AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Looking out from my seat under the beach umbrella gives me the perfect view of Addison being chased around in the sand by Quinn. It’s such a heartwarming feeling to see their smiles and have their giggles fill the surrounding air. I knew Addy would be an early walker, but I didn’t expect her to be taking steps already at nine months old.
Breaking my moment of peace is the sound of my phone ringing. Flipping it to check who’s calling has my mood changing real quick.
“What's wrong now, Cami?” I huff out when I accept the call.
“Well, hello to you too.”
“Oh, forgive me. Did you call to say hi to your daughters?”
“Uhm, no. They can't even talk yet. Why would I do that?” she scoffs.
I get up from my spot and motion to my mom to keep an eye on Sophie, who’s resting on a blanket under the umbrella. I can already tell by her attitude, this conversation isn’t going to end well, and I’d prefer to lose my shit in private.
“Because maybe they’d want to hear your voice? Jesus, Cami. Do you give even the slightest fuck about them?” I say through gritted teeth.
“Oh please, you left like two days ago.”
“What are you callin' for?” I ask, already done with this conversation.
“I—I, I’m having issues with the move.”
“What kind of issues? Did you contact that moving company I suggested?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Okay, so then, what’s the issue?”
Plopping my ass down in a sand dune away from my family, I run my fingers through my hair and let out a sigh. I brace myself for whatever nonsense she's about to unleash on me. Nothing is ever easy when it comes to Cami. There is always some sort of issue.
“I’m not coming to Florida.”
Heat begins to rise up my neck.
“What do you mean, you’re not coming?”
“I can't just stop what I’m doing to follow you to Florida and then North Carolina. I'm not just going to up and leave everything.”
“Leave everything? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? Your children are here… they’re youreverything, or at least they should be!” I yell into the phone. I'm about ready to break the fucking thing, I'm so furious.
“Eli, stop being so dramatic.”
“Cami, you knew this was the life I live. You wanted the fucking glamorous lifestyle, well, this is a part of it.”
“This is not a part of it… I didn’t expect to actually have to raise them. I thought people who have money hire nannies or some shit. I did not sign up to change diapers and all the other stuff that comes along with it.”
At this point, I'm literally stunned speechless. Although I probably should have expected this. What the actual fuck? My fingers are pinching the bridge of my nose to stop the headache I feel brewing.
“Sign up? Fucking sign up! Do you think I signed up for this? To have children with a woman I barely even know when my career is just starting to take off. No, I certainly did not, but you know what... I can’t imagine my life without my two little angels. I thank God every day for them. They’re a blessing.” Of course, I leave out the part of desperately wishing they had a different mother. No reason to dwell on shit I cannot change at this point.
“They are your children. You should want to spend time with them. They are only this little once. Shit, Addy already took her first steps. You are at home every day. You don’t go to school, which I offered to pay for. You don’t have a job, which I also asked if you wanted help to find. So why the fuck would I hire a nanny? So you could be more of an absent mother than you already are?”
To be honest, I was actually thinking of hiring a nanny to help out a few days a week. More so for my children’s sake than to assist Cami. But not after this. Her refusal to come down here just proves that she wants nothing to do with her children. If I'm to hire someone, it's going to be on my terms. A nanny who will love them like they should be loved. Not someone who will enable Cami’s nonsense.
“Again, so dramatic… Everyone I talk to is shocked we don’t have one. It’s just the thing us rich people do.”
“Back the fuck up right there. YOU arenotrich. You don’t have a fucking cent to your name.”
“Well, regardless, I'm not moving.”
