Sacrifice or Selfish Part II
By the time she felt her heartbeat settling into a normal rhythm, January realized she was more than halfway to Burlington. Her fingers were still clenched tight around the steering wheel, and she was no longer fighting the angry tears which had streamed down her face from the time she’d peeled out of her parents‘ driveway.
She let out a shaky breath and sniffed angrily when she shot a glance sideways at the phone which was buzzing on her passenger seat. She was expecting her father to call but it was Gulliver’s number on the display.
“Hello?” she answered with a sniff.
“January? Are you crying?”
“No.” Not anymore. She bit her bottom lip.
“What’s wrong, my love?”
“I’m not your love.”
“We’ve been over this. I’m not your love. You are mine.” A trace of humor coated his words. “What is going on?”
“Just had another spectacular fight with my mother. Seriously. I think my father needs to take her in her for a brain scan because she’s clearly going crazy.”
legwas quiet, “she was off when I picked Kaylee up.”■
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“No but she barely spoke to me.”
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“I’m sorry. Today she gave me shit for not taking you back so that she wouldn’t have to miss weekends with Kaylee.”
“The fuck?”
“Yeah.”
“The brain scan sounds right. You should suggest it to your father.”
She chuckled at his words. “What were you calling for?”
“Well, two things.”
“Two things?”
“Yes. The first is that I got your text about how you love the house. I can get a home inspection done for you and then we can purchase it for you if there are no serious issues. If there are significant issues, if the house makes you happy and they are fixable we can negotiate pricing and then get it fixed the way you need.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I said I’d buy it for you and Kaylee and I will.”
“Thank you Gulliver.” She cleared her throat, “what is the other thing?”
Well, I wanted to ask if I could keep Kaylee overnight, but yo2
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She gave a laugh, “do you want to know something stupid?”
“Sure.”
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“My first instinct was to drive to where she is to get a Kaylee hug. She always makes me feel better. I was coming to my senses to realize I can’t go get a hug from her but I’m about twenty minutes from Burlington. I’ll be content to breathe her air from a distance I guess.” She wiped an angry tear off her cheek.
“Why don’t you come join us then?”
“I don’t want to intrude.” She shook her head. “You deserve your time with her Gulliver. This was part of the argument I had with Mom. I need to learn to occupy my time when she is on your time. If she is wanting to do a sleepover, I’m okay with it. I trust you with her Gulliver. I’ll just go for dinner in Burlington on my own and then drive back later. Your poor security team is going to be worn out by the time I’m done.”
“Hey, listen to me, you do what you need to do but why don’t you come join us. I mean it. My grandfather has said to me about twenty times today how much he wished you were here so he could apologize. Kaylee has said more than once she couldn’t wait for Mitsos to meet her mom. Also, on that note, Mitsos told her he didn’t have a mom, and she offered you up as a spare.”
“She what?” January blinked at the comment.
“Yeah. I have a feeling I know why Darwin is so intent on having her for a real sister. I think she’s offering your services as mom to her motherless friends.”
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She giggled, “oh my god Kaylee!”
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“Thisbe is here as well. She mentioned a couple of times she owes you an apology and wants to see you. Glenn never did get to meet you in person. Ford is here too. He said something about shooting his shot since you’re about the dating life now.”
She laughed this time as his words made her laugh.
“Come join us. We’ll have dinner together and then if you need some time alone, we’ll put you up in your own room for the night.”
“Are you sure I’m not intruding?”
“Hold on,” she could hear him fumbling with his phone and then the full sound of the room he was in buzzed in her ear. He then hollered out to the people in the room, “hey, I have January on the phone. Any objections to her joining us for the night?”
“Yay!” Kaylee screamed.
“Yes please!” Thisbe’s voice carried out.
“I cannot wait to meet her!”
“Tell her she is very welcome to come to us.”
The sound of Kaylee grabbing Gulliver’s phone made her smile.
“Mom, mom, guess what? I have a cousin and he looks like me just like Uncle Ford said. I can’t wait to show him to you. He’s 4 funny. Can you get here soon? I miss you!”
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“I’ll be there soon,” she agreed. “I need to make a stop to pick up some things so I can stay in Burlington overnight and then I’ll be there.”
Thisbe’s voice cut in, “don’t stop, January. I’ve been shopping like a fool while I’m here sulking over being a bitch to you the last time we saw each other. I have enough things for you to sleep in. Hell, I have a full change of clothes for you for tomorrow too and face masks and bubble bath and the whole nine yards. Just come join the fun. The kids are wanting a pizza party.”
Gulliver spoke next, “you should get here soon because my sister is talking about pineapple on the pizza. You need to save us.‘
She wiped a tear off her cheek and smiled, “I’m about forty minutes from your hotel. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Yay!” Kaylee squealed again.
“Gulliver spoke softly. “You are wanted here, January. Drive safe, my love. We will see you soon.
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As she hung up the phone, she sent her father a quick voice message stating she wouldn’t be home for the night and then she powered off her phone and refused to give her mother another thought.
