Probably not. Besides the fact that Corey looked so much like King that she’d never be able to erase his face from her mind, she’d also given so much of herself to him that when it ended, she’d left so much behind and had never found it since. She used to be outgoing and wanted to be around people. Now, she’d rather be at home and alone with Corey. She used to think of the future with optimism instead of just doing everything in her power to make Corey’s life as good as it could be. She used to laugh and smile every day, but now that only happened with Corey.
She wanted him to have everything she hadn’t. The house she’d bought was tiny. It was just a two-bedroom, but the backyard was fenced in and had so much potential that she’d bought it. The two of them had spent many hours putting in bushes and pots of flowers in the yard. There was a little sandbox and swing that he loved to play in. She’d even put in a small maple tree right after Corey was born. She wanted to see both of them grow together.
It was amazing how much both had grown in the last two years, and it really made her feel like they were putting their roots down and making a solid, sustainable life there.
Besides getting a house for Corey, she’d started saving for his college before he was even born, and she had to be proud of the fact that the stocks she’d picked had done amazingly well. By the time Corey would go to college, he’d have enough for everything he needed unless he got into Harvard or one of the high-end schools. But she’d already decided that if they needed to, she’d sell the house or take out extra money with loans.
There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him.
“Mama.”
She glanced down at her son and smiled. “Hi, baby. Do you want to play with your trucks while Mommy makes dinner?”
He squealed and raced for his toy box. That was all it took to bring her back to a settled, happy place.
She was a damn good mother, and she swore every day to become better. That was the only thing she strived for in herself. Personal happiness didn’t matter to her—only her son.