Baby Love (Baby #2)(23)

There is was; pure and simple. I had had to explain 'date night' so many times over the past year or so that I had learned a condensed version of an explanation. Karla nodded for me to continue.

"Anyway, I dressed up in a little princess outfit for Halloween. My mom said that I could go ahead and walk up to the Halloween festival at school as long as I walked with the neighbor family that was going. My mom hadn't really cleared it with the neighbor family that I needed to walk up and back with them. They just sort of thought that I had tagged along on their way up to the school."

Karla was taking notes and nodded for me to continue.

"Anyway, once I got to the school I just sort of found other kids there that I knew from my kindergarten class. I got separated from the neighbors. I don't even remember their name. The next thing I remember is that the school janitor was shutting the lights off in the gymnasium and I was still wandering around looking for my neighbors to walk back home with. The janitor was a really nice man.

"He saw that I had started crying and asked me where my parents were. I told him my story. He phoned the police."

I teared up as I recalled how frightened I had been all alone like that, wandering around the school."

"I was taken away by the police to the police station. I remember that they had given me candy and were being really, really nice to me. Then some lady showed up there and took me to a family's house where I spent a few nights. I kept asking for my mother. They told me that I would see her soon. I didn't see my mother for several days. When I did see her, that same man with the suit was there with her to take me back home. Mom sent me to my room. They argued downstairs."

I shivered as I recalled the loud voices downstairs. It was mostly the man that was yelling. I think that was one person that actually frightened my mom.

"The man told my mom that she had better get her shit together. He said that if she didn't, she could consider the golden goose dead. I was never sure what he had meant by that. All I know was that after he left, my mom didn't have any more boyfriends for a long, long time."

I looked over at Karla as she finished up her note-taking. For whatever reason, what I had shared with her seemed to have rendered her usually unemotional expression null and void. She looked over at me and her expression appeared to be that of concern. I wasn't sure why. Nothing bad had happened to me as a result of my mother's neglect.

"Tylar," she said, "Between now and our next appointment I would like for you to continue to relax and focus on other memories you have similar to what you have shared with me today. These are very valuable tools in ensuring that we are dealing productively with any issues from your past that could continue to impact the present."

I nodded, not entirely certain as to what degree she felt my past was important to the present. I trusted Karla though, so I would do whatever she deemed necessary.

I made my next appointment and headed home to my family. I called Gina from my cell phone on the way home to see how she was feeling.

We had talked regularly since her break with Ian. She had been up in Hoboken with her mom for the past several weeks putting some distance between her and Ian. They were proceeding with their divorce. Trey had recommended an attorney from his practice that specialized in domestic cases. The biggest thing was how their business would be split.

She answered her cell on the second ring.

"What's up girlfriend," she asked sounding more chipper than usual.

"Not much. Just got done with my shrink; I wanted to check in with you to see how you have been feeling."

"It's all good, Ty," she said. "I have come to terms with the fact that my marriage is over, but hey, I'm 30 years old so it isn't exactly the end of the world. Ian and I still have to come to terms with the division of property so once Jesse crunches the numbers, we will be good to make a proposal."

"Jesse?" I asked, "Who is that?"

"Only the best freaking divorce lawyer in Atlanta girlfriend. I'm so glad the Hot Nazi turned me on to him. Pretty sweet on the eyes too."

"Gina," I warned, "Don't rush into anything. You're vulnerable right now remember? What's Ian doing these days?"

"Who gives a f*ck," she screeched. "I don't give a damn. I hear he's moved in with Shelly. What-the-f*ck-ever!"

She was still hurt as she had every right to be. I was glad when she changed the subject.

"How are things going with you?" she asked.

"Things have become much, much better," I answered honestly.

"I just don't ever want Susan to leave."



"You've got to be shitting me," she said. "I'd have murdered Ian's mom by now. She was such a bloody control freak."

"It's just not like that with Susan," I replied.

"She is almost like a mother to me. I don't know how I would have done it these past few weeks without her. Do you realize our new home will be ready to move into right after New Year's?"

"No shit? I can hardly wait to see it."

"When are you coming back home?" I asked.

"Soon I promise. This is just one of those times I need my mother, you know?"

Actually I didn't. I was unfamiliar as to how that might feel. I hoped when the day came for Preston that I was a mother she could come to for healing after heartbreak. Of course I would much prefer that no one would ever break her heart. Trey would likely go ballistic and kill the responsible party if that ever happened.