“But I’m your mother. You should have told me.”
My sister rolls her eyes.
I cross mine back at her. “Sorry, Mom. I guess I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Erin whispers, “Welcome to my world.”
“There’s something else I don’t understand,” my mother continues. “Why on earth did you stir up this whole hornet’s nest now?”
I blow out a sigh. I thought I’d already adequately explained how I screwed things up, but apparently I need to admit my failureyet again. “I didn’t mean to, Mom. Things spiraled out of control. It was a mistake.”
“Oh, Jessica.” The disappointment in her voice makes my stomach squeeze. “I could expect something like this from your sister or brother, but you, Jess...”
My sister stabs her index finger at me. “See?” she hisses.
“I messed up,” I say. “I’m furious at myself, and I’ve got to figure out what to do. I just called to explain the situation and to let you know I’m back in town.”
“Yes, well, I appreciate that. Oh, honey.” Her voice is so sympathetic that tears well up in my eyes. “This is so unlike you. I hate that you’re going through this.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Don’t you want to come home instead of staying in that cold hotel?”
“No, this is a lot more convenient. I have several early and late meetings this week, and I don’t want to fight the traffic.”
“Plus there’s room service and a Starbucks in the lobby,” my sister says.
“What?” Mom says.
I shoot my sister an evil glare. “That was the TV in the background.”
“Well, do you have any time to see your family in that busy schedule of yours?”
“I’m free tomorrow night.”
“Can you come for dinner?”
“I’d love to,” I say.
“I assume your sister knows all this?”
“Yes. But I only told her a couple of weeks ago.”
“Still, that’s two weeks sooner than you told me.”
I blow out a sigh. “I don’t worry as much about Erin’s opinion of me.”
“Oh, honey! I just want the best for you.”
“I know, Mom.” I want that, too. No, the truth is, I want tobethe best. I want my parents and the rest of the world to say,I’m so proud of you, andatta girl!and,Jessica, you’re so wonderful and smart and amazing!
Most of all, I want to feel that way about myself. “I have to go, Mom.”
“Wait—who picked you up at the airport?”
“Huh? Oh. I, um, got a ride from the hotel. Gotta run now. I’ll talk to you later, Mom. Love you! Bye.” I click off quickly.
“‘I’d expect something like this from your sister or brother,’” my sister says, her voice high and Mom-like. She shakes her head. “I told you she thinks you’re the perfect one.”
