Page 6 of Sins of the Father

Anna rises. “It’s late, and we have an early morning. I better get home and get packed.”

“I thought you were packed.”

“I meant Mitch’s bag.”

I cross my arms. “How old is he?”

“I’m only being nice.”

I put my arms on her shoulders. “Stop trying so hard.”

“I’m not. He’s really busy with work, and if I pack for him, it’s one less thing on his plate.”

Silence.

“I like to take care of my man. It makes me feel worthy.”

“Did you just say worthy?”

Her face reddens.

“Mitch is the one who should be doing things to make himself worthy of you. Not the other way around.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Anna, since when are you not good enough for a man?”

“Forget I said anything. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Anna—”

She forces a smile. “We’re good. I’ll see you bright and early.”

Why is she with that loser?

Keep your two cents to yourself. You aren’t exactly batting it out of the park in the relationship game.

I put my bags by the door, set my alarm, and try to sleep. But all I can think about is how Hope is moving, and I’m going to be halfway across the country. Then my mind wanders into the place a divorcée with no kids, job, or property—minus two suitcases full of clothes—should ever go.

It’s not like your family didn’t offer multiple times to bankroll you.

Not doing that. You made your bed. You can sleep in it.

I didn’t know how big of a douchebag he was before I married him.

But a part of you did know he was one. You still chose to stay with him.

Ian Flemming was good on paper. He was the type of guy every mother pushed her daughter into dating—including mine. He had a good job, knew all the right things to say. And was a cheating, lying bastard.

And when I confronted him about screwing the girl from Hooters, he went right to the bank and emptied the accounts. And a month later, I got divorce papers delivered to me at work.

After I realized what he had done, I was too ashamed to admit to anyone what happened and how stupid I was. It wasn’t the first woman he violated our vows with. Once the truth was on the table, I went on a digging spree and discovered Ian was a downright whore for our entire ten-year marriage.

I signed the divorce papers without a fight, wanting nothing created during our time together, which was stupid on my part, but I realized it too late. At the time, I just wanted out.

The only thing he didn’t attempt to take was my retirement account, so I’ve been living off it and paying the taxes and penalties for the early withdrawals.

Since I had nothing to show for my entire adult life of work, I decided to be a vagabond and backpack around Europe for a few years. I thought it would help me find my purpose in life, which I seemed to have lost.

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