“Mother. How could you say that to Savannah?” Charlotte squeaks. “She’s hurting.”
“This is what she gets for not doing as she was told.”
“Now hold on right there, Sarah.” My father leaps to his feet and points at her, wagging his finger. “I’ve heard you say enough about Savannah. She is a wonderful doctor. It doesn’t matter that she’s not a surgeon. You need to rethink how you’re speaking to her, or we are going to have a problem. I love you, wife, but I will not let you treat our daughter this way anymore. You’ve gone too far. I should have said something years ago. You cannot treat her this way. It ends now, or we do,” Dad says, his words final.
“Thomas, how could you say that?” My mom rears back as if my father’s words slapped her in the face.
“Easily,” Dad says, resting a hand on my shoulder. While he should have stood up to my mother on my behalf years ago, it’s not too late for me to appreciate it now. “You will not mistreat our daughter any longer. She deserves our unconditional love, not your acerbic tongue diminishing her accomplishments.”
My brother steps beside my father, both blocking me from view on the couch. “Yeah, Mom, stop being a bitch to Sav. She’s awesome as fuck.”
“Denver!”
“I’m sorry, but it’s true. We are all tired of it. And if it doesn’t stop, I’ll change my name to Winters too,” Denver threatens.
My mother gasps, clutching her invisible pearls.
“Me too,” Charlotte says, standing up, arms crossed over her chest.
I’d laugh if I weren’t having an out-of-body experience listening to the conversation going on around me like I’m not even here. It’s very surreal watching my father, brother, and sister stand up to my mom. I’ve always wished someone would have my back and actually tell her how horrible she is. To her face, and not behind her back.
“You ungrateful children…”
“Enough!” I rise to my feet and face my mother. “It’s okay, guys. I got this.” I push my brother and sister to the side. “Mother, Iknow you don’t approve of my career, my life, the men I date… All of me, in general. And that’s okay. That’s ayouproblem.”
My mother tries to interrupt me, but I hold up my hand. I need to get this out before I shatter into a million pieces.
“Maybe deep down in your cold, sterile heart, you love me, but that does not give you the right to treat me the way you do. I will not be your punching bag. Not for another second. To be honest, I left San Francisco to escape you, and it was the best decision I ever made. I’m never going back, and I’m never going to be a surgeon. You can accept me for who I am, and then we might build a better mother-daughter relationship. Or not. It’s up to you. As for Bradley… He was a gaslighting, egotistical asshole who sought me out so he could use the Stratford name for his benefit. You should be happy I dumped his fame-seeking ass. I know I am. As for Nico... I didn’t start dating him until a month ago, and my relationship with him is none of your business. Now you can either treat me with respect in my home or you can leave.”
“Here, here,” Denver cheers as my mother stares at me in stunned silence.
“Savannah, why didn’t you tell us about how you felt, about Bradley, about your new life?” Dad lays his hand on my shoulder, his eyes glassy with emotion.
Guilt weighs heavily on me for not speaking up, but it’s time I changed that.
“I didn’t say anything because of this.” I wave my hands around in the air as my dad frowns. “I wanted to avoid all of this. I didn’t want to cause problems or feel less than anymore. Even when I separate myself, it’s not good enough for her.”
“I am so sorry for my complicity.” My dad wraps me in one of his warm hugs. Tears prickle my nose. “You are enough, my sweet Savy girl.”
“Thank you.” My dad’s words warm me to my bones. I know he means what he says, and I appreciate him coming to my defense. I don’t think he’s truly witnessed the awful things she says to me.
When we break apart, I turn to my sister. “Char, I know I didn’t tell you about me and Nico, and it feels like I lied. I’m so used to avoiding confrontation with everyone that I avoided it with you too. I hurt you, and for that I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know. I’m sorry too.” Charlotte throws herself at me, hugging me tight. She whispers into my ear, “I just didn’t want him to hurt you like he hurt me, and he did anyway.”
The tears I’ve been holding back finally fall. Two more extra-large arms wrap around me and Charlotte.
“Don’t leave me out,” Denver grumbles.
When we break apart, the three of us are crying, and my father is holding a tearful Sarah Stratford. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mother cry before.
As much as I want to talk to my mother and clear the air, I need a minute to myself. I dig my tablet out of the crack in the couch and clutch it to my chest.
“If you don’t mind, I need to catch up on the news. Maybe we can all talk later. But if you’ll please excuse me.”
“We’ll leave you be.” My father gives me one more hug, then ushers my mother out of my apartment.
I swipe my nose with the sleeve of my hoodie, and Nico’s leathery scent hits me like a ton of bricks, sending a wave of nausea through me.
