Page 123 of Chasing Forever
“If you want his name… I’m not sure where he is now or if he’d be open to?—”
“I don’t.” I shake my head. What difference does it make to me now? I thought maybe I needed to know, but now that she’s here and willing to tell me, I realize I don’t.
She nods and looks toward the house. “I’m sorry for all this. How it’s turned out… I wanted to protect you.”
“From him?” I ask.
“And her, but maybe that’s not my place.”
My jaw tightens. “It’s not.”
Her fingers twist in her lap. “Your father is going to lose tomorrow.”
“I heard.”
“I suppose you don’t care, and I can’t really blame you.” She stands. “He’s all the family I have.”
She looks so sad, as if she’s out of options. Too late to start over and figure out a life she loves.
“Holden rarely comes home. I tried with you, but—” Again her gaze floats to the house. “I just can’t, Brooks. I know you love her, but—regardless, I do hope you’re happy.”
“I am.” I give her a curt nod.
“Good.”
Another bout of awkward silence takes over.
“I should get going before your father wonders where I am. Holden is leaving today if you want?—”
“I don’t.”
“Okay. Well, please know, I do love you. I always have. Even if it hasn’t felt that way at times.”
My heart pricks for a second that she’s saying goodbye. This is her weird way of giving up on any kind of relationship with me.
“Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, son. I’ll let you know where we end up.”
I say nothing because I’m not even sure I want to know. She walks back down the strip of land to her car. As soon as she’s beside it, Lottie comes out of the house with a pair of shorts on. My mom stops outside her car, and I watch them talk briefly before my mom gets in her car and drives away.
Lottie walks back to join me in the barn. “You okay?”
“Yeah. What did you say to her?”
She shrugs. “I just told her that I love her son, and I’ll give him a good life.”
“And how was she with that?”
“She smiled, and said she knew that you loved me very much and hopes we have a happy long life together.”
I like the fact Lottie seems at peace with it.
“Come here.”
She walks toward me, and I swarm her in a hug, thankful we can move forward. The past is finally behind us, and we can start our lives—together.
Chapter Fifty
