336 Peace and Happiness (Winona)


    poper,


    The elevator doors and I step into the penthouse. The countdown to our departure is ticking away. Tonight, Lisa and Cass are here for dinner.


    "Mommy, Aunt Cass ising, right?" Abby asks, her big eyes looking up at me as she jumps up and down.


    "Yeah, she''ll be here soon, sweetie. You know how much she loves spending time with you guys," I say with a smile, brushing her hair out of her face. "Aunt Lisa too." "Yay!"


    As if on cue, the elevator dings, and I know it''s Lisa and Cass.


    "Hey sis."4 say as she approaches. "How''s life?"


    "Life is amazing!" Cass exims, arms outstretched as she makes her way in, like she''s on top of the world. "Gabriel''s amazing, work is amazing, everything is amazing. You don''t have to worry about a thing" 1 smile. "Great."


    Cass immediately drops down onto the floor with the kids, pulling Sarah and Abby into a hug. Then she fist -bumps Bobby and they talk a foreign Minecraftnguage.


    I''m going to miss you guys so much."


    "Come see my cubby," Abby begs.


    "Sure! Lead the way."


    They all disappear down the hall.


    Lisa turns to me. "She''s in overdrive tonight, huh?"Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, she''s just trying to keep it upbeat for the kids," I say. "They are going to miss Cass a lot."


    Annees over, wiping her hands on a towel. "Dinner''s just about ready. I''ll help settle the kids after they eat, then I''ll leave you three to catch up." "Thanks, Anne," I say, appreciating the help. "Feel free toe join us."


    "I think an early night is beckoning me. But thanks anyway."


    Anne keeps things moving, feeding the kids, and helping me manage the chaos. But something about Cass''s hyperactivity keeps pulling my focus.


    She''s talking a mile a minute over dinner, bouncing from Gabriel to work to how great everything is. Now she is off being boisterous with the kids again as we pack up the dishes.


    "So, Winona, onest night out before you head off to Europe?" Lisa asks. "You, me, Cass-let''s hit the club."


    I shake my head before she even finishes. "No way. I''ve got too much to do. The kids, packing, organizing


    -


    316 Peace


    Plus, alcohol''s been messing with metely."


    Lisa narrows her eyes. "You''ve been saying that a lot. You okay?"


    I


    I shrug. "Just tired. My periods are all over the ce-heavy some days, spotting on others. Endometriosis is no joke."


    I pause, ncing at Cass, who''s now twirling around with Abby in her arms. "I don''t really want to be seen at clubs after that whole hall pass thing. I''m not that girl all the time. Or ever again."


    Lisa nods slowly. "I get it. Bute on... Onest hurrah?"


    "No," I say firmly. Honestly, thest thing I want is to run into Phillip or Lance socially. Things are awkward enough.


    Lisa rolls her eyes but doesn''t push. "Fine. But if you change your mind..."


    "I won''t."


    "Okay, time for bath and bed, kids." Anne says as she extracts Sarah and Abby from whatever game Cass is having with them.


    "Cass, you want wine?" Lisa asks.


    Cass waves her off. "Nah. I have to work early. I''ll go see Bobby and then say goodnight to them all."


    Lisa leans in closer to me, lowering her voice. "Is she avoiding us? She''s way too amped for a regr night. You don''t think she''s high or something?"


    I shoot her a look. "Come on, Lisa. She''s just in a good mood. Life''s going well for her."


    Lisa raises her eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Okay."


    I sigh, defending Cass but unable to shake the small doubt that''s creeping in. Cass''s energy is a lot. But this isn''t my issue to solve. I have my own stuff to deal with.


    Cass has told me time and again she can handle her own life. Any attempt by me to question her will just end up in a fight and I''m not going to keep putting myself through that. She''ll have to figure out her own


    life.


    "I''ve


    decided to sell up the business. Well, offer Phillip to buy me out."


    ""Really? Wow."


    "Yeah, I really want to focus on my family right now. I want to see a different side of myself."


    "I get that. Life is change right?"


    "Yes, but for once I want to be the change instead of having change forced on me."


    "That is an attitude I can support."


    "Thank you."


    "And as soon as you get there, I want the tea on those hunks." Lisa grins.


    "You''ll just have toe over and see for yourself. I''ll be busy with my own hunk."


    336 Pyder and Happiness


    "Girl. I will be there."


    Cass wanders back out and she''s yawning and stretching. "You almost ready to leave us, Sis?"


    1 still feel like there''s a ton to do, but we''ll get there."


    "It''s going to be strange without you around."


    "It''s not forever. Are you sure you''ll be okay? You know you can call me anytime."


    Cass waves me off. "I promise, I''ll be fine. I''m just enjoying life, you know?"


    "Yeah, I do. I''m happy for you."


    "I have a rideing, so I''ll see you again before you go, okay?"


    "Going already?" Lisa says, surprised.


    "Yeah, I''m beat. My shift starts at 4am."


    I get up and give her a hug. "Get going. I''ll see you plenty before the end of next week."


    "Don''t leave me out." Lisa joins in the hug.


    I''m really going to miss these two so much. But I''m happy with my decisions and the moving forward.


    I want to find the me that exists outside of work, and Jayden.


    I want to find peace and happiness.


    way my life is


    Of course, the fact that Abby has herst supervised visit with Judy tomorrow, is not filling me with peace and happiness. But Abby loves her time and it may be 3 months or more before it happens again. Gotta say, I''m really looking forward to these 3 months