“For the record,” he said, “I know what I’m about to say is overstepping, but I don’t give a shit. I should also say if we weren’t here at this bar, I’d pull you into my arms and hold you tight while I told you that you’re worth something better. Not only something or someone more decent than what you landed, but someone who would light a fire under you. I can tell you after knowing you for five minutes that your passion is meant to be big. You were put here to do something huge. The drive burns right through you. It radiates through your whole being.”
Drinking in his heartfelt inspiring words, I could feel my own heart beating a furious accompaniment to them. “Mick ...”
“Don’t ruin this,” he said curtly. “Finish your wine and go home. Be safe and dream big. Always. Do it for me. Do it for you. Just do it.”
He turned and finished his Scotch, then tugged a black Amex card out of his wallet and tossed it on the bar.
Apparently, the conversation was over before it started, and I found myself furious. This was my escape. My turn to be in charge. How dare he shut down the conversation just like that?
Fuming, I stood, yanked my purse strap over my shoulder, and turned to go without a word.
It was only when I got to my car that the tears came. I took my time going home to be sure they were good and gone before I walked into my reality—the opposite of anything Dream Big.
Margaret
The house was quiet when I got home that night after the meeting. Padding down the hall, allowing my fuming mood to cool, I decided it was for the best. Mick didn’t need to be saddled with my broken life. He already put broken businesses back together.
Seeing the light on underneath Priscilla’s door, I decided to put my own life together.
“Hi,” I said, peeking inside Priscilla’s lavender-painted room, boy-band posters lining the wall opposite the bed, and a poster of the Eiffel Tower above her.
I’d always thought staying with Tommy was more important than my mental and physical health. If I left him, we’d probably have to move, and Priscilla would have to sacrifice this room, this bright and airy space. But maybe not. Maybe Priscilla would be happier where she could have friends come over.
Tucked into bed with a book, Priscilla looked up. “Hey, how was the meeting? Boring?”
I laughed a little. I couldn’t admit to her that I couldn’t recall a second of the meeting, and I certainly couldn’t tell her what I was really up to. Despite the way the evening ended, I had fun.
“It was actually nice. Good to see people and be a part of something,” I said, trying to describe how I was really feeling as close as I could.
“Oh,” she said with a grin. “That’s good.”
“How was the movie? What are you up to now?” I asked, taking in her rosy cheeks and braided hair.
“It was great. No vampires. Reading something for school,” she said, responding in typical teen fragments. Then frowning, she looked away. “Mom ...”
“Yes?” I motioned toward the edge of the bed, asking with my eyes if I could sit.
“I had to go into your room. Dad wasn’t home, so I thought it would be okay. I know he doesn’t like me to snoop.”
“Oh, what happened, sweetie?”
“Nothing, really.” She sat her book down next to her. “I got my period.”
My heart nearly exploded. My daughter got her first period, and I was out flirting with a strange man? If I could call myself a heartless bitch, I would.
“Mom, seriously, it’s okay. I know all about them. It’s all Melody Roberts talks about, and we had a class at school.”
“Oh. But did you know how to—”
“Yes. Melody actually demonstrated to all of us.”
I couldn’t help my nose scrunching up. I felt it wrinkle, and immediately tried to school it.
“Not like that.” Priscilla sat up straight. “She used her hand in a weird way.”
“Gotcha,” I said, stroking her blanket-covered leg. “We used to teach each other how to take our bra off without taking our shirt off. Things have come a long way.”
Priscilla laughed. “Anyway, if you saw anything out of place, I was under your sink taking some tampons, but I’ll need some of my own.”
