My Mother's Husband Is My Sugar daddy

Chapter 7

Struggles of a Single Mother

Luci sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the job resignation letter in her hands. Her heart pounded as she thought of the uncertainty ahead. Leaving her job felt risky, but the long hours hafavouriteestrawberry-flavoured too much. Her daughter was only three, and already, Luci could feel the distance growing between them.

She took a deep breath and stood up. Itcolouringe. She folded the letter carefully and placed it in her bag before heading out.

Luci secured another job within a week, one that paid slightly less but allowed her to come home earlier. She worked as an assistant at a local supermarket, stacking shelves, keeping records, and occasionally handling customers.

The first few weeks were a challenge. She was adjusting to the new routine, trying to balance work and Adriana's needs. But despite her efforts, something felt off. Adriana was growing distant.

One evening, Luci walked into the small apartment, exhausted but eager to see her daughter. She had bought her favorite strawberry-flavored biscuits, hoping it would cheer her up.

"Adriana?" Luci called out, dropping her bag by the door.

Adriana, seated at the dining table with her coloring book, barely looked up. "Hi, Mama," she said softly.

Luci frowned. "Baby, what's wrong?" She walked over and knelt beside her, brushing Adriana's curly hair out of her face.

"Nothing."

Luci sighed. She had been hearing that word too often.

"I got you something." She pulled out the biscuits and placed them in front of her.

Adriana finally looked up, her dark brown eyes lighting up just a little. "Thank you, Mama."

Luci smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I missed you today."

Adriana hesitated before mumbling, "I miss you every day."

Luci's smile froze.

The words cut through her like a knife.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I know, baby. I'm trying, I promise. Mama is trying."

Adriana nodded, but she didn't look convinced.

One Saturday, while they were at the park, Adriana sat quietly on the swing, watching other kids play with their fathers. Some were being lifted into the air, others were laughing as their dads chased them around.

Luci noticed her daughter's gaze and felt her heartache.

"Do you want me to push you, sweetheart?" she asked gently.

Adriana shook her head. "Mama, where is my papa?"

Luci's breath caught.

"Your papa… he's dead, my love," she said softly, kneeling beside Adriana.

Adriana turned to her, eyes full of confusion. "But why? Why don't I have a papa like them?"

Luci felt tears sting her eyes. She had prepared for this moment, but nothing made it easier.

"You did have a papa, my angel. He loved you very much. He was the happiest man when you were born."

"Then why did he leave?" Adriana's lips trembled.

Luci exhaled shakily. "He didn't want to leave, baby. He… he had an accident. And now, he watches over us from the stars."

Adriana turned her gaze to the sky, blinking. "He lives in the stars?"

"Yes." Luci smiled, hoping it would be enough to comfort her.

Adriana was quiet for a moment before whispering, "I wish he was here."

Luci's heart shattered.

At night, after Adriana had fallen asleep, Luci sat in the living room with Miguel. He was going through some paperwork, but he noticed her troubled expression.

"You've been quiet all evening," Miguel said, setting his documents aside.

Luci sighed. "Adriana asked about Dotan today."

Miguel leaned back, rubbing his temples. "She's getting older. It was bound to happen."

"I know." Luci looked down at her hands. "But I feel like I'm failing her. She misses me. I work all day, I come home tired… sometimes I feel like I'm just surviving instead of living with her."

Miguel watched her for a moment. "You're doing your best, Luci. But maybe…" He hesitated.

"Maybe what?"

"Maybe she just needs more time with you. Not just in the evenings when you're tired. Maybe a real break, just the two of you."

Luci sighed. "I can't afford a break, Miguel. I have to work."

Miguel nodded slowly. "I know. But if you keep going like this, Adriana might start resenting you. And that's the last thing you want."

Luci swallowed. "I don't want that."

"Then find a way," Miguel said firmly. "She's only three once. Don't let work steal these moments from you."

Luci sat in silence, his words ringing in her ears.

That night, as she lay in bed, she reached over to the small table beside her, picking up a framed photo of Dotan. She traced his face with her fingers, whispering, "I hope I'm doing this right."

From the other room, Adriana stirred in her sleep, murmuring her mother's name.

Luci closed her eyes. She had to do better.

And she would.

Five years had passed since the death of her husband, but Luci still felt Dotan's absence like an open wound that refused to heal. Every milestone Adriana reached was bittersweet, a reminder that Dotan was missing out on his daughter's life.

Adriana had grown into a bright, inquisitive, and observant child. She had Luci's soft curls but Dotan's sharp, intelligent eyes. She was a child who saw everything, felt everything, even things Luci tried to hide.

Miguel had become a steady presence in Adriana's life, filling a role he never expected to. While he wasn't a father figure, he was her protector, her uncle, her safety net. But there were some things even he couldn't shield her from.

Luci's job at the supermarket allowed her to come home earlier, but it didn't erase the exhaustion that clung to her bones every night.

