Chapter 3
"You're old enough to know this, aren't you?" Michael said.
"Of course I know," I replied. "I can't handle spicy food, but I won't let it go to waste."
After I said that, I gritted my teeth and forced myself to eat it.
Michael paused with his fork in mid-air, giving me a surprised look.
David hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, but I just waved him off. "It's fine," I said.
But I'd overestimated myself. Before I could even finish my meal, my stomach was in so much pain that I couldn't even stand up straight.
My stomach problems were the result of years of skipping meals, but to Michael, it just looked like I was faking it.
He said, "Mom, if you don't want to eat, you don't have to. No one's forcing you. You chose to eat it, and now you're just sitting there pretending you can't stand up. Whom are you trying to fool?
"I know you're just trying to get rid of Tyra, aren't you? No way. Nobody's buying it."
Even David frowned, giving me a disapproving look. "Millie, stop pretending. You've made enough of a scene. Just get up."
No one paid me any attention. They just cleared the table and headed to the kitchen together to clean up.
As they washed the dishes, they were joking around and sharing stories from the day, laughter echoing through the house.
Meanwhile, I was crouched on the floor, clutching my stomach, my back drenched in sweat.
I hauled myself up using a stool, fumbled for my meds, and gulped them down.
Once my stomach settled a bit, I finally had the strength to sit down on the stool.
After the three of them finished up in the kitchen, Michael washed his hands, pouting as he grumbled at Tyra, "No, I only want you to sleep with me. I don't want my bad mom. She's ignoring me now, so I'm ignoring her, too."
"But..." Tyra looked uncertain. She wasn't really the boss in this house, so there were things she couldn't call the shots on.
David wiped his hands with a towel and scooped up Michael, who was still acting all whiny. "Come on. Sleep with Mike tonight. If he doesn't like her, that's her own problem, not yours."
Just like that, David's words completely erased me as a mother.
Michael broke into a big grin, puckered his lips, and kissed David on the cheek. Then he stretched his arms out for Tyra to pick him up.
He gave me a defiant look.
I didn't react. My heart was shattered, and all I felt was numbness.
Michael had been all smug at first, but when he saw my expressionless face, he was caught off guard for a moment.
He hugged Tyra tightly around the neck, as if trying to get a rise out of me.
I just ignored him and turned to look out the window.
When he saw how indifferent I was, his cheeks puffed up in frustration, and he turned away from me in stubborn defiance.
"You're the one who didn't come back. Mike and I thought you'd already forgotten about us. No wonder Mike doesn't want to be close to you," David said.
"David..." I hesitated, wanting to tell him about the divorce, but seeing his furrowed brow, I bit back my words.
"Millie, I don't want to argue. Mike doesn't want to be close to you. Maybe you should think about why, instead of making things difficult for Tyra," David said.
I nodded. "I know."
But what was I supposed to do now?
When Michael was born, I quit the job I was so proud of, just so I could focus on raising him.
I didn't go back to work until he was old enough to run and play on his own.
All the kids in the neighborhood used to envy Michael for having his mom around all the time.
But David was still never satisfied. Maybe it was just me he couldn't stand.
I had always known people had tried to set David up with Tyra.
Tyra only moved next door because of him, and she looked after Michael for his sake, too.
Everyone was touched by how much they gave up for each other, and honestly, so was I.
So, I made up my mind to step aside and let them have their happy ending.
The moon was rising higher and higher, and from Michael's room, I could hear Tyra reading his textbook to him.
She made even the dullest lessons sound amazing, and Michael couldn't help but gush about it. "Tyra, you're so awesome. I really wish you were my mom."
His voice was quiet, but I caught every word.
Let it be. I would go do what I had to, and Michael could have his little wish come true.
With a heavy heart, I got ready to head out early.
But David hurried after me.