Page 76 of The Challenge

I found her very endearing and felt a bit bad that she felt obligated to explain the situation to me, a virtual stranger.

“Do you think I’m judging you?” I asked.

Lydia shrugged. “I don’t know how you couldn’t be…”

“You want to know what I think?”

Her jaw flexed. “Sure.”

“You can’t change people. They’re responsible for their own decisions. The only opinion I have is that Katerina is lucky to have her mother, someone who cares about her and will love her no matter what. And Effie is lucky to have her grandmother in her life.”

Lydia’s smile faded. “Evan tells me your mother has dementia…”

Again, I found myself surprised at how much she knew. “When did Evan talk to you about me?”

“We talk on the phone after my phone calls with Effie. I asked about you since Effie wouldn’t stop raving about the new house guest.”

I nodded. “It’s been quite a visit between my mother and sorting through all of my family’s old belongings.”

“Emotionally heavy, I would imagine.”

“Yes.” Suddenly I was in tears.

Lydia rubbed my arm gently. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry to make you cry.”

“It’s okay. I don’t know why it’s coming out all of a sudden in the middle of this party.”

“Your mother would be very proud of how you’re handling everything.”

“I like to think that.” I sniffled.

“Grandma!” Effie appeared between us. “Did you make Chloe cry?”

“No, sweetie,” I answered. “These aren’t bad tears. Your grandma just made me feel some things that needed to come out having to do with my mama.” I looked over to find Evan standing there as well.

“You okay?” he asked, putting his hand on my back.

A shiver went down my spine as I wiped my eyes. “Yeah.”

“Grandma, come see the pumpkin I carved,” Effie said, pulling Lydia toward the door.

Once they were gone, Evan looked at me closely. “What was that all about?”

“Maura sort of ambushed me with your ex’s mother. Fortunately, Lydia’s an absolute sweetheart.”

“You’re right about that. I’m happy you had a chance to meet her. But why were you crying?”

“At first, she was talking to me about Katerina and how she has no control over her daughter’s decisions. Then she said you’d mentioned the situation with my mom. I started to cry when she brought up Mom, I think, because Lydia has such strong mother energy. I could sense her genuine concern for her child. I’m just really missing that in my life, having a mom who thinks about me, a mom I can call whenever I need to talk.”

“Sweetheart, I’m sorry,” Evan said. “I know you and Judy would be as close as you always were if she weren’t sick.”

“Yeah…” I murmured.

“I get what you mean about Lydia,” he said. “She gives me the same motherly vibe.”

I sometimes forgot that Evan had been without his mother long before I ever had to deal with my mom’s condition. He’d had it so much worse than me, lacking a father on top of that.

“It’s like a trifecta between you, me, and Effie. We’re all starving for our mothers for different reasons.”