Page 87 of Succeeding Love
“Hello,” she nodded in greeting.
Something about Vin’s demeanor suggested he wasn’t open to any further conversation with her. But his eyes softened when he looked back down at me.
“Is your company staying for long? I was thinking about taking you to go grab a smoothie?”
I laughed softly. He knew I was never going with him to the gym to actually workout, but he still liked it when I was there. Probably because I text him inappropriate comments and observations the entire time.
“How long until you have to leave?”
He played with the hair falling down my back. “However long you need me to.”
“Aw,” Kate came out of the kitchen. “We’ll all be heading out of here in about thirty minutes. Uninvited guests included.” Kate threw a severe glance at Arlene before putting a smile back on her face and linking her elbow with Vin’s. “I can walk you out. Give them a chance to finish.”
“Well, alright,” Vin smirked while staring back at me. I waved my fingers, trying not to laugh. Kate was undoubtedly going to give him the third degree for the next thirty minutes. He didn’t seem to mind.
Arlene watched as they left, visibly relaxing with Kate no longer in the house.
“Sorry,” I sighed, smiling gently as I shook my head. “I know my sister’s a lot.”
Arlene’s lips twisted in their corners. “I was more surprised to see your, um, boyfriend.” She sent a blank stare towards the door, then muttered, “It all makes sense now.”
Makes sense?
I smiled tightly, not sure if her musing needed my reply.
She sighed, letting out a long, heavy breath, then met my gaze. “I apologize. I know you have no obligation to sit and speak with me. I just….”
Her eyes turned vacant again, and the silence stretched for several long seconds before she met my eyes again.
“I don’t know if you are aware, but… But Nicholas and I… we ended things several weeks ago.”
I nodded. “I was aware.” I was about to add that I was sorry to hear that, but I thought that would be overstepping. Their relationship was none of my business.
Arlene sighed and sat back like she was exhausted. “Of course you were.” Her shoulders slumped, and she gnawed on her bottom lip. It was the most vulnerable I had seen her since she got here. Then, when she looked up at me again, I saw such thick emotional turmoil, it was like I could feel it myself. “I’m sorry, Feighlynn. When… When things started, I never considered you, and was purely selfish in my meager pursuit of boosting my ego. I never thought things would progress the way they did, that is until…” she looked hesitant, but continued, “until I saw your life here,” she looked around the house. “I saw how happy you were and wanted more of what you had.”
She paused for a long time, staring at a picture of me and my kids above the mantle. I used to have a picture of us with Nick there, but that went away after he left. I didn’t have a singlepicture of Nick in this room any longer, but Arlene’s longing expression remained as her eyes swept over each image of me and my kids.
“I can not have children,” she admitted in a broken whisper. “That’s what broke my first marriage. Well, it was the largest factor, at least. I always wanted children, but tried to bury that desire. But when I met Jessie, that desire returned, more fiercely than before.”
I knew she and Jessie were close. I tried not to let it bother me, and over time, it didn’t. I was thankful that my ex-husband’s partner cherished my little girl in her own way. It’s more comforting now to hear such emotions coming from Arlene, all for my little girl, who I cherish so greatly too.
“I’ve settled my feelings for Nicholas,” Arlene admitted in a rough whisper. She then huffed with a broken laugh. “I realized how pathetic I had become with him. He was never worth the heartache I caused in both yours and my life. What I am having trouble letting go of, though… Is… Jessie.” Her eyes turned pleading, moisture glistening in them. “I have no right to ask this of you. I know I do not deserve this closure, but I had to ask. Please, Feighlynn. Please allow me to tell that little girl goodbye.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and my heart went out for the woman who I once thought broke my family apart. I can see now that she was far more broken than we were, and Nick was just a catalyst for change and healing.
I’m happier now than I have ever been with him. I almost want to thank her for making me see how much better life could be without Nick in it. I felt pity for her, because while I was healing, he was breaking her more.
“You love my daughter. Don’t you, Arlene?”
She vehemently nodded her head, wiping the pouring tears from under her eyes. “More than I have ever loved anyone else in my life.”
More than anyone? The weight of that statement was so heavy and sad, I could feel her pain.
No, she deserves nothing from me, but I do not care about what she deserves. I couldn’t live with myself if I broke this woman more than she already was. This request came from her love for my daughter. How could I refuse?
“I’ll ask Jessie,” I told her softly. “It’s ultimately up to her.”
Fresh tears fell from the corners of her eyes, and she nodded. “Thank you,” she mouthed, air barely making it past her lips.