Page 195 of Smooth Sailing

This was going to suck. I loved her. I really did. Even with all of this.

But she was by no means healthy for me.

Or anybody.

She kept staring awhile before she straightened her shoulders and said, “You did the same thing with your father, so I don’t suppose this will last.”

“We’ll see in ten years,” I remarked.

Mom went pale again.

“Do you have the Uber app? Because going now would be good,” I prompted.

“I cannot believe you’re doing this to me,” Mom whispered.

“And that’s the problem,” I returned. “I’m not doing anything to you. You brought this all on yourself.”

She looked at me. She looked at Dad. She looked at Gram.

Then she sniffed, and pure Mom, no matter what was going down, she’d perfected the art of the flounce, and that was what she did into the dining room, disappearing.

No one said anything as we waited to hear the front door open and close.

And no one said anything after it did.

I broke the silence.

“Gram, you okay?”

“N-no,” Gram stammered.

I walked to her and gathered her in my arms.

“I’m so sorry you had to be here for all of that,” I said softly.

“I’m sorry for you, doll,” she replied, holding tight. “Your mom?—”

“Please don’t make excuses,” I whispered my plea.

“Okay, Di,” she whispered back.

I gave her a squeeze, kissed the side of her head, then moved to her side, still with an arm around her, and looked at Hugger.

“I guess our fun Saturday is a wash,” I remarked.

“Oh no,” Gram mumbled.

But Hugger just stared hard at me.

And then he said, “Don’t know, babe. Your family is here. I think we can figure a way to rally.”

So…

Totally…

Falling for my guy.

I smiled at him.

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