HER MOTHER’S HUSBAND

MY MOTHER’S HAPPINESS OR MINE?

Vanessa found herself lost in thought as she stood by the window in her bedroom, watching the city lights twinkle against the evening sky.

The conversation she'd had with her mother earlier had sparked something inside her…a tiny ember of guilt mixed with something else she couldn't quite put a finger on.

Her mother, Isabella, had been so eager for Vanessa to get along with Steve, her new husband.

And though Vanessa had been stubborn and resistant at first, there was a part of her that couldn’t deny how happy Isabella seemed. That thought alone was enough to make Vanessa reconsider her stance, at least for her mother's sake.

With a resigned sigh, Vanessa had reluctantly agreed to try to accept Steve. After all, if it made her mom happy, it was worth a shot.

The next morning came quickly, sunlight streaming into the house as Steve prepared to leave for work. He was standing by the kitchen counter, gulping down a cup of coffee when Vanessa walked up to him. She took a deep breath, her hands nervously fiddling with the hem of her sweater.

"I'm doing this for my mother's sake," Vanessa said, her voice steady yet laced with an edge of hesitation. "I want her to be happy."

Steve paused, the coffee cup still at his lips, watching her intently. He didn’t say a word, but his gaze spoke volumes…curious, searching, and perhaps a little amused.

“I accept you as my mother’s husband,” Vanessa continued, holding his gaze despite the flutter in her stomach. “But I don’t think I will ever accept you as my stepfather. That’s not gonna happen anytime soon. I said it before.”

Steve set his coffee cup down slowly, nodding. “Yeah, you don’t have to accept me right away,” he said calmly. “I understand you need time to process it... But…”

“But what?” Vanessa challenged, crossing her arms over her chest.

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, until he was close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from his body. Leaning down, he whispered near her ear, his breath hot against her skin, “You could give it a try.”

Vanessa’s breath caught in her throat. The sudden proximity sent a thrill of confusion through her. She tried to keep her composure, but her heart was racing. His presence was both unnerving and... strangely captivating.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes, his expression softening. “Vanessa,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, “I know this might sound strange, but... I’ve grown to care about you. Not just as your mother’s husband or someone trying to replace your father, but as someone who sees how special you are. I just... I want us to be close, to be a family.”

Vanessa stared up at him, caught between wanting to believe his words and the stubborn resistance she felt bubbling up. But the way he was looking at her, the sincerity in his eyes... It was becoming harder to dismiss.

She nodded slowly, her defenses wavering. Maybe she had been too harsh, too quick to judge him. He did seem genuine, and his efforts to connect with her felt real. But before she could respond, Steve took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers.

Her breath hitched as he moved in. She found herself backing up until her back hit the cool surface of the wall behind her.

Steve’s hands came up to rest against the wall on either side of her, trapping her in place. His gaze was intense, his eyes flickering down to her lips for a moment that felt like an eternity.

With a smirk playing on his lips, he reached up to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her skin, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. She could feel his warm breath against her cheek, and for a moment, she was sure he was going to kiss her.

But then he pulled back, letting out a low chuckle. “I’m running late for work,” he said, his tone light, almost teasing. “See you when I’m home. I hope we get along more.”

With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the house, leaving Vanessa standing there, her heart still racing.

Vanessa let out a shaky breath, her mind spinning. "What the hell was that?".. She muttered.

She felt as if she had been caught in some game she didn’t know the rules to. Steve's words and actions had thrown her off balance, leaving her questioning everything she thought she knew about herself.

Vanessa retreated to her room, closing the door behind her. She threw herself onto her bed, trying to shake off the lingering sensation of Steve’s touch, his breath, the way he looked at her. She closed her eyes, willing herself to forget, but the moment replayed in her mind over and over again.

Hours passed, and Vanessa found herself drifting in and out of sleep, the weight of the morning’s encounter pressing down on her. When she finally woke up, it was late in the afternoon. She sat up groggily, glancing around her room before noticing a bright yellow sticky note on her desk.

She walked over, recognizing her mother’s neat handwriting:

“Vanessa, I had to leave for a business trip. I’ll be gone for a day or two. Take care of yourself... and take care of your stepdad. Love, Mom.”

Vanessa stared at the note, her stomach twisting uncomfortably. "Take care of your stepdad?...How? Is this woman playing games with me?"

The words echoed in her mind, and she couldn’t help but feel the tension in her chest tighten. "What did that even mean? considering what just happened between them?

With a frustrated sigh, she crumpled the note in her hand and tossed it into the trash. She needed a distraction, something to get her mind off of Steve and the complicated mess he had created.