married.
“Aunt Gemma!” Owen calls out.
“Come get some candy,” Robert tells him, holding out three full-size Hershey bars.
He runs up, and Robert kneels so he can hand them over. “Thanks, Robert.”
“Wait, I got something else for you.” He reaches for his wallet, then pulls out a twenty-dollar bill. I release a tight sigh, knowing how this will look to Tyler. Of course, Katie will tell Owen to return the cash, but Robert will refuse it.
“Wow, thank you!” Owen beams as he walks back to his mom.
“You’re welcome, buddy!” Robert waves again and makes his way over to me.
“That was very nice,” I tell him. “He’s going to talk about that for days, maybe weeks.”
“Just wanted to help the kid out. I know Katie isn’t making that much money at the bank.”
I’m taken aback by his rude comment. Katie might not be loaded with a hefty savings account, but she’s done damn well, considering her situation.
“Actually, I think she makes great money, and if that’s the only reason—”
“Gemma, not now. Smile, for Christ’s sake. Everyone can see you.”
My lips move into a frown as I glare at the man in front of me with disgust. I glance over at my friends and see Tyler watching us. His arms are crossed over his chest as he narrows his eyes with a shake of his head. There’s no way he could’ve heard what Robert said, but he undoubtedly sees how tense I am.
Between the disastrous double date and the fight with Robert, then my talk with Tyler afterward, my mind is a fucking mess. Robert’s true colors have always been right in front of me, and for whatever reason, I’ve turned a blind eye. I wanted to please my dad and make him proud, but it’s not his fault I ignored the red flags. I know Robert isn’t a bad man, but he might not be the man for me. His intentions have always been very clear—he wants a wife, someone who will stay home with his children and have dinner ready when he comes home.
When the parade ends, we’re out of candy and money. All the children were so ecstatic over Robert’s gifts and how generous he was. Right now, I’m feeling too claustrophobic, and I think I need some space from Robert. Once we get home and I change, I’ll explain I need to do some laundry and clean before work tomorrow. Hopefully, it will give me the ability to clear my head.
“I wish you’d stay,” he says, repeating the words he always says when I leave. “Or move in.”
My jaw tenses at his constant pushing. “I’ll see you tomorrow, I’m sure,” I deflect, not in the mood to have the same conversation again.
He tells me he loves me, and though I repeat the words to him before closing the door behind me, it’s the first time in our relationship when I’ve second-guessed if I still do.
Tyler arrives at work the next day with a mumbled good morning and barely looks in my direction as he goes into the garage instead of making small talk. Over the past week, he’d make himself a cup of coffee or refill his tumbler and chat with me before starting with his first project. However, today he looks at me with an annoyed or pissed-off expression, though I’m not sure why.
Last night, I had hoped taking a hot bath would help me relax, but it only allowed me to overthink everything. For the first time in a year and a half, I cried about missing my mom. Before that, it was when Robert proposed, and I had wished more than anything she was here to celebrate with us. But now I’d do anything to talk to her about how I feel so she could guide and tell me what to do.
Although I don’t remember a lot about her, I feel the emptiness and ache in my chest from her not being here. Katie and Everleigh give great advice and tell me to do what feels right, but I still need and miss my mom. She had life experience that I’ll never learn from and stories I’ll never hear. After years of being married, having kids and a family, Mom would know what’s best and could give me the advice I need.
My father leaves work early to drive out of town for a custom part, but Tyler stays in the garage even after I lock the lobby. We hardly spoke when we were in the break room