“Just come back, and I’ll pretend the divorce
never happened. If you want something to do,
I can find you the best location to open a
business.”
I was surprised.
<
He’d never let me do anything before.
“Your job is to be my wife and to raise Billy,
so Sarah will rest in peace.”
“It would distract you. My family is too
important to be working.”
I looked at him.
“Don’t joke around. We’re divorced. How can
we act like it didn’t happen?”
“The family is famous. I’m not good for it, and
can ruin your name. Lisa is better.”
Michael frowned.
“What did you promise me?”
Billy hesitated, then looked away.
He bit his lip.
He blurted out, “I shouldn’t have hurt you with
the scissors. I shouldn’t have thrown the
darts. I shouldn’t have called you those
names. I’m sorry.”
Michael frowned more.
“Who are you apologizing to? Call her.”
<
Billy turned red.
“Sorry, M–Mom.”
He looked down, his ears red.
Michael looked at me.
“Are you satisfied?”
“We can get married again. We can get
married, so nobody can look down on you.
Billy will call you ‘Mom‘.”
“I found out about Lisa. She’s a kid, so don’t
be jealous. I won’t do that again. Just come
home.”
I was shocked. Was he apologizing?
He was apologizing?
“I used to be Eve. I’m Janine now.”
“You’re in the past. I’m not going with you.”
Michael was angry.
“I gave you time to think, and you became
stubborn. You forgot how to be a good wife.”
“You’re coming with me. Take her to the car.”
His goons walked over.
Then ten people came over and knocked the
goons down.
Cody pulled me into a hug, tossing his
cigarette towards Michael.
“Are you kidnapping a girl?”
Michael’s suit had a hole.
Michael’s face was cold.
“Are you from the wealthy family? Do you
want to marry Lisa? What are you doing
here?”
I knew Cody was wealthy, but I didn’t think he
was that family.
If anyone could keep up with Michael, it’d be
that family.
That’s why he didn’t lose it.
“I don’t marry snakes. I heard she went after
you? I don’t want her.”
“Michael, you know how things work with
business. Why are you forcing this?”
“Eve was always afraid of you. You’d punish
L
her. She wants to be free. Just leave her
alone.”
Michael looked at my leg. I had gotten rid of
the tattoo.
I saw regret in his eyes.
He ignored Cody and looked at me.
“I was always stuck in the past. I ignored you.
I’ll treat you better.”
“You can do what you want. There will be no
rules. Do you want to get married?”
“You love me. As long as you…”
I stopped him.
“I don’t love you.”
Michael stared.
“I’m never wrong.”
I laughed.
“I’m gonna have to disappoint you. I really
don’t.”
“I was only with you to save my mom and to
pay the kindness back to my brother. Nothing
く
I loved him.
Just for a moment.
Cody handed them tickets and tossed them
into Michael’s pocket.
“Get it? No! thing! else!”
“You’re busy people. Go!”
Michael looked at me, then turned and walked
to the car.
Billy jumped out of the window and ran
towards me.
He ran over, even though his knees were
bleeding, and hugged me.
“Mom, come back! Please!”
“I know why I look like you. I’m Sarah’s kid,
but I’m your kid, too. I shouldn’t have listened
to Lisa. I’m sorry.”
“I heard her say that she wanted to get rid of
you, then kill me and have her own kids. I was
wrong.”
“Mom, I like what you teach me. I like what
<
you cook. You really love me. I made her go
away. Come back. I need you!”
Billy cried.
Michael got out and watched.
I saw Billy crying.
I had waited seven years to hear him call me
“Mom“.
It finally happened.
I knelt down and wiped away his tears.
“Do you remember what I told you? If you hurt
someone, you have to deal with the
consequences?”
“I might not care if you yell at me. But you
hurt my feelings, and you hurt your feelings,
too. You need to grow up. You need to
understand that people are responsible for
their actions.”
“It’s not all your fault. I was wrong to ask you
to call me ‘Mom‘.”
“I’ve fixed it. You fix it, too. Don’t hurt
く
people.”
Billy cried more, showing me the dart.
“Mom, I found it! Come back!”
“Dad wants you to come back, too. He’s fixed
the bedroom. It’s got all your favorite colors.
He calls your name in his dreams…”
I looked at Michael. He looked away, but he
squeezed his hands.
He was acting so sentimental.
I laughed and patted Billy’s head.
“Some things can be found, but you can’t find
love. Go home. I want you to grow up
healthy.”
Billy said something. Michael stopped him.
“Billy, get back here.”
Billy was afraid of his father. He left.
I knew I’d never see them again.
We could say goodbye.
A few months later, Cody told me to come
watch the stars.
The lights turned on. Fireworks went off.
He pulled me close.
“know you might not accept me right away,
but I want to tell you that I love you.”
“I’ll tell you every day, every year, until the day
I die.”
The fireworks lit up the sky. I smiled.
“Okay.”
(The End)
