Passionately Ryan - Book I of the Engaging CEO Series

Five weeks earlier

Flora had been hammering herself all week until she made her final decision. The store she had created with her husband was a success, and she supported him in everything. To help him in a new phase, she saw that the best option at the moment was to send her son to her parents' home for a short period of time.

She had never been a bad mother. Always attending the needs of her son and her husband, caring with love and affection, and giving all the necessary support to both men, but on the other hand, she knew that she would not be able to help more, taking care of a child, and with pain in her chest and a difficult decision, the only option found was to send the son of both to her parents' house two kilometers from her home, for a short period of time.

- Hello? Mom? - she asked on the line, frantically tapping her fingers on the table.

- Flora, my child, are you all right? Calling me at this time of night? It was not like her to call so late at night.

- Mom, I'm calling because I need help," she says, feeling anxious and with a pain in her chest.

- Oh, I think I understand. You want me to take care of him until you finish things with Adam? Is that it?

- Yes, Mom, but if it's not too much trouble, of course.

- You know it's not and it will be a pleasure to have him in my home.

- Thanks a lot, Mom. I don't know what I'd be without you.

- You are everything to me, Flora, my daughter. I'll do what I can to help you.

- Then tomorrow I'll drive there.

- Have a good night, Flora.

- You too, Mama.

The other end of the line went silent, Flora unlocked her cell phone and stared at the picture on her wallpaper - a family photo taken last winter. Everything in her life was happening fast. A chance for her to show the world her talent was given and she saw an opportunity to get back into the business of her life, but on the other hand, her husband was pushing her further and further away. Putting aside her cell phone, she walked carefully to her son's room and watched him sleeping peacefully.

- A weak and vulnerable being," she thought, "Mom will do everything for you and our family, my son.

Flora walked to her son's closet and began to sort through the clothes, enough for at least a three-month stay at her grandparents' house, even if she intended to pick her son up first. A tear streamed from her eye revealing her sadness. When she had decided to drop everything to take care of her family, she knew it wouldn't be easy, it had been one of the hardest decisions she had ever made, but with her head held high, she had made it, and it wouldn't be now that she couldn't. She had in mind that her son would be at home with his grandparents for at least three months. She had in mind that her son would be in good hands, and she knew this perfectly well, because as a child she had lived with all the love of her parents, and her grandson would be no different.

Finishing her son's suitcase, Flora separated in an envelope a small amount of money, consequences of her savings, and put it in the boy's backpack, along with some basic documents. Daniel was already four years old, attended a school near his home and studied in the morning, which gave his mother time to take care of things at home and plan the rest of the week ahead.

After putting everything in the living room, Flora lay down beside her son, where, in tears because of the difficult decision she had made, she fell asleep.

-----*------

The sun invaded the windows of Daniel's room, and with a yawn he woke his mother from her dream, where she was extremely happy in her job and with her family. When he saw his mother beside him, his first reaction was to smile and smooth her face, which made her smile.

- Good morning son, how did you sleep? - she asked the youngest, slowly opening her eyes.

- Better with you by my side mom, I feel safe and happy," Daniel said, hugging his mother and receiving a kiss.

- I say the same to you. You have brightened up my life and given me a meaning to live again.

- Mom, how was I born? - she asked, leaving her distressed.

- From the love between Mom and Dad. But son, you know that I love you more than anything in the world, don't you?

- Yes, Mom.

- You will spend some time at your grandparents' house, okay? - She asks the child with trepidation and a big smile on her face.

- Mom, I'm going to spend my vacation there? - she asks with all her intelligence. As much as Flora was afraid, she knew that one of her son's greatest desires was to spend some time with his grandparents at the lake house.

- Exactly! Since you are on vacation from school, I think it's only fair that you travel a bit. Mom has even prepared your suitcase - She points to the corner of the room - Now let's get ready? - She asks, receiving a nod of the head.

Taking her son to the toilet, where she undressed and bathed her son, Flora returned the boy to his room, preparing him properly for the reunion with his grandparents. Realizing that her husband had not slept at home for another night in a row, her eyes filled with tears, for she knew where the man really was, but in her mind, he would go back to being who he was.

Leaving the pain of abandonment aside, Flora swallowed her tears and opened her best smile for her son who was already ready in front of her.

- You are the most beautiful thing in the world, son.

- I pulled you, didn't I, Mom? - he asked the older girl, making her sad.

- In a way you did, son. Shall we have breakfast?

Following his mother into the kitchen, she served him a natural orange juice, rolls, eggs and bacon, making breakfast fun for her and her son as he decided whether to go back on his mother's request or not.

The trip to her parents' house took about two hours the way there, as expected, Flora and Daniel were well received at their hosts' house, who, to enjoy the company, stayed until the evening, where they enjoyed and killed their accumulated homesickness. Flora didn't want to leave, her maternal instinct had been awakened just by looking at the boy.

- Who will protect him from all evil?

she thought to herself, but she already had the answer. And after a motherly look recognized by the girl, Flora relaxed. There was no other person in the whole universe better suited to look after her son than her parents.

- I'll be back for you soon, son," she said.

- Don't worry about me, Mom, I'll enjoy my vacation," reassured his mother. As a young boy, Daniel already understood some of the things around him, making him more than special to his mother, because he was the one who made her happy in her sad days.

- Take good care, take a bath on time, and respect your grandparents," said the girl to her son, her voice hoarse from holding back her desire to cry.

- Don't worry about him, dear," said Ally, his mother, "we'll take good care of this big boy, now go! - she asked.

Saying goodbye with a hug and a kiss to her parents, Flora left, returning to her house, while crying at the wheel.