“You’re sure?” Mel asked, grinning and pulling out her phone. “I can let the seller know.”
“Do it.”
“You don’t want to look at other places, sweetie?” my dad asked, assessing the yard with a subtle nod of his head. “This is great, really, but it’s the only place you’ve looked.”
“I’ve been stalking places on Zillow. I knew I wanted this place. This is it.” I could hardly contain my excitement and sent texts to Megan, Ethan and Brigham. “Holy shit.”
“You’re bursting with energy, Sarah. This is exciting!” Mel said, clapping her hands. “Take pictures of everything, because you’re going to want to take a look again between now and November.”
When I could be living with Brigham.A thrill went through me at the mere thought of sharing a bed with him, the beautiful huge man who was a softie. “Good call, Mel.”
I went around the property, snapping pictures and shrugging off the judgment that would surely come from my mom. Her silence was telling enough, but I refused to let that bother me. This was going to be Blue Bells Boarding. “I’m giddy,” I said, unable to stop myself from laughing. “This is crazy.”
“I’m thrilled for you, Sarah. I love your vision and concept for your business, and I think, with a few simple renovations, you will have your dream location.”
“Gah!” I threw my arms around Mel and hugged her. “Do what it takes for them to accept the offer. Please.”
“Will do. I’ll call you once they accept. Mr. and Mrs. Blue, nice to meet you.”
“You as well,” my dad said, winking at me over Mel’s shoulder. “Shall we?” he said, motioning with his hand for us to leave through the front door. I needed to add a gated area, so owners could unleash the doggos before coming in. I wrote it down before taking one more look at the place. I could throw up, I was so excited.
“Would you like to go out to lunch to celebrate?” my dad asked as we walked to our cars. The heat beat down on us. “Something casual?”
“Why don’t we wait until the offer goes through? I need to let the pooches out and Facetime their owner.” I laughed and a sliver of the joy left when I saw my mom’s displeased expression. “Why did you come, Mom, if you’re going to be so unhappy?”
She flinched like I’d hit her. “I was reading about Brigham and he isbadnews. He is not the kind of guy anyone in our family should be seen with. The way he talked to us at that brunch? And strutted around at that event? No. He’s not like we are. He’s crass. Plus Idon’tlike the fact that drug money was used to help fund this dream of yours. Drug money, Sarah Bell. Really makes me question how ready you are for this step in your life when you’re seeing someone like that. A drug user.”
“Mom!” I warned, clenching my fist at my side. “You don’t even know him. You damn well made sure not to.”
“I know you’re a fool.”
“Rose,” my dad scolded. “Now isnotthe time for this.”
“No, by all means. It’s just solidifying why I knew it was a bad idea to even try to involve you two. Brigham is a good man. All that shit about his life is false, and I’m old enough to take care of myself, all right? When you do this shit, it makes it really easy to walk away.”
“When this ends, because itwill, Sarah, you will come crawling back to us. I know it,” she said, sticking her nose up in the hair and looking at the house. “You will see sense that this business venture is not a career and that school is the right answer. Not this ball player or his drugs.”
Tears prickled my eyes again and I looked at my dad, feeling so hurt and upset. But he would always side with my mom.Always.“I’m not the daughter you wanted. I get that. But I’m done trying to appease you. I’m going to do what I want and see who I want. Either be in my life, as I am, or don’t.” I took a deep breath and looked them both in the eye. “This has been the most exciting day of my life. I wanted to share it with you, but you ruined it. So thank you for that.”
I got into my car, slammed the door and backed out of the driveway before heading back to the condo. I blared my music and hit the steering wheel three times before parking and finally crying. It was an anger cry. AnI wish my parents were differentcry. They couldn’t accept me for who I was and I wasn’t going to fit into their mold. Did I have to lower my expectations for them? Never talk to them again? Hide my business from them?
There wasn’t a right answer, because them not being a part of my life was the hardest to accept. With one final sigh, I texted Brigham. He would cheer me up.
Sarah: Are you available?
Brigham: For sex? Always. Food? Always. To see you? Always.
God, I grinned so hard at my phone that I must have looked like a stage-five creeper. Just sitting in a parking garage, smiling at my lap, like a weirdo. Not a good move.
Sarah: I’d like option D. All the above.
Brigham: D. that’s what she said.
Sarah: Eyeroll. I need to let the dogs out so let’s meet downstairs in ten minutes?
Brigham: Or I could go with you?
I was already heading into the building and trying to hide evidence of my crying fest. He could comfort me, but he had enough to worry about until his lawyer called him, and if I could keep my mom’s comments about him to myself, it would be best. I walked in, disappointed that Fernie wasn’t there so I couldn’t tease him.Ugh.
