AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My mother holds my gaze. Doesn’t look away or fiddle with anything or make excuses. “Yes.”
I sigh. Shake my head. “Why do you stay with him, Mom? Why do you put up with it?”
“It’s how things are, Scarlett. You know that.”
“But it’s not how they have to be. Dad isn’t worth it. Let him go.”
“And do what?”
Get a lifesounds too harsh. “I don’t know… Be happy?” I hear a younger Scarlett in the suggestion. One less jaded. One who believed in happy endings.
She laughs. “Oh, sweetheart. This lifeiswhat makes me happy. Being
Josephine Ellsworth is who I want to be. Your father is far from perfect, but he’s a good man. I knew exactly what we’d be when I met him for the first time. Everything that we would never be. I made my peace with it before we got married.”
“What do you mean?”
“We wanted the same things. He needed a wife. I wanted a husband. Our fathers agreed, and that was that.”
“I’m aware how an arranged marriage works,” I say, tone dry. She used to tell me their marriage hadn’t been arranged, that they were in love, and it was just another lie. Part of the perfect family façade to try on when it suited. I pretend I don’t care. “I’m in one, remember?”
My mother smiles. It’s the same one she always gives me when she thinks I’m being ridiculous. “No, you’re not.”
I give her a look thick with disbelief. “You planned the wedding.”
“Yes, I did. I saw it then and I see it now. That boy is in love with you, Scarlett.”
I’m so shocked by her words, I can barely blink. I know Crew cares. Things between us have evolved into a friendship and a comfort I never imagined our marriage might contain. But love? My mother is in shock. Her husband had a heart attack and was found with his mistress. But still… “You’re delusional.”
“No, honey. That’syou.” My mother has perfected the art of spewing condescension in a sweet tone. It layers every syllable. “Why do you think he came all this way?”
I swallow, and admit, “I’m pregnant.”
My mother’s face lights up. “Really?”
I nod. “It’s…confused things between us. I’m hormonal, and it’s just… He’s a good guy.”
It’s not the full truth. Lines blurred between me and Crew long before two of them appeared on the pregnancy test. But it’s the story I’m sticking with when it comes to my mother. I wish we had the sort of relationship where I could confess everything that’s happened between us. The way Crew makes me feel.
But we don’t, and it’s never bothered me more than it does right now. I’ve always prided my independence. I’m not the spoiled rich girl who has her every whim catered to. My default appearance is poised and prepared. But right now, I want to fall apart.
Crew walks into the waiting room, and my heart does a silly little skip.
“Any news?” he asks, taking the seat beside me.
“He’s out of surgery. Should make a full recovery.” I share the update like it’s a weather report. But I don’t feel obligated to play the loving daughter in front of Crew. I know he won’t judge me.
“Good.”
My mother leans forward. “Congratulations, Crew. Scarlett shared the happy news about the baby.”
He doesn’t look surprised I told my mother. “Thank you. We’re excited.” His hand squeezes my thigh.
My mother gives me a pointed look. I ignore it; she’s in no position to be doling out relationship advice.
“You should go get some sleep, sweetie,” she tells me. “You look exhausted.”
“I haven’t slept in…” I try to count the hours. “A while.”
