Page 98 of The One I Need
I watch Constance actively roll her eyes at her daughter. I grab hold of Izzy’s hand a little tighter. Not just because I want to show her that I’m here for her, but to also make sure she doesn’t end up in jail for assault. “Elizabeth. You need to let this go. He slept with another woman. Big deal.”
“It is a big deal, Mom, and the fact that you don’t see that says more about you than it does me.” Izzy gives my hand a squeeze and takes a breath. “You only knew half of it. Which was my choice. Out of respect for you and dad back then, I kept you in the dark about a lot of things. I’ll take that. That was on me. But sadly, I don’t think that would have changed things then, and it won’t change anything now. You should have supported my decision, no matter what. I’m your fucking daughter. You put money, a business, and an image that you thought you portrayed over me. That’s the big deal.”
If I were to have said half of those things to my mother, she’d be sobbing and apologizing. She’d ask what we could do to make it right. But not Constance. Nope. I don’t think she’s blinked. Her face has gotten a little red, but there isn’t an ounce of remorse in her.
I don’t know what Izzy’s plans are for Christmas, but I’m going to make sure it’s not here.
“Are you done yet? Is your little tirade over? We need to get started soon, and I’d hate for you to keep things from starting on time.”
“What are you going to do? Make me go out there and tell them why? I don’t think you’ll want to do that, Mom. I played nice last time. This time I won’t stick to your script.”
Oh shit…my wife is unhinged, and I’m fucking here for it.
Constance steps closer to Izzy, rage in her eyes. I see Izzy square her shoulders, and as much as I want to fight this fight for her, she needs to. She needs this more than anything in the world. I always said I’d slay the dragons for her. But this time the sword’s in her hands.
“You’ve always been a problem,” Constance says.
“The fact that you think that I’m the problem and not you is fucking hilarious.”
“If you’re going to talk to me like that, you can leave.”
“Oh I am,” Izzy says. “I’d say I’m mad that I tried to come back, but I’m not. This was actually a very eye-opening trip.”
Constance looks at me, her eyes begging for help. Did she just realize that her daughter wasn’t going to call her bluff? “Are you going to let your wife talk to me like that?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “I don’t know if you’ve actually met my wife, but no one tells her what to say. Ever. It’s one of the reasons I love her.”
I think Constance might explode at this moment. “Fine. Leave. Tell everyone on the way out that once again you’re ruining things.”
Izzy shrugs. “Bye, Mom. I won't say that, and I won’t tell anyone I’ll see them soon.” She turns to Jessie. No idea where Jimmy went, but I’m guessing somewhere with the kids after Izzy’s fifth F-bomb. “You and the family can come visit us for Christmas. We’d be happy to have you. But you, Mom? We’re done.”
With that, Izzy turns and we start walking to the exit.
“You okay?” I whisper, not wanting to stop her stride, but also wanting to make sure she’s not about to crash and fall.
“Never better,” she says as we walk out the church doors.
“Running again, I see?”
Izzy stops, but doesn’t turn around, at the sound of Matt’s voice.
“You or me?” I ask. I am looking for a chance to take this motherfucker down, but I’m not about to take something away from Izzy that she might need to help her heal.
“I know you want this one,” she says. “Consider it a belated wedding present.”
We slowly turn around to see his smug look. I really want to punch him. If I were in Rolling Hills, I absolutely would. Shane would make sure I wasn’t arrested. Simon would make sure Matt never spoke of the situation again. Wes would drive the getaway car.
But it’s just me here. Though I must say, Izzy is quite the tag team partner.
“Matt? What was it like to peak in high school? ’Cause you strike me as the kind of guy who still wears his letterman's jacket, talking about that game back in 2005.”
“Fuck you,” he says, walking down the church steps to meet us on the sidewalk. “I know this marriage between you two isn’t real. I heard over the years that Izzy couldn’t even get a boyfriend, let alone a husband. But kudos to you for playing the part. She suck your dick for that? I taught her well, so you can thank me later.”
I don’t even think. I don’t even take a second to question whether or not this is a good idea. I just punch him. I cock my arm back and put my fist into his nose. I hit exactly where I want to, causing him to fall down and his nose to start bleeding everywhere.
And I don’t have one single regret.
I step over him, giving him my hand to help him up. He thinks I’m being apologetic, which I’m not. Because as soon as he’s standing, I pull him in close. He needs to hear every word I’m about to say.
