Page 31 of Runaway Bride for the Boss

I roll my eyes when I realize what she’s trying to do. “It’s Autumn,” I say forcefully. “And the ID is blocked because I’m using a friend’s phone. I’m sure you’re aware that I left New York with nothing but the clothes on my back.”

“And whose fault is that? Nobody chased you. You started running all on your own. Everything you’re facing now is your own doing.”

“I have to go.”

“No! Wait, honey. I shouldn’t have said that. Look, I don’t know what happened between you two, but I get that you were angry. If you come back now and apologize, I’m sure Larson will take you back. He still loves you and is worried out of his mind. He thinks perhaps you were kidnapped.”

“Why would he think that? I left a note.” I roll my eyes.

“Yeah well, the note might have been to throw us off the scent of the crime.”

I scoff in disbelief. “Scent of the crime? What crime? Whatever, Mom, just tell him I’m okay. There’s no crime.”

“Wre–Autumn, honey, I know all about lovers’ tiffs. I’ve had them myself over the years, and let me tell you, you always make up. Always. Don’t ruin a good thing over a temporary lapse in judgment.”

“What?” I raise my index and middle fingers over my temple, where a migraine is starting to make itself known. “This wasn't just a lover’s tiff ormylack of good judgment. It’s an accumulation of various, pretty serious, issues we had. Issues you know all about!”

Of course, she knows all about lover’s tiff. After she adopted me, her husband at the time was very angry. He was still mourning his daughter and having to look at me – when I looked so much like her – as it seemed to make his pain worse. A month after my adoption, he served Mom divorce papers, and since then she’s had a rotating door of husbands. She’s currently on number six.

I’ve never considered any of them my father because they couldn’t care less about me, and they never lasted long. At worst, I was like extra furniture in the house. At best, an extension of their wife, like an extra limb they had to feed or something. I learned to detach myself from them. But I’ve never quite been able to detach from Mom. She might not be the best mother, but she’s all I have.

She sighs impatiently. “I know. And you’ve made your point. I’m sure Larson has learned his lesson. You don’t have to stay away any longer. Come back home, please.”

“I am home.” I say defiantly and realize, it’s true. It’s only been a week but Brattleboro already feels more like home than New York ever did. The people here are genuine, and I feel included, like I'm part of a big family. I actually have friends…or a friend, but she’s a great one – a real one! That’s more than I had in New York.

“You don’t know what you’re saying, Wren. The temperature is getting colder, where are you even staying?” Is that a hint of concern in her voice, or is it just wishful thinking?

“I’m fine. I’m staying with a friend until I get on my feet,” I assure her.

“A friend? What friend? You don’t have any friends!”

I close my eyes in resignation, wanting this conversation to be over already. “Just know that I’m not exposed to the elements.”

“Listen to me very carefully, Wren. I’ve given it some thought. You don’t have to stay with Larson if you don’t want to.”

I hold my breath, a tentative hope budding in my heart. Is she finally coming to my side? “Really?”

“Of course. You can come back for now and apologize. Get married and after a year or two, we can set him up, and you’ll divorce on the grounds of cheating. You’d get half of everything, and we’ll never want for anything again.”

My face falls as my hope is dashed, yet again. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson after fourteen years of this. “Are you serious?” Clear disappointment laced in my voice. “No, Mom.”

“Don’t be so shortsighted and selfish, Wren! Think of someone other than yourself for a change, will you?”

My eyes slide shut. “For the first time, Mom, I’m finally putting myself first. Can’t you just be happy for me and give me your support?”

“This is getting ridiculous. Hold on, I was driving when I got your call. I’m almost at Larson’s office. You two need to straighten out your spat yourselves. Being the middleman clearly isn’t working.”

“What? Mom!” What part of thisisn’t just a lover’s spatdoes she not understand? “Look, I just didn’t want you worrying. That’s why I called. Now I really have to go.”

“No, Wren. You stay on the phone until you speak with Larson. Don’t you hang up on—” I end the call on those angry words and blow out a breath. Why can’t I just have a normal, caring mom? Hot tears spill down my cheeks and I sniff, letting them flow.

“Hey, sweetie, are you okay?” I stare blankly at the woman looking at me in concern. I quickly wipe my tears off my cheeks, realizing that I’m crying in the middle of a busy sidewalk. It’s not lost on me that this random woman has shown more concern over my well-being than my own mother.

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you.” She doesn’t look like she believes me, but she nods and continues on her way. As soon as she’s out of sight, I make my way to the side of Liquid Elixir, where the stairs leading to Andrea’s apartment are hidden.

Away from the sidewalk where everyone can see me, I give myself a minute to feel sorry for myself. I replay the conversation with Mom in my mind, wondering if it would have gone differently if she was my biological mother who truly loved me. That’s a moot point, and I will never have that.

My vision blurs, a sob catching at the back of my throat. I’m completely shocked when I hear a light flick and a pair of booted feet come into view. I let out a short shriek as I jump back.

---