Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 18

Chapter 15-1

(Sophia’s POV)

She stares at the ticket like it’s a trap. Which, technically, it is. Just not the kind she’s worried

about.

“It’s four days, Sabrina. Four days of sun and ocean and nobody asking you for anything. Four days where you don’t have to think about Dustin or Jessica or lawyers or custody battles.” I squeeze her hand. “Four days to remember who you were before you became

someone’s wife.”

Her eyes get shiny. Damn it.

“I don’t remember who that was,” she whispers.

“I do.” I grip both her hands now, forcing her to look at me. “She was fierce. Creative. Unstoppable. She walked into a bar senior year and told off three frat boys who were harassing the bartender. She started a campus movement to get the art department better funding. She stayed up for forty-eight hours straight to help me finish my business plan when I had the flu.” I pause. “She was my best friend. And she’s still in there. You just need to find her again.”

A tear slides down her cheek. Then another.

“What if I can’t?” Her voice is so small. “What if Dustin was right and I lost myself the moment I became a wife? What if I am just… another housewife, with nothing interesting going on for her except for the fact of being a mom?”

“Stop.” The word comes out sharper than intended. “Dustin is an asshole. A mediocre man who built his entire career on your ideas. He’s a parasite who convinced you that you needed him when the truth is he’d be nothing without you. And you know what? You’re about to prove

that.”

She’s full-on crying now, ugly crying, the kind that leaves your face blotchy and your nose running. I grab the tissue box and shove it at her.

“Sorry,” she hiccups. “I’m sorry, I’m just-”

“You’re grieving. That’s allowed. But you’re also healing. And part of healing means taking care of yourself.” I tap the ticket. “So you’re going on this cruise. Jake and I have the whole weekend planned. We’re going to paint, watch movies, eat too much pizza, and maybe livestream some of his art sessions. He’ll be fine.”

Chapter 15.1

“I don’t know…”

“Jake,” I call out. “Can you come here for a second?”

Small feet thunder down the hallway. Jake appears, still in his Spider-Man pajamas even though it’s already ten in the morning, Rexy tucked under one arm.

“Yeah, Aunt Sophia?”

“Your mom’s worried about leaving you for a few days. Can you tell her what we talked about?”

Claim

His face gets serious, that too-old expression he wears when he’s about to give his mom a lecture.

Oh, I love this boy.

He climbs into Sabrina’s lap, wrapping his small arms around her neck.

“Mom, you need a vacation. You’ve been sad and tired and you don’t laugh anymore.” His voice is matter-of-fact, like he’s stating the weather. “Aunt Sophia and me have everything planned. We’re gonna be fine. You should go have fun on the big boat.”

“Baby-”

“I want you to go.” He pulls back, cupping her face in his little hands the way she always does to him. “You always take care of me. Now let Aunt Sophia and me take care of you. Okay?”

Sabrina’s face crumples. She pulls Jake close, pressing her face into his hair.

“When did you get so smart?” she mumbles.

“I’ve always been smart. You just notice now.” He’s trying for humor, but his voice wobbles. “It’s only four days, Mom. And then you’ll come back and you’ll be happy again. Right?”

She takes a shaky breath. “Right.”

“So you’ll go?”

She looks at me over Jake’s head. I keep my expression neutral, even though my heart’s pounding. Everything depends on this moment. If she says no, the whole plan falls apart.

“The ship leaves Friday morning?” she asks.

“Nine AM. I’ll drive you to the port Thursday night, get you checked in and settled. You can sleep on the ship and wake up ready to relax.”

23

Shapter 15 1

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