Chapter 20 Antonia #2
“Well, that’s okay. Brendan and I are no longer together, so what he says or thinks doesn’t matter to us.”
“Wait, what? You and Brendan broke up?”
I nodded.
“Why?”
“Because he gave me an ultimatum, and that is something you never, ever do to someone you’re supposed to love.”
“Is it because of me and Nova?”
I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”
It was because Brendan thought he was more important than Miriam and the kids, when he knew he wasn’t. What did that say about me? Why had I stayed with him for so long?
I closed my eyes and let myself really think about our relationship for the first time.
When had Brendan ever put anyone before himself?
Yes, he’d canceled his tee time in Miami, but only after I’d made a smart-ass comment.
When I had food poisoning last year and spent three days barely able to get out of bed, he’d checked on me once before going to play golf.
The only holidays we’d ever spent together were the ones where his friends had something going on—the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.
Never Christmas and sometimes New Year’s.
I’d made excuses for him. He didn’t understand close relationships because he wasn’t close to his family, at least not in the way I was with mine and Miri.
His family was all business—prim and proper—ready to put on a front for anyone staring in from the outside.
Whereas mine was about love and compassion, about being there when the people we loved needed us.
The truth slapped me in the face, hard. Brendan put Brendan first. It was so clear now, especially after last night and his insistence that the kids go to boarding school.
“So, no boarding school?”
I shook my head. “But you might have to move, okay? Right now, Grandma and Grandpa are going to help out when I have to be in Boston for meetings or when I have to travel.”
“Maybe Rocco can come up?”
I smiled at the mention of my brother. I took the ball from Cutter and tried my hardest to dribble to the hoop. Cutter laughed, which sounded amazing. He allowed me to shoot the ball, which didn’t even touch the rim, before he chased it down.
In a weak attempt at defense, I tried to get it back until he held it high above his head. I must’ve jumped ten times trying to get it before I gave up.
A dog barked, and we both turned to see Scout running toward us. Cutter crouched and accepted the bulldozing the Labrador was intent on giving. It was worth watching Cutter fall on his rear because he laughed, and he laughed loudly. I loved the sound and couldn’t wait to tell Miri later.
“Good morning,” Weston said when he reached us.
“Morning,” I said through some giggles. “Do you walk every morning?”
“Nah,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “Only on the weekends. I like to get Scout out to run since he’s cooped up a lot with my schedule.”
Cutter stood and began dribbling around Scout, who liked it. Every so often he’d bark and try to get the ball from Cutter.
Weston motioned toward the bench. I followed and sat beside him.
“How’s he doing this morning?”
“He’s had a couple of moments, but I think that’s expected. My mom will be back today, so I can work. I’ll make some calls this week to get the kids into therapy. I’d like to have them talking to someone before . . .” I trailed off and kept my gaze on Cutter. “I think I’m going to get them a dog.”
“Yeah? Let me know, and I can help.”
“I will.”
“You mentioned work. Does that mean you’ll be in Boston?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ll be here, working between the house and the hospital. They’re going to admit Miri for treatment. They want to pump her full of drugs and monitor everything.”
My legs swung back and forth, kicking up some dirt with each pass.
“Did they say how long?”
“If that’s not an open-ended question, I don’t know what is. Time . . .” I paused and shook my head. “Six to twelve for the inevitable. This current stay is a week to ten days. It all depends on how she responds, and then it’ll be outpatient.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. I don’t remember if I thanked you for what you did last night for Cutter. I really appreciate you being there for him.”
Weston nodded. “He’s a great kid. I can’t say I’ve been where he is. My parents are still alive. I have lost friends, though, guys I played ball with. Death hurts when it’s a friend. I can’t imagine how it feels when it’s your mom.”
Cutter and Scout walked over to us. “Toni, Mom texted and asked us to bring breakfast back to the house.”
“Yep, that’s the plan. Are you ready to go?” I stood and brushed off my joggers.
“Can I drive?”
“She let you drive?” Weston said with some flair.
“Coach, I’m going to be a great driver.”
“Of course he is because I’m teaching him.” I gave Cutter a wink and then looked at Weston. “Can we offer you and Scout a ride home?”
“Thanks, but we’re going to run for a bit.”
“Have a good day, Weston.”
“You too, Antonia.”
Cutter and I walked toward the car. He got in on the driver’s side and looked a little too comfortable in my car.
“Don’t get any ideas,” I told him.
“But it’s so nice.”
“Yeah, yeah. Come on, let’s stop at the Cozy Cup Café and get breakfast, and then we’ll go home and do nothing all day but love on your mom.”
That was how I wanted to spend the day, on the couch with Miri, watching mindless TV and just being with her. Tomorrow would be hard enough.