Page 100 of Tate
Yeah, she understood that. Because loving Tate felt very much like diving into the cool waters of her pool—cool, brisk, enveloping. But it was the letting go to float in the middle, nothing to hold on to that had her struggling in the water.
She could love Tate Marshall. Probably already did. But if she gave him her heart and he walked away, she’d have nothing of herself left.
“Tate made us all feel safe on the road,” Kelsey said. “And I’m sure he can keep you safe at the CMGs, Glo.”
“It’s not that. I know he could. It’s just…my mother needs my support?—”
“And you need hers!” Kelsey set down her plate on the stack and draped the towel over her shoulder. “Listen. I understand, believe me. Your mother is a force to be reckoned with, but so are you. You have your own light, and you need to let it shine.”
“I do—I am. But running for president is no small thing. She needs all the support she can get.”
“No, Glo. She’s trying to control you, and you’re being sucked into her matrix, again.”
Glo frowned at her.
“Your mother is a politician. She knows how to manipulate you.”
“She doesn’t?—”
“You learned that if you wanted your mother’s love, you had to show up and smile. You had to serve Joy and if you didn’t, then you were forgotten. Rejected.”
Wow, she hardly wanted this aired out in front of Gerri. She cut her voice, schooled it. “No—I loved Joy. She was my sister.”
“Of course you loved her, but I remember you when you showed up in Minnesota. Angry. Wounded. Bitter. And shoving it all down inside to put on a happy face. Raise your hand if you made the cheerleading squad.” She lifted an eyebrow.
Glo didn’t bother raising her hand, but yeah. “What did I have to complain about—I was alive.”
“And scarred. You still are. You somehow think that you have to earn your mother’s love. Or maybe love in general, because our profession surely feeds that lie. But I have news for you. You don’t need to do anything to be loved by the right people.” She cast her gaze to Tate, who was carrying over an end table to put in place.
“And,” Gerri said, “I’m going to add to this conversation I’ve butted into. Heaven sees you, Glo. You don’t need to do anything to get God’s attention. You had it before you were born.”
Oh. Glo could see why Kelsey liked hanging around here. But the words settled, trying to find root.
Funny, she’d always thought that she was the extra, the afterthought. That despite her birth defects, Joy was the one whom God loved.
Kelsey shook her head. “I just can’t believe that after all we worked for, all you’ve been through, you’re not going.”
“Not going where?” Tate came over, carrying a couple dirty glasses. He set them on the counter.
Kelsey turned to him and promptly, without hesitation, threw Glo under the bus. “To the CMG awards. Glo says her mother has a big event and there isn’t enough security staff.”
He frowned. “I happen to know that Sly was working on the specs before I left.”
Glo shot Kelsey a glare and turned to him. “Yes, and they don’t work. If I go, she has to cancel an event.”
“No.” Tate came over to her and pulled a plate from her hand. “You’re going. That’s the end of it.”
“But—”
“Your mother doesn’t own you, Glo. Do what you want. And I’ll be there. Watching.” He fixed his gaze in hers. “And cheering as you win.”
She drew in a breath, wanting with everything inside her to pull him close.
But not in front of his mother, who was grinning at them.
Behind them, the front door opened, and Scarlett and Ford walked inside. Scarlett glanced at them and sighed before going into the den, closing the door.
Ford hung up his hat by the door and toed off his cowboy boots, sinking down onto a bench. He leaned his head back against the wall, something of defeat on his face.
