More Than Love (NG3)

23 - Dad

The afternoon sea breeze blew through Sasha's kitchen. She had opened every window, so the stuffy heat of the day could blow out of her small cottage. The wind chimes on her front porch tinked and hummed. It was a peaceful time of day. She felt good about the design she had worked on all morning, and in the afternoon, she rewarded herself in her beach chair with a book. Thankfully, it was low tide, because the beach had been crowded.

Her sunscreen scented skin was bronzed, and the breeze caused goosebumps on her sun warmed arms. She would shower before she started dinner, but wanted to enjoy a glass of iced tea first.

Contentment filled her as she thought of the gallery's offer to display Laney's work. Sasha had already told her she and Davis would attend the charity event. Whatever had been bothering Reed had blown over.

Her phone vibrated, and she answered, hoping it was a potential customer.

The female voice sounded apprehensive. "Is this Sasha?"

"Yes, this is Sasha Davis. Can I help you?"

"Sasha, it's Diane Watson."

Stunned, Sasha said, "Diane?"

"I assume you heard we met Laney."

Sasha nodded. "Diane, I'm sorry. I know I should have..."

"Darling, I didn't call to make accusations. I have been worried about you for all these years. How have you been?"

"Oh. I'm fine. Thanks." She never expected to hear from the woman she thought of as a mother during her teen years.

"What about your parents?"

Curtly, she responded, "I wouldn't know. We lost touch years ago."

"I heard you were married."

Sasha smiled as pictured Laney talking about her. "I was, but I've been divorced for a long time."

"Did you have other children?"

Sasha frowned. "Laney was my only baby."

Regret was heavy in the cooling air. Her life would have been very different if she and Davis had a child.

She exclaimed, "Are you all alone?"

"No. I live alone, but I have friends, and my ex and I are close."

"Darling, I wish I had known. I could have helped."

Sasha snapped. "Help ruin your son's future. I did what I thought was best. Laney had a wonderful childhood."

"I know, but aside from my granddaughter, we lost you. It was hard on all of us, especially Jake, but he had family. You were alone."

It made her sound pathetic. Maybe she had been. "I'll admit it wasn't easy. Diane, I can't look back. Even meeting Laney, I want to focus on our future. I'm also trying to be sensitive to the difficult position she's in with me and your son who hates me."

Diane said, "You hurt Jake when you left. It took him a long time to move on. I love my son, but I loved you, too."

Sasha felt tears slide down her cheeks. "Sorry, Diane, but I really need to go."

She hung up without waiting for a response. Her past was coming at her like a runaway steamroller. For over two decades, she had kept the memories, and the pain tucked away. She had survived her divorce the same way.

Why was it she never felt lonely until someone pointed out how alone she was? Did her life's decisions lead her to where she ended up? Davis kept promising her more. He already had her heart, but not her life. If she built a life with him again, she'd risk having it pulled out from under her when he strayed. Still, the thought of not being alone was so tempting.