Carl places a hand on mine and squeezes. “We’ll talk about this later, babe.”
He stands, hugs my mom briefly, and disappears into the shop, closing the door behind him.
I hang my head. The shame I feel is overwhelming.
“You could have come to me,” she says, taking the seat Carl just vacated.
“I just didn’t want you to know what your daughter was. A lying, cheating—”
“Just stop. I won’t have you saying those things about yourself. God knows, we all fuck up, but you’re my daughter, and I will not turn my back on you.”
“It all happened so fast. Wyatt and I were both in a difficult place, him about to lose his dad, and me about to take the biggest step of my life, knowing I was still in love with another man. I turned out just like Dad, didn’t I?”
“Oh, Hayley. You could not have fallen farther away from that tree. Does Wyatt know?”
“He doesn’t. Maybe I should have bitten the bullet and written to him. The fact that he didn’t want to be with me didn’t mean he wouldn’t want to be a part of his child's life. However, I was selfish; I wanted her to myself. I didn’t want her heart getting broken when he left again.”
“He should know, baby; it’s only right. Your father is the biggest asshole I’ll know, and even he deserved to know. The choice of whether or not he wants to be in London's life, that is purely up to him. However, don’t take that away from either of them.”
“Mom, he left me, after making me believe that we finally had a chance at a future together. He made all sorts of promises, but his country would always come before me.”
She stands and walks around to where I sit, rubbing my shoulders, loosening the knots at the base of my neck.
“Can you at least think about it, and about telling Katherine Barnes?”
“Mom. I—”
“Just think about. It’s all I am asking. The woman is heartbroken; she lost her husband, and she fears losing her son every single day. Maybe that will give her some hope. That family is hurting.”
She kissed the top of my head. “I don’t see you any differently. You’re still my girl.”
When Mom leaves, I feel the sobs bubble up within me. Wyatt doesn’t deserve me and he sure as fuck doesn’t deserve my daughter.
