I wipe the tears away from my eyes and get to it, my heart pounding in my chest as I do. I have never been great at goodbyes. It doesn’t get any easier, no matter the situation. Goodbye is such a horrible, final word. I would love to go through the rest of my life never having to say it and knowing that it’s the last one, ever again. I suppose that isn’t possible, but it’s a nice thought. I suppose the ideal life that everyone would like, but since I’ve already been too much of it, I deserve a break, surely?
“It might not be forever,” I try to convince myself. “His father might back down…”
But I don’t think that he’s the sort of man who would. He seems determined and stubborn, like he will do anything to make sure he gets what he wants. Even if it’s evil and manipulative.
Once I’m all packed up, I take one last look around my apartment, feeling very weird about it. I guess a part of me thought that the next time I left this house with bags in my hands, I would be giving in and moving in with Isaac, just like he wants me to. I never thought that it would be this way.
Fuck, my life has been an emotional roller coaster for the last few months. I don’t even know where I am anymore, what I’m doing. I’m just a mess. I’m hoping this space eventually breeds clarity and answers for both of us. We need to decide what’s going on once and for all. Me and Isaac can’t go back and forth forever. We need to choose a path and stick to it. For our sake, and for our baby’s as well.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Isaac
If Lexi wants me to make things right with my family, then that’s exactly what I’ll do. I might be mad as fuck about the whole situation, but I understand what she means, what she’s trying to do. With Lexi’s complicated family situation, of course she is going to want me to make things right… but it isn’t ever as simple as that. This animosity between me
and my father has been going on for years, this is just the culmination of that.
But I do have one key I can use, and that’s the only solution that I can see right now.
“Mom?” I call out as I step into the hallway. This is the home where I grew up, but it’s always felt like more of a house than a home. But not because of my mother. She’s always done what she can, but my dad rules the roost. “Mom, are you here? Can I talk to you about something?”
“I’m in the dining room, Isaac. Come through… but aren’t you supposed to be at work right now?”
I roll my eyes. I guess Dad hasn’t told her that I walked out. Probably because he knows that he’s in the wrong. I head into the dining room, noting the way that everything is exactly in its place, just like it’s always been. Mom looks exactly the same, like she’s been sculpted to fit a mold. Dad’s mold.
“No, Mom, I’m not at work and I won’t be ever again. I can assure you of that.”
“Oh no. Have you and your father had a falling out again? I thought things were better now.”
“Mom, Dad has done the worst thing he could ever do to me. Me and him are done forever.”
She takes in a deep breath before speaking. “It must be bad if you’re talking to me about it.”
“It is. Mom, I have met a woman that I love. And I mean serious love.”
“You have not?” She raises her eyebrow doubtfully at me. “Are you joking me?”
“No, Mom. I wouldn’t say this as a joke. It’s the honest truth. Her name is Lexi and we’ve been dating for a while now. Dad doesn’t like it because as he put it ‘high society wouldn’t accept her’.”
“Why not?” Mom demands. “What could he possibly have to say that for?”
I pull out my phone and show her a photograph. “Because she has tattoos and looks a little different.”
“She’s beautiful!” Mom gushes. “What on earth is your father talking about?”
I sigh with relief. This is good, there was a small part of me which feared she wouldn’t like Lexi either. I don’t know why I thought that, because she’s not judgmental at all.
“She’s great as well. I suppose he’s mad because she works at the office, but it really is long term…”
“Ah, I see.” Mom finally gets it. “So, that’s what’s going on. That’s why you’ve fallen out.”
“We’ve fallen out because he called a staff meeting today and fired her in front of everyone. He exposed our relationship and the baby too. He made her run out crying, it was awful…”
“Wait, baby?” I nod and watch her face light up. “You’re having a baby? Wow, this is serious then. And great news. I’m going to be a grandmother!” She lets out a little joyful laugh, like this is the news she’s always been waiting for. “I would much rather know the girl before the baby, but I suppose you can’t have everything…”
“Well, you won’t get to meet her if Dad has his way. He’s doing everything that he can to push us apart, and it might be working. Lexi is now saying that she can’t be with me if it means splitting the family apart.”
“Is she that bothered by your father’s opinion?”