Page 21 of No Turning Back
Me
She needs a shark. Colton is cheating on her.
Mom
I know just who to call. I’ll give her suggestions tonight when she picks up the kids. She can stay at my place or in the rental.
My mom turned Gram’s old farmhouse into a rental property. Colton doesn’t know about it, so it would be the perfect place for her to hide out with the kids.
Mom
Tell her I’ll get a restraining order processed if she wants.
Me
I don’t think she needs that yet, but I’m worried he’ll come after the kids.
Mom
I’ll get a hold of a friend who can get things rolling.
Me
On a Saturday?
Mom
I’ll explain more later. See you in a few.
I set my phone down on the nightstand, then go back to looking through my closet to figure out what to wear tonight. I decide on a skirt since Tucker said he was going to bring the truck to pick me up. Something about wanting to enjoy looking at me before he has to share me with everyone else.
I jump into the shower and take a quick one, washing my hair to bring out the natural waves and loose curls. I hear Mari on the monitor as I’m stepping out of the bathroom after scrunching my waves. Slipping on my robe, I make it across the house to Mari’s room where she was napping.
“Hello, beautiful.” I smile at her chubby, smiling face.
Her little arms are flapping around as she sits up, waiting for me to come pick her up. I lift her into my arms, and she nuzzles into me. On our way back to my room, I grab her saucer walker and set her down in it while I finish getting ready. She grumbles that I’m not holding her, but then starts jumping and playing with her toys.
It’s so nice to be able to wear my sexy undergarments again now that I’ve stopped nursing. After digging through my closet, I find the tan safari pleated skirt that falls mid-calf, with a slit to my knee. I pair it with my black Doc Martens and a denim long-sleeved shirt I leave mostly unbuttoned over a white lacy camisole. Thin leather suspenders complete the look. Spinning in front of my full-length mirror, I like the full effect and hope Tucker does too. Again, my makeup is a mask to hide the ever-present dark circles.
I’m lacing up my boots when I hear the alarm system disengage and then my mom’s voice.
“Angels, I’m here.”
Mari coos, recognizing her voice, and I let her know where we are.
“In here, Mom.”
“Wow! You unpacked your photos,” she comments when she steps into the room with Micah and Michelle behind her. She looks over my bed at one of my favorite pictures of a female rhino and her calf in the grass.
“Hey, kiddos.” I greet them and ignore my mom’s comment.
I don’t need to acknowledge what she said. I know how she’s felt about me not showing my pictures. But it was too hard before. Just looking at the images reminded me of everyone I lost. Of the pain and loss from that night. It makes me feel despair that I’m still alive, living my life, while they aren’t. I should have done more. But I know I need to move on. Therefore, I really need to start seeing someone and discuss what happened to me. Maybe I can honor their lives in another way.
“Aunty Syd, why are we here? Mom said we would get the weekend with Krystal,” Michelle asks me.
I take her in. Her dark blond hair has grown so much and is long down her back. Lydia and I would video chat when we could, and the kids would join in. They had started calling me aunty even though Colton disagreed with it.
“Kids, your mom is coming home tonight, and she wanted to pick you up from here.” I hate lying to them, but it’s Lydia’s job to explain to them what is going on.
