Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,71

says and I get comfortable, because I can tell by her tone that I’m in for a lengthy monologue. My mama can give Shakespeare a run for his money. “Your daddy just got home and was telling me that this new… apartment,” she says the word like it’s displeasing her by existing, “isn’t very safe… are you sure you don’t just want to move home. It could save you money and save your father and I the grief of worrying about you.”

I hear my daddy arguing with her in the background. I’m pretty sure there is a “leave that girl alone” followed by a “mind your own business”, to which she shushes him and continues.

“I just think this is a rash decision and you haven’t thought it through. What, with Asher’s indiscretions and the untimely… separation.” She’s yet to say the word divorce. I want to spell it out for her and force her to repeat it over and over until she gets it through her head that we’re divorced… finished, done, over. In the words of Taylor Swift, we’re never ever getting back together. “You might not be thinking clearly,” she continues. “I know you’ve been attending these sessions, but I think you need something more, like counseling. Pastor Johnson would be more than happy to see you until you can get past this and find it in your heart to forgive Asher.”

She takes a breath, but barely, before pressing on.

“We are all just human, Tempest, Asher included, and it is not our place to judge. But it is our place to uphold the sanctity of marriage.”

Oh, here we go.

Please, Lord, give me strength.

I clench my jaw and breathe out of my nose, slow and steady.

“You made a promise to God to love and cherish him. And part of loving someone is forgiving them. I know things don’t seem fixable right now, but with some time… and prayer… I think the two of you can come to a place of understanding and move on with your lives.”

When I’ve had my fill, I finally stop her. “Mama, I know you mean well.” I’ve found over the years, it’s always better to start with that, giving her the benefit of the doubt, because deep down, I know she does. She loves me. And she cares about my happiness. She just has a screwed up way of showing it sometimes. “But Asher and I aren’t getting back together. Ever.”

There’s no sense beating around the bush. I might as well lay it all out there for her. Rip that bandaid right off.

“He and Mindy are married. They’re having a baby. And even if he were to crawl back to me on his hands and knees, I still wouldn’t take him back.”

Her audible gasp has me rolling my eyes, but it doesn’t deter me. “I’m staying in the apartment. I’m staying divorced. And I don’t need counseling from Pastor Johnson. Actually, the last thing I need is one more person in this town knowing my business.”

I almost add that I might need to get laid, but decide that I don’t want to give my mother a coronary, so I skip that one.

“Thank you for being concerned about my well-being… but I’m fine on my own.” Repeating my daddy’s words, I tell her, “I’m going to be just fine.”

“Fine,” she replies, a bit of sarcasm in her tone. “Just fine… but don’t call me when you’re dead in a ditch.”

“Mama!”

From the other end of the phone, I hear my daddy have a similar response.

“Oh, you know I’m not serious,” she scolds. “Lord knows I’d lose my mind if anything ever happened to you… I just love you and want what’s best.”

“I know, Mama, and I love you too.”

“Lock your door.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

A few hours later, I have every box unpacked and almost everything put away, except for a small box of random papers. With my hands on my hips, I blow a stray strand of hair from my face and admire my work. Since the walls are brick, and I don’t have a drill, I just propped my big mirror against one wall and one of my favorite larger prints against another.

From my cozy new bedding to my dishes on the exposed shelves, everything about this space is just… me.

It’s mine.

Spinning around like Julie Andrews in Sound of Music, I can’t help the smile on my face.

After my little victory dance, I decide to break down the empty boxes and walk them downstairs to the back