She may be brave most of the time, but she’s a total mother hen to my dad and me. I can only imagine how helpless she felt seeing him in the hospital and not knowing what to do.
The only thing I could think to do on the spot was to fly out and bring them back home with me. I could arrange their flights back to Denver once we figured out what kind of support my dad would need at home.
Like me, he’s not a small man, and with his mobility compromised, there’s no way my mom can do everything for him.
“We’ll be landing soon,” I tell her, and she smiles. Dad is a few rows in front of us, reading a magazine. At least he’s taking it all in his stride.
I stare at my phone. In the rush to pack clean clothes in a duffel bag, I forgot to grab the charger that was in my suitcase. Thank god for airport stores because I’d hate to think I couldn’t have contacted Curtis to tell him I wouldn’t make our date.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, willing my headache away.
God, I miss him so much.
It’s been three days, and I can’t stop thinking about him, worrying about if he’s okay. I don’t know what that thing between him and Harley Bruce was, but I didn’t like how he looked at Curtis like he owned him or something.
I also didn’t miss how Curtis tensed as soon as he saw Harley. The dickhead thought he’d be able to scare me off, but I know exactly who he is. I just don’t know his connection to Curtis other than they’re both cheerleaders. Maybe they used to be on the same team.
“Fuck,” I say between gritted teeth, but it’s loud enough that my mom puts her hand on my knee and pats it.
What if they were together? What if Harley wants to get back with Curtis?
“Honey, you look like you’re about to jump out of your skin. Please tell me what’s going on. Is it because you’re having to deal with us at the last minute?”
“What? God no, Mom, of course not.”
“Then what is it? We used to talk about everything, but you’ve closed yourself off from me.” She sounds hurt, and she has reason to be.
I let out a sigh. The guy sitting on the other side of me is asleep. I turn in my seat slightly.
“Mom, if you found out that someone you love has a secret that could destroy your friendship but doesn’t involve you, would you still want to know?”
She takes my hand in hers. “If the secret has the potential to destroy a friendship, then I’d say it already involves me. I’d want to know.”
“Even if it’s about Mel?”
“You are my only son. I’m so proud of the man you are. Nothing you could tell me would make me love you any less. Mel has become a daughter to us, but we know she’s not perfect.”
God, I want to hug her.
“Oh, Mom. I love you so much for being so open. You and Dad made me the way I am. You’re always loving and accepting, which is why this is really difficult for me.”
She squeezes my hand. “Let it out once, and we’ll never speak of it again.”
“I can’t have children, Mom. I’m infertile.”
Her eyes go red and fill with tears. “Oh, baby.” She cradles my face, looking into my eyes until the information sets in.
“When did you find out?”
“Before I filed for divorce.”
Her brows furrow because my mom has been there for twenty-three years of miscarriages and heartbreak. She was the shoulder Mel cried on like she would her own mother had she been alive.
“My whole life was a lie, Mom. When Mel got pregnant at eighteen, I was so scared about the prospect of being a father so young. We’d never…you know, had sex. Even though I was scared, I was devastated when she lost the baby. We both were.”
“But if you can’t have any children…?” Mom gasps. “She didn’t know…” I see the pieces being put together in my mom’s head. I don’t need to tell her Mel cheated because it’s obvious.
I nod. “We stayed together and got married and…then she lost another baby. I don’t know why she did it, but since I’m infertile, you can guess how many times before and during our marriage she’s been with other men and had unprotected sex. She put herself and me at risk. I couldn’t forgive her.”
