One night was all it took: Season 3 "One second was all it took"

Grab Some More Popcorn

I slowly open my eyes. The first thing I see is the sunlight shining brightly into the window. I turn over and wrap my arm around my pillow. I look, but Natalia is not in the bed with me. I should have known this. She is an early bird. I exhale and stretch my arms. I can feel the tired part of me trying to leave as I reach for the sky with my stretch. My mouth drops open as I release a long and loud yawn.

I am staring at my ceiling. I wish my mom could be here. I wish my dad were...well...my dad the way he was. I wish I had a sibling. I wish for so many different things. But this morning I must be grateful. I am grateful for my soon-to-be wife. I am grateful for my best friends, and my very close friends. I am grateful for Jack and Bill considering me like a daughter. I am grateful for my home and my business. I have so many different things to be grateful for so I cannot wish for things when I believe I have everything.

I glance at the picture on my wall. Okay! I say to myself while staring at it. This day is going to assess me. I look at my mom and dad standing on each side of me in the picture. I was little, maybe nine or ten. They both did their best and took care of me. And then dad supposedly died, and mom went not long after that. They say she had a heart attack. I believe she died of a broken heart.

I know that he wants to become part of my life. I also know he needs serious help before he even has a chance to try working things out with me. I refuse to allow him around me and take anything from me. I cannot allow it. I spent a short part of my life bouncing from house to house. Family members did not want me, but most of this town did.

I was a troublemaker for a little while and it pushed me away from people. Then I found Roger, and I already knew Jack and Bill, but they were not around enough to take care of me at the time. They eventually started taking care of me, along with Roger. Then I turned eighteen and started working full-time at the bar and Roger helped me get my first home. Jack and Bill helped with the bills while I saved up. As I see, they still help me to this day. They are like my fathers and made sure I was taken care of one way or another.

I get it. Many people were frustrated with how I treated my dad when he was here. I shipped him off and did not want anything to do with him. A person cannot blame me. I was raised by my fathers. They all were there for me when he was not...especially considering he was alive the entire time. He could have come home. He could have taken care of his family.

From what he described to me, I would have understood him not coming home right away in the beginning, but after a month or two, he had options. It is like he no longer wanted the responsibility. So, for me, he is a stranger. He can slowly enter back into my life, and I will be the judge of whether I want him here and I do not think I want him at my wedding. Jack, Bill, and if Roger shows up, will be there for me.

I groggily slide out of bed and stretch my arms. I quickly rub my hand against my head from my wake-up frustration. I drag my feet across the floor while slowly and tiredly walking to the bathroom. I do not want to be awake. I also do not want today to be a disaster. I must go to the bar and then I must meet up with Natalia for this wedding planning.

I look down at my phone as it buzzes. I quickly answered it. "Hey babe!" I say as I search for my toothbrush. "I have to meet with the club owners for their party at the bar. They slotted an entire day next week. I need to be there by eleven and I hate getting up this early."

"Yeah?" She speaks. "Well, aren't you the one who decided to meet with them at the time you had chosen?"

I swallow. I am smiling but she cannot see it. "Well, out of respect. They start their days at four a.m. which meant I was going to be needing to select a time that they would feel comfortable with meeting around." I slide my toothbrush back into its holder and pick my phone up off the counter. "Are you meeting with the caterers for the wedding today?"