Page 98 of Fierce-Jax

“It’s easy if you just open your mouth and let the words come out.”

It was difficult when she could hear her daughter crying in the other room.

“I appreciate my parents’ help more than I can ever say. I guess I never realized how much or how hard it was until this week if I had to do it alone. It’s the first they’ve been gone this long since I’ve owned my practice.”

“And owning the practice puts more weight on your shoulders than when you’re just an employee.”

“Yes,” she said. “I enjoy calling the shots, but then there is no one to fall back on either. Just another stress. I wanted to have all of Marcy’s appointments canceled when she went home sick, but it was only for a few hours and I thought we could handle it.”

She didn’t want to risk upsetting her patients either. Or worry that she’d lose them.

Being the owner came with a lot more thoughts like that. Especially when she was trying to grow the practice.

“And you did,” he said. “You called and asked for help. I like that you did it. I know it had to be hard. Remember my sister. She’s just like you.”

Dillion nodded and picked her wine back up. “I know,” she said. “It was hard but not really. I can’t explain it. You were the first person who I thought of.”

“Which makes me feel wonderful,” he said. “It really does. People who love each other do that.”

Gianna’s sobs were getting louder.

She breathed in deeply and took another sip of wine. “And there is the Mom guilt. There is never a break.”

“Well,” he said. “I could have said yes to the banana and it wouldn’t have hurt her. It’s a fruit and good for her, but you said no. It’s not my decision. I wouldn’t counter you. Unless you wanted me to deal with it. Tell me those things.”

She sighed. “And here is the funny part. I would have been annoyed if you had given it to her and tried to overrule me, because then she would have gotten her way.” She knew it was getting to him. “And if I go in there now when I know it’s only waterworks, she’ll know she can do it to get her way too.”

“So you’ll let her cry?” he asked. “Just asking because I’m not sure how to handle it.”

“I’d love not to handle it,” she said.

To just let someone else be the boss.

She’d never had that once since she’d become a mother.

Even Alec had not helped all that much in those five weeks.

“Tell me what you want me to do,” he said. “I can go talk to her. It doesn’t mean giving in or letting her get her way. Just explaining that we all have bad days and it’s okay to cry.”

She wasn’t sure why that didn’t occur to her.

“Would you? I can check on dinner.”

“Dinner is done and I’m going to get a plate for the burgers.” He turned to grab one. “Let me bring them in and then I’ll talk to Gianna.”

She nodded. When Jax was outside, she called out, “Gianna, come in here now.”

Her daughter came in sniffling. “Do I get my banana now?”

“No,” Jax said, having heard her when he opened the door. “Dinner is done and I put a lot of work into these and hope that you eat a whole one.”

“I’m going to,” Gianna said, nodding her head. “Then I want my banana.”

“I think if you’re still hungry after dinner, there is nothing wrong with having a piece of fruit,” he said.

Gianna looked toward Dillion. “Can I, Mom?”

“Sure,” she said. Still being the boss but at least her daughter was listening.