Free The Milestone Tapes by Ashley Mackler-Paternostro Page A

upset and cry and feel bad ... so when you are strong, they learn that the mean things they say and the nasty things they do, none of that can touch you or change you.”
    “It hurt my feelings,” Mia started to whimper again, the memory of her pain almost as strong as the pain itself.
    “I know baby, I know. But you have other friends, like Sarah. Sit with her,” Jenna suggested.
    Jenna held Mia until she pulled away.
     
    ~ * * * ~
     
    “Hey girls.” Gabe walked through the door, dropping his briefcase and hanging up his coat.
    “Hey hon, dinner’s almost ready—you have time to get changed,” Jenna called from behind the stove.
    “How was your day?” He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing her neck.
    “Long. I talked to Sophia.” Jenna spun around, holding him close.
    “How’d that go?” he murmured in her ear quietly.
    “We’ll talk about it later, okay?” Jenna kissed his lips quickly.
    “Okay, let me get changed and I’ll help set the table.” He wandered over to Mia, who was working on her homework at the breakfast bar, and gave her a kiss on the cheek before heading back to the bedroom.
    “Mia, honey, dinner’s almost ready, can you get your work picked up?” Jenna asked, spooning a summer mix of vegetables into a bowl.
    “So how was work?” Jenna asked, cutting Mia’s chicken into bite-sized pieces.
    “Good. The house is fantastic.” Gabe sipped his glass of wine.
    “Momma? Did you call Sarah’s Mom?” Mia asked.
    “I did. Sarah is going to Bright Start Girls Club. I signed you up for the morning session.” Jenna nodded, passing Mia her plate.
    “Awesome. Thanks.” Mia speared a piece of meat, blowing on it before popping it into her mouth.
    “So, you called Soph?” Gabe asked casually, placing a roll on his plate.
    Jenna looked down and shook her head. Gabe let a long breath out and set his fork down. “I’m sorry, babe.”
    “No. It’s okay. I called her at work, she was busy,” Jenna dismissed, motioning for Gabe to eat. “We can talk about it later.” She glanced at Mia, who was busy munching on her salad.
    “She’s a real piece of work,” Gabe began.
    “Stop. Not now. We will talk about it later, okay?” Jenna fixed him with a meaningful stare. Whatever her problems with Sophia were, Sophia was good to Mia and Mia loved her aunt. It wasn’t the sort of conversation that they should have in front of her.
    “Fine.” Gabe went back to his dinner.
    After supper, Jenna tucked Mia in for the night, read her a quick story and turned off the lights. Gabe had showered and was settled on the wing chair in their reading nook, waiting. She took roost on the chair beside him.
    “I called Sophia, and it didn’t go ... well,” Jenna began slowly, folding her legs under her.
    Gabe nodded patiently and waited for her to continue.
    “It wasn’t awful, but she was busy. The conversation was forced. I asked to her visit.” Jenna gnawed her lips, imagining how desperate she must have sounded.
    “Is she coming here?” Gabe’s eyes opened wide, he looked almost hopeful. Sophia had never visited. Jenna and Gabe had traveled to South Carolina when Mia was a baby and Sophia had just had Harlen, and again when Caleb was born.
    “No. I don’t know. She was busy.” Jenna wiped a tear from under her eye.
    “She was too busy to discuss this?” Gabe raised his brows in curiosity, a hard edge to his voice.
    “I guess. I felt bad. I kept apologizing and tripping over my words.”
    “Jen … ”
    “Gabe, I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.” She put her hands over her face, shaking her head slowly back and forth.
    “You’re doing the best you can. It’s all you ... or anyone, really ... can do. You have to stop beating yourself up over everything that doesn’t come easily.”
    “I just wanted her to care. To give a shit for once, to put the other stuff aside and worry.”
    “I’m sure, in her way, she does. But this is close to home,