Page 103 of Fierce-Jax

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

“It sounds as if everything went well last week when we were gone,” her mother said on Tuesday when she got out of work.

Jax went home. They weren’t at the stage where they were all but living together.

For now, the weekends were working and they’d had three nights because of the holiday.

“It did,” Dillion said. Then added that she had to have Jax pick up Gianna for her on Friday.

“I’m sorry that happened. You need to have more backups than your father and I.”

“I know,” she said. “I figured there would always be someone in my office I could send.”

“You shouldn’t think or rely on that,” her mother said.

She sighed. “It’s not their job. I know. I wouldn’t make a habit of it. It was an emergency. But I told Gianna she could have a playdate so I’ll get some of the girls’ mother’s information.”

She wasn’t about to get on social media and contact them that way. She did her best to stay off of it and out of any drama.

“That would be good. Gianna has been talking about having some friends over at some point.”

“I’m so tired at the end of the day,” she said. “Then on the weekends, there are things to do. A house to clean, laundry to catch up. General maintenance.”

“You pay a service to mow your lawn,” her mother said. “You should have a cleaning service come in and take care of the house too.”

Her mother didn’t clean while she was here during the day, but she picked up whatever she and Gianna had done. It was still helpful.

“I’m thinking of it,” she said. “I have to get over it being wasteful. You never paid for that.”

“But your father has wanted it done for years. Since you were a kid. I just feel it’s intrusive and I don’t work. But you do.”

She sighed. “If I have to sit around on the weekend while they are here cleaning, I might as well do it myself.”

“Have them come on a day I’m home with Gianna. I’m serious. Think about it. There is no shame in not being able to do it all, Dillion. You have to stop thinking there is.”

“I don’t,” she said. “Not anymore.”

“But you did for a long time,” her mother said. “We all know it.”

She had the guilt that her mother had to uproot her life to move to Charlotte so she could finish her residency. Then living with her parents during the fellowship.

There was a time when it felt like her mother was more of Gianna’s mother than her and it was difficult for her to get past those early years and she was trying to make up for it now.

Days where she only saw her daughter for an hour before she left for work and was lucky to tuck her into bed at night.

“I know how lucky I am,” she said. “I’ve always known. It doesn’t take away from the fact that I need the help.”

“Married couples need the help too,” her mother said. “Stop thinking otherwise.”

“I know,” she said. She looked outside and saw Gianna playing in the sandbox. “I appreciate everything. I’m glad you two had an amazing time on your trip.”

“We did,” her mother said. “Or I did. I could never get your father to go before, but since you bought it, he’d never say no.”

“I know how to play the game,” she said.

“And your daughter is learning too.” Her mother picked up her purse. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

She nodded her head. “See you then.”

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