All That She Needs

Part 27 : Asha

It was Friday and I came home early from the office today, before Kayden and Chloe who usually would be home from school and their extracurricular activities around five p.m. Sandy and I had planned a special dinner—creamy Dijon mustard chicken for Chloe, who always preferred chicken or fish, and a ribeye steak with garlic herb butter for Kayden. To top it off, I ordered their favorite caramel apple cheesecake from Cake Couture, a heavenly dessert that never failed to delight them both.

I planned to spoil them tonight because I needed to talk to them about Aiden and me finalizing the divorce. It wasn't that they didn't already know—Kayden, especially, had accepted months ago that there was no hope for reconciliation. He had decided that he would accept whatever came next, no matter how hard it might be. Chloe, on the other hand, still clung to a glimmer of hope, too young to fully grasp the finality of it all. I had dropped a few hints, but the way she brushed them off, acting as though it wasn't serious, made me suspect reality hadn't sunk in for her yet. Today, I needed to make her understand and bring closure for all of us.

This was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. My heart had been racing all day, pounding like I was preparing for the trial of my life. I tried so hard to stay calm, but the thought of breaking Chloe's heart and facing Kayden's sad, quiet acceptance weighed on me. I knew this conversation would change everything, and I wasn't sure how we would move forward after today. But it had to be done.

I could only hope they'd understand—if not today, then maybe someday—that this was the best choice for all of us. I wanted us to learn from this experience and avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future. I hoped Kayden would grow into a man who respected women, valued the sanctity of marriage, and stayed true to his promises. And for Chloe, I wished for her to be stronger than I had been, to choose her path wisely, and always respect her own worth. I wanted both of them to understand the importance of self-respect, honesty, and the courage to walk away when something is beyond repair, and to pursue what's truly best for themselves.

I set the table five times before I was even marginally satisfied that everything was perfect. The delicious aroma of the food filled the air, a comforting reminder of the effort Sandy put into preparing the dishes. She was a godsend; I couldn't have done any of this without her, and I would likely have had to order meals from somewhere otherwise.

Kayden, who knew about my plan for tonight, had texted me to tell me that they were already five minutes from home. After checking everything was already in place once more, I hoped and prayed that it would soften the blow of the news I was about to share.

My phone buzzed on the table, signaling another message. It was from Mason: "I'm nervous. You suck at communication. Choose your words wisely. Good luck, sis!"

I scowled at the screen, feeling my nerves spiked again. Dammit, Mason!

"Mooom?" I heard Kayden's voice, and I instantly stiffened. This was it.

Chloe's voice followed, bright and eager. "Mom? You're already home? Sandy, what are you cooking? It smells delicious! I'm starving!"

Sandy, who stood behind me, nudged my arm, noticing that I was frozen in place, my eyes wide with anxiety. "I'm going home now, Asha. Or do you want me to stay?"

I swallowed hard, still staring at the front, waiting for my kids to appear. "No, Sandy. It's alright. I'll take it from here."

"You sure?" she asked, concern creeping into her tone.

"Yeah," I replied slowly, forcing a small smile as I turned my head to look at her. "I'll be fine."

Sandy hesitated for a moment, then nodded, her expression still worried. I appreciated her support, but I knew I had to do this on my own. As she slipped out the door, I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the conversation ahead. Kayden and Chloe's footsteps grew louder, and I reminded myself that I had to be strong for them.