Page 80 of Ravaged For You

“I can’t take this anymore,” she continues. “I’m not sitting at this table a moment longer with these kinds of people. A musician, of all people. I want you, Maddie, to end this relationship right now. You hear me?”

“No, Mom.”

“What do you mean?” she barks back at me.

“I can make my own choices.” Despite my defiance, my voice cracks and is so weak. I’m terrified. My legs shake under the table as I will myself not to burst into tears.

You’re stronger than this, Maddie. Be strong.

I might’ve made a resolution to stand up for myself at the beginning of the year, but all that crumbles away when Mom is involved.

“No, you can’t make your own choices, Maddie. Not when your choices are this. I am being your responsible mother here. Break up with this godforsaken man. You’ve seen how relationships with men go, you’ve heard all my talk about it. You saw what your father put me through. Trust me, this man is even worse. At least your father was a Christian.”

“Please, Mom, sit back down. You’re being very loud…”

My mother doesn’t move. She glares at me.

She really wants me to break up with Axel right now, in this very public place.

Everyone is staring.

Please no. This is a nightmare made real.

I really should’ve guessed this was how today would’ve gone. I should never have allowed this to happen. This is my fault.

I tremble. No words come out as I try to rebuff my own mom. I don’t know what to say to her. I’m sensing everyone in this restaurant is gawking at me, waiting for my response to my mother’s hateful tirade.

But then Astrid stands up. She’s taller than my mom. She towers over her. Her characteristic warmth is gone from her face.

“Honey, my boy is no demon,” she says. Though she may be quiet, her voice is strong and powerful. “I am a Christian, so what I’m saying is from a place of love for a fellow believer, but you would know that Jesus Himself dined with sinners.”

“Pah.” That’s my mother’s response, but Astrid continues.

“I know my Bible inside and out, Mary, and I can assure you that nothing Axel and Maddie do is sinful. Anyone can be religious and have faith without the need to abuse their own child, or to get in other people’s faces. Or be rude. What would Jesus think of all this? Would He be on your side? Maddie is an adult. She can make her own choices, and you should support her in whatever she does as a mother. That’s what I know a good mother does, so don’t you dare try to insult her or me or my son. Your daughter is one of the most loveliest people I’ve had the privilege of meeting, and you should thank God every day for that.”

Mom takes it all in, but she doesn’t reply to Astrid. She turns her fire back onto me.

“How dare you associate yourself with such a witch,” she barks. “You’ve always tried to run to the dark side all your life, and I’m the one always having to pull you away from temptation. You never make things easy, Maddie, don’t you? You’ve always been such a pain. You need to end this relationship right now and promise me you’ll never see either of these two heathens ever again.”

“Please sit down, Mom.” I can’t hold my emotions back any longer. Tears stream down my face. I must be a horrible sight.

And then Axel rises. He really towers over my mother, but he doesn’t physically threaten her at all. He merely crosses his arms and speaks in a near-whisper.

“You’re Maddie’s mother, so I’m going to say this respectfully, Mrs. Leaver. I respect Maddie enough not to indulge my impulses and insult you in the same way you’ve just been going at, unhinged, for the last ten minutes, but I want you to understand one thing. I know Maddie. I know things about Maddie that she doesn’t know I know. I know that Maddie spends most of her paycheck every month paying for your bills. I know she’s nearly gone homeless for you without a single word of protest. She’s not some demon-loving woman, she’s an angel, and I know that most of all. Somehow you’re too blind to see that, even as her mother. Maddie is my angel. Maybe look to your own house before you judge someone else’s.”

The table falls silent yet again. Mom straightens her back. She doesn’t say a single word – she doesn’t even look at me – before she’s storming for the exit.

Which leaves just Axel, Astrid, and I at the table.

Silence again.

“I’ve got to go to the bathroom,” I whisper, before I rush off.

35

MADDIE

My crying finally stops. I dry my eyes and wash my hands before I reapply my makeup in the mirror.