(Lydia)“It’s not just about the tabloids either,” I said to Mama, “It’s also that – I genuinely feel as though … as though … Thomas thinks that I’m lesser than him, somehow.”“Oh, honey,” Mama said, “Whatever makes you think that way?” She put the palm of her hand gently on my cheek and looked at me.“Because Margaret thinks that way!” I said, “And if Thomas could agree to marry Sarah because Margaret asked him to do so, then I need to work on becoming someone worthy and of note. That’s the only way that I’ll be able to fully integrate into their world!”“Thomas got engaged to Sarah,” Ruby countered, “Because she’s a spoiled rich kid!”. She tossed a peanut in her mouth from the tray in front of her.“That’s exactly my point!” I exclaimed, “Sarah would have never been able to snatch Thomas away from me if I had had any social standing in front of her. Margaret would have backed me, not her!”“For someone who claims to hate Thomas right now,” Ruby said, “You certainly sound like you w
(Lydia)“You’ve planned an entire itinerary?!” Ruby exclaimed. I showed her the list at the breakfast table. “Mhm,” I nodded, “Yes, I have.”“Lyddie!” Ruby laughed, “This is really cool. But don’t you think this would be exhausting?”. Ruby scanned through the list. “Theme park … theater show … movie night … dinner … scavenger hunt … How in God’s name are you planning to pull off all of this within forty-eight hours?”I took the list from her and smiled slightly. “You’ll understand when you have children,” I said. I cupped my face in my palms.“Well,” she said, “Jack should be back from dropping them off at school any minute now. So, maybe he can help you set all of this up.”“Yeah, I know,” I said, “I did tell him to let the teacher know that the twins wouldn’t be coming to school tomorrow.”Ruby gave me a quizzical look.“It’s not easy being both a mother as well as a career woman, Ruby!” I exclaimed defensively, gripping the table, “I’m just trying to squeeze in as many joyful memor
(Lydia)The twins squealed in delight when I came to pick them up at the school. I met the principal at her office before I went to the children’s classroom.“Mabel and Miles are progressing wonderfully,” she said to me, “I've never failed to be amazed at how well they’re doing.”I beamed with pride. “Thank you so much,” I said.“It seems as though you’ve worked exceptionally hard on them,” she remarked, her eyes gleaming with admiration.I chuckled. “I try,” I said.Hearing the principal say this made me feel a little less horrible about how little time I’d been spending with the children lately.***“So,” I said, “Who’s up for a fun trip to the theme park?”. Mabel and Miles practically jumped up and down in their seats as they cheered. I got them McDonald’s through a drive-through and played their favorite nursery rhymes all the way to the park.***“Look, Mommy!” Mabel laughed at a Despicable Me! minion mascot. Miles began emulating a Buzz Lightyear robot. “Buzz Lightyear to the re
(Thomas)In the first few days of being at the mansion, the twins had been delighted to be there. But after the first three weeks had gone by, neither Mabel nor Miles could live without their mother.I enjoyed having the children around. I watched with pleasure and joy as Miles played with the train set that he had gotten for him, the twins rode tricycles outside, and chased each other around the house.Miles had been particularly fond of my collection of cars. “Would you like for me to teach you how to drive?” I asked him, my heart swelling up with love for his bright blue eyes and intent stare. Miles nodded, so I picked up my son and took him to the driver’s seat.“Vroom, vroom!” exclaimed Miles, turning around the steering wheel of a stationary car.So, the next day, I had shown up with a mini-Ferrari for Miles to drive. I had also gotten one for Mabel – a white one – but she had told me that it wasn’t very ladylike to drive a racecar.“Whatever do you mean?” I had laughed.Mabel h
(Lydia)Things had been a bit awkward between Nathan and I for the first couple of weeks after I resumed working with him. As soon as the shots were cut, we would go our own separate ways. In all truth, I hadn’t been expecting this from Nathan. I had thought that, being the joyous, bubbly, and carefree person that he was, he would probably come up to me and tell me that the way that I had responded in that situation with Clara was hilarious.But he looked down and walked away. I startled a little but then shook my head and went my own separate way.“I’m sorry about how brutal the tabloids were at you about this whole thing,” Jane said.“It’s okay,” I sipped my coffee. We were sitting outside in the main area outside the studio.The grass was bright green and the sky shone and happy blue above us. But I didn’t feel that way. I missed my children. I missed … Thomas.***“Hey,” Nathan said when I approached the yoga room. A bunch of people were practicing inside it.“Hi,” I said, surpris
(Lydia)The children’s birthday party was being held at the mansion. This was the first time in a long time that the whole family would be gathered together: the twins, Ruby, Jack, Mama, Margaret, Thomas, and I.I had also invited Adam over to the party, seeing as how he had practically raised the children for the first three years of their lives.“Are you excited about turning four?” I asked Miles through the FaceTime screen.“Yes!” he exclaimed, “And because I am four, I will have four cars!”“Four cars?” I raised my brows in surprise.“Yes,” he said, showing me a grin.“Hey,” said Nathan as he walked past, “Did I hear something about a birthday?”I nodded. “Yeah, we’re holding the twins’ birthday party tonight.”“Really?” he said.“Yeah,” I nodded, ‘Would you like to come?”“Of course!” Nathan said.“Mommy,” Miles said through the phone, “Is that Uncle Nathan?”“Yes, love,” I said to him. Behind him, I felt Thomas shift uncomfortably, shaking the camera that he was holding.“Hey, b
(Lydia)“Come now, everyone,” I announced, “Let’s cut the cake.”Mama, Margaret, Ruby, Jack, Adam, and Nathan gathered round the table. Thomas walked up, brushed past Nathan and made his way to stand next to the children. Nathan blinked at him, confused.“Alright,” I said, smiling brightly to cover up the awkwardness and tension, “Let’s start!”“Happy birthday to you,” I began, “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Mabel and Miles. Happy birthday to you.”Everyone sang along and clapped with me except for Thomas, who was helping the twins dive the butter knife in through the cake.The three of them were having their own private moment of joy as the twins clapped and giggled.“Mommy!” Mabel said, “I made a wish at the candle that you and –““Shush, honey,” I said laughing. I bent down. “You’re not supposed to tell anyone your wish,” I said.“Really, Mommy?” she asked me.“Yes,” I said, “Because if you tell anyone, it doesn’t come true.”My daughter shut her eyes and quietly bega
(Lydia)Adam met me for coffee the following week. I stared at him as he sat opposite me in the café, slowly stirring my vanilla latte. “I’m kind of worried about you, Lydia,” Adam said.I frowned and put my spoon down.“Why would you be worried about me?” I asked. I picked up my cup and took a small sip.“It’s been a year since this whole push and pull between you and Thomas is going on,” he said, “The two of you need to sort out your issues. I can tell that this separation is hurting you deep down on the inside.”I shook my head, dismissing my feelings.“Can we talk about something else?’ I asked.“Sure,” Adam said, shrugging slightly.“So, tell me,” he said, looking into my eyes, “What’s been up?”Adam’s face showed deep concern. And I unraveled immediately.I began shaking and sobbing as I told Adam everything – from how Thomas had still not proposed to me to what I had discovered about Sarah recently.Adam put his hands on top of mine.“It’s okay, Lydia,” he said, “It’s okay to f