Chapter 16. Rose - Bonding
Mom had come to collect me. She was pretty angry. I don’t know what she had said to the police, but they weren’t going to fine me. I was given a stern warning and reminded that the order was still in place. Next time, they would be much harsher with me.
We were sitting in a restaurant having lunch because we couldn’t go home to Colin’s when mom was with me.
“Rose, this isn’t okay,” she said. “When you told me about your Bear, you made it seem like he loved you. This man took out an order against you! What have I told you? If it’s too challenging, you move onto the next one.
Don’t lose your pride like this. You look like a fool.
Just see our Colin’s time and then move on. ”
“He does love me,” I insisted. “He’s been forced into this merry dance by Harriet. He’s worried he’ll lose contact with our baby if he splits from her now.”
“ Our baby? Rose, the baby is his and his wife’s not yours,” she said with a look of disbelief. “Rose, I think you might need some help.”
Of course I needed help! The man I loved and who loved me was being kept from me. Now he had a baby to worry about, he’d push me even further aside. If I gave him a baby, he’d stay with me. He’d worry about me and protect me against outsiders.
“Rose?” Mom asked, annoyed at my silence.
“What do you want me to say? You obviously don’t understand the situation. The only people who really understand a relationship is the people in the relationship .”
“Yes, but Rose, this doesn’t sound like a relationship.
It sounds like a stalker movie.” Mom was never tactful.
She saw something she wanted and went for it with gusto.
Well, so did I, but I was more of an emotional person than mom.
She wanted Colin for a payday. I wasn’t stupid.
I knew that. All of a sudden pushing me on my wealthy father in his final ailing days?
But again, I had feelings. I wanted to know Colin and it wasn’t about the money.
“Whatever, Mom. Thank you for bailing me out, but I really have nothing more to say on the matter. Bear and I just have to have a conversation.”
“Rose!” she exploded. “You cannot talk to this man. You’ll be thrown in jail and have a hefty fine added, which I cannot afford to pay. I think we should speak to Auntie Jean.”
Well, that was just offensive. Auntie Jean was a psychiatrist. I wasn’t crazy. I was in love and feeling rejected and heartbroken. Nothing a few days in bed with chocolate and sappy movies wouldn’t fix.
“No need for Auntie Jean,” I snapped. Auntie Jean had that annoying “I’m here for you” personality. Even Mom couldn’t stand her constant interventions and opinions, so to hear that Mom wanted to bring her into this was alarming.
“There’s a need for something, Rose. You’re losing your pride and your mind over a fucking man,” Mom scolded.
I’d broken her number one rule. It was fine to have boyfriends.
It was fine to pursue men, but apparently you shouldn’t lose your pride.
That was why she’d never had a long-term relationship.
She didn’t understand that love required sacrifice.
She’d never sacrifice anything for love, even for a daughter’s love.
“Can you talk to him for me?” I asked her.
“No, I’m pretty sure that’s a violation too,” she answered, spooning up a pile of rice.
“Then what will I do? Should I just wait a bit? The order is for a year. That’s a long time. The baby will be older, and I’ll have missed the early bonding stage.” That was a real concern for me.
“It’s not your fucking baby,” she shouted, causing several people to turn around.
“Rose, I’ll level with you. Having kids isn’t all that great.
I don’t recommend it. Be glad it’s not your baby.
Be glad you don’t have any baggage and can just walk away and find another man. This is a good thing. Walk away!”
Baby bear was part of the package. I wouldn’t walk away from her.
I wonder what they’d called her? I knew she was a girl from the pink explosion on the front step, but both Rose and Bear had nailed down their social media profiles, so I had no idea what her name was.
Jacqui had turned into a tight-lipped bitch and Leo didn’t even talk to me.
It’s like he’d been told I was a psycho or something.
He literally would walk away if I came near him.
Lunch dragged on. Spending time with my mother when she was in this mood was a drag. I smiled at the appropriate times and nodded my head when she gave me her opinion. She didn’t understand. Nobody but Bear and I did.