"What do you think of our little ones?" I asked Gracie and Jashanna as we drove home that Friday. "Are you sure about the names?"

"They're perfect!" Jashanna said softly. The kittens, a brother and sister that the girls decided to name Swiftie and Karma, were in a cat carrier on the back seat between the girls, who were happily petting them through the hatch on top. Swiftie was a light grey kitty, while her brother Karma was a dark grey with a white tuxedo chest. Yes, the girls were diehard Taylor Swift fans, which is why they loved watching the tour concert online all the time. The kitties we'd picked out were extremely friendly and had loved being cuddled. Just what we needed. Hopefully they would continue to like that as they grew up.

"I can't believe we got cats," Gracie added. "I'm so happy!"

I smiled while glancing at the pair in the back seat. They certainly seemed happy, which I liked. The little fluff balls would hopefully be just what we needed in the house, though I knew they'd need care and attention too. I might have already ordered four cat trees in various sizes to help them find good places to rest and scratch too. I figured I could put one in my office, my bedroom, the family room, and in the bedroom that the girls shared since it was obvious Jashanna never used her guest room anymore. In the trunk was a litter box, a bag of litter, cat toys, and kitten food to help us get them settled.

"I'm glad we found them. They'll fit in well with us, huh?"

"Yeah, but now I won't want to go away for college!" Gracie whined. She had a point, even if she went to the University of South Florida in Tampa, she'd likely stay on campus or in an apartment, so she'd miss them.

Jashanna was quiet at that too, which had been happening a lot. Was she worried about them going to different schools? I knew that could be a death knell for a lot of high school relationships, but maybe theirs would survive. The good thing was that no matter where they went to school, they would always be more than welcome to meet up back at our house for vacations and long weekends. I didn't think it would be easy, but I could see how much they already cared for each other, and I wasn't going to minimize their feelings because of their ages. If they were truly in love, they'd make it work.

"I'm sure they'll be happy to see you whenever you visit. I'll just have to spoil them when you're gone."

When we got home, we brought in all the kitten loot and started setting everything up while the little furry ones started to explore. I had no doubt there would be growing pains, kittens can get into trouble by being inquisitive, but we'd handle it. They were still small, being just old enough to be spayed and neutered, and were up to date on their shots. Best of all, the woman who had been fostering said they were very good about using a litter box, so we shouldn't have to deal with any messes from them missing the box.

The rest of the day, and through the early afternoon the following day, was spent with our new housemates. They had started the night sleeping in the girls' room, which the two teens loved because they loved the snuggles and purrs, but when I woke up, they were tucked in a little pile against my ribs. Personally, I thought that it was good that they could sleep with all of us, and I was sure that at some point they would get set in their routine. Luckily, they both needed sleep too, and they were getting worn out.

"Nana should be here soon," I reminded the girls. "If you get dressed, then we can get a little shopping done before dinner. I think you both deserve a back to school outfit or two, right?"

They both smiled at that, though they shared a quick glance. "Mom, will Nana be okay with us being together?" Gracie wondered nervously.

I nodded quickly. "Of course. I lived with her as my mom since I was twelve, and she knew about all my relationships ever since. I dated a couple girls before I started dating your dad, and she never had a problem with it at all. Trust me, she'll be thrilled that you're both happy, and nothing else will matter."

"What about your husband though?" Jashanna asked.

"What about him?" I replied. "He might not like it, he can be a little conservative at times, but it shouldn't matter. I'm leaving him anyway, and I'm hoping Gracie will stay with me. I hope that both of you will be here a lot. He isn't going to be a part of your life unless you want him to, and if he tries anything I'll kick him right out of here."

"Hell yes, I'm staying here with you!" Gracie announced. "And my girl will be over all the times that her mom lets her!"

Jashanna's reply was cut short when we heard the garage door opening. The only person with a gate card and a garage door opener was Elizabeth, as Elliot didn't rate that, so I knew she was here.

"Hello?" her voice called out before we all called out to her, and she bustled into the room, then stopped at the sight of the little kitties curled up on the girls' laps for their naps. "Oh my, look at those precious little things!"

"They're Swiftie and Karma!" Gracie informed her, pointing to each of them in turn. "We just picked them up yesterday."

Elizabeth looked over at me with her eyebrows raised, and I just shrugged in reply. Much like me ditching Elliot, the cats were going to be a part of my plan for moving forward. It might sadden her, but I knew she'd understand. For all that she wasn't my biological parent, and I'm sad to say I only had dim recollections of them since they passed when I was six. I'd been raised for the next six years by my father's parents, who were clear in their disdain as they told me they never signed on to raise a grandchild. I never signed on to lose my parents though, so I guess we were even. Luckily, Elizabeth saw what was happening with my upbringing, and took me in so my grandparents could move back west. They passed while I was still in college, never having come back to visit me. Elliot was her son, and she loved him, but I think I was the daughter that she had hoped for, and I knew she'd accept my actions.

