Contracted To Love

Chapter 3

When Michelle got a call from her mother asking to drop by after work, she didn’t know what to expect. Marilyn wasn’t one to call to set up a meeting with her daughter. She just showed up in true parental fashion. So, Michelle knew that there was definitely something up when Marilyn called her. For that reason Michelle was a little on edge all day as she waited to meet her mother later. The day seemed to drag on. She even made some mistakes when she was anchoring that evening, but it wasn’t until she met her mother that she realized she’d been stressing for no reason.

“I’m not getting set up on a date by my mama,” she said in a soft voice when she finally heard what her mother had to say.

“Why not?”

“Well, for starters, I’m in my thirties. A long way from a kid… I can get my own dates.”

Marilyn nodded.

“Yeah. I would believe that if you actually went out there and did that, but you’re not really doing that, sweetie.”

Michelle shrugged.

“I’m not ready to get back out there, mom.”

“So, when do you think you’re going to be ready, huh? Because you’re not growing any younger, you know.”

Michelle sighed loudly.

“Mom, I don’t need this right now. My days are full with my career and trying to get my daughter back.”

“You know I can easily pull strings and make that happen, right?” Marilyn asked and Michelle nodded.

“I know that, but I also know that your means would mean painting Jean in a bad light and I cannot have you doing that… he’s a hero to Andrea.”

“Maybe it’s about time we showed Andrea just who Jean is… I mean, that man nearly killed you. So, how do we know he wouldn’t do the same to my grand baby?” Marilyn asked and Michelle shook her head.

“No way,” she said defensively. She always got that way when they talked about her daughter’s father. “Jean might have been a crappy husband but he was always a great father.”

Marilyn took a long deep breath.

“Sweetie, we both know that the blunder of not reporting or documenting Jean’s abuse is the only reason he won custody. We don’t know, nor have we any idea of knowing, how he would react if he was in a bad mood and poor little Andrea came skipping in…” her voice trailed off when she saw the look her daughter gave her. “Michelle, Andrea is my only grandchild and I love her to death. I know I can pull some strings and get you custody.”

“But Andrea chose to be with him. She wanted to go live with him.”

“Andrea is just a baby. We cannot let her make such big decisions that potentially affect her future… I mean, would you let her decide on the house you buy or your next career move? I don’t think so, because she’s a child. And the judge asking her to choose was nothing short of irresponsible if you ask me,” Marilyn shook her head. “I hate this whole situation, baby. You know that.”

“I know but all I need is to figure out what I need to do before I appeal the judge’s decision… I mean, when I finally do that I have to make sure that I’ll win because there’s no point taking Andrea through that whole process for nothing.”

Marilyn nodded.

“Well, let me help you. I can bring Andrea home,” she insisted and Michelle sighed.

She knew that arguing with her mother was pointless. She nodded reluctantly and Marilyn grinned in pleasure.

“Good. Now about David Favre,” Marilyn went on and Michelle shook her head.

“You’re not going to let up until I agree to what you’re asking. Are you?”

It was Marilyn’s turn to shake her head.

“Jean was a social climber, that’s something I picked up from the very first time I met him,” she started. “And he proved me right when he tried to take everything from you during the divorce, but David has his own assets. He would be with you for all the right reasons.”

Michelle wanted to argue with her mother but she knew that it was all futile.

“One date,” she said and her mother gleamed.

“That’s all I am asking for.”

***

It was a week after Michelle’s talk with her mother and it was finally D-day. Her best friend Vickie had come to help her get ready for her date but after a whole hour, she still didn’t know what she was supposed to wear.

Michelle frowned when she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

“I don’t know, Vickie,” she said before she took off the dress she had on.

That was her fourth wardrobe change in thirty minutes and she hadn’t found something she felt comfortable enough in. If this was a regular date, she wouldn’t have had such a hard time finding something to wear, but this was a date with a man she hardly knew. A man she had no feelings for. She didn’t want to dress in something that would make her seem a little too serious or something that made her seem too interested.

Vickie pulled out a black dress from Michelle’s closet.

“Well, there’s no way you can go wrong with this,” she said as she held the black long-sleeved sweater dress against her petite frame. “I might not have the body to pull this off but you always rock this!”

Michelle looked at her and took the dress. She’d only worn that dress twice: once on-screen and the other time during a… her thoughts trailed off when she realized that the dress actually had one wear in its history. That was the only dress that Vickie had pulled out that seemed to make sense. It was perfect for the cold weather and she still looked feminine and sexy without coming off like she was trying too hard.

“I guess this will do,” Michelle said as Vickie looked at her shoe rack.

“Found the perfect shoes!” Vickie announced as she pulled a pair of black stiletto suede boots. “That dress, a pair of leggings to keep off the harsh fall weather and this pair of designer boots, that you paid a ridiculously high amount for, will work.”

Michelle smiled at her.

“Those shoes were an investment,” she said in her defence and Vickie raised an eyebrow.

“Really? How much are their stocks worth right now?” she asked in a cynical tone and Michelle stifled a laugh.

“You know what I mean.”

“Well, now that we have your outfit all set, would you please look a little excited about this date already?” Vickie said as she walked towards Michelle, who just shrugged.

“I haven’t done this in a long time, Vickie. You know that. And I was kind of done with dating,” she said. “I mean after Jean…. I don’t think I have it in me to go back dating … not after everything I know.”

Vickie pushed back her bangs and took a seat next to Michelle.