Page 70 of Feint

“If you do, Rosalie, your father and I will be here for you, and I hope you know that. We love you.”

Mom came over and gave me a hug, and I hugged her back tight. Dad leaned over and kissed the top of my head. I really did have the best parents in the world. I didn’t know what I would do without them, especially today.

“I hate that there isn’t anything we can do to heal those faster besides time,” Mom said as she pulled back and checked my wrists.

“They are just bruised, Mom, not cut up. They really don’t hurt that much,” I reassured her. And they didn’t. It was nothing compared to the times I’d woken up in the hospital with broken bones and stuff.

I looked from Mom to Dad. They had been through so much in their lives, yet here they were. Whenever Jayden or I neededthem, they were there. And even if they didn’t know how much we really appreciated them, deep down I knew they both did. I was so lucky. Not everyone had parents who truly cared enough to rearrange their whole day or parts of their lives for their kids. And not even in a big, dramatic, moving-across-the-country, or changing-jobs kind of way, but just putting Jayden and me first when we were going through really tough times. I didn’t know what I would have done without them this past year.

Mom glanced at Dad before letting go of my wrists. “Kayden, do you mind if I speak to Rosalie alone for a minute?” Mom asked as she gave me a small smile.

“Oh. Sure, hon. Why don’t you girls go to your room, Rosalie, and I’ll make us something to eat for lunch?” Dad rubbed my back and I gave a little giggle as I sniffed hard.

“O-okay, sure.” I turned in my stool, and Mom led the way out of the kitchen.

But instead of going upstairs, we walked down the hallway to the downstairs master bedroom. My old room. And she pushed open the door. I walked inside and sat on the bed. Crossing one leg under the other, I waited for her to close the door and join me.

I watched as Mom softly closed the door, and then her shoulders sagged as she let out a heavy sigh. When she turned around, her face looked tortured, and it made me really start to worry about what she was going to say.

“Rosalie… in light of everything that’s happened, I think it’s time I told you the truth.” Mom sat down and reached out. Grabbing my hand, she held it in hers.

Okay, this was weird. What else was wrong?

“What’s wrong, Mom? The truth about what?”

I would normally feel worried when Mom or Dad said something like that, but the look Mom was giving me didn’tmake me feel worried. It made me feel sad. She looked sad and like she was beating herself up.

“Nothing is wrong. Well… your father and I might not have been fully truthful about what happened with AJ leaving and working for your dad. If you want to hear the truth, I’ll tell it to you. I think it’s time your father and I learned you are an adult and have been through so much more than we give you credit for. And you should be able to make your own decisions for your life based on all the facts.” Mom squeezed my hand and looked to me for my answer.

“Tell me.” I didn’t even hesitate. My mind began to race.

This was about AJ.

I knew it! I knew there was more to him leaving like he did than I was told!

Mom nodded and took a deep breath. “Your father and I thought he was too dangerous to be around any longer. You were nineteen, and after that night you were assaulted… we felt like it would be best if AJ and you parted ways. Your father offered him a job and money to leave the city and break up with you.” She kept her eyes level with me. “And that’s the truth. AJ left because we offered him really no other way out. Because if he had stayed… none of us knew what would have happened to you the next time someone tried to get to him through you. Even AJ couldn’t take a chance with it, so he agreed to our terms. Thinking you would eventually move on and find a safer, more typical relationship. But now, I see just how wrong we were in making this decision…foryou. I wanted to tell you the truth.”

I was in shock. I pulled my hand away from Mom’s and stood up. I walked over to the window and looked out at the pool water rippling with the gentle breeze that was blowing.

AJ hadn’t left because he didn’t love me anymore and wanted to leave me for someone else. He was trying to protect me. Afterall this time, I’d thought the guy I loved had stopped loving me, but he’d left because he loved me.

“He didn’t leave me because he didn’t love me anymore…” It was a statement to myself as I watched the water.

I might be in shock. Nothing was really fazing me right now, maybe it was the whole events that happened this past week or just this news Mom told me. I turned around as I heard my mom stand up.

“I’ll understand if you are upset at your father and me, Rosalie. But please don’t take it out on him. Take it out on me. He wouldn’t be able to handle his little girl hating him.” Mom’s eyes pleaded with me.

I had never seen my mom as someone weak, and at this moment, I still didn’t. Here she was, figuring I would be upset and angry, and a small part of me was. But to have her ask me to not take it out on Dad and spare him from that part of me, that made me realize just how strong my mom was. She was the glue that held our entire family together. Rose Wells always put my dad’s, my brother’s, and my feelings first before her own. She was truly selfless and regal in how she presented herself in any situation. There was no way I would ever be half as amazing as a woman as her. But I’d be damned if I didn’t try my hardest.

“Mom… even if that’s all true and you and Dad did offer him money and a job, he still chose to take it. You didn’t force him to. He could have talked to me about his worries for me. But he didn’t. He chose to take your offer and break it off with me. That was his choice. I can’t be mad at you and Dad for his decision. That’s something AJ has to worry about. I’m not mad at you two… well, maybe I’m a little sad no one could have told me all this, like, a year ago. But other than that, I’m not mad at you and Dad.”

I walked over to her and hugged her gently. And my mom’s arms wrapped around my body.

“When did my girl become such an exceptional young woman? I’m so proud of the person you’ve become.” She hugged me tight for a few minutes, and then we parted, both smiling and giggling.

We sat back down on the bed and talked. I told her about so much—the different times things had been hard with Kordell, about how I really felt the past few days, how I still had so many mixed feelings for AJ, but I still liked Kordell. Mom didn’t give me any negative feedback, just listened to me talk.

“It’s been a while. Should we go back out and check on your dad?” Mom asked me, glancing at the clock on my dresser.

---