Rita had offered to carry the bags out of consideration, but Sherman remained firm in his response. "You're the one who shouldn't underestimate me! These are just a couple of clothes. Let's hurry along now!"
Their interaction did not escape the notice of the clothes boutique's staff member, who found the interaction particularly heartwarming. In her view, Rita and Sherman seemed to be a perfect match, which made it all the more unfortunate that they were not together.
As they finally settled into the car, Rita was still clutching the almost weightless paper bag in her hand as Sherman prepared to drive her home.
"Are you heading back to your family home?" Sherman inquired.
Rita shook her head. "No. You can drop me off at the place I'm renting."
"Sure."
After a brief silence, Rita put forth a question. "Why didn't you ask about my decision not to go home?"
"What's there to ask? You're an adult, and you're not obligated to stay at home every day. Besides, I think staying alone gives you a little more breathing room," Sherman replied.
Rita chuckled. "You've only been to my house once, and you've already seen through it all. My father can't see the truth even though he's been with that woman and her daughter for years. He continues to think that I have a good relationship with them."
Sherman could sense the underlying helplessness in her tone despite her smile.
Sherman glanced at Rita through the rearview mirror, noticing her rising anger and the quiver in her voice as she continued to vent. At that moment, he felt a sudden and unexplainable urge to pull over, embrace her, and assure her that none of it was her fault.
However, he remained behind the wheel in prolonged silence before finally saying, "This isn't your fault. You have every right to feel anger."
Those words seemed to have lifted a weight off Rita's shoulders. Tears streamed down her face as she turned away because of how long it had been since she heard validation. Despite expressing her frustrations and disappointments, she never truly voiced out the suffering and grievances that she experiences.
Vince always sided with Karen and Sadie even when Rita had been wrongly accused by both of them. Alas, Vince was never able to see through it.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Day I Kissed An Older Man
This book is a good book, but it’s too short. I hope it has a part two👍🏾...
This book is getting boring now. I loved Jeremy, Corinne, Sonny and Lucas. The story needs to end. or bring back more of Jeremy, etc....
I haven't skipped any chapter at all. Though the story is good, it keeps going back to base one. I think this has no ending at all and somehow after reading more than 2500 chapters it's kinda tiring already. They have drained all the thrills....
Great writing! I almost cried when Helen hit Melody! So sad! 😭 can’t wait to see how the relationship with her and Lucas develops though. So tired of the repetitive problems with different people....
Yikes my body tenses so much, my moods change as the scenes change. It leaves me wanting to continue reading....
my heart breaks for melody, so many ups and downs, i shed a few tears when lucas walked by melody carrying thalia, and melody stayed quiet while watching them leave. i find myself getting into character as if im one. i dont remember ever feeling like that in any other books. im thankful the 10 chapters/day. waiting for the next 10...
We have updated progress from 7 chapters/day to 10 chapters/day.<3...
i love grandma Beatrice, there needs to me more people like her in the world straight forward and to the point, no beating around the bush and worrying about offending anyone, why pretend to be someone your not....
looking forward to more chapters, The same thing is happening to Melody as what happened to Luna, if Luna was back maybe she would set Lucas straight, can't wait to see how Lucas handles the situations that will arrive. Poor Melody....
ya Lucas pay more attention to Melody lets see what happens waiting for more chapters thanks...