Page 81 of Secret Love

She sounds far away and I’m not even sure she hears me. She’s saying something, but I can’t hear her.

“Mom, I can’t hear you. What’s going on?”

“He’s having an affair.” She barely gets the words out, she’s crying so hard. And then she takes a deep breath and her voice comes through clearer and more biting than I’ve ever heard her.

“I’ve given him thirty years of my life, moved from kingdom come all over this world, and he’s sleeping with a woman he just met. He doesn’t even act sorry!” Her voice has risen an octave, and I pull into my driveway and park, wiping the tears that have started to fall.

I take her off of speaker as I move the phone out of the holder.

“Mom, where are you? Are you home?”

“I followed his phone. Found him at a restaurant last night with her. He’s always told me he doesn’t like PDA.” She starts laughing and now I’m really worried. “He couldn’t stop touching her. He kissed her at the table!”

“Mom, I’m worried about you. Where are you now?”

“I followed them from the restaurant to her place. He called me while he was in her condo to tell me he’d be pulling an all-nighter at work. I’m so stupid.”

“Did you drive there? Are you still outside her condo? Can you get in the car and just talk to me? I’m right here.”

There’s a noise outside my door and I look up to see Henley. He sees my face and frowns, moving to open the door.

“What’s happened?” he asks.

“My mom,” I whisper.

I step out of the car and he puts his hand on the small of my back as I stumble my way into the house.

“I’m driving home,” she says. “And I’m throwing all of his things outside.”

“I know you’re angry, and you have every reason to be absolutely livid…but can you just take a breath? Maybe go to a hotel while I look into flights for you. What time is it there?”

She takes a deep breath. “I don’t know. Four or five in the morning. Tru?” Her voice cracks again and she’s crying.

“I’m here, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you too. Would you really be okay if I come there?”

“I’ve been wishing you were here from the very beginning.”

“Just for a little while until I figure out what to do.”

“I already know I’ll want you to stay forever. Just get here, okay? Don’t stay in that house. Remember your most valuable things are in storage anyway. Just get your passport, money, license, and get here. I’ll text you about flight times when I get them.”

“Okay. Thank you, honey.”

“Call me when you’re at the hotel or airport, depending on how soon I can get you out of there.”

“It’ll be a fortune.”

“That’s what credit cards are for.”

That makes her laugh a little bit. She’s used that line on me countless times, teasing me for being more frugal than her.

“Okay, okay.” Her breath hitches. “I’ll be okay.”

“You will. He’s never deserved you.”

She breaks into a sob and Henley puts his arms around me when I do too.

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