“I’ve done some work for the campus and a few teachers. I’ve also been recommended to some great freelance sites. That alone could make me a good living.” I watched as he sighed heavily.
“That’s not stable, Rosalind. You’ll never know what you’re going to make that month.” At his office, I’d have stability and a decent salary. It would just be like being in prison to me being around him that much, not to mention Rich and any other man he thought would make a good partner for me.
“I’m a good writer and versatile, Dad. I can do a variety of jobs. People are making six figures freelance writing now. There is a union offering everything that a regular job does as well. It’s a big industry.” I argued lightly as one of my brothers openly laughed at me. I glared at him as he reached over to pat his wife’s stomach.
“It sounds like the token starving artist lifestyle to me.” Brian said as he reached for his beer, taking a long draw from the bottle.
“Self-publishing is one of the fastest growing industries right now. There are many authors thriving and successful,” I told him as I saw my mother tilt her head at me. It was her way of telling me to give it a rest without causing a scene. She’d been doing it for years. The sad thing is that she used to write. I’d found a few books of her poetry and stories and they were amazing.
“It might make a good second job, but I can’t see you depending on that. In that case, you’d be working long hours and have no time to get out there and live your life.” I knew that Dad meant that I’d have no time to settle down with the man he’d like to see me with. How would I ever have time to marry and start popping out kids like my mom had? My brothers were in the process of doing the same thing.
I was relieved when the kids wanted to go for a walk after dinner. It was still light out and beautiful. I slipped on a sweatshirt and took them out front. I held hands with the littles and warned the others to stay nearby as we headed down the sidewalk. I stared forward as I watched the older kids bouncing over the cement, telling them to be careful as I saw the roof of Sterling’s home. I wondered what he was doing, longing to curl up with him and cry this out. My family always got me on edge and I breathed in and out a few times.
I reminded myself that I was an adult. I could make my own decisions and live my dreams. I didn’t need anyone’s help, if that was the veiled threat that my dad was giving me. I told the kids that we were going to turn around at the end of the street, looking at the pretty house with all the windows as we moved past it. I could see up the driveway and noted that a car was driving towards the street. I caught sight of Sterling’s angry face as he made a sharp turn to the right, speeding away without noticing me. I held onto Geneva in my arms and held Bryce’s hand as the other kids stared with wide eyes at his disappearing car. They told their parents about it as soon as we were back at the house, running inside with their loud voices. I was ready to follow them when Rich stepped forward, pushing his way out to the front porch.
“A moment, Rosalind?” He asked as I pressed my lips together, still imagining Sterling’s face as I wondered what happened. I moved to the table with chairs scattered about and sat down as he took the one beside me. There wasn’t enough wine in the world for this. “I’d like to take you to dinner while you’re here, as well as for the Christmas break. I would like to rekindle what we had now that you’re not tied to college in a few months. We could give more time to one another.” I stared at him in shock as he took in my face leisurely.
“What did we have to rekindle? It lasted maybe four months, Rich. It wasn’t the romance of the century,” I told him as he leaned back, resting his hands in his lap. He looked so stiff in the white shirt and tie that he was wearing now, so much like any other businessman on the street.
“I could support you while you look into that writing dream. I make good money and have a house a few blocks from here, Rosalind. I could give you the world.” His eyes were locked onto my face as I shook my head slowly. He was using that to make me want to come back to him?