She’s not wrong about that. Maybe I should pick some up.
I’m finally at home. I needed to get some books that I’d left in my room. I hear the front door open.
“Val?” Mom calls out. “I’m home.”
“It’s me, Mom,” I say as I rifle through my drawers.
She pokes her head into my room. “Well, if it isn’t my long-lost daughter. To what do we owe your appearance?” she says.
I roll my eyes. “I’m looking for a book. I can’t remember if I left it here or at Roxy’s.” Which isn’t a lie. I did have it a few weeks ago at the bookstore.
I set the pile of papers I just grabbed from my desk on my bed and turn to my mom. I’ve been wanting to talk to her, but we’ve both been busy these past ten days.
She comes in and sits next to me on my bed. “So, we haven’t really talked much about you meeting dad’s family. I’m so glad you were able to find them and that you have them.” She frowns. “I just can’t believe he pretended they didn’t exist. For all these years.”
“Well, it sounded like they had quite the fight, and Dad’s stubborn, or at least I think he was,” I say, attempting to think about how my dad was the few times I remember hanging out with him.
Mom wraps an arm around me. “I have a confession,” she says.
I pull back and look at her. “You knew about his family?” I ask, feeling anger boiling in my belly.
She shakes her head. “No. I truly didn’t know that, or I would have made sure to keep you girls in touch with them.” She lets out a long breath. “I spoke to your father recently.”
I jump up and look down at her. “When?”
“I was coming home from work, and I swore I saw him. I called out his name, and he turned.” She gives a bitter laugh. “You’d have thought he saw a ghost. Anyhow, we chatted for a few minutes. And then he said he had to go.”
“Where? When exactly? What did he say?” I rattle off questions as they fire in my brain.
“Calm down, Joc. Sit. And I’ll tell you everything,” she says as she leans back against the wall, her legs sticking out in front of her, her fingers twisting together in her lap.
I slowly sit down and cross my arms.
She sighs. “Dad and I…it was really intense when we met. Like, we fell hard and fast, and then you came soon afterward. Things had already started to cool between us by the time Val was born. And then one day, he said he couldn’t take it anymore, he felt trapped. So, I let him go. We got divorced, and as you know, he tried to play dad for a few years, but it got to be less and less and then no time at all with you girls. That’s when I moved us here to the city. I wanted to have a clean start. And it’s been good, hasn’t it?”
She searches my eyes, and for the first time, I imagine everything through those blue-green eyes, everything she’s been through. My heart starts to ache for her.
“Mom,” I start.
Her eyes well with tears, and she shakes her head. “I’m sorry, my love. I’ve tried.” She clears her throat. “Anyhow, it was a few weeks ago, maybe two or three, right before your trip. He said he was back in the area, and he was trying to get himself settled before reaching out. He had looked us up. Val’s social media account is public, so he found her first, and then he found the school I’m at next.” She laughs bitterly. “He couldn’t find you for the longest time, but eventually found your book vlog. I gave him my number and said to call me first when he sorted himself out. He’s staying somewhere close to the bookstore, I think, based on what he said. He’s doing some contract work not far from us. And that’s all I know.”
I take a moment to comprehend her words. I’m not crazy. He is here. But where exactly?
“He didn’t give you any details?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No. He just said he needed more time and that he really did want to reconnect with you girls. For what it’s worth, I believe him. He seemed…different. I wanted to wait till we had a moment like this before I told you. I didn’t just want to drop that on you out of the blue. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner.”
I want to be mad at her, to yell at her, but she’s right. I wasn’t in the headspace for this information before now.
“You seem…calmer, happier,” Mom adds.
I nod. “I have to tell you something,” I say, deciding that I can’t be mad at Mom for withholding information because so am I. “I’m seeing someone.”
Mom laughs and pats my arm. “Oh, love, I know. I’m assuming it’s that Hutch you talk about all the time?”
My eyes widen. “How’d you know?”
She grins. “Call it mom intuition.”
