Read Online Because This Is Forever by Lena Hart - Free Book Online Page A

Mia
corrected.
    Leah
sat back in her chair and looked down at the table. “Look Mia, I don’t know how
to tell you this but…” she took a deep breath, “I’m moving out.”
    Mia
didn’t know what to say. She certainly hadn’t expected this. Leah had never
moved out on her own. Even after she’d graduated high school, and Mia had been
open to her living in Chicago with her, Leah had decided to stay home. Her
sister had even stayed around when Mia moved back home and their small home had
become crowded with a new baby added. When Mia didn’t say anything, Leah
finally glanced up at her.
    “I
know this is bad timing,” Leah said, breaking the long silence, “but I’m ready
to leave Detroit and move on.”
    “Where
do you plan on going?” Mia asked, trying not to sound hurt or bitter. She
appreciated the sacrifices her sister had made to her modeling dreams in order
to help her with Mikey. Leah loved her nephew, and despite their own personal
relationship, Mia had come to rely on her support.
    Leah glanced
at her. “LA, of course. When Jackson gets out, we’re leaving.”
    Mia
frowned. “Really, Leah? Jackson?” she questioned, exasperated. Talks about
moving to Los Angeles to start her modeling career were nothing new, but taking
her old high school sweetheart with her definitely was. The influence Jackson had
on her sister leaned toward the negative, and the only reason Leah hadn’t
completely spiraled down with her bad news boyfriend—and seen the inside of a
jail cell herself—was because their mother had kept Leah on a tight leash. Now that
their mother was gone, Mia could only hope her sister knew enough to keep
herself out of trouble.
    “Do
you really think you’re being realistic?” Mia continued. “You’re twenty-four and
broke. How do you plan to move and support yourself way across the country?”
    Leah
narrowed her eyes at her. “Just because I don’t want to be some fancy lawyer
doesn’t mean I’m stupid,” she snapped. “You’re just jealous I’m actually going
after my dream when you never even finished law school.”
    Mia’s
back drew up. That stung. But maybe she had it coming. Leah had always accused
her of putting down her dreams and it was obvious she was doing it now. She
just didn’t want her sister to get hurt. She had learned the hard way how
painful it was to live life under an illusion.
    “Fine,”
Mia said quietly. “Do what you want.”
    “I
will. I’m moving out at the end of next month,” Leah continued. “And I’m going
to use my share of the insurance money to get started.”
    Mia let
out a dry laugh and shook her head. “So is that the pot of gold you’re hanging
your dreams on? You better start looking elsewhere.”
    Leah straightened
in her seat. “What do you mean?”
    Mia
gave her sister a brief detailing of her meeting with Mr. Freeman and the
insurance company’s decision. The news, however, didn’t seem to faze her sister.
Leah lifted her head with resolve. “I’m still leaving,” she said. “I have some
of my own money saved up and I’m ready to live my life.”
    Mia
didn’t like the resentful tone in her sister’s voice. It was accusatory and…bitter.
“Last I checked,” Mia snapped, “no one forced you to stay here.”
    Her
sister leaned toward her over the table, gripping its edge as fire burned in
her large brown eyes. “I stayed because Mama asked me to stay. You strolled in
here pregnant and pathetic. You think she wanted to be saddled with you and a
baby at her age? In her condition? I knew I couldn’t leave, especially not
after she got sick again. But it’s time for me to do me .”
    Her
sister’s words rolled through her and Mia couldn’t speak through her pain. Was I really a burden to you, Mama? The
thought made her throat clog as tears burned her eyes.
    She
swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. “Then I would hate to stand in your
way,” Mia whispered stiffly, looking away. “Please don’t let me or my