Page 46 of Puck Right Off

I’m gonna kill Chelsea. What the actual fuck?My face flames as I turn to my mom, worry knotting my stomach.

“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything to Josh or Robert.” She squeezes my hand, then lowers her voice. Her eyes have a mischievous sparkle in them I haven’t seen in a while. “Youknow, I was dating your father’s best friend when I met your father.”

I sit there in stunned silence, slowly blinking at her.

“What? I was your age once.” She sighs, a wistful expression on her face. “There was something about your father. I kept trying to resist him, but every time we were around one another, sparks flew.”

I’m hanging on her every word. “What happened?”

“I started realizing how incompatible I was with my boyfriend when he’d ask your father to take me places. For example, my boyfriend was supposed to go to the poetry reading with me but came up with a lame excuse and asked your father to step in. Of course, your dad agreed. Your dad always paid so much attention to me. He figured out that I’d written poetry and kept taking me to the weekly readings until I had the courage to stand up there and read mine.”

Wow.That’s really sweet and I can definitely see my dad doing that. He’s always been supportive of my mom and vice versa. “So what happened?”

“We kissed at the end of the night, and I felt guilty as hell. I tried avoiding your father and was miserable. Plus, since he was my boyfriend’s best friend, avoidance was hard without confessing what was going on. Anytime I was around your father, my resistance weakened. We started sneaking around, going on dates out of town. Your father wooed the hell outta me, trying to convince me to break up with his friend. I was concerned I’d ruin their friendship, but your father said, ‘If I had to choose between him and you, it would always be you.’ Kinda hard to resist that.” Her face is the most adorable shade of red.

A pang goes through my heart. I miss my dad so much. I always assumed my mom stopped missing him when she married Robert, but the look on her face clearly indicates she’s still in love with him.

She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “You never get over that kind of love, sweetie. The kind of love I shared with your father… I would run barefoot over glass and through the fires of hell to get him back.”

This is the frankest conversation I’ve had with my mom since high school when it was just her and me struggling together. Life was simpler before Robert came along. “Why did you marry Robert?”

A pained expression is on her face before she lowers her head, her blonde hair curtaining it, obscuring my view.

“Mom?”

She looks up, tears shimmering in her eyes, shame burning her cheeks. “To give you back what I’d taken from you. I used your college fund, depleting it so we could survive. I’ve always felt guilty. So when Robert needed a wife to look good to his business partners?—”

“You didn’t marry him out of love?”

She shakes her head. “No. I married him to give you a college education, not realizing he’d be such an asshole and put strings on your education.” She looks around, her spine stiff and her muscles tense. “Grab your purse,” she hisses.

“What?”

“Do it. I’ve been planning this for a while.” She opens her purse, pulling out a wad of cash. “Robert gives me an ‘allowance’ and I’ve been saving money since he quit funding your education. It’s not enough to cover your return to New York, but it will help you this semester.” Her blue eyes meet mine. “Although, I hope you stay around here. Even though things have been tense between us, I’ve missed you.”

My fingers tremble as I hold my purse in my lap. My mom grabs the zipper, opens it, and then shoves the cash inside and zips it. “Don’t let Robert or Josh know. Josh will tell him.” She rolls her eyes. “Be careful with that one. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

I nod, having a newfound respect for my mom. Guilt washes over me. I resented her for moving on with Robert without asking her any questions and making a lot of assumptions. I’ve distanced myself from her and rebuffed her efforts to be close again.

“Mom?” I squeeze her hand. “Thanks. And not just for the money, which I appreciate and feel bad taking…” She gives me a warning look and I hold up a hand. “But I will since it came fromhim.” We both laugh, and it feels amazing. “But for your sacrifices after dad…” My voice breaks, and I look away, sucking in a breath. “Thank you for telling me that story about you and Dad. I’d love to hear more.”

“How about over breakfast or dinner sometime? We’ll go somewhere to get away from Robert.” She winks, and my smile grows.

“I’d love that.”

Chelsea tackles us in a big hug. “This is such a beautiful moment. It’s even distracting me from thoughts of Alex doing splits and stretching on the ice.”

My mom and I burst into laughter at her antics. “This is why I love Chelsea,” I grin as Chelsea releases us, and I sit back, grabbing both their hands.

“It’s why I also love Chelsea. She keeps you guessing.” My mom winks at us.

“Always, Momma Fowler.”

“Please call me Abigayle.”

“Yeah, I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t wanna use that asshole’s name, either.” Chelsea shudders, and my mom and I burst into laughter.

We sit in comfortable silence for a few moments before I say, “Mom. Since you and Dad ended up marrying, I’m assuming you dumped your boyfriend?”

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