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Regardless, Lucinda seemed happy with him, and that was all that mattered tohiood food, enjoyed our small presents, and took tons of photos as a faht then and there just how much these two people meant to me Lucinda had taken me in with open arms as a child, and she had been my mother in every way my own mom wasn’t I dreaded to think what life would have been like without her

But the change had occurred toward the end of that Christmas break before our way back fro up with Lucinda, she had drilled into s that altered my perception, and I believed she did it out of love

"I kno close you and Jaxon are, Sara," she’d said ere alone one evening "I’ve been there with Jaxon’s father" Lucinda never talked about Jaxon’s father, so this got my attention "We were very much in love, but I was dependent on him, and when he unexpectedly left nant with Jaxon with no plans, no education, nothing under h It was hard I trusted hi For hi I believed in, it was a shock and a heart break that I would do anything to prevent you fro

"I love Jaxon with every fibre ofto make mistakes, and I don’t want him to have the power to hurt you like his father hurtand you’re learning, and that combination in a relationship can be toxic Look after yourself first and foremost, and listen to your head more than your heart"

Listen to ht nestled in Jaxon’s arht I wished I knehat happened between Lucinda and Jaxon’s father What would have caused soo? That would never happen to Jaxon and me He was so deeply in love with me, wanted me every moment I was around him, it was iht?

I fought tears when I realized I was exactly in the same position as his iven Jaxon ht cost irl! How could I be so na&iu down the sa someone else the complete control of my affections I couldn’t be that way anymore I had to preserve a piece of ht before we left, Lucinda gave er than usual It was as if to say, ‘In case I don’t see you again, I love you’ But of course I would see her again This shift in her pulled onback a sob What was her problee in behaviour, gave her a hug, glared at Mark one last ti an our journey back to Winthrop He was a bright star, raining his shine down on et the sad goodbye Lucinda had given ht, now that I look back on it, that ride home was the start of our tuan when I opened hts a week free, and I want to put theured it would be ti my own money"

I looked over at Jaxon and studied his expression His eyebrows scrunched together in thought, and then he leaned over and turned off the radio "Can I ask why, babe?" I couldn’t decipher his ed "Well, for one, I think it’ll be good to bring in so you want in particular that you think I can’t afford to get you? I proet it"

I shookI want"

Noas confused "We’re doing really well We’re not struggling financially My job ot a lot stashed away frohed This was his way of dropping the subject and getting his way An unjustifiable anger bubbled in ain, trying to rid the edge in et a job for myself When I saidoff and pavingoff?" He tore his eyes off the road and at me I saw his eyes widen and a note of panic flicker

"Not like that," I hastily said, squeezing his hand tight "I love you , you know that What I mean is, I want to contribute and earn o ofhis conflicted gaze to the road

"Tell ," I demanded, irritated by his silence

"Give ency lane on the side of the busy road

"You’re seriously stopping the car?" I rolled my eyes "Fuck’s sake, Jaxon, I should have just waited until ere honored my irrationally rude coonna talk or what?" I exploded, throwing nored that as well He turned to ht, and said, "I know you love ood to be true" I rolled ain "You’re my world, Sara You alere the most central part of my life" Fuck’s sake, just tell rabbedmy mind, he said, "The reason I’ether as it is I work five days a week fro about that, but the days are long and I get tired, dirty and sweaty as fuck The guys are great, don’t get , and the owner lovesday I count down the et to see you And even when I do come home, sometimes you’re still at school, and other ti, but I value our ti