“Shit, now how do we get home?I need to call my mom,” Jessica said, frustration evident in her voice.
“I could call Marco if that's okay with you both.I know he's nearby at another party,” Emily suggested quietly, mostly glancing at me and fiddling with her fingers.Jessica turned to me, hoping this was a viable option.I felt the pressure to agree; how could I say no?
“Sure, go ahead and call him,” I said, forcing the words out.
Emily stepped aside to make the call.
“Fifteen minutes,” Emily said as she returned, nervously biting her lip.
Marco arrived even earlier than I had anticipated, causing my heart to race.Emily occupied the front seat this time, and I struggled to suppress my laughter at the absurdity of it all.It was such a bizarre scenario that I could easily pen a book about it just to revisit and chuckle at it later.
We exchanged brief hellos, but nothing beyond that.They opted to drop me off first, and I was more than okay with it; I just wanted this night to conclude.I wish I had opted for a cozy evening with a book, which felt infinitely more appealing than the drama unfolding around me.
When I stepped out of the car, I awkwardly wished everyone a good night before making my way to the door.Marco lingered, as he always did, patiently waiting until I was safely inside.It was such a comforting routine that I couldn't help but smile.
After closing the door behind me, I kicked off my shoes and headed toward the kitchen for a glass of water, but I suddenly froze in my tracks.
“Hi.”
Chapter 14
My mother sat alone at the kitchen table, a nearly empty bottle of red wine beside her and a flickering candle casting shadows in the dim light.
“Hey,” I managed to say, finding my voice after a moment of surprise.“Were you waiting for me?”I inquired, but she only shook her head and took another sip from her glass.
“Goodnight.I'm heading to bed,” I said, turning to climb the stairs.
“Luna,” she called softly, “please stay for a bit.I want to talk.”She gestured to the chair next to her.I hesitated, not wanting to hear her justifications or claims that I didn't understand, or the possibility that she had fallen in love and would abandon me or my dad.I wasn't in the mood for that tonight.
Yet, the look in her eyes was pleading, making her appear so small and vulnerable.It felt as though I was the adult and she was a child confessing to a broken vase.Reluctantly, I sat down beside her.
“Want some?”she offered, lifting her glass toward me.
“No, thanks,” I replied with a smile.
“Good, because that was a test,” she said, and we both shared a quiet laugh before the mood shifted back to somber.“Remember when you didn't want to get up for school?I would wake up early and bake you chocolate croissants.The scent would draw you from your dreams, and you'd race down the stairs to catch them fresh from the oven.”Her gaze drifted to her glass, her fingers tracing the rim.
“Yes, I remember,” I said, trying to conjure the memory of their warm, sweet aroma.“You haven't baked in a while,” I remarked, looking back at her.
“I know,” she said, and nodded thoughtfully.“How did you grow up so quickly?Look at you—a woman, going out, dating.Where is my littlemoon?”Her eyes were filled with nostalgia, as if the person sitting in front of her was a stranger rather than her daughter.
“I just grew up; we all did.Change is part of life…” I replied, the weight of that last sentence hanging in the air.She lowered her gaze to her glass, taking another sip.The silence grew heavy, and I almost stood up to leave.
“Did I ever tell you what happened when I got my driver's license?”she asked suddenly.
“No, you haven't,” I replied, intrigued by why she chose this moment to share.
“I was eighteen, newly licensed, and I drove to the store for the first time alone.Your grandma sent me for groceries.I was so excited, feeling all grown up and responsible, with a grin plastered on my face.I gathered everything she needed, and as I returned to Dad’s car, I started the engine while still in park.But then—bam!Someone hit me from behind.It was an accident.An elderly woman had accidentally reversed into me.My joy vanished in an instant, replaced by a knot in my stomach.I felt this crushing ache in my heart.My dad had trusted me with his car, our only car, and on my very first solo drive, I had an accident.I feared he'd see me as reckless, and I felt like I'd lost everything.Things would never be the same between us.Yes, he eventually let me drive again, but I could feel the hesitation lingering; he never fully believed what happened that day.”She paused, her voice heavy with regret, and I swallowed hard, feeling her pain.“I never felt that kind of happiness while driving again.Luna, about what you saw in Rome…” She hesitated, and my heart raced at what might come next.“What happened in Rome isn't exactly what you think.I didn't cheat on your dad.Yes, I kissed the man, which could be considered cheating, but I didn't sleep with him,” she said, taking my hand.
“Mom, please stop…” I felt my eyes widen, desperate to block out what I didn't want to hear.It was uncomfortable.She should have said that to Dad, not to me.
“Yes, I was briefly infatuated with him.We had lunch together a few times while working on the same project.There was flirting—innocent at first—but then a kiss happened, and then another.For a moment, I lost sight of who I was.All that attention made me feel alive, desirable.I got swept up in those feelings, but when I realized what I was doing, it was too late.I told him it was over the same day we spoke.I felt ashamed, like I had betrayed you both.I told your father everything, but I'm not sure if he believes me.Luna, please don't think poorly of me.I never meant for any of this to happen.It was just momentary, and I regret it deeply.I can't bear the thought of you looking down on me.I made a mistake, and there's nothing I can do to erase it.I'm so sorry.”
Tears streamed down her face, and I felt her anguish so intensely that I couldn't hold back my own.She buried her face in her hands.In that moment, we both cried, no longer just mother and daughter, but two friends sharing the weight of life's burdens.I understood her in a way I hadn't before; there was no judgment in my heart, just an awareness of her suffering.
I wrapped my arms around her as she pressed her head against my chest, seeking comfort, as if I were her shield from the outside world.
“Please forgive me,” she whispered, clutching me tighter.
