Page 69 of Long Hard Fall

He parked and went to the door. He stomped the snow off his boots and went inside.

Mom came out of the guest room. “What are you doing home so early?”

Ah, shit. He wasn’t prepared with an answer. “I just didn’t want to be there.”

Concern crossed her face. “Why?”

“Just…didn’t.” He tried to head for the kitchen, but she blocked him.

“I think we need to talk.”

He exhaled and gave her a not now look.

“Please.” She gestured to the couch. “Sit down, Cash.”

Like he was still a little boy, he trudged to sit. Mom settled into the recliner next to him.

“What really happened with Abbi?”

“I told you. I ruined it.”

Her lips flattened. “Why do you think you ruined it?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Because I’m not meant for a relationship.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Isn’t it what you’ve been telling me my whole life?” More bitterness than he intended seeped out. “‘Don’t be like your dad. Don’t get into a relationship if you’re just going to hurt her.’”

She blinked, her mouth hanging open. “I was trying to teach you how to be a good man in a relationship, not that you’d be awful at them.”

His gaze dropped to the floor. “Do you have any idea how what you said affected me?”

She sat forward. “Of course not! Cash, how could you think…?”

“Because of Holly. And Dad.”

She was quiet for a moment. “And you felt like I resented you and made you pay, in a way, for how your father hurt me.”

Cash nodded. He shouldn’t have said anything. Who knows how he’d unsettled Dillon’s gathering, and now he’d ruined the one at his own house.

Her sniffle jerked his head up. “Oh god, Cash. You’re one of the best human beings I know. I’m proud to be your mom.” Tears poured down her cheeks. She searched around for a tissue.

He scrambled up to find one for her. He wanted to believe her, but making his own mother cry on Christmas kinda negated her claim.

As he was coming back, the front door burst open.

“Cash! Where the hell are y—” Dad stopped when his gaze hit Cash. Sissy was right behind him, frowning at their sobbing mother. “Patty, what’s wrong?”

Cash handed Mom the tissue and sat back down. This was going to be fun.

She blew her nose. “Nothing. Everything. I just realized I was a horrible mom.” Her shoulders quaked as sobs overtook her.

“What’d you do, Cash?” Dad marched in, then stopped. He stepped forward like he wanted to comfort his soon-to-be ex-wife, but ultimately hung back.

“What’d you say, Cash?” Sissy shot him a glare and squatted by their mom. “Mom, it’s okay. You’re a great mom.”

He might be to blame, but they’d jumped on him almost immediately. “Easy for you to say, Sissy.” Cash jumped up again and stormed to the window. “Of course life was smooth for you. I was the mediator between your bullshit and Mom and Dad.”

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