“Nonsense,” Renee’s mom said with a flip of her hand. “I was just about to leave; I have to take lunch to your father at work.”
“No, honestly, Mom, you could stay,” said Renee, and I was pleased to hear a hint of panic in her voice. As Renee’s mom shrugged her coat on, I stepped back to the door, smiling still. I recognize Renee’s mom—Cindy, I think was her name—but I highly doubt she remembers me.
“Matthew, right?” she said, stepping around Renee and onto the front porch. Under the warmth of my hooded sweatshirt, heat rises on my skin, making me itch.
“Yes, that’s right,” I said and offered my hand. “I’m surprised you remember me.”
“It would be hard to forget the little boy that drove my child to depression,” Cindy said quietly. But even with her words, there’s a kindness in her eyes. An understanding. Instead of taking my hand, she leans in and wraps her arms around me in a motherly hug. “It would be even harder to forget the men who called me the night it all happened, to tell me that you’d hurt Renee, and she might be upset.”
“What are you talking about, Mom?” Renee demanded. Cindy looked over her shoulder at Renee, pain across her face. “I never told you because I never thought it was relevant. You didn’t need more reminders. But we came home early from our date that night because the boys called me and told me what had happened. They said you might be upset, and someone should keep an eye on you.”
Renee looked from her mother to me, brow furrowing in confusion, bottom lip pulled between her teeth to chew on it.
“I didn’t know that,” she said quietly, and the pain in her voice was so overwhelming I thought I might be nauseous.
“Yeah, well, it doesn't matter, does it?” I mutter. “We were still the reason you did it.”
Renee said nothing to this, but Cindy stepped forward and rested a hand on my shoulder, squeezing.
“You’ve grown up, Matthew. I anticipate you’ll treat my daughter now like the woman she is and not like the little girl you all bullied.”
Hurt tightens my chest again, but I know her intention is not to spew hatred. She was willing to give me another chance.
But is Renee?
“Also, I am so sorry about your mom, Matt. I heard about the progression of her cancer.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Lyon.”
“Please, call me Cindy.”
“Jesus, Mom!” Renee throws her hands in exasperation behind Cindy. “Why don’t you just adopt him, okay? I’m sure Dad would love him.”
“He probably would,” Cindy whispered to me before she turned to hug her daughter. “Talk soon, baby girl.” Her eyes travel to me. “Play nice, you two.”
Silence settled over the front porch as Renee and I watched her mother drive away. I feel better about coming here, if only for that reason. Renee, however, looked like she’d rather throat-punch me than invite me in.
“Could I talk to you, please?” I asked, stepping towards the door. Renee’s lip curls in a sneer, freckled nose scrunching.
“Piss off, Matt.” She started to close the door in my face, but I was too quick for her. My foot shoots out and jams the door open, forcing her back.
“Please,” I said again, only because I knew it would probably be inappropriate to just barrel past her. “Let me explain myself to you.”
“There’s nothing to explain,” said Renee, trying to kick my foot out of the way with her own. “I know what you did. Everyone knows what you did. And everyone knows Carly only did what she did because ofyourbig mouth.”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume at this point that smoke should be pouring from Renee’s ears. I didn’t move my foot, though; I only came closer.
“You’re right,” I told her, lowering my voice. “I did blab to Carly, okay? But I was not the one who had sex with her date—-”
“Bu—-”
I raise my hand to cut her off. “—-and his best friend.”
This seemed to quiet her down almost at once, and I know it was because she was feeling just as guilty about it as I had been. For a long moment, I didn’t think she was going to say anything at all. But then, after a few moments, she sighed, dropping her chin.
“Make it fast.”
I stepped through the open door as Renee stood back to let me in, then she closed the door behind her. The house is eerily quiet, and I kick off my shoes and head for the couch, much to Renee’s annoyance.
