“Zoe, I have nned a big celebratory dinner for you both, and I have invited all our family and friends. You two need to be back by 6 o’clock, okay?” Michelle said.
I froze for a moment when I heard Michelle’s voice. I hadn’t expected her to be unaware that we hadn’t registered our marriage.
C
It seemed Alvin hadn’t told her. After recalling how they actedst night, I guess he was probably afraid of getting an earful from her.
Listening to the excitement and joy in her voice, I felt a pang of guilt. But the reality was, Alvin and I weren’t going to get married, and it was no longer something I could hide.
Sooner orter, the truth woulde out. I couldn’t keep up the lie for much longer, especially not when she was already nning a celebration. If all her friends and family showed up, it would make things even harder for her.
“Michelle,” I said quietly.
“You should be calling me Mom by now,” Michelle joked, in a lighthearted tone.
Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I suddenly felt a weight in my chest. “I’m sorry, Michelle… I… I don’t think I’ll ever be able to call you Mom.”
There had been so many times in the past ten years when I wanted to call her Mom. I never thought I’d have to give up on that dream.
“What… what do you mean?” Michelle sounded confused. “Zoe, is it hard to call me Mom? If it feels awkward, just keep calling me Michelle…”
“We didn’t register our marriage,” I interrupted gently. “And we won’t be.”
“What?” Michelle’s voice was filled with shock. “What happened? What’s going on? Zoe…”
“Michelle, we broke up,” I said. And as those words left my mouth, I felt an unexpected lightness, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and I suddenly felt a rush of anxiety. I feared she wouldn’t be able to handle the disappointment.
For years, she had treated me like her own daughter. I knew how much she had hoped I would be part of her real family.
This morning, when I left, she had been so happy, already anticipating the day I would return and
call her Mom.
I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat and carefully spoke again. “Michelle…”
“Why? Zoe, tell me why.” Michelle’s voice trembled.
A whirlwind of thoughts flooded my mind, but I simply said, “Michelle, Alvin and I aren’t right for
each other.”
I didn’t go into the details of his betrayal. I wasn’t about to air his dirtyundry. The truth was, I’d lost to Thea-a widow, no less.
“Not right for each other? How could that be? You’ve been together for years-so close, so connected, you know everything about each other.
“You love him, and he cares about you. How could you say you’re not right for each other?” Michelle’s voice was full of disbelief.
Her words hit me hard, and my chest felt tight like a huge weight was pressing down on me. “Michelle…”
“I’m calling Alvin. He must have done something to hurt you,” Michelle said, then hung up.
Her final words-“Alvin hurt me”-made my throat tighten. The fact that she was on my side, that she was so ready to defend me, hit me harder than I expected.
Jasmine squeezed my hand. I nced at her, giving a faint smile.
In her dark, clear eyes, I could see how broken my smile really was. I looked fine on the outside, but my eyes gave away everything-my heart was in pieces.
Michelle called again, but I didn’t pick up. I knew what she wanted to say. She’d want me toe back to the Dolton family, but I couldn’t go back.
I didn’t want to go back. If I did, it would just mean more convincing from Michelle and Peter, more pleading to make me stay. And I was done with that.
I had already made up my mind, so there was no point in listening to more of their nagging. It would only waste their energy and drain my emotions.
Jasmine could tell what I was thinking. “Where are we going? I’lle with you, or…”