Chapter 2
Healy looked at Jeannette with eager anticipation. “Miss Jean, didn’t you say that place was amazing? The one everyone’s raving about online? You have to wait in line for three hours just to get a table, right?”
“If you’re going to keep me company, how could you possibly leave for three hours? Let my mom go get it instead.”
“How can you ask Blanche to do that?” Jeannette replied, feigning concern.
“My mom loves doing things for me. If I don’t let her, she actually gets upset,” Healy said, pride lacing his voice, as if he knew exactly how to get his way.
Blanche’s heart twisted painfully at her son’s words, a chill creeping into her eyes.
Just then, the preschool teacher walked over, clipboard in hand. “Three–legged race time! Each child, please pick one parent to play with you,” she announced.
Desperate to be with her son, Blanche stepped forward. “Healy, let Mommy play with you.”
“No need,” Healy replied, grabbing the rope without even glancing at her. He focused intently on tying his leg together with Jeannette’s. “Miss Jean’s a much better fit for this game.”
Blanche’s voice cracked with hurt. “Healy, I’m your mother!”
She reached out to take his hand, but Healy yanked his arm away, his voice sharp and shrill. “Mom, you’re so annoying! Can’t you just let someone else be the mom for once?”
Blanche felt as if her heart had been stabbed. “What did you just say?”
She’d nearly died giving birth to him. She’d raised him with her own hands, devoted every day to his care. And yet, after just three months with Jeannette, he was completely besotted.
Jeannette smirked, her tone taunting, “Blanche, aren’t you always saying you’d do anything for Healy? Besides, who wouldn’t want a gymnast for a mom? I mean, I’m younger, fitter, and definitely prettier.”
“Miss Jean’s on my team–we’re sure to win!” Healy declared.
He and Jeannette high–fived, their palms smacking together triumphantly.
Jeannette shot Blanche a challenging look as she took Healy’s hand.
Blanche shook with anger from head to toe.
“How dare you speak to my wife that way?” Eddy’s cold, furious voice cut through the tension. He strode to Blanche’s side, slipping an arm around her waist. “You’re just Healy’s tutor. If I ever catch you disrespecting my wife again, you’ll be out of the Simmons family immediately!”
“Apologize to my wife. Now.”
Jeannette’s bravado vanished. She lowered her head, shoulders trembling as if in fear. “I’m
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sorry, Blanche. I won’t do it again.”
Blanche watched this little performance–one act after another, all designed to fool her. Her heart only grew colder.
Right now, she just wanted her son. She wanted to take Healy and leave this place.
But Healy suddenly exploded at them, his voice high and wild. “Dad, why are you yelling at Miss Jean? She’s right–Mom really is dumb and old!”
He stood up for Jeannette, tearing Blanche down as if she meant nothing.
How had her son become like this?
Blanche’s hands shook as she whispered, “You like her that much? You want her to be your mother?”
Healy glared at her, his eyes frosty. “Yeah, I do!”
Those words broke her completely.
He grabbed Jeannette’s hand and ran to the starting line, the pair of them glued together, laughing and chatting as they prepared for the race.
Blanche watched them, side by side, weaving through the crowd on the field, looking like the perfect team.
Her heart shattered.
“Honey, he’s just a kid. Give him time–don’t make yourself sick over this. I’ll talk to my mom and make sure Jeannette leaves soon,” Eddy murmured in her ear, trying to soothe her with the same gentle words he’d used for years.
But now, every word felt like poison.
Her heart ached so much it was hard to breathe.
If both her husband and son had chosen someone else, then she’d choose neither of them.
There was nothing left to hold her here. Blanche pushed Eddy away and walked out of the preschool.
In another month–no more–she would vanish from their lives.
After that, the world would be wide open.
There would be no place left for them by her side.
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