One More Chance
Chapter 57: File a divorce petition

~~~I'd give my best to you, nothing for me to do but have one last cry. One last cry before I leave it all behind. I've gotta put you out of my mind, stop living a lie. I know I gotta be strong, 'cause my life goes on and on. I'm gonna dry my eyes, right after my ONE LAST

CRY~~~

-Brian Mcknight-

"What the hell is going on with you and your husband? Is it true that he's cheating on you?"

But instead of answering her question, I lunged at her and hugged her tightly. And there on her shoulder, I started crying.

"Mommy..." I hugged her so tight like I was used to do when I was a child, seeking her embrace as if it was the solution to all my problems.

"Oh, my baby." She started rubbing my back and later I heard her sniff and that only added the weight I was carrying inside. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Mom..." I murmured as my shoulders trembled with my every sob.

'Why didn't I tell her?' The same question I have in mind, maybe because I don't want her to know I am in pain, that I'm always crying and no one hugs me every night to comfort me and ask me how I feel. I didn't tell her because she's my mom and the pain I have would be double for her. I know that because I'm a mother now and the pain that my daughter feels is also a stab in my heart.

"You should have told me about it, Sam." My mom said and then she put her hands on mine. "Why did you take all this by yourself?"

I closed my eyes as I let out a heavy sigh. We were in my old room and both sat on the edge of the bed. I told her everything, even Luke's real feelings for me or should I say Luke's empty feelings.

"Because I don't want you to be worried, mom, this is my fault and I should be the one to take the consequences."

"Samantha, if you're talking about what you did before, well it's been so long. It's already been four years and you now have a 4-year-old daughter."

"Yeah, it's been so long, but that long period of time being together hasn't even changed the love he has for his ex-girlfriend. It just lit up when they met again. He never learned to love me and he told me he never will, mom, and it hurts." I glanced at her with my eyes filled with tears. "It hurts a lot, mom."

"Ohh... my dearest daughter." She then pulled me in a hug and I continued to cry. I was just stopped when she mentioned my dad. "I can't let this happen anymore. I will tell your father and---"

"Mom, no!" I sit up straight, shaking my head as I plead. "Please don't tell dad about this or even Dale, I don't want them to know about it."

"But Sam---"

"Mom, promise me please, you won't tell them about it. You know them very well, they won't spare Luke for doing this. This is just about me and my husband and whatever is going on between us, I don't want you guys to be involved. I don't want your relationship with his family to change, besides, I started this, so I'll take the consequences."

She gave me a weak smile, shaking her head.

"It's my fault."

"Mom..."

"If I hadn't forced you to marry him at that time---"

"Mom, no, it's not your fault and I understand why you did it. You're just thinking about me and my baby."

"But we all know we can support you and Cali with all your needs, instead pushed you to accept the proposal. If I only I had known this would happen, I would have stopped the wedding."

"Hey, mom, don't blame yourself for what happened to me and to our marriage because it's also my choice to marry him."

"No, I am your mother and I should be the one protecting you, but I didn't, instead, I pushed my 17-year-old daughter into marriage and left her separated from us and lived alone."

"But I didn't live alone, I have a daughter and you've always been there for me for the past four years."

We exchanged a weak smile and hugged each other eventually.

"I missed you, mom."

"I missed you too, my baby." She said kissing me on the forehead. "I haven't noticed that these past four years, my baby has grown up so fast and is now the mother of a lovely little girl." She cupped my cheek and put the loose strands on the back of my ear.

"So, what's your plan now?"

I sighed, brushing my hair with my fingers. A mannerism that Luke and I both have as a sign of frustration.

"Honestly, I don't know yet, mom," I replied, but the answer she gave me made my head snap at her. "Divorce him."

"Mom?"

"File a divorce petition, Sam, I will help you."

"Mommy, did you hear what you're saying?" I suddenly sat up straight, I couldn't believe the exact word that came from her. She grew up as a family-oriented person and I know how she gives important having a complete family. "Yes, and don't ask me if I'm sure about it because I'm telling you, I am. I don't want my daughter to suffer anymore."

