Darius has already said nothing and no one will get in his way. I’m positive we’ll only make more trouble for ourselves if we fight this now.
“It’s okay, if he keeps true to his word, then it will be okay.”
I hope my words don’t come back to bite me on my ass.
The restaurant is busy, and I can’t be sure if it will help to curb my mom’s reaction or if the diners will get a front row seat to a spectacular show she’ll put on. I sip my water and crossmy legs to stop them from bouncing. I wonder how my dad is really feeling, mom hasn’t been home in a couple of months, and she was only home for six days before she took off again. He rearranges the silverware in front of him. He’s just as nervous as me but for different reasons, I’m sure.
“We could just leave, I doubt she remembers where we live.”
“Come on now, Amelia. She’s still your mom and she cares in her own way.”
No matter how many times she lets me down, he won’t say a bad word about her.
It doesn’t matter anyway, she walks into the restaurant and our chance to leave slips away.
My mom, Courtney Haynes, is a marvel to see. Men sneak sly looks at her as she breezes across the restaurant and Dad stands to kiss her when she stops by our table.
I catch the small cringe when he adds another kiss to her cheek, but she quickly covers it and smiles down at me. I don’t stand to hug her. We don’t have that type of relationship.
“Amelia, how are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m good,” I lie.
“She has some news to share with you, Court.”
“I have news too.”
I look to my dad and he’s just as intrigued as I am. Usually she regales us with her travels and everything she’s been up to, but she doesn’t declare she has news.
“Who wants to go first?” Dad asks and I purse my lips.
Mom orders a large wine and jumps straight in. “Now you’re eighteen, Amelia, I think you know our family dynamic is a little dysfunctional.”
“Court, I don’t think this is the place to talk about such matters.”
“Nonsense. I want a divorce, Richard. We’ve wasted too much time coasting along.”
I sit there watching my parents and while mom sips her wine, not bothered by the bomb she just dropped, my dad is holding himself together and says, “I won’t fight you on the divorce, it’s something we should’ve done years ago. We can talk about your terms at home.”
“No need, there are no terms.”
Dad’s mouth hangs open and Mom looks offended by his surprise.
“I’ve met someone, and he’s taught me how to let go of negative energy and how there’s no need to hang onto things that bring me down.”
I’ve always known she wasn’t faithful to my dad, but it must hurt for him to hear her admit it to his face.
“Let me get this straight, you see us as a negative energy in your life? You see our daughter as someone who brings you down?”
“Not you per se, more like the situation. Henry believes I need a clean start.”
“Mom, in your clean break, is there room for a grandchild?”
I can’t help the bitterness in my tone. But the shock on her filler filled face gives me the satisfaction I was seeking.
Turning on my dad, she snaps, “You let her get pregnant?”
Before he can defend himself, I jump in. “This isn’t his fault and after your declaration, it has nothing to do with you. You’ve shown me how not to be a mother. You haven’t been there for me and I’m not going to give you the chance to let my baby down.”
