Page 16 of My Almost Ex

Pulling into the inn and seeing my mom walking away from Adam’s truck spurs the anger that diminished during my breakfast with Ethel and Dori at Two Brothers and an Egg. I slam the car door and Mom turns around.

“You were supposed to be packing,” she says. “What happened to you?” She steps toward me, but I put up my hand to stop her.

“She slipped down a hill,” Dori says, running her hand down my arm as if we’re old friends. I still don’t remember her, even after she quizzed me during my pancake breakfast while the rest of the people at the diner whispered and pointed at me.

“When? Where?” My mom’s gaze falls down my body as though she’s a doctor and could see if something was actually wrong.

“I just lost my footing,” I say, brushing her off.

The door of the inn opens and Mandi steps out, her red hair pulled into a ponytail higher up on her head. She walks over to Adam and Hank, who I hadn’t yet realized are here. The three of them watch the scene unfold. Adam’s hands are stuffed into his pockets and he’s rocking back on his heels.

I get distracted from looking at him by someone snapping their fingers in front of my face.

My mom.

“This is why you can’t go running in an area you aren’t familiar with. Come on, we’re going to pack and then we’re leaving.” My mom tugs on my arm, but I pry it out of her grasp.

“Just let her be, Susan,” Ethel says.

My mom stops and turns toward the Greenes. “Do you people have anything other to do than to bother us? She’s not your family anymore.”

“Susan,” Ethel says in that tone like everyone is family in Sunrise Bay.

“No, Ethel. The last person I need a lecture from is you.”

Dori steps closer to my mom. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Let her be, she’s always been a stubborn one.” Ethel crosses her arms.

“Please, you people act like you’re all holier-than-thou, when in reality, your entire family started out taking what’s other’s.”

“Mom,” I say.

Ethel shakes her head and smiles at me. “Let her speak her piece. It’s been a long time coming, right, Susan? So let’s get it all out in the open. Maybe it will spur some memories for Lucy.”

Mom huffs and sighs as though she’s about to throw a tantrum. “I am not going to sit here and rehash history when it doesn’t even matter. I’m taking Lucy home.”

“This is her home,” Adam says, stepping away from his family.

Even knowing something must’ve happened to make me leave him, I can’t help the way my heart flutters at his declaration.

“Not anymore,” Mom says. “You aren’t part of her life.”

“She views me as her husband still, and I’d like to help her find her memories.” He briefly looks at me but turns away as our eyes meet.

“What?” My mom appears surprised.

“Listen to the boy,” Ethel says.

I catch a proud smile on Hank’s face.

“Your mom doesn’t like my family, Luce… y. Years ago, my grandma”—he motions to Ethel—“found herself torn between two brothers and she chose my grandfather. Some people feel as though my grandma did something bad by following her heart. Then when my dad married his cousin’s ex-wife, Marla, some people saw the entire thing happening all over again since Marla used to be married to my grandfather’s brother’s son. Your mom is one of those people.”

Jeez, I feel as though someone needs to draw me a detailed family tree.

A flash of a memory comes to mind. My mom standing over me at the kitchen table, telling me I couldn’t go to prom. That the Greene family I was spending time with didn’t care about people’s feelings. They were selfish and one day Adam would break my heart.

My head slowly raises, and my breath weighs heavy in my chest at the realization why my mom did everything she could to keep me from coming to Sunrise Bay.

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