AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So calm. How could she be so calm? Was her mother in complete denial?
“Devon, I know you don’t understand this change in me.”
“No, I don’t.”
“But it’s a good change. Last night on the water, I finally remembered to be grateful. I’m healthy, I have two beautiful girls, a sister, and friends who love me and mean the world to me— I’m blessed, Devon.”
“You’re okay with losing everything?”
“I’m grateful to have the means to pay the family should I have to.”
“Wow.”
“I know. It’s hard to think in that way, but I have to focus on what I have and not on everything else. I choose to focus on the good in my life.”
The microwave had beeped a full thirty seconds ago and now reminder beeps had Devon yanking the door open and retrieving her mug.
“How about,” her mother said, “we talk about you?”
“I’d rather not.”
“Sweetheart, you lost a job because of me. I can tell you’re angry.”
Devon dunked her tea bag and sighed, shifting her attention back to her mother. “I’m not angry, per se, just… disappointed.”
“I don’t suppose there’s a way you could get it back?”
“No, I don’t think so. But even if I could, I don’t want to leave you like this. It’s too soon, especially with the lawsuit pending.”
“Honey, lawsuits take months, sometimes years to iron out. Exactly,” her mother said when she saw Devon’s expression. “Which is why I certainly don’t want you to go, but I do understand if you have to. Even though I wish you’d stop running away.”
“You’re the runaway, Mama, not me.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you took off first.”
Devon released a huff. “Dara’s doing her own thing. Why aren’t you saying this to her?”
“Because she didn’t have a wedding booked and a dress hanging on her closet door.”
Devon cradled her mug to warm her cold fingers. “I knew you and Daddy weren’t as okay with me calling it off as you said you were.”
“Only because I could see how much you love Oscar.”
“Loved,” she corrected.
Her mother’s silence demanded another glance, and this time Devon shifted uncomfortably at the knowing expression on Rayna’s face. “I don’t love him,” she said, hearing the lie in her tone. “I mean… Mama, Oz is great. He’s… wonderful. But he’s Saturdays on the beach and picket fences and kids and—”
“And?”
“Living here,” she said, lifting her hands to indicate the area as a whole.
“You love the beach. And forgive me if I’m wrong, but won’t you have to eventually leave the city if you marry Ted?”
She would. Eventually. The governor’s mansion was located in Albany, not New York City. And while she could transfer to a network station there, as the governor’s wife, would she be able to? Allowed?
And if he wants to run for president?
“Exactly. Which begs the question of why. Why are you shortchanging yourself, Devon? You seem so willing to sacrifice your dreams for a man who will never make you a priority.”
