Page 75 of The One I Want
I lean down and open my arms to her. “Happy New Year, Miss Mags!”
We walk over to the couch as she begins talking nonstop about her morning. I am usually very good about listening to her, but right now all I can do is look at Peggy. She knows, right? She has to. She knew last night. Like Wes said, she did volunteer to keep the kids after walking in on us after I attacked him. Does she hate me now? Does she think I’m not the best person to watch the kids? Oh God, what if she likes Cara more than me?
“Betsy,” Peggy says when Magnolia takes a breath. “Can you help me with something in the kitchen before I head back?”
I look to Wes, who is wearing quite the smirk. It’s giving me “haha, you’re in trouble and I’m not” vibes.
He’s going to pay for that at some point.
“Sure.”
I slowly follow her into the kitchen, bracing myself for what’s about to come. Then she does the last thing I expect. She hugs me. Hard. Like I can’t breathe or move my arms.
“Happy New Year?”
Peggy gives me another squeeze before pulling away. It’s only then I notice that there’s a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Peggy! Why are you crying?”
I grab the box of tissues on the kitchen island, which she waves away. “I’m sorry, dear. I’m just so happy it’s leaking out.”
“Happy? You’re not mad at me? Or disappointed? It’s okay if you are. That’s kind of my thing when it comes to parents.”
She shakes her head. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen my son smile?”
All I can think of are sarcastic quips that probably aren’t the right time and place right now. So I just shake my head no. Seems like a safe move.
“The answer is: I don't remember. Maybe when Magnolia was born? But that was a different kind of smile. No, sweetie, when I walked into this house today, I knew my son was truly happy for the first time in a long time. And that’s because of you, and I’ll never be able to thank you for that.”
Well, shit, now I’m going to cry.
We come together in another hug, each sobbing, and then laughing because we’re both crying.
“I thought you were going to give me an earful.”
“Why would I do that, dear?”
I step away, and signal at my outfit. “Because I snuck away with your son last night to kiss him and you caught us and then kept the kids so we could do what you know we did, but I don’t want to say it out loud because this is new and I really like Wes and I really appreciate and like you and I don’t want to ruin this because you think I’m a whorish Jezebel.”
Peggy blinks a few times, clearly confused. “Whorish Jezebel?”
I shrug. “It felt right.”
She laughs. “Oh, dear. I’d never think that of you. I don’t even think of Cara like that.”
“You don’t?”
“Oh no,” she says, guiding me away from the kitchen back to the living room. “I think she’s a fucking cunt.”
I dead stop as those words come out of sweet Peggy Taylor’s mouth. My jaw is dropped, my eyes are bugging out, and I’m pretty sure I don’t know words at this point.
“What?” she asks, picking up my jaw for me. Literally. “We call a spade a spade in this family.”
I continue walking out of the kitchen, still stunned from Peggy’s choice of words, when Magnolia comes walking up to me.
“Betsy? Why are you wearing one of daddy’s clothes?”
What is it with Taylor family members throwing me for loops today?
