Page 45 of My Destiny

“My father was a lawyer too,” she says, her voice so quiet I can only just make out her words.

My head snaps in her direction. I remember her mentioning that she didn’t have a relationship with her father.Now we’re getting somewhere.

“And?” There has to be more to it.

“My mother was only nineteen years old when she met him. She worked part-time at his law firm while putting herself through university.” She pauses briefly, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Her future looked promising, until she fell in love with him.”

“I see,” I say.

“This is hard for me. It’s something I don’t talk about. Ever.”

Rolling back onto my side, I reach for her hand. “And I appreciate you opening up to me.” When she doesn’t continue, I pry a little further. “So, she found out she was pregnant after their relationship ended?”

“No, before,” she says, averting her gaze. “That’s when he informed her about his wife, the one she had no idea about.”

“Oh.” I tighten my grip on her hand.

“He demanded she have an abortion.”

Shit, this is worse than I thought. “I’m so sorry he treated your mother so poorly.”

Her eyes move back to me. “She was the sweetest and most loving person. She didn’t deserve that.” When I see her bottom lip quiver, I shimmy closer to her.

“No, she didn’t.”

“She walked out of his office that day and never heard from him again.”

“I’m glad she didn’t listen to him.”

“Me too,” she says, as a smile tugs at her lips. “Her life was never the same. With a child on the way, she had to leave university and get a job. I think she always intended on going back to finish her law degree, but she never got the chance. She worked two, sometimes three, jobs at a time just to keep both of us clothed, fed, and housed.

“It sounds like you inherited her strength.”

“Hardly,” she scoffs.

“I disagree.”

“I still feel guilty when I think of what she gave up for me, but she never once complained.”

“It’s what mothers do—they put their children first. Well, most mothers.”

“What’s your mother like?” she asks.

“Amazing. I’m fortunate to have her.”

“That’s how I always felt about my mum. She was the best.”

The smile on her face says so much. I feel bad for her; I’d be lost without my mum. “What happened to your mother?” I ask.

“She got sick. She was tired all the time and put it down to the long hours she worked. I don’t think she realised she had cancer until it was too late. She was already stage four by then.”

“How sad.”

“I’d always planned on looking after her when I left university. I was going to start up my own studio, and in my mind, it was going to be an instant success.” She lets out a small laugh before continuing. “I desperately wanted to repay her for everything she’d done for me growing up. I knew how tough things had been. She deserved a better life, a chance to live again. But unfortunately, I never got to do that for her.”

“I’m so sorry.” When I see tears well in her eyes, I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her to me.

“I miss her so much.” A lump forms in my throat as she softly cries into my chest.