Page 44 of Could Be Worse
I felt more for Sadie than I ever had for another. We were magic from the start, and I believed we could have a wonderful life together.
My phone pinged with a notification.
Sadie: Miss you more and the girls. Can’t wait to see you all!
Right there. She always thought of my daughters and included them in everything.
“When are we going?” Cat asked.
“Right now.” I tucked my phone into my coat pocket and pulled out of the parking lot. I wanted the weekend to be over and Connie out of our lives, so I could be with Sadie. We had a lot to discuss and figure out.
“I won’t return to Minnesota.” Connie leaned against her rental car. It was Sunday afternoon. After having lunch together, I put the girls down for a nap. They knew Connie was leaving and wouldn’t be back. I hadn’t told them she was their mother.
“Where will you go?” I couldn’t help but ask. It blew my mind that a mother would want nothing to do with her children. How could she just abandon them?
“Do you care?”
I tilted my head. “I’m just curious.”
“To Europe. Are you and the nanny serious?”
“Yes.” I crossed my arms over my chest and squinted. The sun was bright and behind her, blinding me. We hadn’t discussed Sadie. I’d been waiting until Connie broached the topic. Just before she left seemed like an odd time to bring her up.
“Like marriage serious? Is she going to be my girls’ new mother someday?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” I looked away. It was too early to know if Sadie was the one. But I had a strong feeling about her, and Cat and Tori like her a lot. If I were a betting man, I’d say there was a good chance Sadie and me would end up together.
Connie reached for my arm, but I stepped back. “I want you to end it with Sadie.”
“What the fuck? You don’t get to dictate who I see or anything else about my life.”
“I can tell the girls like her. She’s going to replace me. Just stop seeing her before they call her mommy.”
“This is all your doing. You left them before and now you’re leaving again. They deserve to have a mother, and if Sadie is it, at least they’ll know they can depend on her.” My words were harsh but honestly, she was being selfish as always.
She sighed and shook her head. “Are you in love with her? She’s not your type.”
“Yes, she is. That’s why you don’t like her. Because she’s everything and more than you’ll ever be.”
“You don’t have to be an asshole.” She opened her car door.
“And you don’t have to be a bitch. Stop trying to control me.”
She tossed her head back and laughed. “You know I can’t help myself.”
“Some things never change.”
“But you’ve changed a lot.” She studied me with a flirty gaze. “It’s like you’ve grown up, or rather, manned up. It’s sexy.”
“Enough, all ready.”
“You used to be so easy to sway.”
Jesus, I was ready for her to go. “I’ve got things to do, Connie.” I jerked my chin at the car. “You’ve taken up enough of my time. Good luck with your European adventures.”
“So, you won’t end it with Sadie?”
“Nope.” I turned on my heels and headed for the house.