Choose

"It's just through here, Mrs. Conwell. You can take a seat right here while waiting."

"Thank you! Oh, I'm so nervous. It's my first interview in years. My husband was the one working, but then he… well. What's your boss like? Are they nice? I used to be a translator, I've never even tried applying as a writer before. It's really just been a hobby, but I really wanted to pursue something I actually enjoyed. It was either this or find a way to get paid for napping!

"Gosh, I'm sorry for rambling so much. I have no brakes when my heart is racing like this. It's either talk to let it out or just let my head burst, y'know? Stop me anytime. What about you? Do you like the work here? Do you get treated all right?"

"It's a great job, honestly. I've been here for over 3 years now and the boss has been nothing but kind. Don't be nervous! Oh, that's her over there waving you over, you can go right in." 

"Thanks, really. Wish me luck!"

++++++++++++++++++++

"Mommy, you're home!"

"Hey, sweetie! How was your morning? Did you get some lunch yet?"

"No. Nonna went for a nap after we watched a movie. She said she didn't get enough sleep last night. I was gonna make myself a peanut butter sandwich, but I couldn't find where Nonna put away the bread after breakfast."

"Oh baby, I'm sorry. Let's go see if Nonna's up and maybe we can all go out to celebrate! Momma got the job!"

++++++++++++++++++++

"You weren't even gonna tell me that you left Valerie with your mom yesterday morning? Your mom can barely take care of herself, much less an 11-year-old. Something could have happened!"

"My mom is perfectly capable of watching Valerie for 4 hours. Nothing happened, did it?"

"You could have called me! You know I would have done everything I could to help."

       "I didn't need you."

++++++++++++++++++++

(7 months ago)

       "What? What do you mean you're leaving?"

"I mean I'm leaving. I found a cheap place to rent right by my work, and I'm gonna stay there. Just for a little while, Cassie. I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you or Val but I just really need to do this."

       "If you don't want to hurt us, then how could you leave? You know this isn't the right way. We've got to at least talk about this. What's going on? Did I do something? Did something happen? ... Did you meet someone else?"

"No, no. It's not like that. I'm not even sure why I'm... Look, I'm sorry. I just need some time and space to figure it out."

       "So you won't even have a conversation about this first? You need space? Time? Fine. Then don't come back at all. Have all the space and time you need. Valerie and I will be fine without you."

++++++++++++++++++++

(3 months ago)

"Cassie, please. I miss you. I miss Valerie."

       "You see her almost every day."

"I know, but I mean... I miss being with you two at home... I miss our family."

       "Then why did you leave?"

"I made a mistake. I realized that I couldn't just leave you. I know now that I have to choose to make this work, instead of just running away. You and Val are worth it. You're worth it. I don't know how to live without either of you."

       "You should have figured that out before you left, and before I realized something too; that I can live just fine without you."

"Cass... please..."

++++++++++++++++++++

       "Baby, it's just not that simple."

"But why not, Mommy? You always say that love's a choice. That you have to choose to love someone even when it gets hard. That true love isn't just always just all about feelings but something you have to choose to commit to. So you can choose to love Dad. Then we can be a family again. You asked me what I wanted most for my birthday next month, and that's what I want. For Dad to come live with us again."

"Since when did you get so smart, huh, little miss? Throwing my own life advice back at me? Okay, you're right. I guess I haven't been listening to my own words. You know I just want you to be happy, so I promise I'll think about it more."

--

"Val told me you said you'll reconsider. Are you really?"

       "Sometimes I don't know whether to be happy or annoyed that you two tell each other everything."

"So it's true? You don't know how much I've been wanting to hear that. For just even a glimmer of hope."

       "James... when you left... I don't know... You had my entire heart in your hands and when you just dropped it like that, like you were tired and just didn't want it anymore... I just don't know how to trust you with myself like that again."

"Cass, I will spend the rest of my life proving to you that you can. I definitely don't deserve it, and if I were one of your friends, I'd probably tell you to give me a big smack upside the head and walk away just like what I did to you... but I'm selfish, and I love you, so I'm begging you, please give me another chance."

++++++++++++++++++++

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Valerie, happy birthday to you!"

"Make a wish!"

"I already got my biggest wish this year."

"Then what's your second biggest wish?"

"A phone!"

"Okay, what's your third wish?"

++++++++++++++++++++

"I'm keeping my new job."

"Of course."

"My car gets garage dibs."

"Absolutely."

"You're going to talk to me about things."

"Yup, learned that one already-- ow."

"Also, I've come to really like having a desk to work at, so we're going to need to discuss office custody."

"It's yours. I'll move to the basement."

++++++++++++++++++++

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.