TILL DEATH DO US APART EX EIFE

Episode 9

Past Coming Back Again

Jane's POV

It's been two weeks since Christian and I got divorced. Or whatever I should call it. But I feel free. I don't have to deal with making him happy anymore. I don't have to worry about Amanda threatening to end anything I have with anyone.

I moved into a small apartment on the other side of town. It's nothing fancy. Just a cozy one-bedroom with walls I can finally call mine. Christian tried to "help" with the move. He sent people. He offered money. But I said no to everything. He got what he wanted. Now it's time for me to get my life back.

Jared has been so good to me. He didn't just help me find a job. He made it his mission to get me back on my feet. I'm now a full-time biology teacher at his father's college. The work makes me happy. For the first time in years, I feel like I have a reason to wake up.

It's Monday morning. I'm rushing to get ready for school. The bathroom is foggy from my shower. I'm brushing my teeth when I hear my phone buzzing on the counter. I look at it, but the steam makes the screen blurry. I finish brushing, wipe my hands, and pick it up. But the call already ended.

It starts ringing again.

"Jared," I say to myself, smiling a little. Ever since I started at the college, he calls me all the time. He says it's to make sure I'm doing okay. But sometimes I think it's more than that.

Then another thought comes to my mind. My smile goes away. Christian. He's been calling me too. Even after everything that happened. I even changed my number, but he still got it. It's the Holmes family. They can do anything.

I look at the screen. I expect to see Jared's name or Christian's name. But when I see who's calling, my chest gets tight.

It's not them.

It's my mom.

I can't move for a moment. My hand shakes as I stare at the name on the screen. Mom.

How the hell did she get my new number?

And why is she calling me now?

She hasn't called me in years. Not since I married Christian. Not when I needed her most. Not even when I lost my baby. She and the rest of my family turned their backs on me. They did this because I didn't marry the man they picked for me.

And now, after all this time, she calls?

The phone keeps buzzing in my hand. I don't know what to do. But then I answer.

"Hello?" My voice sounds careful.

There's quiet on the other end. I can hear her breathing, but she doesn't talk.

"Mom?" I try again. Maybe she will finally say something.

"Jane?" Her voice is soft. It sounds different.

I'm confused. My mother doesn't talk like this. The woman I know would already be yelling at me. She would tell me about my mistakes. She would say I brought shame to the family. But this voice is different. Gentle. Like an angel touched her.

"Mom," I say again. My voice is sharper now. "What do you want?"

She waits before answering. "I... I wanted to hear your voice."

I laugh, but there's no happiness in it. "After five years? After ignoring me when I needed you most? Now you want to hear my voice?"

"Jane, please," she says. Her voice shakes. This surprises me. "I know I've been... absent. But I want to make things right."

"No, Mom. You weren't absent. You made it so clear that I was never anything to you. And now you want to make things right?" I can't believe what I'm hearing. "Why now? Why not when I got married? Or when I lost my baby? Do you know how much I needed you?"

"I'm sorry," she says quietly. She starts crying.

I wonder what this is all about. Her sorry only makes me more angry. "Sorry doesn't change anything, Mom. Sorry doesn't take away five years of silence."

"I know," she says. Her voice breaks. "I know I can't fix the past. But I miss you, Jane. I want to see you."

I can't speak. This can't be real. My mother doesn't just say sorry. She doesn't admit she was wrong. And she definitely doesn't miss me. All this seems new to me.

"What's this really about?" I ask. My voice is cold. "Did someone make you call me? Is this about money?"

"No, Jane," she says fast. "It's not about money. It's about us. I want my daughter back."

Her words hit me hard. For a moment, I think about hanging up. But part of me still wants a family. Part of me wants to believe her.

"Come on, Mom. You and I both know this is not the real you. You can tell me anything, but not those pity words," I say.

"I understand," she says. I can hear she feels better. "I know I've been hell to you. I acted wrongly, Jane. I realize now how bad it was. I don't mind coming over to your place if you can't believe me."

What will make me believe her? My mom never wanted me around her. Especially after I got married to Christian. They all saw me as a home wrecker.

I end the call and sit on the edge of the bed. I stare at the phone in my hand. My feelings are all mixed up. Anger. Sadness. They all rush through me.

Why now? Why is everyone trying to come back into my life just when I'm starting to move on?

I push these thoughts away. I grab my bag and go to work. The college campus is full of students. For a few hours, I forget about everything. I lose myself in teaching. But my mother's voice stays in the back of my mind. It pulls me back to places I thought I left behind.

During lunch, my phone buzzes again. This time, it's Jared.

"Hey," I say. I try to smile as I answer.

"Hey, just checking in," he says. His voice is warm. "How's your day going?"

"It's fine," I say. "Busy, but good."

"Glad to hear it," he says. "Listen, I was thinking we could grab dinner tonight. You know, to celebrate you surviving your first two weeks as a full-time teacher."

I laugh softly. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass. It's been a long day."

"Fair enough," he says. I can hear he's a little disappointed. "But if you change your mind, let me know."

"I will," I say and hang up.

Jared's kindness is something I'm not used to. It's nice. But it also scares me. After everything with Christian, I'm not sure I'm ready to let someone else in.