“You’re going to have to let Reece do his best.”
My brother may not help financially, but he’s incredibly handy and does fix most of the issues she has.
“I gave you everything you have in this world,” she starts in. “I gave you food, money, love, and anything you needed, you had. Even with all the pain I’ve been in since my accident. I’ve never let you and your brother suffer for it.”
I wish I could’ve recorded snippets of my life that rebukes all of this, but it would do no good. Even when Reece and I have told her our truth about our childhood, somehow it turns into us lying or just being cruel.
The only way to deal with her is either to accept that this is the way it’ll always be or cut her off completely. While I wish I could be strong enough for the second option, I’m not.
She’s my mother. She tried. I truly believe that my mother loves me the only way she knows how, and I will never be able to just walk away and let her starve or be on the streets.
“I know that, Mom, which is why I do whatever I can to help you. I’m sorry the water heater is acting up. I’ll call Reece and ask him to come again to work on it. As soon as I get back to New York, I’ll do what I can to send some extra money.”
“You will?” she asks with a sniff.
“Yes.”
My roommate, Brianna, has a lot of contacts and her one friend owns a bar. Occasionally, he lets me bartend, which always gives me some extra cash. I’ll reach out when I get back so I can try to help her a little more.
Mom coughs softly. “Thank-you, Tessa. It’s not easy for any of us. With you traveling now, it’s even worse.”
Yes, it is—for me.
Speaking of work…
“I’ll call you when I’m back in New York, okay? I have to finish up a project I’m working on now that I need to show the owner tonight,” I partially lie.
“All right, darling. I love you so much.”
If only I could laugh. “I love you too, Mom. We’ll talk soon.”
“Goodbye, my sweet girl.”
I hang up, staring at the phone and wishing that I could’ve not taken that call.
Wanting to put that ugliness behind me, I go back to my laptop and the project that actually is giving me joy and a sense of accomplishment. I’ve been working all day on the rodeo, which is going to be fabulous. I have the food vendors lined up, and a company is going to bring all the fencing, bleachers, as well as some other things she said we needed in terms of rodeo equipment.
Prior to the auction, we are going to host a few horse owners to come tour the facilities and meet with the staff.
At this point, we can do nothing about the rumors other than prove them wrong.
I’m sitting on the bed, looking over the flyer I made, tweaking the font a little when something slides under my door.
I jump a little. After the whole bug thing, I’m not exactly keen on things moving. Then I see it’s an envelope.
Weird.
I get up, pad over to get it, and smile when I see my name written across the front.
I open it and there, in Killian’s handwriting, are two lines.
I’ll pick you up at seven for a night out.
Dress warm.
K
What in the world?
