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Peter glanced at the women but then retreated.
I shifted in my chair and sat back, looking at the three of them with little emotion. “How can I help you, ladies? Be quick. I’m busy.”
“Who are you picking?” Denise spat out directly to the point. “For the stepmother prize money.”
“Yes. It’s ridiculous that you’ve waited this long to tell us, especially after we’ve discovered you’ve been out with all three of us,” Rosalina agreed.
“Though, it’s not quite fair that my outing was cut short due to Stella,” Catherine grumbled. “She always had a way of ruining things.”
“You can say that again,” Denise echoed.
“I can only imagine the hell your life has been being forced to live with her,” Rosalina remarked. “Thankfully, this is almost over for you.”
My body tensed up as I sat straighter in my seat. “I’m glad you all brought Stella up. It makes it easier for me to announce the woman who is getting the money.”
“Do tell,” Denise ordered.
I clasped my hands together. “None of you.”
“What?!” they all snapped in unison.
“You cannot be serious,” Catherine said. “That wasn’t a part of the deal!”
“Actually, it was,” I remarked. “I went through the contract and will with Joe once I realized that none of you were worthy of a cent. It clearly states that if I didn’t find any of you three fit for the money, then it would be forfeited to charity.” I pushed out a fake smile. “The children will thank you for your kind donation.”
“You asshole!” Denise remarked.
“You cannot do this,” Rosalina cried. “That was supposed to be mine!”
“Oh, please, Rosalina. As if you ever truly had a shot at the money! It was supposed to be mine!” Catherine remarked.
The three of them began to bicker like the annoying shits they’d been until I called them out about it. “Take your conversation elsewhere. I don’t have time for you all,” I said.
“Time for us all? You’re practically robbing us!” Denise shot out.
“Just like you all robbed Stella of her self-esteem? She never wanted anything from you ladies except your love. All you ever did, instead was break her down. Out of jealousy, out of spite. I don’t know your reasons, but I do know that all three of you are cruel and unworthy. And I know for a fact that one of you is indeed, my mother, but I truly don’t give a damn. Because if you could be that evil to the love of my life, then I’d rather have nothing to do with you for the remainder of my time on this planet. Good day, ladies.”
They didn’t leave without argument, so I was forced to have security drag them away. The three of them were the least of my concern. All I wanted to do was come up with a way to make sure Stella was okay.
So, once I finished up at work, I headed home.
I went to the ocean. I didn’t know what I was doing or how to talk to it, but I tried. I knew Stella needed some form of healing, and truthfully, I was willing to try any and everything.
I talked to Kevin. I talked to the goddess that Maple mentioned, placing flowers into the water. But mostly, I talked to Sophie.
Stella’s mother never knew me. She never knew my name or the love I had for her daughter. She’d never shake my hand or hold me in an embrace. But if there was a God, and if the ocean really did hold Stella’s mother’s heartbeats, I needed to talk to her. I needed her to fix this, to heal her daughter. To tell me what I needed to do to make this better.
As I walked into the water, I prayed. I was probably shit at it, too, but I begged Sophie to watch over Stella. I begged her not to only be in the ocean with her love but also in the sand and in the air. In Stella’s heartbeats. I begged her to protect her from the other side, to love on her when Stella felt unloved. To never truly leave her side, even during the dark days.
Especially during the dark days.
I stayed in the water for hours. The day transitioned to night as I asked for Sophie’s help.
“Hi, Sophie. I know you don’t know me, but this is for Stella. I just need you to…” I took a deep breath. “Fix her. Fix this. Protect Stella and the baby. Make sure they both are okay. Make sure they both make it out of this. That’s all I’m asking. If you need a soul, take mine. Take me, Sophie. But please…” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Don’t take my girls.”
I immersed myself in the water. I lost myself in the waves. When I came out, I was shocked to see a person standing at the coast, staring my way.
