Chapter Nine
Mimi walked up the second flight of stairs to Kara’s apartment.
Seven a.m. was early, even by Mimi’s standards, but she just couldn’t wait any longer to talk to Kara.
Butterflies flew in her stomach. She’d spent the entire night worried that her worst fear had come true—her weakness had finally sickened Kara, and she’d lost her.
Mothers were supposed to be strong, to stand up for their children no matter what the personal consequences might bring.
She’d failed in that regard. Why was she so weak?
If only she could stand up to Ted, or figure out a way to show Kara he wasn’t so bad.
He wasn’t, really. So he wanted his space back?
That wasn’t so strange. He paid the mortgage.
He deserved the man cave he’d been longing to reward himself with once Kara had moved out.
Sure, Mimi had looked past the boxes, but Kara was her daughter, after all.
She’d have given Kara her own bedroom if she’d thought it would make Kara’s life easier.
She rapped on the door, positioning a smile across her lips.
She’d made a decision and she was sticking with it.
She had to help Kara see that Daryl was not like her father.
Daryl loved her, they had a good life together.
Kara seemed happy and settled for the first time in ages.
She couldn’t let Kara throw away her life with Daryl.
Mimi knew Kara was full of resentment toward her father, and Mimi was sure Kara was just projecting those feelings onto her relationship with Daryl, which is why she was being so sensitive and accusatory.
Mimi had to make Kara recognize that. She was going to talk to Kara about trust, and she’d apologize to her—profusely if it would help.
Whether or not Kara liked it, or allowed it, she’d decided, was not of her concern.
She could just picture Kara rolling her eyes, walking away, and sighing as she had in her teenage years.
For Kara’s own good, she was going to tell her that she must trust. She couldn’t let her throw away a hard-working, loving man like Daryl.
She knocked again. Insecurity chipped away at her resolve. She bit her lower lip. “Kara?” she said through the door. Even though Kara had worked the night shift, she was always up bright and early.
No answer.
She lifted her hand to knock again, then lowered it.
If Kara wanted to be alone, so be it. If she pushed, she’d only drive Kara further away.
Sadness swelled in her throat. She pulled her shoulders back, held her head up high, and decided that she would respect her daughter’s need for space.
Mimi walked toward the stairs, feeling strangely like she’d accomplished something.
Respecting her daughter’s wishes was a step in the right direction.
She only hoped Kara would appreciate her effort, and then listen when they were face to face.