The CEO's Ex-Wife

Chapter 9

The next morning ran just like every other. Weekdays aren’t as busy as weekends so we get a lot of little tasks done and I have a little extra time to chat with the regulars. About an hour before my shift ends I have an unexpected visitor. 

“Hey, Precious.” 

“Hey Aunt Jen, what can I get you?” 

“Hhmmm.“ Jen’s eyes roamed the menu. 

“How about an explanation?” 

Urgh, I should have expected that. I arranged my features into what I hoped was an innocent dumb expression. 

“For what?” I replied. 

“For leaving again, you dolt. She thought she might not see you for another decade.” 

“ I left a note,” I replied. As soon as it left my mouth I felt like a brat. 

“Oh yes, you did. You were always so smart and so perceptive with everyone - but your family. Let me tell you something girly, she missed you. She was, no IS, happy you are back. She’s devastated you left again. You didn’t even talk to her. You. just. left.” Aunt Jen emphasizes her last words my menacingly pointing the rolled cutlery at me. 

I snorted at that, “Aunt Jen, I’m shocked she even noticed I left. You’re acting like she cares for me, your confusing me with her other children.” 

“Now you listen here, Precious. She struggled the most with you because you’re so much like your dad.” 

“I know. I heard her the other night. And not for the first time. The minute he walked out the door she hated me because I look like him. I remind her of him.” I couldn’t keep the bitterness from my tone. I’d always been singled out among my siblings. 

“She never hated you because you look like him.” Aunt Jen’s voice softens. 

“Aunt Jen, I’m working. I can’t talk about this right now”. I cut her off. My eyes flick around the diner. Always a sore subject for me, this is not a conversation I want to have in public or at work. 

A little while later I return to Aunt Jen with a Western Omlet with cheese, a side of bacon, and a side of hash browns. She didn’t order it but I knew it was what she would have ordered if I’d bothered to wait and ask her. 

As soon as I slide the plate in front of Aunt Jen she speaks, “You’re independent. Like him. She was always afraid you didn’t need her. Afraid you’d leave like he did.” 

“I needed her. I left because she drove me away.” I say. I feel a heaviness rising in my chest. I’ve dropped the defensive bitter edge to my tone. 

“She knows that. Now.” Aunt Jen continues. A twinge of impatience in her tone. 

“You’re her biggest regret.” She says. 

“That’s nice,” I reply dryly. 

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” She scolds me like an elementary student. 

I turn to leave, but Aunt Jen grabs my wrist. “Please give her a chance. I know you can’t forget the past or change it, but you can choose your future. Choose to forgive her.” 

I smile. “Where did you read that?” 

“Ayla!” She scolds again. 

“Fine, I’ll think about it.” I roll my eyes like a moody teen. Whoops. 

I continue helping other customers, before Aunt Jen leaves I stop by her table. As I refill her coffee and clear her plates, she softly sings “Let it Go” from Frozen. I can’t help but laugh at that. 

“You are ridiculous,” I tell her. “I said I’d think about it. We can do dinner or something.” 

“You were too slow. I’ve thought about it for you. Meet us for dinner tonight. Gary Owens Irish Pub. 7pm. I’ll pick you up so you can’t change your mind.” She declares with finality. 

“Ok, but only because I really want fish and chips and I think it’s about time I try a beer.” I laugh in response. 

“I expected you to be a wine and cocktails girl.” She teases. 

“That was the old me,” I smirk and get back to my other customers with a little more pep in my step. 

——— 

Come 7pm, I’m pacing by my front door. This was a bad idea. What are we even going to say to each other? It’s a good thing Aunt Jen is coming to get me or I would back out of this dinner. I’m glad Aunt Jen will be there as I referee. Fingers crossed this goes well. 

This afternoon I told Jay I was having dinner with my mom and I’d have to leave early. I felt awful this was only my second day with him and I was already asking for time off. 

“I know I’m lucky. My parents always supported me, I can’t know how hard this is for you. I can see it is though. Your practically bouncing in your seat with nerves over there.” 

I blush at that, he’s right though. I can barely sit still. I’m alternating between pacing and sitting with my leg furiously tapping. I must be driving him nuts. 

“But that is how hard things work. Doing the hard things is a challenge that pushes you to be better. Maybe it’s just as hard for her as it is for you. Maybe you need to meet each other halfway. Then it won’t be so hard going forward.” Jay finishes. 

“Jeez Jay, what are you some relationship guru now.” I roll my eyes at him. When did I become such an eye-roller? That’s new. 

“Hardly.” He says dryly. 

With Aunt Jen and Jay offering my fortune cookie advice I feel slightly ganged up on. 

“You sound like my Aunt Jen today,” I add. 

“She must be a wise woman.” He replies. 

I laugh, “Thank you though, I needed to hear that.” I say. 

“That your Aunt Jen is a wise woman?” I know he’s teasing and I laugh again. 

“No, but she would love you.” 

“I’m loveable.” He waggles his eyebrows at me causing my heart to flutter and cheeks to flame. Now that he’s opened up a bit more he’s adorable. 

“I needed someone to tell me to push through it,” I say. 

“You will be fine.” He says. “And if it’s a total disaster you know where I live. I have a small bar and an impressive variety of frozen pizza.” 

I laugh, “Hopefully I won’t have to take you up on that tonight.” 

