Page 47 of Crying Shame
I held up the blue box and blinked. “What’s this?”
“A present,” he said. "Open it!"
I laughed, opened my door, and went into the bedroom as I unwrapped it. I gazed into the box. “It’s the tiara.”
Sam stared at me. “What?”
I took it out of the box and showed him. “Your father said he’d get this for me because I needed to feel like a princess.”
His grin was infectious as he laughed. “Wear it, Mom.”
“I don’t know,” I said, though Elon had been supersweet to buy me the gift, even if it was way too expensive and straddled the line of trying to buy my love. On the other hand, he'd stopped and not taken advantage of me when Sam had called for me.
Leaving Elon and Sam would be impossible. I hugged Sam.
“You like Elon," Sam said. "I like him too, and he bought it for you.”
“It’s not normal to wear a diamond tiara.” I stood. I wondered if maybe Elon was perfect because he had wonderful parents and a great family.
My heart twisted. Sam placed the tiara on my head. “It is for you… you like being a princess, Mom.”
The lies I'd told myself about being fancy and a princess were all just dreams. I took off the tiara and placed it back in the box. “Okay, I’ll need to go talk to him after I take my shower.”
“Don’t ruin our new family,” Sam said near the door.
I turned, faced him, and wished I knew what to do. “Sam, we need to be realistic, but I’ll talk to you later.”
“Shower first. You’ll feel better.” He walked out.
I called out, “Okay, you’re right.”
I locked myself in the bathroom. I needed to get myself together, make a rational plan, and stay the course.
Elon and I weren’t meant to be. He’d eventually replace me entirely. As the water hit my skin, I closed my eyes and muttered to myself, “Now is the time to say goodbye.”
First, I had to somehow figure out how to tell Elon I was leaving in a way he’d understand. It was on Elon to be the better parent as I'd failed at everything I'd ever tried. I'd even let Sam get mistreated. From here on out, I needed to not think about myself until this was all straightened out.
18
Clarissa
I ignored the tiara on my bed as I dressed in gray slacks and a simple white T-shirt. I wasn’t sure when we’d go to the apple festival, but the late-summer heat wasn’t for nice blouses. When I was through dressing, I decided to place the tiara in the closet as there was no safe in the room.
I needed to go and talk to Elon. We needed to be on the same page. He had to be made to understand why eventually he’d take over parenting Sam. I had to explain it right.
I muttered a small prayer for the right words as I headed downstairs.
Sam was in the backyard and seemed happy. I found Elon in his office, pacing. My brow furrowed. “Elon, what’s going on?”
He waved for me to come into his office and took out a laptop. He opened it. “Can you make decisions for the benefit party as I double-check a medical plan?”
Okay.Working would keep me honest, so I wouldn't just be sponging off his cash and accepting diamonds. “Of course.”
He took out a box containing a phone. “I had your number moved to this phone.”
It was the newest model. I took it out of the box, thinking maybe he needed me to make calls for the benefit. “Can I ask what the theme is of the benefit?”
He sat at his desk, and I took a seat across from him. “Theme?” he asked.
