Page 79 of Beautiful Life

She goes on. “Your baby. Preston.”

It’s my turn to look at the landscape. I try to pull my hand away but she holds tight. “You would have been a good mom.”

I feel my tears for the second time today and try to blink them away but feel her hand pull on mine and I look over. “You will be a good mom.”

I swallow the knot in my throat. She turns back to concentrate on the landscape, as do I.

And just like Tony taught me, we sit here quietly supporting each other in the unusual warm March sun for as long as visiting hours will allow. As we sit here in sisterly silence, I can’t help but hope that if Tina gets through this, I just might have a chance at a normal relationship with one family member. I want that more than anything. I make a promise to myself I’ll do everything I can to make that happen and it starts with taking care of the issue that is my mother.

Chapter 19 – You’re Ready

Leigh

“You’re kicking me out!” My mother’s question comes as an exclamation.

“I’m not kicking you out, I’m sending you home. There’s nothing for you to do here. Tina’s in treatment and doesn’t want to see you. She made that clear to her counselor and me. You know this since you tried to see her and failed. I want you gone by tomorrow and if you get the itch to visit again, you had better call and ask first. If I think Tina can handle seeing you, we’ll make arrangements, but do not surprise me again. I won’t be happy and I can promise you Tony won’t be happy.”

“Tony,” she spits. Putting her hands to her hips while shaking her head. “Those fucking Carpinos. Are you really going to let them come between you and your family again? You’ll never learn—letting a man control your life. Didn’t Preston teach you anything?”

I take a step to lean forward and lower my voice. “Don’t you dare utter another word about Tony. And I learned more lessons from Preston than you’ll ever know. Lessons that are so deeply ingrained I will never forget. You never did one thing to save me from learning those lessons, did you? No, you only show up to wreak havoc in my life when you need something. Well, not anymore and especially not with Tina. She’s finally on the right path and she doesn’t need you muddying it up. You had better be gone by tomorrow at noon. I could care less whether you leave the key or not, I’m having the locks changed. You almost got the poor maintenance man fired—don’t try and pull your bullshit again breaking into my apartment. Everyone’s been forewarned.”

“I don’t believe you.” She looks shocked, hopefully getting it through her thick skull I’ve had enough.

“Believe it. I’ve given in to you my entire life and I’m done.” I turn to leave.

“Leigh—” she calls in a high voice.

I ignore her and look back one more time. “Tomorrow. You had better be gone. Don’t push me.”

I pull the door shut behind me, pausing for a second to collect myself. I’ve never stood up to my mother. My entire life she has been challenging, thoughtless, conniving, and just a plain bitch, but I’m done. I won’t allow it anymore, especially because Tina needs me now. I have to protect her from our mother so she can fight for her own life and be healthy again.

Pushing off from the door, I make my way down the steps of my apartment building I have yet to live in and feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket.

It’s a text from Tony.

Tony: Done with the press briefing. Meet you at home?

I can’t help but let that word sweep through me and I smile.

Home.

I bite my lip to suppress my grin as I let my fingers fly over the screen.

Me: Yeah, leaving my mom now. Meet you there.

Tony: Y r u with ur mom?

I giggle at his text. How I can tell he’s not happy over a text I don’t know, but I can.

Me: Calm down. I’ll explain. See you in a few.

Tony: Shit. Ok.

Now I’m sure I look like a loon laughing at my phone. I can’t help but find him a little funny when he’s frustrated.

Tony was called into work again on his case that blew up this weekend. He’s gone from managing the sale of their company to managing their public relations. They called a press conference this afternoon to start damage control from what has turned into an embezzlement case.

Before I pull out of the parking lot, I send him one more text.

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