Page 51 of Physical Therapy

“I guess, heartache,” I supply.

She drops her hands away, eyes narrowed as she studies me. “There’s more, though. Don’t you dare hold out. Tell me why you’re so petrified of him sharing your history in front of me.”

Ugh. This is it. I tell her what his issues are and she’ll nitpick about his flaws until I drop him for my own sanity.

“He was a client,” I whisper.

The silence between us says it all. I sheepishly lift my gaze to hers, finding exactly what I expect to see: disbelief.

“You could have lost your license,” she utters. “Are you mad?”

I laugh bitterly. “The thought has crossed my mind.”

She pulls a deep breath and promptly fills her glass. “I guess I shouldn’t be shocked.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I turn away and collect the plates, figuring we should at least make an effort to be seen doing what I said we were.

“It means,” she says, gathering forks. “Considering how your father and I met, I guess it’s in the blood.”

“You both met while on summer holiday in the hills,” I say flatly. “How does that compare?”

A slight blush colors her cheeks. “I may have omitted some key points.”

The plates hit the table with a clatter. I give Boe and Sue a smile, only continuing with Mom once they restart their conversation. “You better explain right now.”

She fusses with the position of a fork with one hand, casually sipping her wine with the other. “Our families knew each other, that much is true. But I let you believe it was friendly in nature.”

I tip my head, pausing in my placement of the dinner plates. “Was it not?”

“Far from it. Your grandmother would go to ridiculous lengths to ensure we didn’t visit the Country Club at the same time as your father’s family did. Your grandfathers weren’t always so cordial toward one another. In fact, they may have been removed from an establishment on one occasion it was that severe.”

I take a seat. I can’t fathom what she tells me. My whole upbringing has shifted like a kaleidoscope finding the next pattern.

“Anyway,” she says with a sigh. “To cut a long story short, your father and I wed in secret.”

“You what?”

The conversation in the living area ceases. The buzzer announces dinner’s arrival.

Mom smiles sweetly. “I’ll get that. You stay there.”

“Everything okay?” Boe rounds the table and takes a seat beside me.

I nod, eyes glazed as I stare at my perfectly coiffed mother receive the bags of Italian. She just… she doesn’t look the same anymore.

Who is this woman?

“This smells glorious,” she announces, approaching the table.

“Mmm.” Sue takes a seat opposite me. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was until now.”

“Dig in.” Mom places the containers on the table. “Don’t be shy.”

Everybody moves around me while I sit with my hands on either side of my plate. I’d let go of the damn thing, yet I have a feeling the tactile glaze beneath my fingertips is all that reminds me this indeed real life right now.

“Perk up,” Mom says, slapping pasta on my plate. “Everything worked out just how it should.”

If only she was referring to the food.

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