The tears come faster now, because it’s true. Wesley wanted me, even at my bitchiest self.
“So tell him you’re sorry, Corrine.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“He won’t speak to you now?” Mom asks, with a knowing tone.
I cry harder. “The opposite. He came here. To take care of me while you were in the hospital.”
Her body feels frail against mine as she laughs. “Then what’s the problem?”
I sit up. Breathe deeply. Wipe the tears from my face, myself. I try to explain past the shame. “He wants to wait until we’re both in a better place to be together.”
She takes a deep breath. “Well, he sounds very...considerate, dear. And smart.”
“I can’t, Mom. I can’t be with him. Because then everyone will know. Everyone will know that it started when we worked together, when I was his boss. They’ll think...”
She frowns. “Who cares what they’ll think.”
“I do,” I say, pressing my hand to my chest. “Despite recent actions, I actually care about my professional reputation. I couldn’t stand it if people thought...”
“Fuck ’em.”
I blink. My brain rewinds the word my mother just said but still cannot compute. “Wh-what did you say?”
“You heard me.”
Up until this moment, I had no idea my mother knew how to curse.
“Do you think people thought highly of me, when I showed up in this town, an unwed mother? I cared what people thought. I cared a lot. And you know what your father said?”
“I can probably guess.”
She nods, once. “He said, fuck ’em, and he asked me if I loved him enough not to care what they thought.”
I want to be the brave, strong woman my mother was and still is. But the fear won’t let me say it. Not out loud. “I’ve worked so hard, Mom.”
“For what?” Her face is red as her own tears start to fall. “For some pig to harass you? You found someone who loves you and you love them back, baby.” She smiles, like she’s happy for me. She rests her hand over my heart. “Hasanyjob felt as good as him loving you?”
I close my eyes, and as the realization washes over me, I laugh. “No.”
Another wave of tears follows my laughter because what have I done? What have I thrown away because of fear?
“Oh.” Mom cups my cheeks. “Oh, my little pot roast. Everything will be okay.”
I cover her hands with mine. When my mother says it, it’s easiest to believe.
Mom’s eyes narrow. “Now, we just need to figure out what we’re going to do about Richard.”
That’s one thing I can smile about. I sent my email to Sue in HR, detailing all of Richard’s, Sean’s, and Mark’s misconduct, in the cab on the way to the airport a few days ago.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve got that covered. He’s royally fucked.”
“Corrine,” she says with a gasp. “Language.”
Chapter 47: Wesley
I get up with Amy the morning after I get home. “I guess it went okay?” she asks, staring into her French press like that will make the wait for her coffee go by faster. “She didn’t kick you out.”
