Maneuver (Men of Inked: Southside Book 1) by Chelle Bliss

Author:Chelle Bliss [Bliss, Chelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bliss Ink
Published: 2018-07-30T18:30:00+00:00

13

Delilah

“Are you feeling better today, my dear?” Betty asks as she takes Lulu from my arms before I’m even three steps into the kitchen of her apartment.

“I am. Thank you.”

Better doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. Waking up next to Lucio, tangled in a pile of sheets and limbs makes me feel more than better… I feel like a new woman.

“I was worried about you after your father stopped by.” She motions for me to sit, and I do without hesitation because I’m not crazy enough to argue with her. “Even though you handled him like a pro, I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’ve had a lifetime of practice.”

I thought I’d wake up this morning feeling awful about everything that happened, but I don’t. For the first time in a long time, I’m hopeful. There’s a new sense of freedom I’ve never felt before. I’m no longer walking on eggshells, waiting for the next drunk tirade from my father.

She sits across from me, rocking Lulu back and forth. “If you don’t mind my asking, why did you stay so long?”

I lean back in my chair, trying to figure out why I did stay as long as I did. “I’ve asked myself that very question a million times.”

“We all do what we feel is right at the time, sweetheart. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“I didn’t want to abandon him like my mother did to both of us. At first, I was too young to leave. And then I stayed with him through college because I was barely ever home anyway, so it didn’t matter. He still got drunk, but I couldn’t be his whipping girl if I wasn’t around.”

She nods her head but stays silent, listening to me spill my guts. The look on her face isn’t judgmental, and I’m comfortable talking to her. She’s been nothing but gracious and kind, treating me better than anyone in my family ever has. So, I keep going, figuring I could use a little motherly advice on where I go now and if I’m headed in the right direction.

“When I found out I was pregnant with Lulu, my father promised he’d change if I’d only stay with him to raise his granddaughter. He remained sober through my entire pregnancy, going to every doctor’s appointment with me after Lulu’s father took off.”

Betty gasps. “He just left?”

I nod. “I haven’t seen him since, and he’s never even tried to contact me. Dwight is no better than my father, but at least he gave me a beautiful daughter out of the situation and has left me in peace.”

“She’s a dream,” Betty says as she leans forward to kiss Lulu’s head. “This baby girl deserves all the love and kisses.”

I smile and keep talking so I don’t start crying over all the love Lulu’s missed out on already. “For a few months after she was born, my dad kept up his sobriety. But slowly, one drink turned into two, and then he’d down an entire bottle.

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