“Finally! A point we can agree on!”Nowis she going to go away? And take Travis while she’s at it?
“I raised you better than this!”
“I’m the best I can be, Mother.”
“I am not ‘Mother.’ I’m Mom!” She knows the distinction I place on the words. Mom is someone I like. Mother is the woman who gave birth to me.
“Right now, I don’t like you very much.”
Her chest starts heaving again. “Because I want you to share a tiny percentage of your money with your brother?”
“He didn’t earn it.”
Suddenly her eyes light up. What the… I turn around and see Luce coming down the stairs. She’s changed into a loose spring dress in yellow.
When she turns, revealing her bruised face, Mom gasps. I grip my mug hard, anger and sympathy surging equally. Luce’s cheek looks much worse in the light. Like a semi ran over half her face.
“Oh my goodness! What happened to you?” Mom’s words come out in a soft breath.
“Well…” Luce smiles awkwardly. “Hello, Marie.”
“Your face,” Mom says again, pointing with a shaking finger.
“It looks worse than it is,” Luce says, then clears her throat.
Mom turns toward me. She stares like she doesn’t recognize me. Travis’s thumb twitches over his phone, like he’s debating if he should call 911.
Are they serious?“It wasn’t me!”
Mom seems shaken, but Travis is skeptical. Bet that asshole wishes Iwasa woman beater, so he could blackmail me with it on Mom’s behalf.
“There was an accident at the party,” Luce says. “But Sebastian took good care of me.”
“Well. If… Um… All right. That’s good. That’s very good,” Mom says. “But if you ever need anything, anyone to talk to, you know my number.”
“Thank you.” Luce comes over to me and places a hand on my shoulder.
The gesture seems to reassure Mom a little, and disappoint Travis. God save me from my “family.”
“So. To what do we owe the honor? I didn’t realize you were coming over,” Luce says.
“It’s about Preston,” Mom answers quickly. “Sebastian has cut him off, quite cruelly, I might add. Families don’t do that to each other.” She spreads her arms beseechingly. “Maybe you can make him understand.”
“I heard some of what you were saying earlier,” Luce says.
I knew it!Mom was too loud.
“Marie, I happen to agree with Sebastian. I don’t know why you would think I’d side with Preston. In case you’ve forgotten, seeing him in bed with my half-sister is permanently etched into my brain.” Luce reaches over and threads her fingers with mine. I squeeze gently, enjoying the united front we’re creating.
Mom and Travis have the decency to blush.
“If you’re here to insist that Sebastian give Preston money he doesn’t deserve,” Luce says, “I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
“I’ve never…” Mom jumps to her feet and huffs, but she’s smart enough to retreat when she knows she isn’t going to win.
Travis stands and puts a hand on her elbow. “Let’s go, Marie. Maybe we can come back when they’ve had time to think things over.”
“Come back when Preston can part the Red Sea!” I call out at their retreating backs.
