Page 16 of Dream Chaser

After Eleanor dismissed me at eleven per her boss’s orders, I drove back to Millford. With each remaining mile, my anxiety grew, but my childhood home was my only option.

Even though a two-hour daily commute would be exhausting, I was willing to put up with the discomfort. No change was ever easy, and at least this change would be worth it. The stubborn, resilient part of me Preston hadn’t managed to squash reminded me that I was strong enough to get through this.

After parking, I took a deep breath and marched to my mother’s front door with my duffle in hand.

She opened as soon as I pressed the doorbell, her mouth set in a firm line. “Come in.”

I followed her inside. My chest squeezed like it did each time I visited my parents’ house after Dad passed. It was hard not to remember him hugging me tightly as soon as he saw me. He always went overboard with aftershave, but I’d give a lot to smell it and feel his strong arms around me once more. The house was the same—spacious, full of sturdy oak furniture and accent rugs. But it no longer felt like home.

“So?” My mother stood in the middle of the foyer, crossed arms pinned to her chest. “Care to explain why you left your husband and went God knows where? Donna is shocked. Only spoiled little girls throw tantrums when they don’t get the gift they wanted.”

Lord, help me. This was going to be harder than I imagined.

“I don’t care about the gift,” I said. “I asked Preston for a divorce, and I came here because I need a place to stay until I save up some money.”

Mom pressed a palm to her chest, her eyes widening. “You what?”

“I asked for a divorce,” I repeated with conviction, although she heard me well enough the first time. She just refused to acknowledge both my words and my wishes.

“No, you can’t.” She shook her head. “No. Just no.”

I swallowed past the lump in my dry throat. “Yes, I can. And I will. Our marriage hasn’t been working for a while, and I can’t live like that anymore.”

Mom scoffed, studying her nails. “I’m not so sure about that. You could show your husband more gratitude and respect and give him a child. Instead, you abandoned him in the middle of his campaign. Don’t you realize he’s doing all of this for you, so your family is respected in town?”

“For me?” I pointed to my chest with my thumb. “For the woman he called a cheap whore in front of his friends? Don’t let him fool you. Preston has only ever cared about himself. He wants to be a mayor like his father for his own gain. It has never had anything to do with me.”

I used to believe marriage was a common project where two people were equal. Three years with Preston showed me that he had no interest in a partner. Everything revolved around him, and I was there to help and serve him. I’d never felt appreciated, let alone loved.

“So, you’re ready to ruin your life for nothing?”

My eyes burned with unshed tears. I wouldn’t cry. The last thing I wanted was for my mother to accuse me of being hysterical.

“Not for nothing. For my peace and a chance at a better future. I’m not ruining anything. I’m making it better.”

“Really? What about money? If you had kids, you’d at least have something. If you divorce him—”

“I won’t have anything, I know. I signed that prenup because I was young and dumb. I shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have gotten married at all. But you know what? I did, and I’d rather have nothing than put up with him.”

“People will point fingers at you,” my mother hissed. “You’ll be the talk of the town. How will you look everyone in the eye after this? He’s never cheated. Never abused you. He provides for you. There’s no reason to divorce him other than your selfishness. Back in my day, people fixed their problems instead of throwing in the towel.”

“Back in your day, they didn’t have a choice. Luckily, I do. I have a job, and I’ll be just fine.”

“A job?” My mother pointed at my duffle with her index finger. “If you have some big fancy job, why are you here begging for a place to stay?”

“I only just started today,” I whispered. “And rent in Emerport is expensive.”

“Emerport.” She threw her hands in the air. “Of course. Where else would you go?”

She’d hated the city when I’d studied there. That obviously hadn’t changed.

I shoved my frustration aside. She’d come around eventually after subjecting me to the silent treatment and a few disapproving looks. I just had to be patient.

“I’ll only stay here until I have enough money for rent, Mom.”

She shook her head. “No, you won’t.”

My heart plummeted to the pit of my stomach. “What do you mean?”