Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“I do, but I don’t want the stuff going on in my life to hurt my siblings.”
She nodded. “I think some sessions to discuss how you’re both feeling would be good for you and your sister. I sense that Hannah might be pulling away from you, preparing herself for your departure.”
“She has been more distant lately, quieter and keeping to herself. I thought it was because her mother is back.”
“Children with abandonment issues expect everyone in their life to disappear. So they’re often afraid to love.”
I felt that statement deep in my chest. “I’ll do whatever I can to help Hannah.”
Dr. Friedman smiled. “Great. Why don’t you plan to join us for next week’s session, then?”
“Okay.”
Hannah was quiet on the walk home from the therapist’s office. I wasn’t sure if I should push after she’d spent an hour opening up to someone. Once we got back to the apartment, she went straight to her room and blasted music with the door shut. Vera was watching some soap opera on the couch. I decided it was time she and I had a little heart to heart, so I picked up the remote and flicked off the TV.
“I was watching that.”
“I’m sure it won’t be difficult to pick up tomorrow without seeing today’s ending. Those shows are just the same thing over and over anyway.”
“What’s so important?”
It was difficult not to roll my eyes. “Your children.”
“What about ’em?”
“You’re screwing them up.”
“I’m doing the best I can. It’s not easy being a single mother—something you’re about to find out unless you can hook one of those men and get them to stick around a while.”
“You’re not doing the best you can. Far from it. How was taking off with some guy you barely know the best for your kids?”
“I told you I was going to stick around from now on. Stop harping on the past.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve heard you say you weren’t going anywhere and then you took off again? More times than I can count. So I apologize if I don’t find your promises reliable. Now you’re hurting Hannah and Heath. They need reliability and structure in their life. Your disappearing acts are going to make them afraid to rely on anyone as grown-ups.”
“Good! Then I’m doing them a favor. Any man I’ve ever trusted takes off at some point. It’ll make it easier if they learn that now. They don’t need to grow up thinking the world is rosy.”
I stared at her, and Dr. Friedman’s words replayed in my head. “It’s not uncommon for adults with unresolved issues to have difficulty committing to relationships.” I’d never known my grandparents—anytime I’d asked about them or any other member of Vera’s family, she’d blown me off. “What happened to you as a child?” I asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Were you and your mom close?”
She scoffed. “What are you, Dr. Phil now?”
“Just answer the question.”
“My mother was busy. She cleaned houses and tended bar to put food on our table.”
“How come you don’t keep in touch with her?”
“Why should I? She told me to get out when I got pregnant with you at seventeen. I called her once when you were born, after your useless father took off and left me. She told me if I was calling for money to lose her number.”
Jesus. Talk about history repeating itself. I suppose Vera was just giving what she’d gotten in life. While it helped to understand why my mother was the way she was, it made me more determined than ever to stop the vicious cycle. Hannah and Heath needed therapy, and to believe not everyone was like their mother. I had no idea what was going on in my own life, but I vowed right then that I would make sure they didn’t wind up like Vera.
After all, I wasn’t like her…was I?
Vera picked up the remote and flicked the TV back on. If I’d thought there was any chance of getting through to her, I would’ve tried harder. But she needed more than me lecturing her.
I sighed and stood. “I’m going to go out for a little while.”
She didn’t look away from the television. “Whatever.”
Heath was working at the pizza place, but I stopped at Hannah’s room to let her know I was going to run some errands. Her response was almost as enthusiastic as her mother’s.
Outside, the sun was shining so I decided to take a walk. I hoped the fresh air and change of scenery would clear my head, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what the therapist had said about the long-term effects of abandonment. “It’s not uncommon for adults with unresolved issues to have difficulty committing to relationships.” It was easy to see Vera could never settle down, but did I have issues, too?
I’d always joked that my mother had screwed me up, but I’d never looked inward too deeply. What committed relationships had I been a part of? I’d dated, but most of the men I had been with weren’t commitment types.