"I love the names," Elizabeth gushed, taking a seat next to Jashanna and reaching over to Karma, who started purring in his sleep immediately. "Oh, and I love those purrs!"

"We were thinking we might do a little clothes shopping for school before dinner. But we have time to relax before we go," I explained. "We were thinking of going to Grillsmith over at the Shops at Wiregrass." That was a huge open air shopping plaza with more stores than we'd ever need, but you could probably find anything you'd ever want there. Grillsmith was a little bistro type place that was usually a good meal, and a common eatery for us to go visit.

"That sounds perfect. I love going out to dinner with all of you."

It was a good trip. We shopped till we dropped, and I ended up getting each of the girls two outfits, with Elizabeth also getting them one too, because they were both well behaved and too cute to say no to. We had a little snack at the Le Macaron pastry shop, and each got a smoothie too. It was a perfect day, and after dinner we were all feeling good, even if I knew what had to happen when we got home.

Swiftie and Karma were good distractions for the girls when we got home, though they both knew what I was going to do. But they got set up in front of the television while choosing a movie with the kitties in their laps while I walked into the office with Elizabeth. I sat down at my desk with a sigh, but never got a chance to say anything.

"I guess it's finally time to end things with Elliot, eh?" she asked wearily. She was always a smart woman.

I nodded, hoping she wasn't too hurt. It really was sad, but had it not been for her, I would have kicked Elliot out years ago. "It's time. It really hit me when I dropped Hollie off in Tallahassee. In two years, I'll be an empty nester, and considering the way Elliot is, I'll be on my own. I deserve more, and this has been a long time coming. You know it should have happened years ago. The little kitties will help, but I think I need a chance to find someone who will actually love me."

She was nodding along with me before I was done. "Dear girl, you're right. You've been much more patient than he deserves, and I know that. I wish things would have worked out differently, but it isn't like he hasn't had years to change. Honestly, I've been expecting this for some time. Do you know where he is now?"

"He's still in Orlando, pretending to work on the Advent Health project that he probably doesn't know we wrapped up almost four months ago. He has your condo there, and the last I heard he has at least two women he's stringing along, though I have no idea if either are serious."

She sighed deeply, shaking her head in disappointment over a man who hadn't been a husband or father in years. "I really don't know where I went wrong with him."

I snorted, shaking my head at her. "Elizabeth, you can't blame yourself. You were an amazing mother, and he just got caught up in chasing his own desires rather than caring about anyone else. You can't blame it on your husband passing away either, because he was the same way even when he was alive. Maybe someday he'll wake up and hang onto someone, but that isn't going to be me. I'm done waiting, and I want to enjoy my life. Hell, so should you! You have the money to enjoy your life if you want to get back out there."

She gave me a little smirk at that. "I might have done that a little bit," she admitted in a low voice. "There is a man in the gardening department at Lowe's, and he has really helped me out with my plants."

I grinned at her, happy to see that smile. She had turned 60 the previous year, but still was a fun and active woman. I hoped she could spend time with whoever this man was and enjoy that life. "Do I need to have a safe sex talk with you, Elizabeth?" I asked with mock seriousness. "Let's make sure there is no fertilizing going on!"

She let out a chuckle at that, shaking her head. "No, not yet. But he did take me to dinner and was a gentleman about it. But there is a chance for me, so I know what you mean when you want that opportunity too. If he gives you any trouble, you let me know, okay?"

I nodded quickly. "I doubt that he'll be difficult. If anything, he might be angrier at you about the company, because I don't think he understands that it isn't going to be his. He probably thinks he'll get it in a divorce settlement. I'll need him to start to work for his paycheck too, and that might be a problem since he hasn't been doing that for a while."

"That might be the best thing for him. Give him a little wake up call. The condo is paid for, and his bank account should have plenty in it if he can't seem to work, so don't worry about that. He already has a good nest egg if he can't handle it."

I was pretty sure that Elizabeth had just given me tacit approval to fire her son. At a minimum I was going to have to have a talk with him and make sure he understood that he actually had to work and stop fucking around. I meant that literally since he kept fucking the clients.

It was time to talk to my darling husband.

Me – Elliot, when are you going to be in Tampa. We need to have a talk.

I sent the text as soon as I had a free moment after I was done talking to Elizabeth. I still had to get a divorce lawyer, but at least having a frame of reference for how long I had before he was available would tell me how quickly I had to move. I sat in bed with my laptop and looked up some lawyers during the rest of the weekend, and I found one I liked, I just needed to make an appointment and meet with her during the upcoming week. I knew it might be more difficult with Elliot being up in Orlando, but I was also hoping that this would be a simple process with him not fighting about anything. We had a prenup, and Gracie wasn't going to choose to be with him while Hollie was already 18 and not someone that would be subjected to anything in the divorce.

I just didn't know how stubborn he'd be.

Not expecting to get an answer, I went to sleep, hoping to get my new life moving forward quickly.