Quiet Storm, Season 2, Episode 6 (Rising Storm) by Julie Kenner Page B

“Maybe I owe you a thank you. I should have left your father a long time ago.”
    As she spoke, she pulled up in front of Celeste’s house. Jeffry had called ahead and spoken to Lacey, and now her niece came flying out of the front door. “Oh, my god, Jeffry,” she said when he got out of the car.
    “I know,” he said. “Kind of the worst-case scenario, huh?”
    “Or the best,” she said, echoing what Payton had already said. “You can be yourself now, right?”
    They all headed toward the front door where Celeste was waiting to greet them. Travis, Payton noticed, didn’t seem to be home.
    “I’m so sorry to barge in,” she told her sister. “I know the timing couldn’t be worse for you.”
    “No,” Celeste said firmly. “It’s okay. I—I want to help.” Her smile wavered. “I think I need to.” She ushered them inside. “I made sandwiches and cocoa.” She gave Jeffry a squeeze. “Love you, kiddo.”
    “Love you, too, Aunt Celeste.”
    “You made snacks?” Payton said, fighting back tears. Maybe this was going to turn out to be even better than she imagined. Maybe this was the kick Celeste needed to push her back to the land of the living.
    “Well, they’re not gourmet, but...”
    “Thanks,” Payton said gently. “I love you.”
    They all settled in the kitchen and ate sandwiches and drank cocoa, and though no one pushed him, Jeffry told them about his friend Scott and the event. “He’s not like my boyfriend. But I guess I am kind of dating him.”
    “Then I want to meet him,” Payton said.
    “Same old, same old,” Brit said, laughing. “All boyfriends must meet Mom.”
    “I should get you settled,” Celeste said. “You’ll take the guest room?”
    “Actually, I need to go out again,” Payton said.
    “Really?” Brit asked.
    “Jeffry’s made me do some thinking, and there’s something I should do tonight. Go on to bed, you guys.”
    Celeste nodded slowly. “If you need to talk...”
    “I know,” Payton said, then hugged her sister. “I love you.” She glanced at the kids. “I’ll be back in the morning, and we’ll figure everything out then.”
    “Love you, Mom,” Brit said, then headed up the stairs.
    “I do, too,” Jeffry said. He started toward the stairs with Lacey, then paused and turned back. “And by the way, Mom, I know I already said it, but you were really great tonight. I won’t ever forget it.”
     
    * * * *
     
    You were really great tonight.
    Payton shifted her weight from foot to foot as she stood in front of Francine’s door with Jeffry’s words still running through her head. Great , he’d said, but it had been the look on his face that had truly spoken to her. A look that said he loved her. That he was proud of her.
    And most of all, that he could be himself with her.
    It had been a long time since she’d done something solely for the kids’ sake, without thinking about Sebastian and his ridiculous career or about how her actions would look on social media.
    She’d gotten out of the habit of doing the right thing—the honest thing. Instead, she’d been doing the expected thing.
    Tonight, she’d flipped all of that around, and it had felt good. Great, even.
    And now she wanted to feel even better.
    Now, it was time to do something not for Sebastian. Not for the kids. Not for the community or the church or anybody else.
    Right now, Payton was wallowing in self-interest. She’d told Jeffry she loved him for himself, and she didn’t expect him to be anybody but the man he was.
    Why the hell should she expect less of herself?
    She shouldn’t, and that was what had brought her to Francine’s door. What had her stomach twisting nervously and her palms sweating.
    With her heart pounding in her chest, she lifted her hand and knocked. A moment passed, then another and another. She feared that Francine wasn’t home, and all the nerves and butterflies were for nothing.
    But then she heard footsteps, and then the doorknob turned, and then