Page 13 of Accidental Attraction

Chapter Five

“Mommy!” I cried, jumping off the bench and running toward her, my blonde hair flying behind me and my backpack bouncing between my shoulder blades. The moment I reached her, I clutched her legs, wrapping myself almost like a koala bear around them.

“Hi, baby,” she said, squatting down to my level. I wrapped my arms around her neck, burying my face into her shoulder and breathing in her scent. “I am sorry I am late. I had some things to do.” She pulled away and smiled at me.

I had been sitting on a bench in front of my elementary school waiting for my mom to come and get me. All the other kids left with their parents almost two hours ago. The longer I sat outside the school, the more I worried she wouldn’t come back to get me. Being alone without your parents is scary when you’re only old enough to be in kindergarten.

“I missed you, Mommy,” I said, looking up at her as she stood up. Her blonde hair was up in a bun, and she was dressed the way she usually did—in a pair of worn blue jeans and a t-shirt.

“I did too, baby. Remember, Jenna, I will never leave you. I will always come back.”

I gasped for air, my whole body frozen and my feet planted firmly on the floor. My mother looked the same as when I’d last seen her. Everything that I pushed to the back of my mind concerning my mother came rushing up, overwhelming me. A big masculine body moved in front of me, blocking my mother from my line of sight.

“Jenna.” The sound of my name being whispered above me and the feeling of a pair of hands on my shoulders made me blink. Looking up, I met Liam’s blue eyes. I didn’t know why, but seeing him staring down at me with worry and almost fear in his eyes made my own eyes water.

“I…I n-need air,” I choked out. Seeing the state I was in, he only nodded and let go of my shoulders and grabbed one of my hands before pulling me after him. My whole body felt numb as Liam led me past groups of people talking. The moment we stepped out on a balcony, I took in mouthfuls of air as Liam shut the door behind us. I went over and gripped the railing that ran around the edge of the balcony, panting and trying to force back my tears.

That woman didn’t deserve my tears. She didn’t deserve anything from me. That stopped the minute she left me at the foot of some house in the middle of the night. That woman was not my mother. What kind of person, what kind of mother, would abandon her own daughter? And here I was fourteen years later, struggling to make ends meet, when she was here with some rich guy. How the hell did this even happen? After all this time, how could she be here, of all places? How could she be standing here with some rich guy, pretending like she didn’t leave her daughter on the streets fourteen years ago?

Two tears fell away from my eyes. My whole body was starting to shake. I wanted to sob, but I wouldn’t permit myself. All I wanted to do was get out of here and run home, but I knew I couldn’t. I had to stay here for Liam. Fighting back another sob, I gripped the edge of the balcony tighter. My knuckles turned white. I bit my bottom lip until I tasted blood. A few more tears leaked out of my eyes when I felt a pair of arms wrapping themselves around my waist, pulling me back against something hard and warm.

I knew it was Liam, and I sunk back against him, closing my eyes tightly, but that didn’t help. All I could see what my mom in front of me, throwing her head back, laughing and smiling at whatever the stranger on her arm was saying.

“Jenna, what’s wrong?” Liam asked in a whisper by my ear.

“My m-mother is here,” I whispered back.

“What do you mean your mother is here?” I heard his tone suddenly change from soft to hard.

“S-she was right in front of me when you left to get us a drink. She was with a man.” I opened my eyes and stared out at the river and the city. “How can she be here, Liam? I thought I’d never see her again, and yet here she is.” More tears ran down my cheeks, and I knew my makeup was starting to get ruined.

“Jenna,” Liam said, his voice once again soft as he gently turned me around by my waist. “Let’s get you out of here.” He brought his hands up and cupped my cheeks. With the pads of his thumbs, he wiped away the tears coming down my cheeks.

“What? No, Liam, we can’t go. This is your benefit party,” I said, looking up into his eyes.

“I do not care. They will be fine without me. I don’t want you to face that woman.” I didn’t know if it was because I was so emotional at that moment, but him saying that made my heart beat faster. Liam cared enough about me to leave his company’s benefit party so I wouldn’t have to face my mother.

“But—”

“No, we are leaving,” he interrupted me. He gave me a firm look while wiping his thumbs under my eyes, cleaning my running mascara off. “Let’s go.” Giving me a nod, he grabbed my hand gently with his and started for the door. With his hand in mine I felt better, like I could face whatever was ahead. Pushing down all my feelings for a moment, I followed Liam, practically hiding behind him. He was going to be my shield to get out of here. Just as we made it halfway across the room, someone had to stop us.

“Liam!” a man said. I pressed tightly against Liam’s side and peeked up through my hair at the man. Instantly I froze and clenched Liam’s hand tighter. It was the man who was with my mother. Up close he looked be in his forties, same as her. His brown hair was cut short, and his black tux fit him pretty well.

“Martin,” Liam said, glancing down at me, confused, when I clenched his hand.

“It is great to see you. We haven’t talked in a while,” Martin replied. The moment I heard his name, I cocked my head to the side, trying to remember where I heard that name before. “My wife keeps asking about you as well.” Martin kept talking to Liam as if I wasn’t there.

“Martin, this is my fiancé, Jenna,” Liam said, cutting him off. The man’s attention turned to me, and I leaned more into Liam’s side. I knew my makeup was messed up from crying.

“Hello. I guess I better introduce myself. I am Martin Brotherson.” He stuck his hand out to me. Suddenly the name clicked, and I had to force myself not to run away.

Stupid Jenna! Why didn’t you figure it out before? I shouted inwardly at myself. Brotherson was one of the names Lennon had me learn. His wife’s name was Karen, and they had two kids, thirteen-year-old twins, away at boarding school. At the time, I didn’t realize that his wife had the same name as my mother, Karen. But now, having seen them together, I knew she really was married to him and had other kids. I have other siblings.

“Honey…oh, it is Liam Stanford,” an all-too-familiar voice said. A hand wrapped itself around Martin’s arm, and my mother’s face came into view. She was looking at Liam with a wide smile, not having seen me yet. I pushed myself even more into Liam’s side, wanting to melt into him. My mother was right in front of me!

“Karen,” Liam said, oblivious to who she was. A strangled sound escaped my lips before I could stop it, making everyone turn to me. Eyes the same green as mine stared at me. I could tell right then that she did not recognize me at all. There was no spark of familiarity in her eyes. At that realization, my heart crumbled into a pile at my feet.

My hand tightened painfully around Liam’s. I was certain I would break it. He looked down at me, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off my mom. He must have gotten the hint or something, for he looked between Karen and me before his mouth thinned into a line.

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