Less than Perfect, S. J. Evans [classic literature books txt] 📗

across from her, she was exhausted and ready to steer her mind elsewhere.
“Hey, sweetie,” Leah said around a smile, hastily discarding her purse on the vacant chair next to her and reaching a hand out across the table for Skye’s. “Sorry it took me so long to get here. I couldn’t get out of work.”
Skye smiled at her mother, relieved by her free, lively spirit. “It’s okay, Mom, don’t worry about it—I understand.”
Leah’s smile slipped away, but her face still gave a bright glow as she regarded her daughter. “How’re you feeling, baby girl? Any better?”
“Much better,” Skye admitted. “I think talking to you and Jules has really been helping me recover. I haven’t been having the nightmares lately, like I did the first couple of nights, and I’ve been able to block the thoughts centered on Johnny with more ease. Joe’s advice has really helped.”
“That’s wonderful, Skye!” Leah squeezed her daughter’s hand gently, reassuringly. “How about Rachel? Have you talked to her at all recently?”
Rachel

, Skye thought sadly, remembering the pain she’d heard in her voice the last time they’d spoken at the hospital. “No,” she admitted. “The last time I talked to her was when she was leaving the hospital. I tried calling her a few times, but she never answered. I’m sure it’s all really hard on her. Victor dumped her, you know. Right after everything that Johnny did. He just left. Said he had to turn his life around, and that he didn’t really have the same kinds of feelings for her as she had for him. I just wish I could help her, you know? I’ve tried, but so far all she’s done is avoided me.”
“He dumped her, and then up and left?” Leah’s face fell. “I thought he was going to stay awhile. He was so good to her. He really seemed to make her happy.” With a small shake of her head, she sighed, seemingly lost in thought. “Skye, you should go to see her. I’m sure she could really use a friend like you right now. A broken heart can only be fixed by the others around you that you love. And you two have been best friends forever. ”
“You’re right,” Skye mumbled, around a sigh. “I really should go see her. Mind dropping me off after lunch? So Rachel and I can talk to each other, face-to-face.”
“As long as don’t plan on walking

home, no—not at all.” Leah’s tone was strict, yet her expression lightened. “But please get a ride from someone, or call me when you’re done. I’d rather you not be out late walking alone. Especially not with those little devils slowing you down.” She pointed to Skye’s crutches beside the table, a smile slithering around the corners of her lips.
Despite her concern for her best friend, Skye giggled, happy that she and her mother were getting along so well again. After years of losing her to work and Johnny, she was thrilled to finally have Leah back. The sweet, ambitious, and somewhat over-protective mother she’d missed so dearly.
“Thanks, Mom.” She smiled at Leah then, a bright, carefree smile. “I promise to either find a ride or call you when the time comes. There is no way I’ll be walking on those devils

any longer than I have to.”
“That’s my girl,” Leah said sweetly, around a perked up smile. “I had a feeling you might say that.”
“Right,” Skye played along, chuckling. “So . . . what did you want to talk to me about? I mean—besides how I’m feeling.”
Leah shifted in her chair, pulled her hands out of Skye’s. “I know that now may not be the best time,” she began, fidgeting nervously, “but I was hoping to talk to you about Joe. About what you think of him.”
Skye’s stomach did a little dip. “Joe?” she spluttered, and coughed to cover up her surprise. “Why do you want to know what I think about him

?”
Leah cleared her throat, and averted her gaze. “I know it’s crazy, and I probably shouldn’t even waste our time talking about this, but I’d like to know what you’d think about the possibility of Joe and me . . . together

someday. I’m sure it won’t happen anytime soon—especially if you don’t accept the idea—but after everything that’s happened lately, and having spent so much time around Joe, I’ve realized how much he cares for the both of us, and how much I’d messed that up when I got with Johnny. I made a mistake back then, Skye—a huge, terrible

