"I know. But they're doing it because they want you and Roger to get back together. You need to talk to them," he advised gently.
That evening, I stormed home, my heart heavy with hurt. Veronica and Casey were playing in the living room, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.
"Girls, we need to talk. Now," I said firmly, gathering them. They exchanged nervous glances but said nothing.
"I know what you've been doing. Lying to my boyfriends to scare them away. Why?" I demanded, my voice breaking.
At first, they denied it. But when I threatened to cut off their pocket money and vacations, they finally confessed.
"Mom, we just want you and Dad to get back together. We need both our parents. We need our old life back," Veronica said, tears streaming down her face.
I felt like my heart was shattering into a million pieces. "But why didn't you tell me this before?" I asked, choking on my tears.
"We were scared you'd be mad," Casey whispered.
I took a deep breath, gathering them in my arms. "I understand, but you can't do this. It's not fair to me or to those men. We need to have a real conversation about this."
We sat together, talking late into the night. I explained that while I understood their feelings, I also needed to move on and find happiness.
"But, Mom, is it really too late to get back together with Dad?" Veronica asked, her voice small and hopeful.
I sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I don't know, sweetheart. But what I do know is that we need to support each other and be honest. No more lies, okay?"
They nodded, and I tried to lighten the mood. "And just so you know, I'll remember this when it's your turn to bring a guy home."
The girls laughed, but deep inside, a question kept haunting me—was it really too late to put aside those differences and get my life back with Roger for our children's sake?
The next day, I couldn't focus at work. My mind kept drifting back to the conversation with my daughters. Could it really be possible to rekindle things with Roger? I decided to call him.
"Hey, Roger. Do you have a minute?" I nervously asked when he answered.
"Sure, Melinda. What's up?" He sounded curious but not unkind.
"I think we need to talk. In person. It's about the girls," I said, my voice trembling slightly.
"Okay. How about tonight at that coffee shop we used to go to?" he suggested.
"That works. See you at seven," I agreed, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach.
At seven sharp, I walked into the bustling coffee shop, spotting Roger at a corner table. He looked up, giving me a small smile.
"Hey, Melinda," he greeted me as I sat down.
"Hi, Roger. Thanks for meeting me," I said, fidgeting with my coffee cup.
"So, what's on your mind?" he asked, leaning forward.
"The girls. They've been... sabotaging my relationships because they still hope we'll get back together," I blurted out.
Roger looked shocked. "What? Why didn't they say anything?"
"They were scared. They thought I'd be mad. But it's more than that, Roger. They miss our family. They want us to be together again," I explained.
Roger sighed, rubbing his temples. "I had no idea. I thought they were handling the divorce well."
"I did too. But it's clear they're not. I know we had our differences, but maybe... for their sake, we should try to work things out," I suggested hesitantly.
He looked at me, a storm of emotions crossing his face. "It's not that simple, Melinda. We had real issues. That's why I decided to remain single after the divorce."
"I know. But maybe we can try counseling. See if there's anything left worth saving. For the girls," I pleaded.
Roger sighed again, looking out the window. "Alright. Let's give it a shot. For the girls."
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of emotions. Roger and I started going to counseling, trying to rebuild the trust and communication we had lost.