"But mom---"

"No, you already said that he doesn't love you---no, he never loved you, so what's the point of holding on?"

That question made me shut in my seat and bit my tongue.

"You're hurting too much, Sam and the best thing to do is to let go. If he's stupid enough to walk away, then be smart enough to let him go."

I gulped.

"I-I don't know if I can. I love him, mom."

"You can do it, I know you can because you've been able to live 17 years without him and I'm sure you can still do it even when he's gone and out of your life. We are here for you, Sam and we will always be here."

"But what about Cali, what would I explain to her?"

"Shh... I told you, we are here and we will help you explain everything to her. Remember, your Cali is smart and she even understands the word mistress that easily."

I chuckled, but then I remembered my best friend. She's still not replying any of my messages and even answering my calls.

"If you want, you can continue your studies and choose whatever you want to be and I will support you. When it regards to the company, well, you don't have to worry about it because your brother takes responsibility. So all you have to do is to get yourself back and be a good mother to your child."

"Thanks, mom." I couldn't help but hugged her again.

"You're always welcome, my baby."

We were in the middle of our mother-daughter conversation when we heard a knock on the door followed by my daughter's voice.

"Speaking of your adorable kid."

We both laughed and she motioned for me to stay seated as she will be the one to open the door.

"Fix yourself first and then follow us to the kitchen, okay?"

"Hmhm." I nodded, smiling.

I heard my daughter's voice as soon as my mom opened the door.

"Grandma..."

"Ohh... what's the problem of our princess Cali?"

"I'm hungry."

"You are hungry."

"Yes, my tummy said bruppp-bruppp inside, grandma."

I couldn't help laughing when I heard what Cali said. I don't know where she got that word from.

"Oh, my God, is your tummy talking to you now?"

"Hmhm... my tummy's always talks to me when I feel hungry and I... I can hear its sound. It's like this...(she mimicked the sound of her tummy) "...bruppp-bruppp."

I covered my mouth so she can't hear my laugh. I don't want her to see me like this, with reddened eyes and a puffy nose.

"Aw! I think we should go to the dining room now and I will serve your favorite pasta with meatballs, what do you think?

"Yey, I like it! But where's my mom?"

"Uhm, she still has an important thing to do inside, but she will follow us when she's done."

"Alright."

"So let's go and dig in my delicious pasta."

I slumped on my old bed with my back first. I've always said this to myself and I will never get tired of repeating this again and again.

-'If there's one thing that I don't regret what happened, it's Cali.'-

***

When it's our time to go home, my mom walked with us into the garage and before I could open the door to the driver side, she pulled my hand and wrapped me into a tight motherly hug. "Don't forget to inform me of your plans, huh? I'm always here and I will help you in every possible way I can."

"Thank you so much, mom, but don't worry, I will run to you when I can no longer carry the weights in my chest. I will ask you to kiss the pain away like you always did when I was young." "I love you, my baby, you will always be my baby and Cali is my second baby."

I chuckled as I freed myself from her embrace.

"Don't you ever mention that in front of your favorite son, I'm sure he wouldn't agree."

"Yeah, I know." She shrugged.

We both laughed and hugged each other again before she let me get inside my car.

"Take care, Sam and Cali... always listen to your mom, honey."

"I will, grandma, bye."

"Bye, see you next weekend."

"I love you, mom," I said and sending her a flying kiss before starting the engine.

"I love you, guys."

Cali is still waving on the passenger window until we drove out the gate and her grandmother has already disappeared from her sight.

When we reached the main road, it was then that I remembered one of the important people that I need to see at the moment... Jack.

We stopped for a few minutes in front of our favorite coffee shop to buy some drinks and snacks before heading straight to Jack's apartment.

I know how much she loves my Cali and this time, I will use the little kid to urge her Untie Jack to talk to me.

-'Huh! Let's see if you can keep ignoring me this time!'-

A triumphant smile twisted at the corner of my lips as I imagined my plan.