To put in time for self-care? Keeping a marriage alive? Healthy friendships on top of that? It’s alot. But I’m realizing that it’s worth whatever it takes to make it all happen. Our lives are fuller, our days brighter, and our smiles richer for it.
I remember something I started to text Chance about earlier, but got distracted by one of the kids, so grab my phone to finally hit send two hours later.
Me
Ugh! Your oldest son has decided pranks are now his love language. The little shit found some fishing line. Tied a bunch of his fake bugs to it. Strung it up so when I opened the garage door they jumped all over me and no matter how I moved it just made it worse.
Ended up tangled in spiders and cockroaches. I damn near pissed myself.
Hubba Hubba Hubby
LOL
If he’s grounded for life when you get home you know why
What a bratstard
I mean… sorry baby
Also, asking for a friend, did he get it on video?
My fingers are hovering over the digital keyboard, typing out a rather sassy response when howls hit my eardrums. My head perks up, mom senses going into overdrive.
Then, a mother’s worst nightmare.
Screaming. From not one, but multiple of my children.
The kind that curdles your blood, shoots adrenaline into your veins, gives you the strength to lift a car, run like Usain Bolt, whatever it takes to make sure your child is safe.
My phone clatters to the counter, and I race to the back door.
Where I let out my own scream of terror at what I see there.
TWENTY-THREE
CHANCE
Life is good.
Got my woman back.
Shit finally feelsrightagain. Ya know?
Even at work, where I am now, Ellie and I are just wrapping up a little meeting. She’s come up with some reorganization she thinks will be in the company’s—and my—best interest.
She’s moving me out from under Tony, and directly under her, in an offshoot of Mitchell Media she runs called Darling Digital. Honestly, it’s a relief in multiple ways.
One, getting away from Tony, because I don’t know what he was playing at, but the guy is a total tool, and I don’t need that from my manager who’s supposed to be helping me.
Two, I’ve had a lot of success pitching customers on Darling Digital these past couple years, and I’ve become a pretty big fan of the forward-facing tactics it espouses. Forgive me for saying so, but it feels like the future, where the old-school Mitchell Media ways felt more like the past. Since Darling is her baby of a project, her brainchild, working directly under her on it sounds fucking great to me.
I know some of the guys here are weird around her, being the big boss’s daughter, they don’t necessarily give her the respect she deserves. It’s bullshit, actually, because she works harder than anyone else in this place, except maybe her dad, and she’s put in like fifteen years of elbow grease to climb her way to the top, but that’s not how they see it. But she picks and chooses her battles. Having me work under her was apparently one of them. I’d say I’m honored, but I’m also the top earner in the company, so it’s mutually beneficial for us.
“I kinda feel bad,” I tell her, leaning back in the comfy chair in front of her large white desk. Her office is fairly spacious, but she’s got simple taste, so it’s not overly decorated. Some girly gold things dot the desk, her walls. Not much else.
“You shouldn’t!” She’s earnest and passionate about this, like most things at this company.
“Well, he’s probably gonna be an even bigger dick now, and he’s gonna take it out on someone. I feel bad for whoever it ends up being.” I shrug. “At least it’s not me.” I hold my fist out for a bump from her and grin.
