Honey

Ashlyn poured me another glass of wine.

“Now talk. You showed up late last night. I let you sleep it off. But it’s a new day.”

“Evening you mean.”

She’d gone to work while I’d cried myself tearless during the day. I was grateful her boyfriend hadn’t come home.

She waved off my statement. “Spill. Something happen to Mr. Tall Gorgeous Cowboy?”

“If you call Jamie’s mother showing up something, then yes.”

Ashlyn’s jaw dropped. “No way.”

I bobbed my head. “Did you see that woman who was at the house when we arrived yesterday?”

She thought for a moment. “Briefly. That was her?”

I nodded again.

“So she just shows up. So what?”

I’d forgotten that she didn’t know all the details. “This is the first time Jamie’s met her mother.”

“Shut up,” she said. “Why is that?”

Just talking about it broke my heart all over again for Jamie.

“She cut and run when Jamie was a baby. Disappeared with no contact. She left the baby with her mother and the mom delivered her to Jake to take care of. Neither had seen Jamie until now.”

Ashlyn looked properly pissed on Jamie’s behalf. “That’s messed up. So what’s her excuse?”

Not knowing what else to say, I shrugged. “She wants to make amends.”

“And Jake wants a reconciliation too?”

It wasn’t like we had a deep conversation. But he hadn’t looked at Tara like he was happy she was back. “I don’t think so.”

Though that could change.

“So why are you here? You showed up with red eyes. I know you’d been crying.”

I had.

“I told him to work things out with her.”

Ashlyn straightened in her chair. “You did what?” But she’d heard me. That was why she added on, “Why would you do that?”

“Because I know what it’s like to want your parent to choose you and not a practical stranger.”

Her face softened because she’d been there when my mom got a new husband and doted on him and treated me like a misfortune.

“You would never let Jake ignore his daughter.”

She was wrong about that.

“Jake would never ignore his daughter. She is his world. But Jamie deserves a chance to get to know her mother.”

I could tell Ashlyn wanted to come over and hug me. Since she stopped herself, she was most likely about to chastise me for my choices.

“She can get to know her mother without you leaving the picture. Just because your mother is selfish doesn’t mean millions of couples who don’t stay together for whatever reason don’t make it work with their kids.”

I could concede that point and pushed my hair over my shoulder, needing to do something with my nervous hands.

“True. But this is an important time for Jamie. She doesn’t need the added stress of divided loyalties.”

Ashlyn looked perplexed. “Why would her loyalties be divided?”

“Her mother hasn’t exactly been discreet about her disdain for me.” I gave her a few examples of the things Tara had said.

“She sounds like a bitch.”

I licked my lips because I wasn’t exactly sure why I was going to say what I did next. “You would be a bitch too if you came to reconcile with the guy you know you shouldn’t have left and to meet your daughter and there was a woman there taking your place.”

Ashlyn looked aghast. “You’re defending her.”

“Not exactly. I’m putting myself in her shoes.”

My bestie was quick with a retort. “You wouldn’t have left your kid.”

“No, I wouldn’t. But we don’t know why she did.”

“Jake didn’t tell you?”

These were all questions I didn’t have answers to.

“How could Jake know? He came back from the war, screwed me, and later Tara’s mother showed up out the blue with the baby. And as far as I know, he hadn’t spoken to her until she showed up again.”

“Wow. You’re a better woman than me. I would have kicked that bitch’s ass and told her to keep walking.”

I didn’t have to think about my response. “Believe me, I wanted to do just that. But this isn’t about me, her, or even Jake. This is about Jamie and what’s best for her.”

Ashlyn nodded. We sat subdued for a few minutes before she tentatively said, “Though I get where you’re coming from, don’t you think this is Jake’s decision?”

In part, yes. I couldn’t make him get with Tara.

“Jake doesn’t know what it’s like to be starved for your parents’ attention. He grew up with both of his as a solid unit. He won’t understand what it’s like for Jamie to need not only her dad’s love but her mom’s love as well.”

My bestie sighed. “Your situation isn’t like Jamie’s.”

“No, but it’s closer than anything Jake’s experienced. Besides, if Tara hadn’t left, they would be together, probably married. There could be a chance they could work things out and give Jamie the home Jake had. And I won’t be the reason they don’t try.”

She didn’t say more because the front door opened and Chris, her boyfriend, walked in.

When he saw me, he frowned. “What’s she doing here?”

Ashlyn stood. “What the hell, Chris?”

He’d never been nasty to me before. I wasn’t sure why he was being hostile to me now.

“She stayed the night. I thought she’d be gone by now.”

Then it hit me. He probably had blue balls. No doubt Ashlyn would have put sex on ice while I was in my old room. The walls were like paper.

“She lived here before you,” she sneered.

I really didn’t want to be the cause of problems between them either. I seemed to be the bad token. Mom felt I was an intruder in her new life as well.

Ashlyn gave Chris a knowing look. He glanced at me before marching into the bedroom and slamming the door.

“I should go,” I said, getting to my feet.

“No, you will not.”

I gazed at the door. “He’s probably had a bad day and wanted to get in a better mood by, you know.”

I circled my hand in the air, hoping I wouldn’t have to say it.

She pursed her lips. “Well, if he thinks he’s going to get laid by being nasty to my best friend, he’s going to end up with a cold shower and blankets for the sofa.”

“Don’t. I’ll go.”

“You will do no such thing. Besides, if you leave, he’ll think he can always get his way by being an asshole.”

She left on that note. Later, apparently, they’d talked. He apologized before heading to the small kitchen to make dinner. Though I offered to, he said I was a guest. Conversation was stilted and awkward. But I planned to stay the night because Ashlyn wanted me to. But the next morning, I would head out to see my grandmother before I went back to Jake’s.