Our Roots SAMPLE

Chapter Five- Just One

Mia

I sit in silence, watching my kids play at the local Chuck E. Cheese's while my soon to be ex-husband sits across from me. This is our first attempt at co-parenting since we decided to separate six months ago and it's not starting off well.

Torrance showed up here wreaking of alcohol and even though I can tell he's not drunk right now, I know he has been within the past few hours. His once beautiful face now looks aged about ten years and he hasn't shaved since the day he left. He looks like a bum.

If that wasn't bad enough, he's giving me those puppy dog eyes. I realize that he holds me responsible for his downward spiral, but he's a grown man. He should at least be able to pull himself together long enough to spend time with our kids.

"It can't always be like this, Torrance. When are you going to wake up and realize that your kids are getting older every day? You're missing out on their lives."

"I don't want them to see me this way," he replies quietly.

"I understand that, but when are you planning on getting yourself together? It's been six months. It's time to move on and-"

"Stop. Just stop, Mia. You don't understand because you're not the one hurting."

"Oh, I'm not hurting? None of this is hurting me? How would you know-"

"You made me leave! You are the one that wanted it to be over, not me!" he shouts causing the people around us to stare.

I look around at them and hang my head to hide my embarrassment. "Torrance, we can't do this here. Can we please just be adults for the next few hours?"

He sighs. "Fine."

"Have you thought about what I asked you?"

"You were being serious? You really want me to go to your brother's anniversary party with you and pretend everything's okay?"

"I know I'm asking for a lot, but you know my family. I can't let them catch wind of this, especially not right now. My mom is just starting to get better, Ryder and Courtney are so happy, CJ's engaged...it's a happy time for them. I don't want to be a wet blanket."

He continues to stare at me like I'm the most evil person alive to ask such a thing from him. Finally, he clicks his tongue and leans back, crossing his arms over his chest. "What's in it for me?"

My mouth drops. "Are you serious? Why they hell would I owe you anything? I asked you to do this for me to make up for all the shit you've put me through over the past six months."

"What about me, Mia? I know you're probably the most selfish person alive, but you can't possibly think you're the only one getting put through shit. You dumped a big pile of shit on me when you kicked me out and filed for a divorce six months ago. Unfortunately, I'm still not quite over that."

This is how it always turns out for us. No matter what we do or how hard we try, we always end up screaming at each other. I know asking Torrance to come with me to Florida is asking for a lot, but I can't let my family find out about us. At least not for the next couple of months. I've managed to keep quiet about it this long, I'm determined to make it just a little bit longer.

"What do you want in return?" I ask.

"I want one more day with you. Just one. After that, I'll sign the papers and let you move on with your life," he says quickly, like he's been thinking about this for a while.

While spending any amount of time with Torrance, especially a whole day, sounds more horrible than vacationing in Antarctica, I realize I'm going to have to play along if I want him to do this for me. "Fine, just one day. No expectations though."

He nods. "Okay, then it's a deal. When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

He raises a brow. "Tomorrow? You couldn't have given me any more of a heads up than that?"

"You've known about this party for two weeks, Torrance."

"Yeah, but the party is Saturday. It's only Tuesday."

I stand up and start gathering my kid's things together. "I know, but I want to get there early. The kids never get to see Charlie anymore and they've really been missing her. Besides, you and Ryder haven't talked in a couple of years, right? Maybe you two can catch up."

He laughs sarcastically. "Yeah, I'm sure Ryder is going to be thrilled to see me just like he always is."

"Torrance, I'm begging you...please, please, please be on your best behavior. No fighting, no talking about...you know...."

"What about the kids? You're not worried they'll slip up and say something?" he asks.

I look down and fight back the tears now forming in my eyes. "I'll talk to them."

He doesn't say anything for a while so I look up and notice he's watching them play. The look on his face breaks my heart, but for some reason, I can't look away. His eyes meet mine after a while and he does something that he hasn't done in months. He smiles.

"Mia, if I go on this trip with you, I want us to get along. Not just for the kids, but for us too."

I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off. "And don't say you'll try. I need more than an effort. I deserve more than an effort."

While I want to scream that he doesn't deserve anything, I bite my tongue in the name of peace. "I'll do everything in my power to get along with you."

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