered with all the backstabbing I’d endured at the end of my marriage.
“I don’t want to leave you alone.” He was moving toward me with his bronzed eyes peering at me.
“Why not? I’m fine.” I could barely hold his gaze.
“I can tell you’re upset.”
“I’m not upset.”
“I know you. You’re not yourself.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not fine. I heard you. I know what happened.”
“It’s nothing. I’m just, I’m just so disappointed. Like, I just, I feel like a dummy.” I was getting my words jumbled up.
“First, you’re not a dummy. You can’t blame yourself when someone is being deceptive. Your ex is the arse.”
“I agree. He is an ass.”
“He let you go. He’s more than an arsehole. Believe me, he will one day regret it. People would die to have the loyalty and commitment that he took for granted. He’s not worth your anger or your sorrow.”
“Yes, all that’s great and all that’s cool. I want to go to bed and wake up to a sunny brand new day.”
“I can put you to bed.” He grinned mischievously.
“Haha, right.” I wasn’t in the mood for any of his jokes.
“Seriously.”
He was too close to ignore. I couldn’t step around him. I didn’t have a choice. I had to look up at him.
“Jason, come on. I’m not in the mood.”
“That’s not a problem. I can get you in the mood.”
I refrained from rolling my eyes. I was trying to cut back. “See you tomorrow. I had a long day. I’m trying to be in a deep sleep within thirty minutes to an hour. Lock up, set the alarm, be safe on the road. Tomorrow I’ll be back to normal.”
I put my hand on his chest, my subtle way
