It's You: Book Two

Chapter Twenty Four

I walk out of my bedroom with Mike and Danny. Aiden, Ali, Camilla, and Peter are in the living room with my parents, waiting for us.

"It's gonna be alright." Danny says to me. My two kids and Mike's daughter are all asleep, which is why we decided now was the right time for this.

I nod my head and walk into the living room, calmly clearing my throat.

"Mom, Dad, please sit down." I say.

"Alexandra," My Mom starts.

"We just want to talk to you." Mike says with his arms crossed. "Obviously the Moran's are staying. They're family."

My parents sit down on the loveseat, clearly sitting as far from each other as they can.

I want to cry at the sight, but I shove my feelings to the side.

I decided I'm getting through this no matter what. I can cry later.

I clear my throat.

"Why?" I ask finally. "Why are you getting divorced?"

Mike and Danny are standing with me. Aiden is listening and watching with his hands in his pockets. Ali is watching with her arms crossed.

Both of them try talking at the same time, but I put my hand up.

"One at a time." I say. "Please. No fighting. Mom, what's your side of it?"

"Do we have to have this conversation here?" she asks.

"Yes." Danny says. "Why are you getting divorced? When did the feeling start?"

Mom sighs quietly.

"They started after Alexandra left for college. The week after she left. And honey, I can't stress this enough. It's not your fault."

I nod my head but say nothing.

"We've been together since high school. We went through college, got out, got married at twenty three, and had Danny at twenty four. We always told ourselves that no matter what, after we got through with the dream of having kids, it would be our time. We would travel and go on dates and maybe move to a city and live in an apartment on the beach. But our last one left, and it was our time, but instead of doing things together, Daddy joined the country club and chose golfing. When he was home, he went to the garage to go work on his mustang. Or we would order in, instead of going out to dinner. Alex, you've been gone for like eight years, and we haven't been on one date. The struggles faded when you came back with Declan, and we were okay again. We could bond and be together, but then you moved out, and it wasn't that bad because we had Declan sometimes and you came around a lot, but not you're married and you have another baby and you're all here. Danny, you're out with your big job and hanging out with your friends, Michael, you have Ali and Danielle, and I kept wondering when our time was going to come. I finally confronted your Dad a few months ago. We realized the problem was that we fell out of love, and we both decided mutually to get a divorce."

Everyone is quiet for a while. I see Mike open his mouth to say something, and then Danny does the same.

And then they both sigh and look at me.

I nod my head slowly.

"Dad?" I ask.

"She pretty much summed it up." He says gruffly. "It's just better this way."

Both of my brothers look at me.

"Why are you guys looking at me?" I exclaim.

"I mean, no offense Alex, but you're kind of the queen of relationship issues." Danny says. "My only girlfriend was in college. We were together for three years and broke up because she cheated on me."