her eyes.
"Oh Momma. This is all happening so fast. It
might not have happened overnight to you, but it has
to me."
"I know, Leigh. I appreciate what you're going
through, but I'm going to need you to help me, too. I need your support and love. Will you be more than
my daughter? Will you be my best friend, too?" Her eyes were glassy, tear-filled, but warm. I
couldn't help reaching out to her. She kissed my
cheek.
"I'll try. But Momma, what will happen to
Daddy?"
"Nothing will happen to him, Leigh. Believe
me. He has his business and that keeps him busy day
and night. You'll see him and he'll see you just as
much as you do now, which isn't all that much," she
added dryly.
I didn't say anything. She might be right about
that, I thought, but still, it felt like a sword through the
heart to hear her say it.
"And Leigh, most important of all, will you try
to like Tony? Will you give him a chance? If you do,
you will see how sweet he is and you will understand
why I love him so."
I couldn't help my feelings. Every time she said
she loved Tony, I thought about Daddy and how cruet
it all was. To think of Tony made my stomach
butterflies flutter a bit, stir from their restless sleep.
As I sat there it slowly dawned on me, sank like water
into concrete, that this was all Tony's fault. I hated
Tony! Oh, why did this rich, handsome man have to