I would like to one day though. 

An hour ago, Jay’s words gave me confidence, now I’m back to doubting myself again. 

I hear a knock at the door. I give myself a quick pep talk and stride forward to answer the door. 

“Hey, Precious.” Aunt Jen greets me. She’s wearing the same thing she was at lunch today, a cat print floaty shirt and black leggings. I’ve changed. I didn’t want to smell like the diner all night. Nor did want to change three times in the same day so I donned a teal wrap dress I picked up on my thrift store trip with Maria for tonight, for my brief stint in Jay’s office, and I’m still in that. 

In no time, we’re driving around looking for a park close to the pub. My anxiety pumps as we walk in the door. 

“It’s going to be ok, Precious.” Aunt Jen reassuringly wraps her arm around my shoulders and leads me inside. 

The bar is a beautiful long wooden one. Large stained glass inserts in the windows and behind the bar emphasize that old Irish feel. The bar side on the right sports high tops and leads back to a beer garden. I spot a couple of dining rooms off to the left. That’s where we find Mom seated at a table in the back dining room. We say our polite hellos and I hide behind the menu to level my composure. 

It turns out I don’t really like beer. Jen notices my nose crinkle when I try it. 

“I guess when you are used to fancy fru-fru drinks you can’t hack a proper beer., she laughs. I can’t deny that, so I just grin. 

Jen pours a 1/3 of a cup of sprite into it and the beer suddenly tastes much better. 

“Old college trick.” She says. “Beer is cheap but an acquired taste. Make it a shandy and it’s sweeter.” 

“Thank you.” 

“You’ve never had beer before?” My mom asks. 

“Nope. There was always liquor, wine, and beer in the house but I never drank it.” 

“I thought beer was a right of passage at college parties,” Mom says. 

“I didn’t go to many parties. I threw myself into studying. I spent all my spare time reading, volunteering, or working.” I respond. 

“Oh, you need to go back to college. You didn’t do it right!” Jen exclaims. 

I smile sheepishly. My mom laughs. 

 “My friend dragged me to a frat party once. Everyone was drunk, half the boys were shirtless, and by the end of the night, people were either, streaking, throwing up, or making out. It was mental.” 

“Now that is doing college right.” Aunt Jen grins. 

We chat about my life in New York. We talk about Emma. I haven’t seen her yet and apparently, she’s spending the summer traveling South East Asia with her friend. We talk about my mom’s work, Jen’s stories from the salon. They ask about what I’m doing for Jay. By the end of dinner, Mom and I were back to chatting amicably while avoiding the hard stuff. Back to where we were before I left her house. It’s a start. A restart. It’s not enough though. I take the plunge. 

“I never thought I was too good for you Mom. I always thought I wasn’t good enough.” I manage to keep my voice steady, despite feeling like I’m on the verge of tears. Or a breakdown. Maybe both. The emotional roller coaster that has recently become my reality strikes again. 

“I always thought you were too good for us.” My mom responds. Our eyes meet and I see the pain and regret there. Maybe we’ve both been idiots. Or was it just me? This is hard. 

Jen quietly eyes us each in turn a small smile gracing per lips. 

I’m not sure what to say. Part of me wants to snap, ‘It didn’t feel like it.’ But I really don’t want to fight. What do I want? 

“I want to start over,” I say. 

“Me too.” My mom says, her face lights up. She reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “Can I call you?” 

“Of course,” I say, “With the diner and with the office though I don’t answer my phone often. Texts work better. I’ll respond between shifts or on break.” I don’t want her to think I’m blowing her off if she makes an effort to reach out and I can’t reply right away. 

Soon we wrap it up and say our goodbyes. Mom and I hug clumsily. Jen just about crushes my ribs, which thankfully are no longer bruised. 

When Aunt Jen drops me home after dinner, I see Jay sitting on his front porch. It’s dark out, but his porch light is on. He’s wearing gray sweat pants and a fitted plain blue t-shirt but somehow he still looks sexy. He jumps up when he sees Aunt Jen pull away. 

“Were you waiting up for me?” I joke. I watch him walk toward me. 

“Of course, Ayla. I was worried about my CEO.” I flurry or emotions flood me. He was worried about me. He called me his CEO. Wait, what the heck does that mean? I’m flattered but fearfully reminded of Matthew at the same time. 

“What’s wrong?” He asks. My face of glass must have clearly let my pesky emotions shine through again. 

“Nothing. It’s sweet that you waited for me. I just… you took me by surprise.”

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this. Is it sweet or is it creepy? 

“Did you eat, do you want a beer or frozen pizza. How about a friend to lean on?” 

“I have prosecco” He adds, with a sexy smile. 

I laugh. I mentioned I liked it once. I doubt many bachelors have prosecco in their fridge. 

“Sure. I say. One glass. Wash the gross taste of that beer out.” 

He laughs. 

A few minutes later I’m settled on Jay’s porch with my sparkly drink. It’s a gorgeous night, warm but not sticky, lightly scented by the large potted gardenia in Jay’s yard. He listens attentively while I fill him in on my evening. Unless it was business-related Matthew never listened this well. I thought that was normal. Maybe not. 

Later, home and in bed, I conclude that the evening went well. Mom and I are getting along. I’ve made a friend in my neighbor/boss. I am setting into my new reality nicely. Until I wake up in the middle of the night with another nightmare.