My rules
DIANA'S POINT OF VIEW
As I stepped into Quinn's room, the first thing she noticed was the expression on my face.
"And what's with that face??" she inquired without missing a beat. I let out a loud scoff, feeling a mix of frustration and fatigue. With a heavy sigh, I flopped down onto her bed, letting the springs creak beneath me.
Quinn’s brow furrowed with concern as she looked at me, her voice softer now,
"Is something wrong with Sophie?" Without missing a beat, I shook my head vigorously, wanting to quickly reassure her.
"No, Quinn, Sophie is just sound asleep right now," I replied, glancing away for a moment before continuing.
“It's Violet that’s bothering me.”
Her expression shifted as she processed this new information, and she nodded slowly, her curiosity evident.
"Is something wrong with Violet? Or is it something else entirely? You look quite upset," she pointed out, and at that moment, I lifted my gaze to meet hers.
"Nothing is wrong with her, Quinn," I mumbled, my fingers unconsciously rubbing the rubber bracelet that adorned my left wrist, finding a slight comfort in its familiar texture.
"Then please, just tell me what's on your mind. Why do you look so mad?" she pressed, her frown deepening with genuine concern for my well-being.
Taking a deep breath, I prepared to spill my thoughts all at once.
"I finally gathered the courage to tell her that I'll be getting remarried," I said in a rush, feeling the weight of the moment cut through the air like a knife.
"But you won’t believe what she said in response... She actually told me that her dad died just five years ago! And now here I am, planning to remarry—like, why in the world would she say something like that?" My thoughts tumbled out in one breath, leaving me slightly breathless and overwhelmed by the emotions swirling inside me.
"Did she really say that??... That's... uhm... honestly, it's pretty typical of Violet, so I don't think you should stress about it too much," Quinn said, glancing at me with a knowing look. I nodded in agreement, though a part of me still felt uneasy.
"Yes, I do understand that, Quinn, but I can’t shake this feeling of worry. I mean, she should recognize that I’ve been feeling incredibly lonely for quite some time now. After finally finding someone who brings joy back into my life, she seems to think I should still be mourning her father endlessly. It’s hard to fathom how she could be so inconsiderate," I said, my voice trailing off as frustration bubbled up inside me.
"I really don’t think she means that you shouldn't find happiness, Dianna. It’s just that she might be struggling with the idea of having another man in her life, especially someone who could potentially become her stepfather. You know how much Violet adored her late father," Quinn replied, letting out a gentle sigh as she placed her hand on my shoulder for comfort.
“Try not to worry too much about this, sis. I can have a word with her tomorrow,” she added, trying to reassure me. I nodded my head, feeling slightly calmed by her words.
“And... there’s actually something else I wanted to discuss,” I said hesitantly.
“Something else?? What do you mean?” Quinn asked, her curiosity piqued.
I had just been discussing with her my strong feelings about the importance of abstaining from sex, emphasizing that she should avoid engaging in sexual activities with anyone at all. Unfortunately, this sparked an explosive reaction from her. She erupted in frustration, shouting that she was 19 years old and old enough to make her own decisions about sex"I said and noticed she frowned immediately.
“Hold on a second, Dianna. Are you really still insisting that she must maintain her virginity?” Quinn questioned, her tone laced with disbelief. My expression quickly turned serious, and I frowned at her inquiry.
“What do you mean by that? Are you really suggesting that she’s allowed to have sex?” I replied, a sense of confusion washing over me. This time, my words prompted an unexpected reaction from Quinn—she burst out laughing, unable to contain herself.
“Seriously, Dianna? Can you actually hear what you’re saying? At first, when Mom mentioned this to me, I thought it was some kind of joke. But you’ve just shown me that she was completely serious,” Quinn said, her laughter subsiding only slightly.
“Look, Violet is 19 years old! She’s in her final year of high school, and you’re still trying to dictate whether or not she can have sex? For crying out loud, she’s an adult! What you should be doing is giving her guidance—having an open conversation about it and helping her navigate her choices. You know, just talk to her about sex and see how she feels about it.”She said.
"Hey, remember that time you told me about losing your virginity at 17?" Quinn inquired with a playful grin.
"I can still picture you giggling and recounting all the details. So, tell me, why are you so insistent that Violet should hold onto hers?"
As she posed the question, I felt a frown immediately cross my face.
"Well, she is my daughter, and I expect her to follow the guidelines I’ve set for her," I muttered, attempting to keep my tone steady, but Quinn let out a scoff that resonated throughout the room.
"You’re really fortunate that Violet is such a quiet and studious child," she replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.
"Honestly, if you had a more rebellious kid, I bet you wouldn’t hold such rigid views. And let’s be real; I know you too well, Dianna. You’re definitely trying to hide something. I mean, the way you’re so determined about Violet preserving her virginity is just... I don’t know, it’s raising some red flags for me. You’re my sister, and I can’t help but think there’s more going on here. Just promise me you won’t completely alienate your daughter over this."
Her words hit me like a heavy weight, and I felt my temper rising. With a frustrated scoff, I leapt to my feet from the bed, clearly aggravated.
"I had hoped you’d be there to support me, but instead, you’re just making things worse! Violet is my child, and she will comply with the rules I’ve established. You know what? I’ve had enough of this conversation; I’m leaving your room!" I exclaimed, my voice sharp as I stormed out, feeling overwhelmed by a mix of anger and frustration.
There are moments when she can be incredibly helpful, but let me tell you, there are far more times when she drives me absolutely crazy.
I walked into my room, and that’s when I noticed my phone ringing. In a bit of a hurry, I rushed over to check who it was, and my heart lit up as I saw it was Michael calling. A wide smile spread across my face, and without wasting another second, I answered the call.
“Hey, baby,” I greeted him, playfully biting my lip as I sank onto my bed, feeling a familiar warmth spread through me.
“I'm so sorry I didn't pick up right away,” I admitted,
“I was in Quinn's room, and we were in the middle of an extended conversation about a few things.” I settled deeper into the blankets, feeling cozy and relaxed.
“Yeah, I know it’s getting late, but I’m just about to head to bed now,” I said, trying to combat the weariness that was creeping in.
"Oh, come on, you naughty boy," I teased back with a light giggle, and I could hear him chuckling on the other end, his laughter making me smile even more.
“I’ve already talked to my daughter about our plans to get married,” I mentioned casually, my tone reflecting a mix of excitement and nervousness.
“Of course, you know how kids can be... They have their own little worlds, don’t they? But don't worry, she’ll just have to accept you as her new stepdad,” I replied, a smile creeping across my face at the thought of blending our families.
“Oh, I’m sure your son and my daughter will become close in no time,” I reassured him, chuckling lightly at the thought.
“After all, they’re both the same age, which should make things easier, right?”
“I’m really looking forward to introducing you to my twins, Zach and Zoey; they’ll be back next month for their break. It'll be the perfect opportunity for all of us to spend some time together,” I added, my heart fluttering at the prospect of our lives intertwining further.
"Don't worry; my kids are just as spoiled as yours," I said, a playful smile spreading across my face.
"I love you too, sweetheart. I’ll make sure to come see you tomorrow afternoon," I responded warmly to him.
"Okay, bye for now... I love you," I managed to say with a grin before ending the call.