“I’m quitting,” I told Mia on my way to pick up Levi from baseball practice. Luckily, my parents had gotten the younger two from school and agreed to watch them until I got off work since Dad’s coffee shop closed at two every day.

“What? Why?” Mia asked over her car’s speaker. I heard her blinker sound in the background of the call.

“HE WANTS TO HAVE THE JOB DONE IN ELEVEN MONTHS!”

The line was quiet, and my eyes widened.

“You knew, didn’t you?” I demanded.

“Well, I—yes, I did. The last two designers royally screwed him over, and it’s left him in a tight spot.”

“I have three kids who just started at a new school, Levi’s doing baseball practice after school, I’m trying to find a house. How am I supposed to do all of that while working on mission impossible?” Her turn signal underscored the panicked beating of my heart.

“Farrah, do you remember when you got pregnant with Levi?”

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. I’d been nineteen at the time. Caleb and I had only been dating for a few months, and along came a baby. I was barely affording college tuition and my half of the rent while working nearly full-time waiting tables. It had been a lot to manage as a teenager, even before having a child to care for.

Mia said, “No one would have blamed you if you dropped out of college, but you made it work. You found that church nursery to help with childcare at a fraction of the regular rates, you encouraged Caleb to get his insurance license, and even brought Levi to class with you when you had to. You were relentless about getting your degree and providing for yourself and that baby.”

“And then I wasted all that effort to be a stay-at-home mom,” I said, already knowing I’d never go back and change a thing, even if I could. Staying home and taking care of the kids was the one thing I’d never regret. “Not wasted, just…”

“I know,” Mia said gently, her turn signal still flicking.

“My gosh, how long have you been at that turn?” I asked.

Mia muttered, “Shit, forgot to turn it off.”

I adjusted my grip on the steering wheel, smiling at my friend.

“The point is, you’re going to make it happen, because if anyone can, it’s you.”

“I wish I believed in myself as much as you do,” I said. “But what if I can’t do it? What if I fail?”

“Well then you might need to move out of Dallas.”

“WHAT?”

There was no humor in her voice as she said, “Everyone knows Gage Griffen. He’s not vindictive, but he’s honest. If they ask him why he let you go, he’ll tell them the truth.”

I bit my lip. “You really think I can do this?”

“Absolutely,” she said. “And I know he’s intimidating at first, but he really is a good guy. He expects the best from people, but he gives his best too.”

“Good, because the thought of sitting in the same room with him for three months is freaking me out.”

“No need to freak. I’ll be in and out too, and you’ll be so busy you won’t even notice him.”

Doubtful, but I said, “Thanks for the support, Mia. I know you went out on a limb to get this job for me. I don’t want to disappoint you either.”

“Never, but I gotta go. Just pulled up to my parents’ place.”

“Tell them I said hi,” I said.

“I will. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

We hung up, and even though I still had doubts, I couldn’t back down.

This salary was more than generous, and no one was calling me back for another job. In fact, I was getting rejections by email practically every hour because I’d been so dedicated to my job search. Unfortunately someone my age with no job experience wasn’t exactly a hot commodity. Even the fast-food chain closest to my kids’ school didn’t want me in the kitchen.

And the thought of having my own job, my own money that didn’t get filtered through Caleb’s budgeting system or come through child support… it was pure exhilaration.

In just a few paychecks, I’d have enough to put a down payment on a decent rental, buy myself some shoes that didn’t look like they came from an eighties thrift store, maybe even get some extra professional clothes so I didn’t have to borrow from my mom or return after a single wear.

I could get Levi that mitt he kept asking for. New art supplies for Andrew so he didn’t have to keep using the dime-a-piece spiral notebooks with lined pages. A cute bedroom set for Cora in the new house. She always wanted one of those cute beds that looked like a tiny house. Caleb was too cheap to give it to her, but me? I could cave, this once.

I pulled up outside the practice field at Levi’s school, Golden Valley High. He was already walking my way, covered in dirt and sweat, with his gym bag slung over his shoulder. I pressed the button on the trunk, and he threw the stuff in the back before dropping in the front seat and slouching down.

