Tough Love (Hidden Secrets) Read Free Page B

this was an ongoing thing for me. The guilt hasn’t ebbed one bit.
    Within the hour, we were heading to the appointment. This guy was an asshole on the phone. Albeit a polite asshole, but an asshole all the same. It was a good distance from my house, but everyone said he’s the best. I seriously hoped he was. We need something good. Just one thing. Not asking much. Please let him do this.
    The whole ride there Sebastian and Atreyu argued back and forth. I refereed as much as I could. By the time we pulled into the parking lot, my head was fit to burst. As I looked in the rearview mirror, I caught sight of my reflection. My long blonde hair was tied into a messy bun. You can see the bags under my eyes as if they were a flashlight in the dead of night.
    Oh God! I look horrible!
    What did it matter?  I wasn’t here to meet or impress anyone. I was here for an appointment that truly mattered. Turning my attention back to the boys.
    “Atreyu, please behave yourself and don’t mess with your brother anymore. Sebastian, look at me honey. Can you try to stay calm while we are in here?”
    They nod their heads, we exit the car, then head inside. I was greeted by a Spiky brown haired beauty queen. She looks at me with disgust as I sign in. I had just sat down in a chair when Sebastian started making his sound effects. Quietly I tried to get Sebastian to stop. But getting him to understand that we were in a doctor’s office and not on the playground or at home was hard. He just didn’t see things that way.
    “Ma’am! This is a doctor’s office not some petting zoo. Will you get your child under control!” Beauty Queen behind the counter hisses at me.
    Walking over to Sebastian, I kneel down in front of him and make him look at me. “Sebastian, sweetie, look at me. You see that lady behind the counter. She’s asked us to be quiet. How long do you think you can do that for?”
    He purses his lips together, deep in thought. “What time will make you smile?”
    Sebastian was the most lovable kid you could ask for. Both he and Atreyu are so smart for their four years. They’ve been talking since they were just over one. Many people look at me strange for the way I talk to them, but they understand.
    “I smile,” I say confused.
    “Not so much. Your smile left with mom and dad,” he says sadly.
    My heart sinks. I had tried my best to make sure that my depression was left for when they weren’t around. Apparently, I didn’t do that enough for Sebastian to have noticed. Then again, Sebastian saw things that kids his age don’t normally see.
    “You want a smile, do you?” I give him my evil grin. “Guess who came here today?”
    “Who?” They both say excited.
    “Well, it seems the Ticky Mon snuck along in my purse.”
    They both squeal and take off. I started using the Ticky Mon shortly after mom and dad passed. Sebastian really latched on to it. Basically, it’s just the tickle monster with a funny ‘tick’ when it traps its target.
    Turning, I start to chase them around the waiting area. The woman behind the desk was glaring at me. Whenever I got close to one of them, I’d start hitting my shoulder to my ear and growl a bit. Their laughter was worth the fool I was making of myself. Atreyu bolts to my left running right into the legs of a sex God.
    Oh My God!
    I was waiting for this guy to get angry, but instead he picks up Atreyu and turns his back to me. “Shh, she can’t see you. You’re safe here.” The sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on speaks to Atreyu who laughs.
    Suddenly Sebastian screams loudly. Realizing why he’s screaming, I run over to him and scoop him up in my arms.
    “Shh, buddy, he’s okay. Come here, look.” I walk over to a laughing Atreyu. “See, he’s okay. No one’s hurting him.”
    “Hey bud, is this your brother?”
    Sebastian nods. “He’s the better me.”
    My heart broke. “Bass, why would you think that?”
    “The lady at the group says so.”
    I held him tightly,