Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 2

Carter’s brows drew tightly together. He said quickly, “I’ll be right there,” then turned and strode off without so much as a glance back at Sharon.

Sharon stood still, expressionless, watching his retreating figure disappear into the darkness.

She’d lost count of how many times, in the middle of the night, he had left like this—rushing to Kelly’s side at the news of another so-called “critical condition.”

…

The next morning, Sharon wheeled out her neatly packed suitcase, ready to leave.

As she passed by Theo’s room, her steps faltered.

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to go in and see him one last time.

He had been born prematurely. Ever since then, Theo had been frail and prone to illness. Because of that, she had always cared for him personally, never trusting anyone else to take her place.

He looked a lot like Carter—right down to the cool, distant temperament.

It was a weekend. Theo wasn’t at school and was seated at his desk, working on his homework.

When she entered, he greeted her out of habit, “Morning, Mommy,” and went right back to writing without looking up.

Sharon gazed at the profile of his face—so much like Carter’s—and finally said, “Theo, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”

He responded with a flat “Oh,” eyes still glued to his paper.

Ever since Kelly had appeared in their lives, he had grown more and more distant from her.

She still remembered that video Kelly once posted on social media.

In it, Theo was munching on cotton candy as he mumbled through sticky lips, “I just like being with Kelly. I get to eat all kinds of yummy things.”

Then Kelly said, “Theo, is your mommy not good to you?”

Tells me what I can and can’t do,

between me and your mommy,

treated me half as

Compared to a strict mother, Kelly indulged him, spoiled him, and let him do whatever he pleased—of course she’d win

every night. With his weak

taken years of meticulous care before he finally became stronger and no longer fell ill so

the process, he’d grown more and

almost out the door when Theo’s voice

“Mommy.”

Sharon turned around.

like too. I really like

a split second. Then, something

and

wanted to protect Kelly, haven’t you? From now on,

of confusion passed through Theo’s eyes.

didn’t explain. She simply turned and walked

…

car was already

her. “Sharon… you’ve really decided to go through with

gave a small

“And… what about Theo?”

gave a bitter smile. “And besides… Theo might not even want to come with me. To him, Kelly is

to him—labored through an entire day and night. You’ve been by his side ever since, doing everything for him. How could he think

father and son. Even

hesitated. “And Carter… does he know

shook her head. “He’s probably still with his

her

up the space,

we haven’t gone shopping together since you had Theo.

true. Ever since Theo’s birth, Sharon’s life had revolved solely around home and Theo. She’d

was suddenly reminded of who she used to be. She