last minute to do everything. If you would think ahead this wouldn't be happening."
It wasn't like this was the first time I had ever fussed at her but my anger was clearly misdirected and as soon as the words left my mouth I felt horrible. I was mad at myself.
In a quiet voice she replied, "Okay, Ailin and I can find a place to shop on the way to Tennessee."
My heart sank as I looked at her, saying, "Honey I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."
Nodding with a sad expression, Sophia said, "I'm sorry too mama, I wasn't waiting until the last minute, I just woke up this morning and thought about how nice it would be to go to the beach."
Placing my arm around her, I assured, "I'm not mad at you. I just...I don't feel very good and I'm ready to go."
"Because you skipped breakfast or because of Mr. Nobody?" she asked.
Nodding, I lied, "I'm sure missing breakfast is why."
Sophia gave me a hug and smiled before we left to go back to the hotel.
~
I lingered in the hotel lobby for a little while after Jackson told Sophia and Ailin goodbye and went up to our hotel room. I had spent a few extra moments with them. Sophia said she would see me in about two weeks and then they were off to their next destination. I had to wonder if I was overreacting. Henley thought I cheated on him with Hert and at the time, it worked for me. It was possible as obsessive as Henley was, coming face to face with my daughter made him angry, at least that's what I hoped it was.
Finally deciding I'd better go back to our room, I couldn't stop thinking ab out the way Henley looked at me. It was familiar, like recalling a bad dream. All of the sudden, flashes of Jackson lying on the ground filled my mind. I hadn't thought about it in years. The scar above Jackson's eyebrow was part of him, like his smile. The day Henley attacked us, I thought we were both done, the memory gave me chills. I had scars form Henley also but most of mine were on the inside, and apparently they were waiting for a moment like this to remind me of what I once was. I wanted to think I had grown as a person and there was a small part of me that hoped Henley had too. After all, without him there would be no Sophia and I loved her more than life itself.
Concentrating on keeping thoughts of what Life with HIM was like, I slid my room key into the door. Jackson was right there, wrapping his arms around me. I tried hard to smile.
"Did they get off alright?" he asked. As I nodded, Jacks covered my eyes with his hands, saying, "I have a surprise for you."
Guiding me while covering my eyes, Jackson led me about twenty steps before we stopped.
Uncovering my eyes, he whispered, "Surprise," in my ear.
My first thought , when I saw what was in front of m e, was that he had to be screwing with me. Staring at the bathtub full of water and bubbles, I felt like I was going to throw up. Feeling Jackson's lips brush the side of my neck was suddenly too much and although I meant for it to be subtle, I quickly jerked away.
With a concerned expression on his face, Jackson asked, "What's wrong?"
Shaking my head, I replied, "Nothing."
Taking my hand, he pressed, "Baby, what is it?"
"I don't take baths," I replied.
Smiling, Jackson offered, "What if I bathe you?"
Horrified at the thought, I started to cry.
Pushing past Jackson, I made my way out of the bathroom, trying to get a handle on myself. Thinking I wouldn't have reacted as badly if I hadn't ran into the whole reason I never sat in a bathtub once I left him, I sat down on the corner of the bed.
Slowly walking up to me, Jacks gave a soft smile, saying, "Please talk to me."
"I just...don't take baths, alright," I stated.
Nodding, Jackson sat down next to me, saying, "Okay, I didn't know. It's okay."
When he carefully place d his hand on my shoulder, I realized, I was gasping for air.
Sliding his arm around my back, he assured, "It's okay, baby," pulling me closer to him.
Nodding , I took slow deep breaths to calm down.
"Ren,
It wasn't like this was the first time I had ever fussed at her but my anger was clearly misdirected and as soon as the words left my mouth I felt horrible. I was mad at myself.
In a quiet voice she replied, "Okay, Ailin and I can find a place to shop on the way to Tennessee."
My heart sank as I looked at her, saying, "Honey I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."
Nodding with a sad expression, Sophia said, "I'm sorry too mama, I wasn't waiting until the last minute, I just woke up this morning and thought about how nice it would be to go to the beach."
Placing my arm around her, I assured, "I'm not mad at you. I just...I don't feel very good and I'm ready to go."
"Because you skipped breakfast or because of Mr. Nobody?" she asked.
Nodding, I lied, "I'm sure missing breakfast is why."
Sophia gave me a hug and smiled before we left to go back to the hotel.
~
I lingered in the hotel lobby for a little while after Jackson told Sophia and Ailin goodbye and went up to our hotel room. I had spent a few extra moments with them. Sophia said she would see me in about two weeks and then they were off to their next destination. I had to wonder if I was overreacting. Henley thought I cheated on him with Hert and at the time, it worked for me. It was possible as obsessive as Henley was, coming face to face with my daughter made him angry, at least that's what I hoped it was.
Finally deciding I'd better go back to our room, I couldn't stop thinking ab out the way Henley looked at me. It was familiar, like recalling a bad dream. All of the sudden, flashes of Jackson lying on the ground filled my mind. I hadn't thought about it in years. The scar above Jackson's eyebrow was part of him, like his smile. The day Henley attacked us, I thought we were both done, the memory gave me chills. I had scars form Henley also but most of mine were on the inside, and apparently they were waiting for a moment like this to remind me of what I once was. I wanted to think I had grown as a person and there was a small part of me that hoped Henley had too. After all, without him there would be no Sophia and I loved her more than life itself.
Concentrating on keeping thoughts of what Life with HIM was like, I slid my room key into the door. Jackson was right there, wrapping his arms around me. I tried hard to smile.
"Did they get off alright?" he asked. As I nodded, Jacks covered my eyes with his hands, saying, "I have a surprise for you."
Guiding me while covering my eyes, Jackson led me about twenty steps before we stopped.
Uncovering my eyes, he whispered, "Surprise," in my ear.
My first thought , when I saw what was in front of m e, was that he had to be screwing with me. Staring at the bathtub full of water and bubbles, I felt like I was going to throw up. Feeling Jackson's lips brush the side of my neck was suddenly too much and although I meant for it to be subtle, I quickly jerked away.
With a concerned expression on his face, Jackson asked, "What's wrong?"
Shaking my head, I replied, "Nothing."
Taking my hand, he pressed, "Baby, what is it?"
"I don't take baths," I replied.
Smiling, Jackson offered, "What if I bathe you?"
Horrified at the thought, I started to cry.
Pushing past Jackson, I made my way out of the bathroom, trying to get a handle on myself. Thinking I wouldn't have reacted as badly if I hadn't ran into the whole reason I never sat in a bathtub once I left him, I sat down on the corner of the bed.
Slowly walking up to me, Jacks gave a soft smile, saying, "Please talk to me."
"I just...don't take baths, alright," I stated.
Nodding, Jackson sat down next to me, saying, "Okay, I didn't know. It's okay."
When he carefully place d his hand on my shoulder, I realized, I was gasping for air.
Sliding his arm around my back, he assured, "It's okay, baby," pulling me closer to him.
Nodding , I took slow deep breaths to calm down.
"Ren,
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