“I don’t think I even know you at this point, Mother.” I paused. “Though, I guess I don’t really have to call you that anymore, do I? Maybe you were never my mother at all. Except for in name. No real mother would do to her children what you’ve done to yours.”
I waited for her to say something, but she didn’t.
Provoking her wasn’t working like Nettie said it wouldn’t.
I’d hoped to keep her out of it.
But for some reason, my mother couldn’t stand Nettie, so she was up next.
I surreptitiously tilted my head, and Nettie came to me, wrapping her arms around my arm and leaning into me.
As she did, her belly pressed against my elbow and I felt the baby kick again.
Pride and excitement rushed through me.
Not even my mother’s presence could kill this high.
My mother’s eyes narrowed on Nettie and said, “You always ruin everything.”
“Do I?” she asked. “I’m not sure how.”
My mother sneered. “You’re not sure how?”
“Nope,” Nettie answered. “I’m really not.”
“He wasn’t like this before he met you,” she spat. “Before Margery brought your white trash, getting pregnant at sixteen ass into my estate and turning him into someone I didn’t know. He was in private school before you. Making great grades. On the fast track to becoming a medical doctor. Then you came around and changed his priorities. Made him go to public school. He joined football, got that head injury, and all of a sudden, he’s acting like he’s not the man I raised!”
I had gotten a head injury, but I hadn’t gotten it so bad that it’d rattled my brain or anything.
“He hates people, Gail,” Nettie pointed out. “He can’t stand them. He played football because he got to hit people. He refused to become a medical doctor because he didn’t want to have to talk to random people on a daily basis. And honestly, you’re lucky he’s a vet doc at all. He wanted to be a park ranger from the time that I’d met him. He was so passionate about wildlife and the land. You were just too stuck up and bitchy to see it.”
It wasn’t surprising that Nettie knew me so well.
I’d been introverted as hell, and so passionate about the area surrounding me that it was a wonder I took the time to notice Nettie in the first place.
But I had noticed her.
It would be impossible not to with those beautiful eyes of hers.
Nothing could ever compare to them.
Not even the best nature had to offer.
“He would’ve gotten over it.”
“You don’t get over hating people, Gail,” Nettie drawled. “Kind of like I can’t stand you still. You disgust me, and I would rather light you on fire than deal with having you as a mother-in-law. Yet, here we are, getting married at the courthouse next Tuesday. I get to have you permanently in my life.” Nettie smiled. “Though, I do almost have him convinced to go no contact with you…”
That was the straw to break the camel’s back.
My mother screeched something that I couldn’t decipher and launched herself.
Black was ready for the move and caught her before she could move two feet forward. Though not in time to stop my mother from raking her claws across my throat that she’d aimed for Nettie’s face.
“You’re under arrest…” Black said over her screeching. “Assault and…” My mother flailed. “Battery. Trespassing…” More screeching.
Black slipped on my Crocs by the door and hauled her out kicking and screaming.
I’d never seen my mother so undignified in my life.
