Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
SASHA
“Drama much?” Melanie asked.
My mouth dropped open. “Drama?”
She nodded, pursing her lips before taking a sip of coffee.
It was a full week later, and I still hadn’t called Noah. He tried to call me and texted and sent me flowers twice—at work and here. Melanie had answered the door for that delivery, so she knew I’d gotten them. She’d even read the card.
“Yes,” she repeated after she swallowed her coffee and straightened in her chair. “You’re overreacting. Now that you’ve overreacted, you’re compounding it. I know you well enough to say that, and you need to hear it.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she held her hand up.
“Wait. You know I love you and Quinn like family. You have been raising her by yourself since you had her. It makes complete sense that you’re overprotective.
You’ve had to be. It’s always been just you.
I never dated as a single mother, but I can imagine it’s like walking through a field of landmines.
There’s no easy way to do it. It’s a constant dance of who to let in, how to keep your distance, and how to assess when to let someone into your life and get to know your daughter. ”
Tears stung in my eyes, but I nodded, the defensiveness inside easing slightly. “It is. Noah’s the first man I introduced to Quinn.”
“Of course. He’s a keeper.”
“I don’t know why I’m reacting like this,” I finally mumbled, feeling a little ridiculous about it all.
I was missing Noah so fiercely that it annoyed me. I fell asleep crying twice this week. I knew my pride was getting in the way, but I didn’t know what to do next.
“I think two things are happening. Quinn’s father showing up in the midst of that investigation is stressful. Trying to trust him is huge. He seems, at best, marginally interested in connecting with her,” Melanie said, her tone soft.
“I know. He’s been nice, and I think he does want to connect, but he doesn’t grasp that she’s a teenager and has her own feelings and opinions.”
“Teenagers are not easy, even for those of us who know what to do with them. There’s that, which would definitely bring up all kinds of stuff for you, and then letting Noah in, and really letting him in.
Quinn loves him, and it’s obvious to me she looks at him like a father figure.
I’m sure you love that, but it’s also hard because it’s just been you and her against the world.
I like to think I’m part of your family, but it’s not the same. ”
“You are,” I broke in.
She smiled warmly. “Good. But I’m off to the side. I’m not there day in and day out and never will be. If you and Noah stay together, he’ll be more than just someone on the side, and I think that scares you. I can’t speak for him, but my gut tells me he’s in it all the way.”
I swiped at my tears and gulped my coffee. After a moment, I asked, “So I should probably call him?” I looked down at my coffee cup as if that would tell me what to do.
“Or at least answer when he calls,” she said. “Before you call him, I think you should talk to Quinn. She’s being a little shitty about this.”
“What do you mean?”
Melanie drummed her fingertips on the table before replying, “She’s angry with you for setting a limit about something that’s your prerogative. Teenagers have that tendency.”
My chest felt tight, and my throat was a little scratchy. I knew precisely what Melanie meant, and while I knew she was right, this was one topic I didn’t want to press my daughter on. It was the kind of sore spot that felt so vulnerable, as if torn open, the wound might deepen.
“I’ll think about it,” I finally said.