468 Taking It All In

(Winona)

"Don't lose that, Winona," he says, his voice firm. "Don't let anyone-not Jayden, not the kids, not anyone take that power away from you. Nurture your spark and let it be a flame when you can. You're so fucking hot... don't be afraid of it." I smile. I think I needed to hear that.

"If Jayden has any brains at all, he'll never let you go. You're an incredible woman, a badass mother, and the kind of person I could only dream about having as a mom growing up."

I take in a ragged breath. This is so hard to watch and yet I want it to go on forever.

"Okay, to be honest, being raised by a family of slugs would probably have been better emotionally for me, but you know what I'm saying. If I could have chosen the best Mom, it would have been you."

He gives his big, cheesy grin. "Now that would've raised some eyebrows when I had sex with you, if you were my Mom. Am I right?"

"Jesus, Lance!" I say out loud.

"Oops, too far, sorry," he says like he's heard my protest.

His gaze softens, and he leans back in the chair, running a hand through his hair. "And Jayden... man, I hope he can get past what happened. But if he can't, don't waste your life waiting for him to come around."

I have to smile. Lance saw things as so black and white. His advice to everything, either you do something or you don't there's no in between.

"Move on. Be happy. You deserve it. And if Jayden does figure his shit out, great. But either way, you're gonna be okay."

raw, too Lance. I know deep down I can live my life without Jayden, Of course

what he decides. This is the fallout from my decisions. This is what I have to live with. Jayden has to want me, not just as a mother to his kids but as a life partner,

that. But I know he'll honor our friendship and co-parent with me. That

I press play again.

Winona. Not with you, not with Jayden, not even with the kids. She would've dragged you all down just to keep her warped version of control. So, I handled it." He certainly did handle

was going to be gone anyway, may as well be useful about it. I'd been looking into her files. It started with some financial discrepancies, but that's another story... I found so much on how she'd been keeping tabs on you all. Sure, we could probably get enough

that I never have to worry about this

to keep you and Jayden apart, we all know that. Even Jayden. But

Abby and Henry off you

me. So,

over for me and over for her

makes me a bad human

you're free. That is the gift that just keeps on giving and it's not even Christmas. Don't

unthinkable to

allows it. When you can pay for anything... When you have enough

not fair but then the world isn't fair sometimes. That's for

leans forward, his

one last time. "I guess

part where I say goodbye. You were my family,

longer. And I know I screwed up a lot, but I'm grateful for every moment I had with

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