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“You’re insane,” I hiss, experiencing a strong sense of déjà vu.
Jude’s lips quirk as if he finds my reaction amusing and not the least bit insulting. “Be as it may, it doesn’t change the fact that we need to leave.”
Taking another step back, I bump into the couch and almost fall down to my ass. “I’m not leaving, you can leave.”
Knowing he has me cornered and perhaps enjoying it a bit, Jude closes the distance between us to tower over me.
Looking up at him, I can’t help but be intimidated.
I don’t know if it’s his size, what I’ve seen him do, or what I know about him, but I know I need to tread carefully.
Tipping his head down, some of his hair falls into face. Making him look even more sinister.
“This is not a request, Eden,” he says firmly and reaches down, cupping my cheek. “This is going to happen, whether you like it or not. This townhouse is not at all suitable for my family. It’s too small, for one, and lacks basic necessities.”
I pull away and shake my head in denial. There are so many ways I could counter that argument. Such as pointing out that I haven’t agreed to anything.
Instead, I stubbornly say, “I have everything I need.”
Continuing to squirm and twist in my arms, Abel reaches for Jude.
Smiling as if he’s pleased, Jude drops his arm and lets Abel grab his hand. “You don’t even have a washing machine.”
I watch in disbelief as Abel clutches Jude’s fingers, trying to pull himself out of my arms.
If I thought he had any clue about what’s going on, I’d think him a traitor.
I scowl at Jude. “The laundromat is not far.”
“Not far?” Jude scoffs.
I feel that scoff all the way down to the core of my pride.
It’s taken a few years, but I’ve come to accept I’ll never have money. I’ll never have nice or new things. The things you see people have on TV, the way they live… Well, that will forever be out of my reach.
And that’s okay.
Not everyone can be rich, and I have it better than many others.
There’s more to life thanthings.
As long as I have the basics—food, clothing, and a roof over my head—I’m blessed.
Though I would love to give Abel more… I’ve always planned on teaching him to appreciate and be grateful for what’s important.
These plans haven’t changed even with the promise of my uncle’s money.
We’ll still need to make it stretch and last for years and not waste it on superficial shit.
But Jude looking at me, looking at how I’m raising Abel and finding it lacking…
Is a little humiliating.
Since the day I became a mother, I’ve felt a judgment that didn’t exist before. Suddenly the bar was raised over my head, out of my reach.
Nothing I do will ever be good enough, no matter how hard I try.
I’ve felt it from Kyle, of course, and his family. From the neighbors. Even from random strangers I’ve met in public.
