A Perfect Love Story - Book 9

The Nerve of You

LENA POV

"I am so, so sorry, Denise! You have no idea how sorry I am about my daughter showing up like this and speaking to you in the way she did. I am, I am just, I had no-"

"Shhhh," Denni cuts me off as she softly closes her office door and instinctively grabs my hand, squeezing it before letting go. I am mortified beyond words right now at what my daughter has done that I can barely even look at Denni right now. Thankfully by the grace of god Stef had shown up and had nearly dragged Frankie outside to ram into her, because right now I feel as if I may kill her. God only knows if Frankie put my job at risk and who else heard her. Shirley?

"Lena," I hear Denni as she snaps me out of my anxious thoughts. "I just want to address to you that you have raised a very strong, intelligent and wise young woman. I believe that once she learns a proper and mature way in which she comes across to others when expressing herself, that she will be a wonderful asset in whatever she chooses to do in life. She has a tremendous amount of passion, guts and tenacity."

"You call that a strong woman? THAT? What I heard come out of that child's mouth, Denise, my fucking GOD!" I say, for I feel very dizzy, annoyed, frazzled and angry. All of the above.

I had just gotten promoted, and Frankie comes in here spewing all kinds of shit for the entire gallery to hear. I am not only embarrassed, but I feel that familiar urge to gather my things and find another job to work at. Why didn't I keep an extra resignation letter on my desk? Why? Because I thought this was my second chance! THAT'S WHY! And it had been, well, up until things had turned with me and Denni and now Francesca putting it at risk as well.

"Look, Lena, come here, please," she says softly as I follow her and sit across from her on one of the chairs in the corner of her office where we use to spend countless hours laughing, talking and just daydreaming about art. "There are a great deal of emotions going on right now in regards to Stefanie, and the face that our divorced had a tremendous impact on all of your children has not gone unnoticed. Listen, I do not share this with you to make you fell awkward, but Stefanie has divulged a great deal to Ivory and I over the course of the last few days, and as a result I am starting to comes to terms with what your marriage and family meant to her. It has allowed me to grasp a bigger and much clearer perspective then I did previously. I want to apologize for my prior harshness."

Grabbing a tissue now I dab my eyes as my eyes can't seem to meet hers. I simply was not ready to hear that from her right at this present time, and what exactly did Stefanie tell her and Ivory? "I'm still sorry, Denni. It wasn't right no matter how angry or passionate Francesca feels. She should not have done this." Wiping my eyes again, she shakes her head and pulls a piece of paper out of her pocket.

"Here. Another note from your sweet girl. This time she revealed to me what she wrote you, and I hope that it will make your day a little easier, Lena. She is a remarkable young woman and I can see why you and Stef are so very protective of her. Stefanie is a rather gentle soul, and sensitive. Sometimes too much for this world."

"I know." I say softly as I open the note and I'm rather surprised to read that she would like to meet with Stef and I tomorrow evening. This instantly makes my heart rate pick up as I fold it and place it in my pocket. "Denni, as you said Frankie is passionate, but that does not excuse what she said to you and how she behaved. I didn't hear the half of it, but knowing my daughter, it wasn't pleasant and completely inappropriate. Stef and I didn't raise her like that Denni, and we have both worked very hard to educate her on ways you don't speak to someone."

Denni stares at me now, rather intensely as if she is trying to figure out how to respond as I shake my head just not wanting to imagine all that spilled out of my daughters mouth. "Thank you for this, too," I continue. "I know you probably had a hand in changing Stefanie's mind in terms of seeing us. But Denni, I am so sorry that you continue to somehow be the target of our children. That makes me feel as if, well, maybe I shouldn't be here. Maybe I should go to another gallery because-"