Page 33 of Jag

Iclosed the door,set my shopping bags in the corner of the living room, then fell back onto the couch and sighed. Even though I was tired, I was looking forward to seeing Dom. I caught myself throughout the day wondering what he was doing.

The shopping trip had been long, but I enjoyed every minute of it with the women. When they dropped me off, we made plans to get together soon. We’d have to wait for Carly, who was starting back to work tomorrow and then Bailey to be off. Luna filled in at a couple of the club businesses when they needed her, and she handled the books for Ghost and Dare’s construction company that had just gotten up and running. I looked forward to spending more time with them.

I was proud of only having a moment of sadness today. We’d stopped in the baby store to look around. Luckily the women were too busy to see the couple of tears that slipped out when I picked up a tiny outfit. I let myself have the moment, then took a deep breath, wiped away the wetness, and put the outfit back down. Hopefully one day, it wouldn’t hurt to think about what I would never have. I’d have to be content spoiling other people’s children.

Who knows, when I got over not being able to have my own, adoption was always an option. There were plenty of children in the world that needed someone to love them.

The ringing of my cell phone had me up and moving to the kitchen. I’d forgotten I’d left it charging on the counter when I left the house.

Looking at the screen, I inwardly groaned when I saw my mother’s number. I debated answering, but manners had me swiping the screen.

“Hello, Mother,” I said in greeting.

“River,” was her reply because it’s so hard to ask how someone is doing.

“How is everything with you and Alfred?” I walked around the kitchen, fixed a glass of tea, then opened the back door. I stood in front of the screen door enjoying the breeze that was blowing into the house.

“That sounds lovely, Mother,” I said at the appropriate time of the conversation. I knew she would get to why she was calling eventually because there was always a reason. My mother was not a call to chit-chat woman.

I didn’t know how long I was on the phone—I mean how many fundraisers can one woman chair—then she switched to how Alfred always ignored her when she wanted to update something in their house—on and on with things I’d never had an interest in.

When she finally got around to the point of her call, I had to ask her to repeat what she said because I zoned out on the stool I pulled out and sat on. No sense being uncomfortable while I listened.

“Sorry, Mother, can you repeat that?” I asked, and her sigh came across the airways as clear as if she sat beside me.

“I said I’ve done what you asked and haven’t given your new number to Thomas, but he wants to talk to you, River. I don’t know what it would hurt to listen to the man. He told Alfred that he knows he messed up, but he still loves you.”

“Mother, that is one of the great things about being divorced. I have no obligation to listen.”

“Don’t get smart with me. I’ve not said anything to you about how the divorce has affected Alfred and me. We can’t go to social events or parties without the whispers and looks. Thomas Sr. is upset, too.”

“So...you’ve all sat around and discussedmydivorce?” I asked, closed my eyes and pinched my nose.

“Well yes, his son is distraught, why wouldn’t he want to help him.”

“Like you want to help me?”

“Yes!”

“And what are you going to do to help?” Nothing was ever going to change our relationship. When would I learn and just move on?

“I’m trying to tell you. Call Thomas or let me give him your number. You pushed for a speedy divorce by telling him you would let every one of his clients and friends at the country club know what he’d done unless he signed the papers. You forced his hand, he didn’t want the divorce. He feels his chance of any type of reconciliation is getting slimmer by the day. You can’t be happy there, River. I mean the area is pretty, don’t get me wrong, but that is what vacations are for. And if you want to teach so bad, why don’t you apply at one of the private schools here? At least you would know the students are from upper middle class to the substantially wealthy in the area. Their parents are looked up to in the community.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. The tension was there, and I felt the beginning of a headache.

“So, I’ll give Thomas your number, and the two of you can work on reconciling.”

“No, Mother. If you give him my number, I will change it again and I won’t give it to you either.” The pause was long enough that I thought she might have hung up.

“Thomas was right, you are seeing some biker. Is he part of that club that I remember being around the area? I mean really, River, you’ve been given every opportunity, if you are adamant about not going back to Thomas, you could at least move up in class. Instead of lowering yourself. I guess I should have expected as much with you being around your father.”

“Mother, how does Thomas know that?” I asked through clenched teeth.

“So, it is true?”

“Mother!”

“Don’t you raise your voice to me! He wanted to make sure you were okay there. He hired a private investigator. The man reported back to him today and when Thomas told me, I called you because I couldn’t believe you would do something like that. I thought the man must have made a mistake. Now, I see you’ve made a fool out of me once again! How could you?”

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