mistake—but if you and Joe give me another chance, I’d like to try to make it up to you. I’d like to give the possibility of all of us, as a family, a shot.”
With her heart rattling inside her chest, Skye fought to keep her mouth intact, on the verge of gaping at the plea written on her mother’s face. A plea for something Skye had desperately wanted four years earlier. A plea for the chance and possibility of the kind of family she’d always wanted. Sure, many things have changed since the first time Skye had imagined Joe becoming her father and the three of them living together in happiness, but that didn’t change the fact that she still wanted it. Even though she’d had to grow and mature after experiencing things no one should have to experience, she was still the same girl—she still loved her mother, loved Joe, and wanted for both of them to be happy. For her to be happy. Not only with Jules, but also with a family.
Chewing on her lip, she contemplated her mother’s offer. Joe had always loved Leah and Skye—that much she knew. He’d told her it enough times to know that it was sincere. And with the memories of all of the times the three of them had spent together running through her mind, she could recall one night that was a pure example of his admiration. The night he’d almost proposed to Leah. The same night all of Skye’s dreams had crashed and burned.
But was Leah trying to tell Skye that she was now falling in love with Joe, or was she trying to tell her that she’d always felt a connection with him, and it had just taken her awhile to see it? Could there really be a chance that the two of them loved each other? And more importantly, was Skye ready for her mother to jump into another relationship so soon after the tragedy of her previous one—even if she did approve of the man it involved? Or was it too soon?
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she tried to clear her head, stripping it of all of the questions and memories bombarding her state of mind. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the happiness she felt bubbling up in the pit of her stomach at the thought of having a decent, well-intentioned man as her father figure, and her mother having the kind of man that would treat her well and love her with every part of his being. A man both of them could trust.
When she opened her eyes again, Leah was watching her in anticipation. “I don’t think it’s that crazy.” She spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully. Her throat suddenly felt dry, her lips chapped, and she swallowed on the nerves that swam through her stomach. She wasn’t sure how Leah would take what she had to say. “Sure, maybe right now is a little too soon—but that doesn’t mean that someday in the future will be, too. And I believe in my heart that Joe is a good man. I’ve seen how he is around you, and I’ve watched him love you before. In fact, I don’t think he ever stopped loving you, Mom. Maybe that’s why he never really dated very many women after you, and why he’s tried so hard to stay close to us.” She blinked, discarded the pang of pain that pierced her chest at the memory of his almost-proposal to Leah. “He almost proposed to you once. He had the ring and everything.”
Noticing the tears that had begun welling in her mother’s eyes, she cringed and averted her gaze. Her heart was pounding anxiously against her ribcage, and she had to clasp her hands together to stop them from shaking. What she was about to say could change many factors in her life. Once the words were out there, she wouldn’t be able take them back, and she wasn’t sure she would even if she could.
A small, nervous smile graced her features as she mumbled the last of what she had to say. “He really, truly loved you, Mom. And even though you may have rejected him once, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll give you another chance. Like I said, he’s a good man; I’m sure he’d be good for us. And I guess what I’m trying to say is . . . I approve of him. And I’d love to have a father-figure like him—even if it may be a little soon.” Her entire body warmed as her last words really sunk it, relishing in the beautiful possibility of actually having a father who didn’t hurt or scare her. But before Leah could respond to all of what she’d just spoken, she added a firm, “But you have to promise me, Mom—promise me

—that you won’t break his heart again. You have to promise me that you won’t get involved with him unless you’re sure that this is what you want, and you’re really ready to love a man again. Promise me

.”
Leah’s mouth parted slightly, and her eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she made her way around the small, round table and over to Skye, wrapping her in a tight hug. Her warm tears trickled down the sides of her face and fell on Skye’s shoulder, dampening the bright, floral blouse she was wearing.
Silent words of understanding were exchanged, and after a few more moments in each other’s embrace, Leah finally pulled away, saying, “I promise you, Skye. I promise that this is what I want, and I won’t get involved if I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.” She smiled brightly at her daughter, wiping away a stray tear that ran down her face. “I really think this could be good for us. And after everything that’s happened, I’m so glad I still have my beautiful little girl here with me.” Leaving a small kiss on Skye’s forehead, she softly added, “I love you sweetie.”
All of Skye’s previous fears and nerves fell into the past and she sighed in the richness of the warmth that coursed through her veins and spread into her subconscious. “I love you too, Mom,” she whispered, catching Leah’s hands in hers. “And right now, I couldn’t be happier.”
The sweetness of their quiet laughter lulled a precious tune in Skye’s ears as she hugged her mother once again, ecstatic to finally have the kind of peace and hope she’d dreamt about for so long in her possession. Hope for the better, and peace from the security of