Page 109 of Fierce-Michael

“Do you want some coffee?” her mother asked.

“Sure,” she said.

Her mother went to brew a pot and Kelly pulled the creamer out and then sat at the counter on one of the stools.

“Not really means yes,” her mother said. “Or at least in your mind there is a problem and you don’t want to address it. Something had to have happened though.”

She told her mother everything. Even what Electra said to her when Ty was in the other room.

“She sounds vindictive, petty and malicious. Not immature, irresponsible and an airhead,” her mother said.

Kelly let out a sigh. Her mother put the coffee in front of her and she poured the creamer in it. “Yeah. I thought so too and hated that I saw that. And then I wondered how bad Michael’s judgment is.”

“Don’t do that,” her mother said. “You know women treat each other differently than men. You’d said before that Electra sleeps around or dates a lot. So she has no reason to act jealous that Michael has a girlfriend.”

“I’m not sure if she was jealous or just wanted to put a wrinkle in things.”

“Which is human nature at times,” her mother said.

“I know. I wouldn’t do that, but I wouldn’t do anything that Electra did. We are nothing alike in looks or personality.”

“Don’t compare. It didn’t work out with them. You said before Michael ended things with her because she was superficial and immature.”

“I know,” she said. “And that was years ago. He’s dated since then, but I’m not positive Electra knew. I’m the first girlfriend Michael has had and the first woman he’s introduced to Ty.”

“Then remember that. You talk a big game that none of this bothers you, but your father and I knew it had to at least a little. It’s hard to be second with your boyfriend. You say you understand and I’m positive you do. But sometimes doubts creep in. Have they?”

“They hadn’t all that much until yesterday. I think the biggest issue is that Michael admitted that he suspected Electra did it on purpose. Then he let her do it. I told him when we were fighting that I was more upset he enabled her to keep coming between us. That it has nothing to do with Ty but with Electra knowing shecan pull these strings and he moves the direction she is guiding him.”

“I’m sure he didn’t like hearing that,” her mother said. “Are you sure it’s the truth? It’s kind of harsh.”

Kelly sighed. “I don’t know if it’s the truth as much as hurt feelings talking. But I did feel it and do feel it at times too. That just proved it. I mean Electra admitted she could get Michael to do her bidding. Then for him to say he figured she was doing it. What else was I supposed to think?”

“You do have a good point there,” her mother said. Her mother brought over some cookies and she helped herself to one. “But it seems to me he is navigating this about as well as you are.”

“He’s had no practice,” she said. “I get it. I hate that he’s cutting his teeth on me. I knew going in that he was going to put Ty first and I had no problems with it. But doing it so that Electra wins in the end is very hurtful and insulting. It’s disrespectful on top of it.”

“Are you so sure he did it on purpose?” her mother asked.

“I know he didn’t. Never think that. But I’m not going to sit back and not say anything either. I’ve done that too much in my life.”

“Don’t compare what happened in your life when you were nineteen to now,” her mother said.

She hadn’t told her mother what Michael said in regard to that and started to cry. “I’m not trying to,” she said.

“Why are you crying? I didn’t mean to upset you by bringing up Brian. It’s not that, is it?”

“Michael threw it in my face what I did.”

“What?” her mother asked. “You have to explain that to me or I’m going to get mad.”

“I don’t want you mad at him,” she said.

“It’s hard not to be. You’re my daughter and you’re upset. I’m going to take your side.”

Kelly didn’t want her mother to take sides. She wanted her mother to listen to her and give advice. She hoped she and Michael could work this out and didn’t want her mother to hold a grudge.

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to come here, but it’s not like she was going to tell any of her friends about what happened because they wouldn’t understand, not knowing about Brian.

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