The Mom Next Door

51-Go

*jens pov*

About 30 minutes of crying on my couch, I hear a knock at the door. I ignore it the first two times, hoping it will stop. But it doesn't. I stand up and walk to the door, preparing to tell whoever it is to leave. But my eyes widen when I see Leah standing there.

"Why are you here?" I ask emotionless. "To talk." She says, hopeful. "There's nothing to say." I say and go to shut the door, but she stops it with her arm. I furrow my brows as she lets herself in.

"Look...I-I'm so sorry Jennifer...I'm sorry you had to see that." She says as I shut the door. "Me too.." I say with a slight crack in my voice. "But you have to understand Jen...you left..." She says and I scoff. "Because you told me to!" I snap.

"You we're gonna be gone for a year Jennifer! How did you expect us to stay together??" She asks. "I don't know-. But- I mean, are you really serious Leah?? Angelo?! I thought maybe...y-you would've tried to make things work." I say and she furrows her brows.

"He's the father of my kid Jennifer." She says and I roll my eyes. "This is ridiculous..." I shake my head. "You promised me.." I say shakily. "You were in a whole different country." She starts to say. "I wanted Sofia to be closer to her dad...I didn't mean for things to happen between Angelo and I." She says and I cut her off. "'Things'..? So you're back together? Already?.." I ask with a frown on my face. "I-I don't know..." She sighs.

I look down before walking over to the couch and sitting down, putting my face in my hands. Leah slowly walks over and sits down beside me. "You told me that you loved me.." I say shakily. "I do- I do love you." She assures me. "Obviously not anymore." I sniff. "Ok. Don't do that." She shakes her head and stands up.

"Don't make this all about you. This is not all about you." She says, raising her voice. "You left!...You left me and Sofia for France, for a whole different life. It wasn't only hard for you. It sucked on my end too, ok?." She says.

"You were on my mind so much that it started taking a toll on Sofia. I couldn't go into work, I had no motivation..." She says. "So I'm sorry...I'm sorry that I'm trying to make an effort for my daughter-." I cut her off. "By going back to your sleezy ex?" I ask.

"You don't even know Angelo!" She says. "I know enough." I nod. "Ok well what you think doesn't matter. This is My family Jennifer. Sofia is my daughter...and Angelo is her dad." She says.

I look up at her with my teary eyes and I press my lips. This is too much. She locks her eyes with mine and I hold my breath for a second before speaking.

"I kissed someone else..." I blurt out and Leah raises one brow. "You what?" She asks. "I kissed someone in France." I say and look at her. She forces an unamused chuckle and looks up. "Then why the hell are you bitching about me and Angelo when you're just as guilty here-?" She asks.

"Because it's different!" I shoot back. "How?!" She asks. "I kissed someone, yes, but I didn't take it any further because I was thinking about you. I knew I couldn't do that to you." I say getting upset.

"But here you are, sitting on Angelo's lap, you're ex husband who cheated on you and left you and Sofia in the dust, fucking him without even thinking about me.." I tilt my head. "The man that comes into your house, breaks flower vases and screams and screams until he makes you cry..." I say getting quiet. "Jennifer I've thought about you every fucking day." She says sternly. "Has he moved back in?" I ask. "Jennifer.." She says.

"Has he?" I ask. "Jennifer stop." She says and looks down. "Are you sleeping with him?" I ask. "Jennifer- shut the fuck up! Honestly-. You just won't stop! All of this is absolutely none of your business!" She yells. "Well it was when you used to tell me everything!" I say.

"I used to tell you everything...but you were gone. And now you know nothing." She says and crosses her arms, which hurts.

I look at her with tears in my eyes. All those memories from when we first got together come back to me. How exciting and fun it was being with her. How her smile was the only thing that made me happy at one point. Now everything's different.

"Who are you...?" I say softly. She rolls her eyes and looks at me. "Who am I? Who are you Jennifer? I mean look at yourself-. You've come back with this totally different look, thinking you're so confident now. But I'm sure that all changed when you saw me and Angelo." She says.

I get really quiet and just avoid eye contact with her. "Did you really think this was gonna last?" She ask and I look at her. "You're twenty...almost twenty one. I'm 36, divorced and with a kid. You're living in France right now, and I'm sure you're having the time of your life. And that's exactly what I want for you. But you can't let me pull you back." She tilts her head.

"You have to let me go.." She says as she squats down in front of me. "If you really loved me then you wouldn't say that.." I tilt my head. "That's exactly why I'm saying it...because I really love you. And if you really love me...then you'll do what I say." She tilts her head too.

It gets quiet while I think of what to say next. I keep trying to convince myself that this isn't real. But it is.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to talk to you again.." I say and look at her. She presses her lips and stands up. "Then don't." She says, which surprises me.

I stand up too and look at her. "I'm serious." I assure her. "I know." She says calmly. "I mean it Leah. If you're back with Angelo then-then...I'm leaving. I love France. I-I'll move there, and I'll never want to see you again." I say.

All of this is causing a mixture of sadness and anger. And I want Leah to know how badly this is hurting me. If she's staying with Angelo, then I won't be able to interact with her anymore.

She looks at me and tilts her head. "At least say goodbye to Sofia." She says and my heart breaks all over again. She's fine with me leaving. She really wants me to let her go...