Page 145 of Crazy In Love
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Emilia
My mom had askedme to meet her for lunch. Just the two of us. That had never happened before, but she’d extended an olive branch, and I’d taken it.
We were sitting in a booth at the Honey Biscuit Café, and we both set our menus down and placed our orders when Edith walked over.
Not only did my mother refrain from making a snide comment about me ordering a grilled cheese sandwich, but she surprised the hell out of me when she ordered the same thing.
Margaret Taylor was indulging in some carbs in the middle of the day.
What in the world is going on?
“So, I invited you here because I want to work on our relationship,” she said, clearing her throat and reaching for her iced tea before continuing. “Dad and I had a long discussion about, well, about everything, I guess. Apparently I’ve been unfair to you for a very long time, and I don’t want to continue being that way.”
“Okay, I’d like us to have a better relationship, Mom.” I shrugged, because it was the truth. Even after all the unkindthings she’d said and done over the years, I wanted things to be different with her.
Better.
She blew out a breath. “Did you know that you were a colicky baby?”
Not exactly the start I was hoping for, but at least she was sharing something.
“I remember you and Dad mentioning that over the years.”
“Yep. I had a two-year-old at home, and I decided to stay home with you and Jacoby while you were young, and Dad went back to work. And then you cried a lot.” She shook her head as if she were back in that moment. “I hadn’t even wanted a second baby when I got pregnant with you.”
Shots fired.
My head tipped back in laughter, because this was supposed to be us mending our relationship, but so far it felt like I was taking all the hits.
“I didn’t know that.”
“I wasn’t a natural mother, Emilia. But it wasn’t for lack of effort. But Jacoby was a handful, and I actually missed going to the office and being out of the house, and then bam, baby number two shows up.” She had a playful smile on her face, one I’d never seen before. “That was you.”
“Yes. I’m aware that I’m baby number two,” I said with a chuckle. “I’m sure that was hard, Mom. I didn’t know all of that was going on back then.”
Edith set our plates down, and we started eating.
“Did you talk to Dad about it? I mean, the fact that you were struggling?” I asked, because now I was curious.
“No, but he tried. I shut down and just wanted nothing to do with him.” A sigh escaped her, and then she fisted her hand and pressed it against her lips as if she was trying not to get upset.Her eyes watered, startling me. I’d never seen so much emotion from my mother.
I reached for her free hand and squeezed it. “I’m sure that must have been a very difficult time, Mom.”
“It was,” she said, reaching for her grilled cheese sandwich and taking a bite and groaning as if it were the best thing she’d ever tasted. I arched a knowing brow, because she’d clearly been missing out.
We both ate in silence for a few minutes, and then she glanced up at me. “Did you know that Dad and I separated for six months shortly after you were born?”
My eyes bulged out of my head. “What? You were separated?”
“Yes. And I think maybe I’ve resented you for it, which isn’t fair.”
You think? I was a baby, for goodness’ sakes.
But she was here and she was trying to open up and make things better, and if I wanted to move forward, I needed to make an effort as well.
“Well, I’m sorry for that,” I said.
