Unbreak my Heart (BMAW)

Chapter 13

The next few weeks flew by fast and we settled into a routine. We ate dinner together, sometimes watched TV together, played board games on some random days. During dinner, we did something we called The What Hour. It was basically just us having a conversation while eating by asking ourselves questions like what was the highlight of your day? What upset you the most? What nice thing did you do for another person? What fun activity would you like us to do as a family? What's your favourite book and why? It was an opportunity for us to get to know each other.

I woke up early everyday to make breakfast for everyone and pack lunches too. Cora was transferred to a new school, the same one his best friends' kids attended and because it was closer to him than it was to me, I dropped her off every morning on my way to work and he picked her up in the afternoon. Sammy got me a minivan because he didn't like that I drove his child around with the deathtrap I called my car. That upset me because I worked hard to get that car and maintain it over the past few years. It wasn't even a bad car, it just wasn't as bougée as his cars.

Okay. I lied. It was a bad car but I was loyal to it because it did so much for me. It really tried for me.

Work also kept me very busy, and so between work and our new routine, I didn't have the time to focus on my problems, which was exactly what I wanted.
However, because I didn't have to pick Cora up from school anymore, I had nothing to do during my lunch break other than eat, reload my Instagram page multiple times, spend time with Angie and plan the menu for the next day. Considering the fact that I no longer lived close by and had also moved some of my major evening work activities to the afternoon, Angie sometimes let me take off earlier than usual.

I started a skincare routine and began working out because there was a whole thread mill in the living room. In my free time, I began fixing up my room and dabbling in nice 5 minutes crafts. After overthinking it for hours, I downloaded Bumble and Tinder but procrastinated on setting my accounts up on both apps. These things kept me preoccupied and before I knew what was up, it was the end of the month.

"I don't know what to do with all this money." I said as I stared at the check in my hand. It was paycheck day and Angie and I were having lunch together in her office.

"You could give it to me. I'll put it to good use." She replied with a grin and I chuckled before putting some food in my mouth.

"I'm serious though." I said while chewing. Flavor burst on my tongue when I ate a shrimp and I mentally patted myself on the back for being very good at what I do. "For the first time in years, I don't have bills to pay."

"Your baby daddy takes care of everything?" She asked and I nodded. Baby daddy left a bad taste in my mouth and I didn't know why but I didn't think hard about it.

"Yes he does. School fees, home upkeep, everything that has to do with Cora. Even Eli's bills. Now that I don't have to pay for them, I don't know what to do with the money."

"There's tons of things to do with it. Clothes, perfume, makeup, jewelry, investment, savings, go on a much needed trip, so much. Spending money on yourself is not an offence, you know." She said, reaching for her waterbottle and I hummed in agreement. It was all true but I had forgotten how to spend on myself, what it meant to splurge.

"Won't I regret it? It feels like a waste." I asked again with concern.

"No one said you should spend everything. Just a little." She said with exasperation and that was how I found myself in a boutique with Angie on Saturday. I walked next to her and she picked clothes off the rack with so much excitement it was contagious. "I can't remember the last time I went shopping with someone. This is going to be fun!"