“Rough day?” I asked. He’d been one of the best players on his club team in Austin, but the first few days of practice here had been hard on him, starting out as a freshman player on the bottom of the totem pole.

“Don’t want to talk about it,” he mumbled, pulling his cap farther over his forehead.

Sometimes it was hard to believe this tall, solid, sullen teen was once my little baby. But I still wanted to kiss away the pain no matter how much he’d grown. “You’re just a freshman on the team. It’ll take some time to get your bearings.”

He gave me a look. He really resembled his dad when he made that scowly face.

“Okay,” I said, turning up the radio. On the way to my parents’ house, I stopped and picked up a bottle of champagne at the liquor store and then two big pizzas at Slice, the local pizza shop. When I came back into the car with the boxes, Levi perked up. I swear the kid’s always hungry.

“We’re eating out?” he asked. “How much is that guy paying you?”

I grinned. When I’d seen that number on the page, I realized I was making more than Caleb for the first time in my life.

Back when I told Caleb I was leaving because of his infidelity, he’d said all sorts of horrible things to get me to stay. He’d told me no one would be interested in a plus-size single mom of three. He’d said I would never make enough money to support the kids, even with child support, and that I’d come crawling back. He’d even stooped so low as to say the kids would hate me for making them live in poverty when their dad had such a good job.

He was wrong.

“Enough,” I said finally, putting the car in gear and driving the few blocks to my parents’ house.

“Does that mean I can get my new mitt?”

“Pizza today, a mitt later,” I replied with a smile as I parked in my parents’ driveway.

Levi carried his bag and the pizzas while I brought my purse and the champagne inside. Dad sat in his recliner, watching the evening news while Mom colored at the table with Cora and Andrew.

“Mommy!” Cora said, dropping her crayons and coming to wrap her arms around me. I hoped she’d never grow out of being this happy to see me.

“Hi, baby!” I said.

Andrew said from the table, “Gramps told me you’re working for a zillionaire. Is that true?”

I smiled at my dad, who winked at me. “Close. Who wants pizza?”

Mom stood up, getting the boxes from Levi. “You didn’t have to get pizza, Farrah. I could have ordered it.”

I held up the champagne. “I wanted to celebrate. The offer was incredible.”

Mom grinned, covering her mouth. “That good? Oh my gosh! But does that mean you’re moving out? I’d miss my grandbabies if you did.”

I chuckled. “Not quite yet. Let me get a few paychecks under my belt first.” I went back to the room Cora and I were sharing and changed into lounge clothes. This outfit was still clean enough that I could return it for another one.

When I came back, the coloring books and crayons were already cleared off the table, and the TV muted. We sat around the table, and Mom led us in a short prayer, all of us holding hands.

When we were done, we dug in. Andrew picked the pepperonis off his pizza, giving them to Levi. Cora ate her pizza from the crust backward. It made me smile every time. What a goober.

“How was your first day on the job, kiddo?” Dad asked, running a napkin over his thick gray mustache. Never mind the fact that I was thirty-four. I’d always be kiddo to him.

“It’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m excited to get started. I might actually get a little head start after the kids are in bed.”

Dad nodded, looking impressed. “Great attitude. Get out there and take it by the horns.”

Mom’s face was far too expressive. A lot like mine.

“Yes, Mother?” I asked. She hated it when I called her that, and she gave me an annoyed swat.

“Nothing. I just worry about you having so much on your plate.”

Me too, I didn’t say. But I put my arms around Cora’s shoulders, squeezing her and dropping a kiss atop her head. “I’ll always have time for my babies.”

Levi gave me an annoyed look.

“And my teenagers.”

Andrew raised his arms in the air, pinning me with dark brown eyes that said, what am I? Chopped liver?

“And my big kids.”

He nodded, seeming satisfied, but Cora said, “And princesses.”

I giggled. “Always time for my princess.”

We finished the pizza, and I went about getting the kids ready for bed. It was nice having Mom around to help supervise the boys working on their homework while I made sure Cora brushed her teeth well and got her tucked in to bed.

