Chapter 474 Missing Them
When Catherine dropped those words, it hit Susan like a ton of bricks. Catherine was just looking out for her, trying to keep her from getting chewed up by the Andersons. Heck, she even offered to take care of Todd for months. Susan felt a mix of shame and sadness wash over her.
She felt ashamed 'cause she’d been griping about Catherine, wondering why she had to smack her in front of the Andersons. Turned out, Catherine was just trying to help her out.
Seeing the pain and guilt in Catherine's eyes made Susan feel like crap. Catherine was in her early fifties, busting her butt day and night to take care of Todd for months. That was no joke.
"Mom, I'm sorry, I totally misunderstood you," Susan said, feeling guilty as she hugged Catherine.
Catherine hugged her back, patting her on the back. "Susan, you're too straightforward and don’t know how to play the game. Carol’s gonna eat you alive. But thank God, Todd and Seb are decent folks; otherwise, living with the Andersons would be a nightmare."
"Mom, let's just bounce. I’ll take the kids and leave the Andersons. I can’t let you suffer and wear yourself out because of me!" Susan said, getting all emotional.
Catherine pushed her away and snapped, "I’ve told you all this, and you still don’t get it? You and Seb are married with kids. You’ve got a good life, a whole family. Seb’s got his act together and treats you right. So many women would kill for that. Are you really gonna blow up your happy life just to fight with Carol? You’re thirty, not a kid. Don’t you see Carol wants you out of the Andersons? If you leave now, you’re just giving her what she wants. You and the kids will be the ones to suffer."
Catherine’s words hit home, and Susan finally got it. Indeed, just 'cause she was mad at Carol, she was gonna mess up her kids' lives and her marriage? Totally not worth it.
Susan looked at Catherine, surprised. "Mom, when did you get so sharp and tough?"
Catherine raised an eyebrow. "I’ve been around for over fifty years. If I didn’t know this stuff by now, what’s the point?"
"If you’d figured this out earlier, your life wouldn’t have been so rough," Susan said, holding Catherine’s arm.
Catherine sighed. "That’s just how my life turned out. I picked the wrong guy. But you’re different. Seb’s got it together, he’s responsible, and he loves you. James didn’t have any of that."
Seeing the sadness in Catherine’s eyes, Susan didn’t know what to say, so she quickly changed the subject. "Mom, you should go back. It’s not right for you to take care of Todd. I’ll skip the office for a few months. Kathy and Mary can help with Hayden and Spring at home."
But Catherine was firm. "No way, you worked hard to build that office. You can’t just drop it to take care of Todd. Plus, I’ve learned that a woman needs her own career. When you’ve got your own thing going, you’ll have a place in the Anderson family."
"But Mom, it’s months of day and night," Susan said, still worried.
Catherine wasn't backing down. "I'm not that old, and I'm in good shape. I'd just be sitting around anyway. It's late; you should go check on the kids."
Susan knew she couldn't change Catherine's mind, so she gave in and let her take care of Todd.
But there was something Susan couldn't keep under wraps anymore. "Mom, Seb and I talked it over. I'm gonna crash at Isabella's for a bit. Carol's still fuming, and I don't want to stir the pot, so I won't go back home for now."
Catherine was taken aback for a second, then nodded. "Seb's got a point. Carol's a handful. If she's around, it's gonna be rough for you. And Dorothy..."
Susan knew Catherine wanted her to stay with Dorothy, but their relationship was always rocky.
So, Susan quickly said, "Mom, it's better if I stay at Isabella's."
"But remember, even if you're not living at home, don't let things get weird with Seb. Your relationship is key, and the kids are the glue. It's just like the building; your marriage with Seb is the cement, and the kids are the steel. Without the kids, the marriage is kinda fragile. You get what I'm saying?" Catherine nagged.
Susan couldn't help but laugh. "Mom, I get it. You've changed a lot after staying in that sanatorium for a few months."
"In the sanatorium, there was this marriage and relationship expert in the ward next to Dorothy's. We used to listen to her talks. Some of her advice was really spot on," Catherine said with a smile.
Susan smiled and shook her head. Catherine was way more organized and chatty now, definitely more upbeat than before. It was a good change; she'd been living under a cloud for years. Maybe she was finally finding some peace as she got older.
That night, around ten, Susan and Seb met up at a café near Isabella's place.
The café was super chill at night, with just a few people either sitting alone or chatting quietly.
Susan and Seb snagged a corner spot, side by side, with soft music playing in the background. The lighting was pretty dim.
"Are Hayden and Spring asleep?" Susan asked, resting her head on Seb's shoulder, feeling a pang in her heart.
She hadn't seen them all day and missed them like crazy.
"When I left, Spring was already out cold, and Hayden was in bed. Kathy was telling him a story," Seb said, holding Susan close.
Susan frowned and asked, "Did they ask where I was?"
"Spring asked a couple of times, but Mary managed to distract her. She's still too young to get it. Hayden, though, asked a bunch. I told him you were on a business trip. He probably misses you a lot and kept asking when you'd be back," Seb said, frowning too.
Hearing this, Susan's face clouded with worry. "I miss them so much."
"The weekend's just around the corner. I'll bring them out to see you then," Seb said after a moment's hesitation.
"Really?" Susan's eyes lit up, but then she worriedly asked, "Will Mom be okay with that?"
"Mom sometimes goes out to meet friends. I'll bring them to you when she's out," Seb said with a smile.
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