"Do what?" Chad says, anger in his tone. "I didn't do ANYTHING to her. Whatever she told you, she made it up!"
"I saw you grab her just now." My mom lets go of me and storms up to Chad. "You were digging your hands into her arms, yanking her towards you, trying to kiss her. She asked you to stop and you wouldn't. That's considered assault, and I could very well have you arrested for it."
"Go ahead and try," Chad says with a smirk. "Nothing would happen to me. My dad's friends with every judge in town."
"Get out!" she yells at him, pointing at the door. "And don't you ever come back here again!"
He chuckles. "It doesn't really have the impact you're going for, given that you're only here another week, but sure, I'll go."
"We're not going," my mom says, her hands planted firmly on her hips as she watches Chad walk to the door.
"What was that?" Chad says, turning back.
"I said we're not going. We're staying here."
I look from her to Chad, then back to her. "Mom, what are you talking about?"
"I changed my mind. We're not moving. We're staying here."
"Are you serious?" I ask, not believing her.
"She's just being overdramatic," Chad says. "Like mother, like daughter."
"This isn't me being overdramatic," she says. "It's about making the decision that's best for me and my daughter."
"You might want to run this past your husband because when you do, he's not going to allow it. The decision is made. He's already made it."
My mom's face gets red as she glares at Chad like she's ready to explode.
"He's my EX-husband and he doesn't decide what I do. I heard what you said to Brook about Charles making all my decisions. And you're right. He did, for all the years we were married. But we're divorced now and I'm doing just fine on my own. I don't need him to pay for my house or to pay my membership at the club. Everything you said was right. I was letting him control me with his money, and control Brook. But it ends now."
Chad smirks. "Yeah, okay." He opens the door. "See you on Monday, Brook." He smiles at my mom. "Maybe you could join us for brunch again. Or we'll have you over for dinner. I'll talk to my mother, see if we can arrange something. Have a good evening."
He leaves and my mom races to the door and locks it. She turns and leans back against the door, talking a deep breath.
"Mom, are you okay?"
"I can't believe I let him to do that to me."
"Who? Dad?"
"Yes. He knew what it would take to make me force you to go back and he used that to get his way. The manipulative bastard!" She looks at me. "Sorry. I shouldn't use that language when talking about your father."
"Go ahead. I don't care. It's true. He uses his money to get what he wants." I go over to her. "Were you serious when you said we're not moving?"
"We're staying. I don't like it here, but at least here I'm not being controlled by your father and his money." She softly smiles. "And I know how happy you are here, and how much you'd miss your friends if we left. We'll stay until you leave for college."
"And then what? You'll move?"
"I'll find a place closer to our old neighborhood. It'll be more expensive but hopefully by then, I'll have a new job. One that pays better."
"What kind of job?"
"Something in marketing. That was my major back in college. You knew that, right?"
"I don't think I did. You never talk about college."
"Because it was so long ago, but that doesn't mean I can't find a better job. I've made a lot of connections going to these events with Canton. I met a woman last weekend who was very interested in hiring me. She overseas the marketing department of a cosmetics firm. We're going to lunch next week."
