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"Gah, I know this answer!" Ayo raises her hand before Talia can respond. "You're avoiding the real issue."
I roll my eyes. "Not this therapy spiel again, Ayo. Didn't we just go over this?"
But Ayo's relentless. "It's true, though. You dodge the tough choices, distracting yourself with anything else."
"Hey, I'm not running away," I argue. "I'm just...being realistic, okay? I mean, for God's sake, Aidan is a handsome, single billionaire who's trying to sort his own issues. I'm not going to pretend that a man like that is going to sort through mine. Through a broke nanny and her broke family's problems."
Talia leans back in her chair, hands clasped in front of her. "You don't think he would want to help you? Support you?"
I scoff. "Look, life is not a fantasy. It's not a movie. And the sooner we all realize that, the better."
"Now, is this your mom talking or you talking?" Ayo asks, her tone serious and knowing.
I hesitate, the sound of sancocho simmering behind me drawing my attention. My mom's specialty, one she always makes when I'm feeling down.
"Maybe a little bit of both," I admit, picking my spoon back up and stirring the stew.
"Well, let me tell you something," Talia says firmly. "Your mom is one of the strongest women I've heard you talk about. She seems formidable. And practical..." She lets her voice trail off before returning. "And she has no earthly clue what the fuck she's talking about."
I drop the spoon, turning. "Excuse me?"
Talia blinks. "Oh, did I offend you? Good. Because that means I have your attention." She leans forward, her eyes locking onto mine. "Listen, I know. I know your parents almost lost the house when you were sixteen. But Lacey, you were six…teen. A kid. It's not your fault. It's not even your responsibility to fix it."
I open my mouth to respond, but she holds up a finger. "And don't you dare say that it's your family, so it's your problem. That kind of thinking is what keeps women like us stuck in the same cycles." She gestures to Ayo and herself. "We've all been there, trying to take care of everyone else while neglecting ourselves. But you know what? We have to put our own oxygen masks on first before we can help others. Because if we don't take care of ourselves, who will?"
Beside her at the kitchen table, Ayo's dark gaze falls into her wine before she looks back up. "I gotta say, I agree with Talia. How many times do we women do this? Do this...this thing? This 'good daughter' thing?" She snorts out loud, her box braids swinging behind her chair. "I'm sorry. I love men. And there are some great ones out there. There really are. But the pressure isn't on them like it is on us. We're supposed to be everything for everyone, and then we end up with nothing left for ourselves."
"You know," Ayo continues, "I know you're an only child, Lacey, and Talia here has her younger sister. But me? I have two older brothers, and still, my parents look to me for everything. It's like they see no one else but me, and it's suffocating sometimes."
Talia nods in agreement. "It's the same with my parents. And you know what? I finally had to put my foot down and say enough is enough. I have my own life to live and my own dreams to chase. And so do you, Lacey."
"That's right," Ayo slides in. "And as far as I can tell, that delicious-looking boss of yours was all on board for you doing just that. I'm saying, the man took you on a private yacht just so you could have a chance to sit in peace and draw the night sky. If that doesn't scream 'a supportive partner and a man who deserves his you-know-what sucked', then I don't know what does."
I snort out loud, a laugh breaking through. Even as Talia points her wine glass at me.
"Think about it this way," she says, all serious now. "Does Aidan ever ask you to put your life on hold for him? Does he expect you to give up your dreams and goals for his?"
I shake my head, feeling a bubble of warmth in my chest at the thought of Aidan. "No, never."
"Does he support you and encourage you to go after what you want?"
"Yes, he does."
"And do you feel like he would still love and respect you even if you didn't have all your shit together?"
Ayo jumps in, finishing Talia's thought. "Exactly," she says, leaning back and crossing her arms. "So why are you putting so much pressure on yourself? Why are you sacrificing your own happiness for someone else's expectations?"
"I..." I start. "I guess I never really thought about it that way before."
"But maybe it's time to start thinking about it," Talia adds. "You've worked your tail off to get where you are. To be a kind person. To be as talented as you are. You deserve someone who will support and uplift you, not hold you back or expect you to be a 'good daughter'. And if this boss of yours is already showing signs of being that person, then girl, you better hold on tight."
We all laugh again, the tension in the room dissipating. I let their words sink in for a moment, and I can feel the hot tears burning behind my eyes.
These women understand. They've been through it too.
She's right. My mom may mean well, but she's been stuck in this mindset for so long that she doesn't see any other way.
And I've been blindly following her lead.