Some days, she barely had the energy to help Adriana with her homework. On other days, she dozed off on the couch while Adriana played nearby.

And the worst days were the ones where she missed school events.

Like today.

Luci rushed through the supermarket aisles, her heart was pounding as she checked the time. She had promised Adriana she would be there for the parent-teacher reading day, but her shift had run late.

By the time she reached the school, the event was over. Parents were leaving with their kids, chatting and laughing.

Luci spotted Adriana sitting on a bench, her small legs swinging as she hugged her backpack. Her teacher, Miss Helen, sat beside her.

Luci felt like the worst mother in the world.

"Adriana," she called, walking up to her.

Adriana looked up, her face blank. "Hi, Mama."

Luci crouched in front of her. "I'm so sorry, baby. I tried to come, but—"

"It's okay," Adriana said, her voice small.

But it wasn't okay.

Miss Helen stood up, giving Luci a gentle smile. "She did wonderfully today. She read a whole passage by herself."

Luci turned to her daughter. "You did?"

Adriana nodded but didn't smile.

Miss Helen hesitated before saying, "Adriana is one of the brightest children in class. She's thoughtful, curious, and very advanced for her age."

Luci's chest swelled with pride. "That's amazing."

"But," the teacher continued carefully, "she's also… a little lonely. She asks a lot of questions about her father."

Luci's heart squeezed painfully.

Miss Helen touched Luci's arm. "She's a wonderful child. I just thought you should know."

Luci forced a smile. "Thank you."

As they walked home, Adriana was quiet. Too quiet.

Luci tried to cheer her up. "Baby, I'm so proud of you. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Adriana didn't say anything for a while. Then, she whispered, "Why don't I have a daddy, Mama?"

Luci stopped walking.

Adriana looked up at her, her small face full of sadness. "My friends' dads came today. They read to them. I wanted my papa to come too."

Luci crouched and hugged her tightly, blinking back tears. "I know, my love. I know."

"But why did he leave us?" Adriana whispered.

Luci swallowed. "He didn't leave us, baby. He loved us. But sometimes… people have to go even when they don't want to."

Adriana didn't understand. How could she?

She just wanted what every child wanted—her father.

That evening, as Luci prepared dinner, she overheard Adriana talking to Miguel.

"Uncle Miguel?"

Miguel, who was working on some documents at the dining table, looked up. "Yeah, kid?"

"Did you know my papa?"

Miguel's hands stilled. He glanced toward the kitchen, where Luci stood listening.

"Yeah, I knew him," Miguel said.

Adriana swung her legs. "Was he nice?"

Miguel's face softened. "Yeah. He was the best. He loved you a lot."

Adriana hesitated. "Then why didn't he stay?"

Miguel put down his pen. He was never good at this, talking about Dotan. But for Adriana, he would try.

"He didn't want to leave," Miguel said gently. "But life isn't always fair, kid. Sometimes, the people we love go away."

Adriana was quiet for a long time. Then, she whispered, "Will you go away too?"

Miguel's throat tightened.

He reached over and ruffled her curls. "Nah, kid. You're stuck with me."

Adriana smiled for the first time that day.

That night, after Adriana had fallen asleep, Luci sat on the couch, exhausted.

Miguel handed her a cup of tea and sat beside her.

"You look like hell," he commented.

"Thanks," she muttered.

Miguel exhaled. "She asked about Dotan today."

Luci nodded. "She asked me too."

Miguel leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "She's growing up, Luci. She's starting to feel the absence."

"I know." Luci rubbed her temples. "I just… I don't know how to fix it."

Miguel looked at her. "She doesn't need you to fix it. She just needs you to be there."

Luci swallowed. "I try, Miguel. I do. But I have to work. I have to pay the bills. And when I get home, I'm too tired to even think."

Miguel was silent for a moment. Then, he said, "Then something has to change."

Luci sighed. "Like what?"

"I don't know," Miguel admitted. "But if you're not careful, you'll wake up one day and realize you missed everything."

Luci closed her eyes. The thought terrified her.

The next day, Luci found a crumpled piece of paper on the dining table. It was a drawing, Adriana's usual doodles of herself, Luci, and Miguel.

But this time, there was another figure.

A man.

Luci's breath hitched as she looked at the small words scribbled on the bottom.

"I wish I had more time with Mama."

Luci clutched the paper to her chest, tears burning her eyes.

Adriana was only five. She shouldn't feel like she had to wish for time with her mother.

Luci knew what she had to do.

That night, as she tucked Adriana into bed, she whispered, "How about we have a special day together this weekend? Just you and me?"

Adriana's face lit up with joy. "Really, Mama?"

"Really."

"Can we go to the beach?"

Luci smiled. "Anywhere you want, my love."

Adriana hugged her tightly. "I love you, Mama."

Luci held her daughter, breathing in her warmth. "I love you more, my angel."

And for the first time in a long time, Luci felt like she was making the right choice.