Page 48 of A Love Like Candle Light

"Come on, we'll leave you to it." Lauren links her arm with Kieran's and pulls him away to give me some space. I stare after them. Maybe she’s right. Sucking in a deep breath, I close my eyes to brace for the emotional impact and take the call.

"Hi, Mom."

"Have you finally come to your senses?"

I sit down on one of the hay bales and extend my legs. We’ve been out here for hours at this point and my feet are starting to hurt.

"What a greeting."

Before I can get another word in, she already breaks into her probably well-practiced rant, completely ignoring my sarcastic reply.

"You will end up in hell if you go through with this divorce. And nobody, I repeat, nobody, will be able to save your soul. Are you okay with that, Kylie? Spending eternity in hell?"

I let her talk for another five minutes and stare at the clock in the middle of the main square, watching the minutes pass. It’s almost hypnotic.

"Mother,” I interrupt her by the time she mumbles about how disappointed Jesus would be in me. “This may come as a shock to you, but I have lied before in my life. I have been greedy. I'm pretty sure when I was five, I stole a pack of bubblegum from the store. I wear garments of different fabrics. And Zach and I had sex before we got married. If I go to hell, the divorce will only be one of many reasons."

"But you—" She sputters. I let out an exhausted sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose.

"I love you, Mom. But the divorce is through. It's done. If I go to hell, so be it."

She breaks into sobs, dramatic enough to make me roll my eyes and start plucking hay straws off my sweatshirt. "I can't believe you're doing this to me."

Yeah. Clearly, I decided to end my marriage for the sole reason of making her panic about what happens to me after I die. Not because I’m more interested in being happy during, well, the part before death.

"I'm not, though?" My jaw tightens, and I cross my arms in front of my chest as if to protect my heart from her words. I’ve long stopped questioning her logic and how she manages to make herself the victim of any situation, however, it still hurts.

"I can't support this."

"I know.” My sigh is so heavy it blows hay straws off my sleeve. I catch one, rolling it between my fingers. “Which is why I never asked you to. I asked you to accept it." I remain silent, waiting for her answer.

"I don't even know who you are anymore."

"Well, that might make two of us." I smile, but it's a bitter one. "This is the last time we're having this conversation, mother. The next time you mention my soul, heaven or hell or God in any variation, I will hang up."

"Oh, you poor soul—"

"And that will do it. Have a good day, Mom."

I lower the phone away from my face and hang up.

I love my mom. I really do. But ever since she fell into a religious hole three years ago, it's getting harder and harder to talk and connect with her. Especially with the kind of hypocrisy she displays, being on husband number three and all.

Ultimately, though, it's time to put myself first and protect my peace.

I let my eyes wander over the park. The people standing in groups, probably gossiping. Lauren is throwing a handful of hay at Kieran, who’s cackling as he’s running away from her.

This must be as close to peace as it gets.

Chapter 17

Erik

I prayed for the universe to give me a break from all the paperwork on my desk, and it sent me sheep. Fifty, to be exact.

I retrieve my rubber boots from the back seat and pull them on before I jump out of my car. It might be sunny today, but who knows what kind of terrain we get to wade through as we lead them back?

"Erik!" Henry waves me over.