Beautiful Secrets

Chapter 29

I was awoken by my phone ringing at 2:00 AM in the morning. It was my mom. I hesitated before answering it. What could she want?  "Hello?" I answered. The line was silent. I furrowed my brow. "Hello?" I repeated. The line was silent. I was just about to hang up when I heard a sigh on the line. "Stevie, what're are you?" My mom asked. She sounded like she hadn't slept in days. "What?" I asked. I sat up in the bed. "Stevie, I need to know where you are" she said. "Why do you care?" I asked. She scuffed. "Stephanie, I am your mother. I love you with all my damn heart! I am concerned for you. Where are you" she said. I felt tears rushing not to my eyes. "Why are you calling me at 2:00 in the morning?" I asked. "Stevie, please. I need to see you" she begged. "I'm sorry......I am not coming home. I am happy" I said with a shaky voice. "Stephanie! You will get home right now!" She yelled into the phone. I looked at Jimmy, who was sleeping soundly next to me. "No, no I won't" I said calmly. "I love you" I said before I hung up. I stared at the wall after I hung up. I felt terrible. I do love my mom, but I also love Jimmy.

When I woke up the next morning, Jimmy was still asleep. I smiled at him. He was too adorable. I slowly got up and took a quick shower. When I came out of the bathroom, Jimmy was still asleep. I wrapped my towel tightly and then jumped onto the bed. Jimmy awoke suddenly. "What the..." He muttered as he woke up. "Good morning" I said as I cuddled up next to him. He smiled when he realized it was me. "What are you doing up so early?" He asked. I glanced at the clock, it was only 8:00 in the morning. "Couldn't sleep well" I said remembering what had happened. He gave me a puzzled look. "What do you mean?" He asked. "Nothing, anyway.....I'm really nervous to meet your daughters. I mean, it's just scaring me" I said. He sighed. "You'll be fine. They'll love you" he said. "What about your wife? She hates me" I said. "Ex-wife and no she doesn't. If anything she feels sorry for you. She thinks I forced you Into everything" he said. I shrugged. "Listen, how about we take off this annoying towel and then get under the covers for some stuff" he said Fidgeting with my towel and changing the subject. I rolled my eyes. "No, I need to get ready" I said. He frowned and pouted his lower lip. I giggled. "I wanna look good for your daughters and ex-wife" I said as I got up. "What a tease" he said as he got up from bed. I have him a look and then started getting dressed.

Around 9:00, we left. While I sat in the passenger seat of Jimmy's car, I fiddled with my jacket zipper. I was so damn nervous. I had my hair straight as a pin and was wearing a cute little floral dress with a green cardigan. I looked good, impressive. I could tell Jimmy was super excited because he was singing along to today's hits on the radio. He never really sings along to today's hits. He only had the radio on a pop station because I like it. "Winnie really likes dolls and playing house" Jimmy randomly said. He broke my train of thought. I smiled at him. "That's so cute!" I exclaimed. He smiled. "Yeah, I bet her hair has gotten even more curlier than last time" he said. "And Franny, she likes going outside and watching the birds" he added. I smiled at him. "Listen, my mom called me last night" I randomly blurted. Jimmy looked over at me. I sighed. "Wait, why?" He asked. "I don't know, I think she was drunk or something" I said. "She was saying how she was scared for me and how she wanted me home right now" I went on. Jimmy gave me a nervous look. "Are you.....gonna go back?" He asked. I shrugged. "No, I mean.....not right now" I said. "She wants me to drop you" I admitted. He snickered. "That's valid" he said. "I don't intend on going back anytime soon, but I don't wanna like disown her or something" I said. "You'll figure it out, she loves you. She'll get over it eventually" he said as he rubbed my thigh. I smiled at him. "I hope" I said.

When we finally pulled up to the building, my heart started racing. I grabbed Jimmy's sleeve before he pulled the keys out of the ignition. He looked at me. "I'm sorry" I huffed out. He rubbed my arm. "It's fine, but you're gonna be okay. They'll love you and Nancy will like you, too" he said. "No she won't" I said back. I slumped in the seat. "Stevie, they are too young to understand what happened. They'll just see you as a new person. That's it. Nancy will be fine. You're gonna be fine. Please do this with me" he said. I hesitated and then opened the door.