Page 39 of Loyal
“Kids have blinders when it comes to their parents.” She shrugs.
“Trust me, that’s become clear, but that doesn’t mean she should be doing the shit she has been.”
Gina’s eyebrows wing up. “Like…”
“She is still trying to claim that he must only be into me to get to her and she feels uncomfortable around him. I don’t leave them alone. I even showed her the video where it proved her actions, but she doubled down. Said she thought that’s what he wanted. I don’t know what to do with her.”
Gina laughs lightly as she shakes her head. “She is relentless, that’s for sure.”
“She isn’t the daughter I once knew. She is turning into this vindictive monster, and I don’t know how to stop it. If I stop dating Loyal, she gets her way, and it teaches her nothing. If I don’t, I might lose my daughter.”
“That is a tough situation. I don’t know how you are still sane after dealing with it.”
I sigh. “Loyal. He’s been amazing through it all. Sticking up for Farrah even when she doesn’t deserve it. He thinks she needsmore time. I don’t think she will ever warm up to the idea of me with him.”
“Damn, babe. I’m sorry.”
“I just don’t know what to do. He makes me happy.” I squeeze my eyes tight. “So damn happy, but I feel like she’s going to ruin it. Like should I walk away and hope that we can get back together when she’s out of the house?”
Gina reaches over and grabs my hand, making me open my eyes. “Absolutely not. Whatever you do Sami, don’t break up with him because of her. Leave him if you aren’t happy, but not because your daughter is trying to sabotage your relationship. That wouldn’t be fair to him. Or you for that matter. You left a loveless marriage because you wanted her to see what a happy and healthy one looked like, don’t fold now.”
“I don’t want to but I feel like my hands are tied. What if I lose her over this?”
“Then you lose her,” she says, making my heart ache.
“Gina…she’s my daughter.”
She nods grimly. “I know, but at the end of the day, that’s all she is. You can’t control her actions or her feelings toward you. It is not fair that you gave up your entire life for her only for her to turn around and throw it all in your face. She is being unfair to you. In a year, she’s going to move out, and you’ll be all alone. Your house is going to be empty. Silent even. Sure you could start finding yourself then, but why wait? Why not start building something now with someone who genuinely wants to be with you now so that way when she’s gone you aren’t alone?”
“You make it sound so easy,” I mutter as tears build behind my eyes.
“Hey, I know it sounds good in theory, but I’m not a mother. I don’t know how to relate to what you’re going through, but I am your friend and I want to see you happy.”
“And if I choose him and she walks away from me for good?”
“If that happens, then you let her and pray to God every night she wakes up one day and realizes that she was asking too much. That you didn’t do anything wrong and decide to make amends.”
I don’t think I could do it. I know that part of me wants to say fuck it and pick him over her. The part that is finally happy, but I know the truth. If I pick him, I will lose her, and I won’t be happy.
On the other hand, if I choose her, I will lose him, and it will likely break me.
There is no winning. Not if she won’t see reason. I know Gina means well, but she’s right. She’s not a mother, so she doesn’t understand.
If it comes down to it, I would let Loyal go for her. I can’t lose my child. I just hope I don’t learn to resent her in the process.
“Only you can decide, Sami,” Gina says softly.
She’s right. My decision is already made. I only hope Farrah doesn’t make me speak it out loud.
I pass by a teenager with a backpack when I turn onto the street and groan. Even without seeing her face, I know who it is.
Farrah.
Pulling into the driveway, I shut off my bike and jump off.
“Hey,” she yells.
I ignore her and walk toward the house.
