Page 18 of Coming for His Second Chance
"Because I’m stuck here taking care of my mom and your dad, while you are off having a life." She uses air quotes around having a life.
I stand there in shock. There’s only so much I can take, and the doing this for my dad thing is ridiculous. Then, my shock quickly turns to anger.
"You aren't taking care of anyone, you spoiled brat! You and your mom are both here mooching off my dad with your son, who no one knows who the father is, and who is the most horrible kid I've ever known. He’s so fucking spoiled that he's been expelled from three kindergartens!" I yell.
I turn and slam the door behind me, which is followed by Zion’s screams, as I storm off to my car. Once I get in and drive out to the main road, I stop to catch my breath. That didn't go well at all. I guess I should tell my dad, before he hears about it from the step monsters. If I had to guess, I’m sure Linda is on the phone with her mom right now, figuring out how to spin the story.
Making the fifteen-minute drive to Dad’s office, I head straight to his office and close the door behind me.
"I went to talk to Linda," I say, as I sit down.
"How did it go?" He asks.
I guess he hasn't talked to Helen or Linda yet. Thank God for small miracles, but that doesn't erase any of my anger or hurt.
"Well, since you lied about her even caring that Zion broke the most important thing I had left of Mom, I'm sure you know how it went."
No matter how much I try, I can't rein it in. I'm still mad, as I recap our conversation down to my parting jab and the door slam. As soon as I'm done, I burst into tears.
All the years of holding it in for my dad, it just comes out. I can't do this anymore. I can't be strong. Now, I'm a grown woman, an adult, and I’m done being a pushover. When I'm at Oakside, I'm this strong woman and nurse that helps even the most hardened patients, and I take pride in that.
Then, I come home, and I'm this pushover, letting these two walk all over me. I hate myself for it and cry even more. I'm done, and I want to be that woman at Oakside all the time. No more backing down. When I make that decision, I swear I can hear my mom saying how proud of me she is. That’s what gives me the strength to look up at my dad and wipe the tears from my face.
When I finally look up at him, Dad's eyes go wide, because I’m normally so levelheaded. In fact, I know only one other time that I went off on someone like this, and it was when I was in tenth grade.
"I'm sure you just misunderstood what she said," Dad says.
Of course, he's going to stick up for them, because he has no idea how horrible they have truly been to me. That's on me, but I'm not taking it anymore.
"No, I'm sure I didn't, but fine stick up for her yet again," I say and stand up. "I know you still talk to Grayson, so maybe, you should ask him what drove us apart all those years ago. You seem to trust his word over mine." For the second time today, I walk out of a room without looking back.
This time I don't slam the door. I just go straight to the elevator and ignore my dad, calling my name behind me.
Going straight ahead, I cross the parking lot to Grayson's building. I need someone on my side right now no matter how wrong I may be, but I don't feel like I'm mistaken in this. I know Dana is spending time with her soon to be in-laws, and I don't want to drag down her pre-wedding bliss.
Plus, if I'm being honest, I want nothing more than to be in Grayson's arms right now, and to let him hold me like he did last night, because I never felt safer.
As soon as I’m in the lobby, I remember Gray telling me about the security that he does, so I decide to text him, instead of trying to get upstairs, which I'm sure I won't be able to do.
Me:I'm in your office lobby and need to talk. Got a minute?
Grayson:I'm on my way.
Grayson
With Kaitlyn showing up like this, I'm guessing the talk withLinda didn't go as well as she had hoped. I had a feeling it wouldn't. That girl was nothing but trouble all those years ago, and if the rumors on base are true, she's only gotten worse.
The elevator door opens, and she looks pissed off and on the verge of tears at the same time. Walking over, I take her hand. Since I don't want to have her break down here, I take her out to my truck and open the backseat door.
"In you go," I say. Then, following her in, I reach into the front seat, start the heater, and turn to her, pulling her into my arms.
"Okay, lay it on me," I say, and she does.
She tells me everything from the conversation with Linda and going off on her to slamming the door and making Zion scream. Then, she tells me about her talk with her dad and how bad it went to her deciding not to be a pushover anymore. Finally, she starts crying.
My heart breaks, because I know in this moment, there’s nothing I can do to make her feel better. So, I just hold her, while she cries. When she’s all cried out, she pulls a tissue from her purse and cleans her face up. She isn't wearing any makeup, but even if she was, she'd still look beautiful.
"Let me take you to lunch," I say, and she just nods.