She looked so sweet under the covers, even though she’d kick me throughout the night. Sometimes I thought about taking the couch so I’d get a good night’s sleep, but Dad always woke up at four in the morning to go open the coffee shop, so that wasn’t exactly a great option either.

Andrew was next to go to bed. We read a chapter of his favorite book, Investigators, and then I kissed his forehead. He promptly wiped it off and said, “We talked to Dad earlier.”

I felt like I’d been hit with a bomb. “What?” I glanced at Levi coming into the room. He wouldn’t have had time to call Caleb and let Andrew talk. “When?”

Andrew said, “After school. Grandma called him for me.”

“She did,” I said, trying not to feel betrayed. Andrew had every right to talk to his dad. “Did you have a good talk?”

Andrew shrugged. “I told him about the art contest at school.”

“Good,” I replied. “What did he say?”

“He said he’d ask you to send him a picture of my painting.”

I nodded. Caleb hardly talked to me at all these days, and he definitely hadn’t texted me today. I had this worried feeling in my gut like he was going to let the kids down even more than he already had by breaking up our marriage. He’d already missed his first chance for a weekend visit with them.

Andrew rolled over, tugging his weighted blanket up around his shoulders. “Night, Mom.”

“Goodnight,” I said. I walked to Levi’s side of the room, sitting on the corner of his bed while he got his backpack ready for the next day. “Your phone’s on the counter, right?”

“Unfortunately,” he muttered.

Ignoring his grumpy teenage tone, I said, “Love you. Goodnight.”

“Night,” he mumbled.

I tried to ignore that upset feeling in my stomach as I walked to my room and brushed my teeth. Levi was mad—mad about the divorce, mad about moving, about leaving his friends. I just wish he didn’t have to throw up so many walls. I was alone too, away from all the mom friends I had in Austin. None of whom checked on me after the divorce. I didn’t even have the comfortable house I’d poured all my heart into making a home. But I hoped he’d come around eventually. I wanted my son back.

I finished washing my face and moisturizing and took my laptop to the table so I wouldn’t wake up Cora. I opened it up, beginning to sketch out a general plan for the hotel. I would start with the bathrooms. Despite being framed and drywalled, they still needed fixtures, tile, and vanities, and that would take a while to work with the needed contractors.

I was so focused on my work, I almost didn’t notice Mom sitting across the table with two steaming mugs of tea. She passed one to me, then held the string extending from her own cup, dipping the teabag in the water. The scent of cinnamon apple hit my nose.

“I talked to Caleb today,” she said. “Drew asked me to call him.”

I nodded. “He told me.”

Mom didn’t look up at me as she took a sip. “Drew misses Caleb so much, and Levi seems so angry at you. I wish you’d tell them what Caleb did. You don’t deserve to take the fall for his actions. Especially when it comes to the kids.”

Here we go. I knew my mom cared for me, but she’d been married to Dad for thirty-eight years. She didn’t know what infidelity or divorce felt like. “I know Caleb doesn’t deserve my protection, but my kids deserve to love their dad, even if he couldn’t love me the right way.”

She shook her head, taking a sip of her tea. “Well then, I’ll be mad at him enough for all the kids. A marriage, a family, is meant to be forever. For better or worse.”

I finally met her eyes. They looked so much like my own, but it was her heart I’d really inherited. Mom cared about everything so deeply and could never hide her feelings or her opinions. “I love that you’re on my side, Mom, but I’m tired of being mad, of being hurt, so can you just be happy for me? I got an amazing job. I’m making more than Caleb is! I finally don’t have to lie down next to a man who’s been with another woman. Life is…” I couldn’t say good. Not yet, but I could say this. “It’s better.”

Mom lifted a corner of her lips. “I am happy for you.”

“Mommy?” came Andrew’s wavering voice. His chin wobbled to match. I glanced at my clock—it was only eleven, and the nightmares had already started. At least a couple times a week, he needed me at night to help him get back to sleep.

I squeezed my mom’s arm and got up, following Drew to his bedroom for what was sure to be another long night.