Mrs. Robin's Sons by Kori Roberts (free children's online books .TXT) 📗

“Absolutely.” Jeff’s face was full of understanding. “I know this is a big decision that you can’t make easily.” Jeff chuckled and shook his head. “I remember making a similar decision when I came to Chicago fifteen years ago. I never regretted it, and I don’t think you will either.”

Regrets. That’s what Rylee was worried about. She knew she couldn’t commit to this position until she was certain that there was nothing left of her relationship with Nick and Noah. “I have a small request.” Rylee waited for Jeff to nod before she continued. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to take the rest of the day off to think about everything.”

Jeff silently scrutinized her, his gaze seeming far too knowing. “You go right ahead, Rylee. Take the time you need, and I hope you find the answers you’re seeking.”

“I do, too, sir.” Rylee shook Jeff’s hand and left his office. She kept going until she was in her car and heading to Wisconsin.

*

“They’re not here.” Rylee was just about to knock on Nick and Noah’s door again,

when the sound of their mother’s voice behind her made her spin around.

“And even if they were here, they wouldn’t want to see you.”

“Really?” Rylee tilted her head and scrutinized the other woman. “Is that what they told you, or just what you want to believe?” Caroline had the decency to blush.

“It doesn’t matter.” Caroline lifted her chin and glared at Rylee. “It doesn’t change anything. You still don’t belong here.”

“Whether I belong here or not isn’t your decision to make — it’s theirs.” She stalked toward Caroline, and she could feel all of the anger and hostility she felt toward the woman simmering just beneath the surface, threatening to explode at any second.

“You think just because you’re their mother, it gives you license to run their lives?

Well, I’ve got news for you, lady; in case you haven’t noticed, your little boys aren’t so little anymore. They’re grown men, and they’re perfectly capable of making decisions about their lives, and who they want in their lives.”

Rylee stood in front of the other woman. “You want to stand here and pass judgment on me because you disagree with how I live my life? That’s fine. If it makes you feel better to believe that I’m some old whore who corrupted your babies, you go right ahead.” She stepped into Caroline’s personal space, their bodies mere inches apart. “Because quite frankly, your opinion doesn’t mean shit to me — and neither do you. What you think about me will never change what’s in my heart. I’m going to love your sons whether you hate me or not; whether they hate me or not. And, there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”

She walked past Caroline, toward her car. She opened her door, but Caroline’s voice stopped her before she got inside.

“I believe you love them, Rylee,” Caroline spoke softly. “But, I love them, too. In spite of what you think, I’m not trying to run their lives. I just want what’s best for them.”

Caroline walked over and stood next to Rylee’s car.

“They each deserve a woman of their own to love; someone to have a family with, to grow old with — not someone who has already experienced all those things that they have yet to even discover. If you were a mother, I think you’d understand how I feel — in fact, I think you’d agree with me.”

Rylee got in her car and drove away without responding. A few miles from the house, she dialed her boss’s number.

“Hi, Jeff. This is Rylee. I…I’ve decided to accept the position…I do have a request…I’d like to move immediately, if possible…yes…I’m sure…I can be ready by the end of the week… thank you, sir.”

Rylee managed to disconnect the call before she released the tears she’d held since she’d left Nick and Noah’s house.

Chapter Twenty-four

Rylee sat in the food court of the airport, staring into a cup of coffee as she waited for her flight.

“You know you don’t have to do this, right?” Drew asked. She looked across the table into his concerned face. Rylee glanced past Drew’s head to the clock on the wall. She had twenty more minutes before her plane would begin boarding.

Please, God, help me hold it together until then. “Yeah” — she forced a smile — “I do.

It’s for the best.”

Mya reached across the table to take her hand and squeezed it gently. “Honey, are you sure it’s over between the three of you?” she asked.

Rylee just nodded, not trusting herself to speak at the moment.

“But how do you know for certain?” Mya insisted. “You said yourself that you never even saw them when you went to Wisconsin. Maybe you should wait until you talk to them before you do this.”

“Mya’s right,” Drew added. “I’m sure they can wait a few more days in Seattle until you —” “Just stop!” Rylee interrupted her friends as she desperately struggled to keep her composure. “A few more days won’t make any difference. They don’t” — she took a shuddering breath — “they don’t want me anymore.” Rylee internally cringed at the way her voice broke as she said those words. Her throat was so tight, she felt like she was going to choke.

Drew and Mya stared at her in silence, and Rylee blinked back tears as she looked away from the pity she saw in their eyes.

“Listen,” she finally said. “My flight’s going to board soon. Why don’t you two walk me to my gate?”

They walked through the airport in silence until they reached the security checkpoint, where Rylee turned to her friends. Drew stood looking at her with watery eyes, and Mya made no attempt to hide the tears that flowed freely down her face.

“I’ll call you as soon as I arrive.” Rylee hugged Mya, then Drew. “I love you both.” She turned away