Good. Because I think Nadine would love to come.
LOL that’s my boy.
Wes put his phone down, and his smile disappeared as Ma’s key sounded in the lock. His heart raced. He was astonished to realize it always did when she was home, as his whole body went on alert, trying to anticipate what she would need from him. It had been such a relief to experience not walking on eggshells during the last three weeks that he couldn’t believe he’d stood it for all those years. Erma put a paw onhis leg, and he gave her a pet.
Well, he didn’t have to deal with it much longer. The moment he’d arrived home, he’d known it was time for him to move out, despite his lack of employment. He would give his mother a month to get used to the idea as he searched for a place. He’d sent Ella the money for her Italian internship but still had enough to afford a small, cheap apartment that would be all his own.
The front door closed. Wes thought of raking the Zen garden and walked down the hall to the kitchen to greet his mother.
“Hi, Ma,” he said in an even tone calculated not to offend. “How was your day?”
“As if you care,” she said, taking the tea canister down and banging it on the maroon laminate counter.
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t care,” said Wes.
“If you cared, my tea would have been ready, and you wouldn’t have left for three weeks, barely talking to your mother.”
“I texted while I was away, and you didn’t answer. Amy said she helped out.”
“Amy is a good girl,” said his mother with satisfaction. “I have one good child.” She looked at Erma. “I said I wanted these cats gone.”
“No, you said they were my responsibility.” Wes gripped the back of the chair. His mother hadn’t said a word about getting rid of them. Not one.
“I didn’t. I told you to get them out of my house.”
A text came in from Nadine.Meeting pushed up. Going in. Wish me luck.
He sent back a heart as his mother watched with suspicious eyes. “Who are you talking to?” she asked.
“A friend.” Wes wasn’t ashamed of Nadine, but he also saw no reason to give his mother more ammunition. He nudged Erma gently with his foot, urging her back to the safety of his room, but she stayed close.
“A friend?” His mother’s voice grew high. “I bet it’s a woman. Youdeserted me for a woman. What kind of son are you?” She slapped her hand to her chest as if stunned at his perfidy and started to cry.
Wes watched this anticipated response and waited for the guilt. Instead, he felt new emotions edging in. Was it pity? A bit, and a lot of exasperation. Resentment. He didn’t care to look too closely at that one.
“I didn’t desert you,” he said. “I’m sitting right here in front of you.”
“The girls have left me. Your father. Everyone leaves.”
“Ma, you’re not listening. We’re still a family. Amy is only down the street, and when I leave, I’ll be close as well.” Oh no. He hadn’t meant for it to come out like this. He had planned to minimize the impact, although he’d known there would never be a good way to tell her.
“When you what?” Her hands hit the table, and Erma bolted at the sharp sound.
Wes decided to come out with it fully. “I’m going to move out,” he said. “Next month, as soon as I find a place.”
“Moving out.” His mother’s laugh had that bitter edge he hated. “This is my repayment. No one to take care of me. All my life, I do nothing but work for you, and I get nothing. Nothing!”
No matter how many times Wes heard a variation on this, it always hurt. He swallowed hard. “Ma, I know it’s a change, but it will be good for us to have some space.”
“You can’t leave,” she said loudly. “It’s your job to be here, after all the years I took care of you.” She clutched at her chest. “My heart. This is your fault. It’s your fault my life is like this. You need to fix it.”
The guilt and remorse and frustration and all those other feelings were shoved aside in a mighty push as he remembered Nadine’s words. “No,” said Wes, almost disbelieving it as it came out of his mouth.
His mother stopped crying and stared at him, hand dropping to her side. “What did you say?”
Wes looked straight at her, hoping he could break through and they could finally, for once, talk like adults. “I love you, Ma, and I’ll help and support you, but it’s not my responsibility to fix everything that wentwrong in your life. I’m sorry you had a hard time. I’m grateful for the sacrifices you made for us. But ensuring your happiness is not my job.”
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish.
