Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“I see… So, does this woman have a name?”
“Brooklyn.”
“Okay.” The name didn’t sound familiar, so I said, “That’s a nice name.”
“I guess.”
“What was she like?”
“I don’t know.” Chrissy sat up, and I could tell she was about to unload. I could feel it coming. It was like she was going to explode if she didn’t get it out. “She was really pretty, but the fake kind of pretty. You know? She had blonde hair and wore a lot of makeup, and she had ginormous boobs.”
“Chrissy,” I giggled.
“Ah, Mom. I’m not kidding. They looked like two big ol’ balloons, and she was wearing this string bikini that had to be two sizes too small.” She grimaced as she told me, “I mean, she bent over, and her entire butt came out. It was so gross.”
My stomach twisted.
Not because I cared what this woman looked like or what she wore.
But because I could hear the hurt and disappointment in Chrissy’s voice, and she’d had enough hurt and disappointment to last a lifetime.
I wanted to do or say something to make it better, so I tried, “Well, sometimes, people dress different than we’re used to, and that’s okay. But was she at least nice?”
Chrissy looked at me then, and there was this flash of hurt in her eyes that made me want to cry. “She was nice to dad.”
“But not to you guys?”
“She didn’t really talk to us.”
“Well, I’m sure it wasn’t easy for her either. I bet she was nervous and didn’t want to say the wrong thing.”
“Mom, you don’t have to defend her. She was awful.”
“Okay. Give me an example of her being awful.”
“Well, whenever Austin and I were talking and minding our own business, she’d lean over to Dad and whisper something. And then, he’d look at us and tell us to ‘Quiet down,’ or ‘It’s late. Get to bed’ or ‘Get off your phone and be in the moment.’ What does that even mean?”
“Oh, well…”
“Dad told us to come, but they both acted like he really didn’t want us there.”
I was furious with Brian.
I thought he was a complete asshole for not being more thoughtful of his kids. But Chrissy didn’t need to hear that. She loved her father, and she was hurt by his actions. I didn’t need to add to her pain by calling him vile names and telling her how awful I thought he was.
So, I tried to comfort her the best that I could.
“I’m really sorry, sweetheart.” It was hard, but I managed to keep my voice calm and low. “He should’ve told you about her and that she was going to be there this weekend. And she should have been nicer to you both. But regardless of all that, your father loves you, and I have no doubt that he wanted you both there.”
“I don’t care if he has a girlfriend.” Chrissy shrugged like she was unbothered, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was struggling to keep from crying. “I just didn’t think he’d ever treat us like that… like we don’t matter.”
“Oh, Chrissy. You do matter,” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “More than anything. I don’t know what’s going on with him and this new girl, but I do know he loves you. And you know it, too.”
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“I don’t think she’s all that new.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think he’s been seeing her for a while.”
“Okay. Well, that’s his prerogative.”
“You aren’t getting it.” She crossed her arms. “They were talking about the last fourth of July, and it sounded like they were together.”
“O-kay… Maybe it was for work or something like that.”
“Maybe, but I don’t think so. I think there was something more to it than that.”
“Well, even if there was, it doesn’t matter. Things with your father and I were over long before then.”
“Yeah, for you. But I didn’t think it was for him.” She lowered her head. “I thought he still loved us… I thought he still wanted us to be a family.”
“Chrissy, you have to know that none of this is about you or Austin. Your father and I adore you both, and we want to be with you as much as we can. Nothing will ever change that.”
“I don’t know if Dad feels that way. He sure didn’t act like he did.”
“He did, and he does. I promise.”
She nodded, and I pulled her into another hug.
Brian could’ve handled this so much better, and honestly, I was surprised he hadn’t. He was always good to the kids and mindful of their happiness. It was one of the many things he used against me when I told him I was leaving him. He said I wasn’t thinking of the kids and what this would do to them, but he was wrong.