“This is not the way I raised you! Have all my efforts gone to waste that you’d shame me this way? Ethan must be rolling over in his grave, and who could blame him! Messing around with his brother of all people.Yourbrother.”
“We don’t see it that way,” Josh said firmly.
“Oh, I’m sure.” Mom gave a harsh laugh. “But I’ll bet your parents do!”
Maggie glanced at Josh, but he hadn’t taken his eyes off her mom. A shadow flickered on his jaw as his muscles twitched.
Mom’s gaze toggled between them. “You haven’t told them. You’ve been hiding this from them. They’re gallivanting all over Europe, clueless that their daughter-in-law is betraying their dead son!”
“Stop it, Mom!” She had to get her out of there. Maggie sidled around her and snatched the door open. “You need to leave now. Please. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Mom didn’t budge. “I’m only telling you the truth. If you’re embarrassed, it’s because what you’re doing is shameful. I go out of my way to set you up with a nice young eligible man and you betray me this way—and after all I’ve done for you. You’re ungrateful and you only think of yourself.”
“That’s it.” Josh took Mom’s elbow and ushered her toward the door, his expression lethal. “Your daughter asked you to leave.”
At the door Mom shook off his hand, glaring at Maggie. “We are not finished talking about this, Maggie. I have to drive back tonight, but I’ll be calling you tomorrow.”
She wouldn’t be staying. Maggie almost sagged in relief.
“And you’d better answer! Hopefully you’ll have come to your senses by then.” Mom slammed the door behind her.
Maggie didn’t realize she was shaking until Josh pulled her into his arms. It felt as if all her energy had drained through her feet, leaving her as weak as an overcooked noodle. She buried her heated face in the cradle of Josh’s shoulder. She couldn’t even look at him! The things her mother said repeated in her mind on an endless loop. Shame washed over her.
His hands moved over her back, soothing. “You okay?”
The knot in her throat choked off her words. She nodded.
“I wanted to throttle her. I’ve never seen her like that. I mean, I knew from the things you’ve said she could be a real piece of work. But wow. I’m so sorry, honey.”
“I’m fine.” This wasn’t even anything new, though her mother usually saved her worst behavior for when they were alone. Mom preferred that everyone else adore and respect her, then they’d believe that Maggie was crazy when she complained about her.
“She’s wrong about all of it, Mags. You know that, right?”
Maggie wasn’t so sure. She was too busy trying to forget all the times her mother had flung many of the same words at her. She’d realized sometime during high school that her mother was a narcissist. When Maggie was older she’d researched the topic, read a dozen books on the subject. But that knowledge gleaned never seemed to stop the damaging effects of her mother’s harsh words.
“I’m not your brother. Your mother’s only mad because you dumped the man she wanted you with.”
“I know.”
“What’s so special about this guy anyway? Why does she even care who you’re dating?”
“He’s the son of one of her board members.”
Josh sighed. “Of course. It’s all about her. Having him as a son-in-law would give her some kind of advantage at work, I take it.”
“I guess so.”
“You can make your own decisions. You’re a perfectly capable woman. A wonderful person. It was all I could do to stand there and listen to her say those things about you.”
“Thank you for making her leave.”
“I wanted to clap a hand over her mouth. She’s wrong about you, Maggie.” He took her face in his hands and stared intently at her. “You know that, don’t you?”
“I know.” In her head anyway. When Mom was slinging words like darts, however, it was sometimes hard to convince her heart.
But what if Mom had a point about Josh? Deep down Maggie had been worried his parents might view things the same way as Mom. Might see her relationship with Josh as a betrayal to Ethan. “Do you think your parents will be okay with this?”
He didn’t answer for a moment. “I don’t know. It’ll probably come as a surprise. They might need some time to adjust. I was thinking we should wait till after the anniversary to tell them.”
