Page 92 of Love In The Spotlight

“Jamie always wanted more than he had,” his mother said.

“A lot of people do in the world,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with having goals and dreams. Don’t you and Dad preach that you have to help yourself before you can help others?”

“I didn’t know you listened to your father,” his mother said.

“Like I had much of a choice.” He’d had to sit through services enough, he might as well have listened to what was said.

“You made your choices,” his mother said. “You left and found another life.”

“I’d think you’d be proud of that,” he said.

“I was. We were. Until you got swayed by evil thoughts and forgot everything you were taught.”

“I don’t want to speak out of turn,” Laken said. “But my mother is the first to say that we all rebelled at some point in our life. That it showed our ability to think freely and not be a complete follower. It also allowed us to know our boundaries and learn right from wrong on our own.”

“That’s right,” Jamie said. “Always being told something isn’t the same as experiencing it. Dad used to say that too. You think I haven’t listened, but I have. I’m sorry nothing I do is good enough for you. That I’m a disappointment to the way you live your life.”

“We aren’t disappointed,” his mother said.

“Embarrassed,” he said. “That’s the same thing. You say no one likes to be judged, but you do it to me. You think you don’t, but you’ve done it my whole life.”

“Don’t talk to your mother that way,” his father said.

He turned his head and saw his father in the doorway. “I’m just stating facts. I didn’t think you’d show up so I have to tell her so she can decide on what to tell you.”

“We shouldn’t air dirty laundry out in front of company,” his father said.

He threw his hands up in the air. “Laken isn’t company. She’s my girlfriend. I love her and she loves me and she’s part of my and Penelope’s life. You’re so afraid of people thinking you’re not perfect that you take it out on me. I’m sorry I couldn’t be you and mirror everything you did in life. I’m sorry I can’t be the son you always wanted.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” his mother said.

“This isn’t being dramatic. This is me being honest.” He stood up. “I came here out of respect and courtesy, but I’m not sure why. You don’t do the same for me.”

“You should always respect your parents,” his father said. “I hope you’re teaching our granddaughter that.”

“Jamie is a wonderful role model for Penelope,” Laken said.

“You don’t need to defend me, Laken,” Jamie said. “It doesn’t matter. We should go. I came here to tell you on Tuesday I’ll be going public with the company. West and I will be doing an interview on national TV. It will be good for the company. It’s also going to be my chance to tell the world about my daughter. I thought you should know and prepare. I was going to offer to help you get through it, but you seem to have a handle on your life, so you should be good.”

He turned and walked out the back door with Laken on his heels.

29

PARENTS DO THOSE THINGS

“That was a little rough,” Laken said when they were in the car.

Jamie started it and pulled away. “It was a mistake to come here, but at least you can understand more now and why I am how I am.”

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that when you were younger and even now as an adult.”

“Not as sorry as I am you witnessed it,” he said.

She hated that he felt that way.

“Hey, my mother tried to get me to start a fight with you,” she said. “Parents do those things.”

“Not even close to the same thing, Laken. You know it. Your mother did what she did to push us past something and is a wonderful mother who supported her kids through everything. I can’t say that about my mother. She’s more concerned about making sure she doesn’t have too much to deal with in terms of my father when I leave.”

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