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“I lost my playboy edge a long time ago, Aunt Viv .”
“Well, it’s time to get it back, don’t you think? Miriam did a number on you. I swear, I liked you better when you were a happy bachelor .”
“Things change. People wake up.” People have kids. Wives leave then slap you with divorce papers. Having money has its pros and cons. Never being able to trust anyone again is definitely one of its cons .
“In any case, I liked Miss Carrington,” Vivian says. “The children will like her, too. I’ll leave now unless you need something from me ?”
“Check in with me later this week .”
“I will. Bye, love .”
Once she’s gone, I finally relax. A huge breath escapes my chest, as I sit at my office staring out the glass wall at the Freedom Tower. I think about the ten thousand ways I would’ve made that building more beautiful, not that it matters. What’s done is done, a lot like my life .
Don’t you think the best way to provide a nurturing environment for your kids is to actually spend time with them ?
Her words echo in my brain. They bother me, yes, because I know she’s right. Too bad I’m not that kind of father. Yes, I love my kids, but I’m not some hipster with enough time to strap a baby to his chest and go out for cupcakes in Chelsea Square. I have a company to run, a fortune to make. I never expected to be caring for the kids full-time by myself. I never expected Miriam to bail on the family and try to take me for all I’m worth .
But now, because of her choices, I have a full-time nanny .
Did I really think our marriage was the happy-ever-after kind ?
Maybe not in the Hollywood movie way, but I figured we’d build a nice life together, even if Miriam didn’t make me want to sing and dance and send telegrams of my love each day .
I was stupid, but now I know better. Now I know that my big mistake was thinking I could ever really count on anyone but myself .