“I didn’t say that.In fact, since I hope you’re listening,I’ll say I know it was hard, terribly hard, for you, for my son, for mygrandson, for all of us.We did the best we could with the lot we were cast.And now, praise the good Lord, it’s over and we can heal.”
I pulled out some bananas.“It doesn’t feel over.”
“That’s because you’re determined to hang on to hurt whenthe time for hurting is passed,” Mom chimed in.“I get it.It’s habit.But foreveryone concerned, you gotta let it go.”
I pinned her with a glare.“That’s it?You all hiding secretvisits with Darius and Liam from me for years, and I have to let it go?”
“He saw Liam at Toni and Tony’s wedding,” Lena put in.
“I know that,” I snapped at my sister.
“Girl, it wrecked him,” she whispered.
The tear in my heart from that time hadn’t mended, so I feltthat.
I felt it.
“He couldn’t stay away,” she said.
“Your mother and me already figured out you were gettingmoney from somewhere, it didn’t take Sherlock Holmes wading in to know whereyou were getting it,” Dad shared (totally should have lied about winning thelottery, I was seeing that now).“Your mom dropped by Lena’s place once whenDarius and Liam were visiting.She wasn’t expected.But we knew then, and we’dheard some things.We understood what he was about.But a boy needs his father.We did what we had to do to make that happen.”
“A mother needs a partner,” I returned.
“Now, baby,” Dad said in his disappointed voice.“I knowyou’re hurt, and I understand why you got that feeling.But you did not go thisalone.Not even close.We had you.And Darius had you too.”
Damn it.
I couldn’t argue that.
I went to the fridge to put away the milk and cheese.
When I closed the door, I let out a squeak as I jumped backhalf a step, because Dorothea was right there.
“He’s loved you since high school,” she said.
I shook my head to shake her words out of my ears androunded her to get to the groceries.
“Where’s that boy with the bags?”I muttered.
“He’s staying out there until we hash this out,” Dad toldme.
I looked to him.“Then he can put them away.”
I turned to walk out of the room.
“Don’t be stubborn,” Mom called after me.
Right.
Enough.
I whirled on her.
On all of them.
“I know Darius gave me money.I know Darius bought us ourfurniture.I know Darius pretty much bought this house.I know he looked outfor us.What you don’t know is, it hasn’t been over with him and me.It wasstops and starts, and the last few years, he kept his distance.But in thebeginning, when I moved back to Denver, he and I were together for years.”
I could tell by the looks on their faces they didn’t knowthat last part.Lena’s expression, particularly, was hard to witnessconsidering her shock was liberally mixed with hurt, as I knew it would be.
