One to Hold: Derek & Melissa by Tia Louise

Author:Tia Louise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TLM Productions LLC

* * *

My mother’s voice held its usual note of concern. Ever since I’d first told her Sloan and I were having serious problems, she’d urged me wait. And every time she did, I almost told her why that was no longer an option.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t bear saying what had happened out loud. Especially not to her. The very thought of telling her everything made my stomach roil. If my father were still alive, it would’ve been even worse.

“So you’re moving home,” she said. “I guess you have to do what you think is best.”

“I’ve spent as much time as I can trying to make it work, Mom,” I said quietly, keeping my voice calm. “Nothing’s changing. Things are actually getting worse as time passes.”

“Disappearing for a week without a word certainly can’t be helping with the reconciliation effort.”

My jaw clenched. “I didn’t disappear without a word, I just didn’t tell him where I was going.”

“The results are the same,” she exhaled lightly. “So when do you expect to be here?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, toying with the sandwich on my supper tray. I wasn’t very hungry. “My goal is to find a place and not have to bother you, but it just depends—”

“You’re not bothering me, honey. I just want you to be sure you’re not doing something you’ll regret.”

“I’m not,” I said, pressing my lips together.

My work with Sloan’s family had kept me so busy the first half of the year, I hadn’t been able to visit home. Then after the incident, I hadn’t wanted to visit. I didn’t feel strong enough to see anyone, much less my super-perceptive mother. She would’ve demanded I do what I didn’t really want to.

As it was, I had to be patient with her ignorance. “Just give me one more week,” I said. “I’ll know something definite then.”

“The door’s open if you need it.”

“Thanks so much, Mom.”

We hung up the phone, and I stretched back on my bed. Moving in with Mom was my absolute last resort, but I figured spreading a safety net couldn’t hurt. Sloan had become so unpredictable, and now that he had the divorce papers, I wasn’t sure what he’d do.

Two months ago, fueled by my determination to get out, I’d drummed up business with two local clients—a suburban strip mall needing a back to school campaign, and a downtown bakery wanting to test the cupcake waters. Neither of them were particularly wealthy clients, but they weren’t poor either. I’d sent invoices to them the week before Elaine and I had left for Scottsdale. My hope was they’d come through and I could go straight to my own place in Wilmington.

Either way, I had to start looking for somewhere to live and transitioning my contact information. The only thing holding me back now were the details. Details I’d see about first thing tomorrow.

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