Page 95 of Tastes Like Summer

I gulp, cursing myself for not having prepared to have this conversation. We’ve been skating around the girls leaving, but I knew it would come eventually.

“Yes. I… I have been upset about Diana and the girls leaving. We had a good summer together. I miss them.”

“It’s more than that, though, isn’t it? Do you love her?”

I sigh and put my head in my hands. “I don’t think we should be having this conversation. Aren’t you a little young for this?”

“For discussions about love?” She shrugs. “I don’t know. Probably? But I just want to understand. Because even before we sort of found out that you and Diana liked each other like that, the three of us could kind of tell you liked each other. You smiled a lot around her.”

I chuckle. “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I sigh wistfully. “I don’t know. I guess, yes. I love her. But you’ll realize when you grow up that life isn’t always black and white. That things aren’t always so simple. Just because two people care about each other, doesn’t mean that they can be together.”

Rachel looks away as she seems to process my words, and it takes her a moment to respond. “I think that’s dumb.”

I sigh again. “I don’t disagree.”

THREE MONTHS LATER

“If I’m being honest, Diana, this might be a blessing in disguise,” Edgar tells me, sliding a piece of paper to me over his desk. At the top, the document reads “Voluntary Relinquishment of Parental Rights.”

“A blessing in disguise?” I scoff. “How? The father of my children has filed a legal document saying he’s washing his hands of his two girls. Permanently. How is any of this okay?”

“Well,” he purses his lips. “He did pay what he owed in back child support—though no alimony payments. Still, it’s one less thing you need to worry about now. One less thing to chase. We can stop contacting his lawyer demanding he pay—which also means fewer legal bills for you, even if we do give you a discount here as an employee.”

“I guess.”

He sighs before he continues, a bit of pity in his eyes. I hate it. “Rodrigo has made it clear he wants nothing to do with the girls—” I wince—“and while that’s horrible, it is better this way, if you ask me. They can finally start getting used to not having him around instead of hoping he’ll show up for them for once.”

I take a deep steadying breath. “Will there be a court hearing?”

“No, the judge didn’t ask for one, and I don’t believe you’d like to request one either, would you?”

I shake my head. Maybe Edgar is right. Maybe it’s best if this is just… done.

“Didn’t think so. I… also have to mention, he expedited this.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just that he wanted to get this done as quickly as possible. My guess is to keep the amount of child support he had to pay you to a minimum.”

“That asshole,” I whisper.

Edgar’s eyes widen in shock, never having heard me curse before.

“Sorry.” I blush.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s well-deserved.” He sighs and leans back in his chair. “How do you feel?”

“Upset, obviously.” My voice breaks, the tears streaming down my cheeks. Normally, I wouldn’t dream of ever crying in front of a boss, but Edgar was my lawyer through my entire divorce. He’s seen me at my worst. “Saying he wasn’t the best father is the understatement of the century, but still… I don’t even know how I’m going to explain this to the girls. I’m… all alone now. We’re alone.”

“You know that isn’t really true. You still have your extended family. That’s something to be very happy about. And, more importantly, you’re free now, Diana.”

I look up into his eyes, a bit shocked. “Am I?”

“You can do whatever you want now. You’ll never have to ask him for anything ever again. That’s the bright side here. Do you know how many family law cases I’ve seen where former spouses use their children as weapons post-divorce? It’s horrible, the way these children are manipulated or used as tools to purposefully make the other spouse’s life difficult. You won’t have that anymore. You and your girls can go, and live a stress- and Rodrigo-free life.”