"No, he left before dawn.I… didn't want you to freak out," I admit.
She nods again."What wasweird about it?'
I furrow my brow inquestion.
"Your night.You said itwas a weird night."
Oh."Yeah.Did you knowLacey was going to college in New York?"I ask her.
Her eyes widen insurprise."Really?No, of course I didn't know that.Not NYU,though?"
She's nervous for me."No,FIT."
My mother sighs."Well,isn't that just wonderful."The sarcasm drips from herwords.
"Well, Chelsea—youknow—"
"The girl who attacked youin the bathroom and later apologized.Yes, I remember, Rory."Stillwith the sarcasm.
I roll my eyes at her."Well, the apology was fake, and she wasn't doneapparently..."
My mother raises hereyebrows and I tell her all about Chelsea's plan and theconfrontation of the night before.My mother ishorrified.
"So Sam drove mehome…"
"And wanted to holdyou…"
I look down, blushing."Yeah."
"But you're still justfriends?"
"I—uh… I'm not sure."Isigh."I don't know, Mom.I miss him.I want him back.I told himso the other day, but…"
"But?That boy is in lovewith you, don't try and tell me any different," shehedges.
I shrug."He told me Ineeded to be sure and to think about it over the weekend.That we'dtalk Monday."
My mother's lips slip upinto a wry smile."That would be tomorrow."
No kidding.
"So, Rory, are yousure?"
The million dollarquestion.
****
WhenI return home later that nightfrom running errands my mother is in a far different mood than whenI left her.I'm feeling exhilarated, ready to take back control ofmy life, but the stress lines around her eyes as she pores overlegal files in the living room give me pause.
"Mom?"
She looks up, startled,and I'm instantly anxious.She removes her reading glasses andstarts rubbing her temples.I sit beside her.
"What is it?"But as soonas I look down at the papers, I know it's about Robin."Thehearing?"
My mother nods."I've beenspeaking to the prosecutor all day, honey.I think we'll be okay.It's just, the Injunction for Protection is our best card, but ifthey dismiss the violation charge…"
"But how?I mean, he wasthere.They know he was there."My pulse races, and I force myselfto take deep breaths.My mother is so out of sorts that she doesn'teven notice my distress.
