Page 64 of The Cost of Love

“I can’t stay long, though, I have lunch at one.” She steps back, peeling herself out of the hug.

Even without being able to see Liv’s face, I know she is disappointed.

“You aren’t staying for the birth? I need my mother for this.”

Mei and I look at each other, our worry mirrored on our faces. The feeling of tension in the air is making it hard to breathe. Or maybe that’s just my anger stuck in my throat as I try to keep myself from speaking.

“I’m sorry I can’t stay, but I brought a gift.” She pushes the teddy bear into Liv’s arms, smiling like the gift shop stuffed animal makes up for her lack of interest.

When I hear Liv sniffle, I lose the battle with keeping my words at bay.

“Can I talk to you in the hallway?” I start to walk out, not giving our mother an option to say no.

The clicking of her heels lets me know she is following me. With the good sense to close the door behind her, she makes sure this conversation stays between us.

“You need to stay.” The stormy rage circling in my chest has my voice sounding like thunder.

“If your father was alive, I wouldn’t have been able to come at all.”

“This is your grandchild. The legacy you wanted so much. Are you really going to let your prejudice stop you from being in his life?” I can’t seem to stop myself from sneering, and the look has her stepping forward, ready to battle.

“This is about more than her choosing to be with a woman. She embarrassed us. She was supposed to marry Kent, and she ran off with her assistant. Now she is having a baby with god knows whose sperm, and you all expect me to forgive her?”

I want to shout at her that she is the one who should be asking for forgiveness, but if I raise my voice, she will just shut down at the fact that I am causing a scene. So instead, I run my hand through my hair, practically pulling it out.

“You can’t treat your grandchildren differently. You can’t be one way with her kids and then another with mine. I won’t allow it.”

“Whether you like it or not, Alexander, things will be different. Your father only left money for your kids, and the company will go to your son. That is his true legacy.” She tilts her chin up, but the tremor in her lips betrays her cold demeanor. Some part of her regrets that.

I am ready to tell her exactly how I feel about both this stupid company and her when she holds up a hand.

“I’ll stay for a couple more hours.” She walks past me back into the room, ending the conversation.

With nothing else to say, I just follow her and watch as my sister’s face lights up when our mother grabs her hand. It’s never enough, but she always gives us these slivers of hope that have us coming back for more. I won’t, but now Liv will convince herself that she isn’t all bad.

Missing her lunch, mother stays until she hits her limit of being in our company. Then, with a kiss on each cheek, she leaves us to actually be the ones with Liv through the birth.

As we pass the hours waiting for the baby to come, I can’t help but ruminate on the trajectory of our lives. Liv chose herself and lost everything in the process. She did this while loving our parents. I don’t share the same sentiment, yet something keeps stopping me from walking away from it all.

Is it the respect I have for my now-gone grandfather? Is it the obligation that has been beaten into me since I was a child? Something makes me feel like I need to do this, and I don’t know if I am ready to pay the price of walking away. I don’t know who I am without it.

Theodore Lee Choi Whitmore comes screaming into this world at the break of dawn. Both his mothers cry as they behold the newest member of their family. I hold him to my chest like the precious thing he is and make him a million promises. They will make sure he never lacks love, and I will do my best to give him everything else. This is our future, and it is more than what we could ask for.

Having to go to work when I want to spend my days cooing at my nephew is pure torture; add having a board meeting to the day, and I feel like I’m being held underwater.

The black tie I picked out to match my charcoal suit feels like it is choking me. I keep pulling at it as I wait for everyone else to show up. Unlike last time, they are late to spite me. The lack of respect of the action has me already fueled to start a fight.

Checking my watch again, I sit up and tug on the knot. I know it’s not really the tie, but the expectations that are making it hard to breathe. Still, I blame it and continue to try and loosen it from around my neck.

I’m ready to take it off entirely when they all come strolling in, looking not the least bit sorry. Lorenzo even has the nerve to stop in the doorway and start a conversation with one of the members. I close my eyes and breathe out. It’s not until someone clears their throat that I open them back up. Now they are all staring at me, waiting for me to start the meeting. I don’t know why. They’re the ones who called it.

“Shall we begin?” I ask all the same, placing my folded hands on the table.

“It’s been a little over three months since you became CEO.”

I see no reason why Lorenzo is stating the obvious, so I wait.

“We feel your performance has been adequate.” The rest of them nod, and I stifle a laugh.