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“Babe, I’ll always come home. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Tears now streamed down her cheeks. “Those were the same words my brother always told us and look what happened. Look what just happened. You could have died on that table in that hospital… You could have…” Sobs wracked her body as she buried her face into her hands.
I carefully sat up and was about to wrap my arms around her when she got up from the couch. She grabbed her purse and coat and turned to look at me, her eyes red and watery.
“I’m sorry. I just can’t do this with you again. I’ve got to go.”
I didn’t have time to say anything before she bolted out the front door and went down the steps. There was no way I could chase after her. I couldn’t move that fast, so instead I watched from the window as she got into her car and peeled out of my driveway.
Bailey
The dark-gray sky matched my mood perfectly this morning. I took a hot shower, dried my hair, and got dressed, then made my way to the kitchen for a quick cup of coffee before going to meet Mom. I was still hunting for a place just on the outskirts of Sunset Cove. I couldn’t stay here. There were just too many memories that still haunted me, and one man I knew I would never get over if I ran into him all the time.
After Jackson had returned home from the hospital and I ran out on him, I vowed not to return to see him. I’d come home in a panic and let Mom know that, as soon as I could arrange it, I would be leaving. Mom had cried herself to sleep that night. I heard the sobs coming from her bedroom. I felt awful and I too lay in bed that night with tears streaming down my face. In the morning, she made me promise her I wouldn’t move too far away this time, and she’d asked that I stay at least for Christmas. She also made me promise to have dinner with her every Sunday, either at my place or at hers. When I looked at my mother’s sad, bloodshot eyes, I couldn’t refuse. Later that afternoon, she had asked me to accompany her to the cemetery to place a Christmas wreath on Connor’s grave. I couldn’t refuse to do that either.
I pulled my car up alongside the cemetery and cut the engine. This was the first time since the day we buried my brother that I had returned to this spot. I leaned back against the seat, trying to calm the feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I took my time walking through the snow over to where my brother’s gravesite was. I could already see Mom in the distance saying a prayer. I hung my head and continued my slow walk, finally coming up behind her. I stood there quietly, listening to her hum one of her favorite songs. She removed the fall wreath, wiped away the marks on the tombstone before placing the winter one.
“Those were his favorite colors,” I said, looking down at the mix of red and white flowers on the Christmas wreath.
“Yes, I know, and Christmas was his favorite time of year. I neglected bringing a Christmas wreath here long enough, so I figured today was as good a day as any,” she said, placing the fall wreath down in the snow. Once she’d finished, she stood back and looked down at it.
“How is Jackson doing?” She questioned quietly.
I shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
“Bailey, you mean to tell me you really haven’t spoken to him? Goodness, they shot the man. He may need help with things around the house.”
I shook my head, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. I was feeling overly emotional today and really didn’t want to talk about Jackson. In fact, I just wanted this time of year to be over with.
“He’ll be okay. Ryan and Cara have been checking in on him. He’s in great hands.”
Mom stood up and brushed the snow off the knees of her pants, then looked at me. “Bailey, I always promised never to get involved in your private life. But there comes a time when a mother tires of watching her daughter make the same mistakes repeatedly.”
I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked defensively.
“It means that you’re being a stubborn fool. You love the man. I know you have been seeing him.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Bailey, I’m not stupid. I know you snuck off with him the night of the wedding, and I know you have been sneaking around with him ever since. All those times you claimed you were with Cara, I know the actual truth. You were with Jackson.”
I looked at the small smile that rested on my mother’s lips. “How did you know that?”
“Bailey, do you think because you moved away that I don’t know you? You are wrong because I know you well. I’m your mother. I know you better than you know yourself, my dear.”
I shook my head in denial. “Mom, please. Don’t get involved.”
“Do you honestly think I don’t know the things you’ve done? I know it all. I know about the times Jackson climbed in your window when you were only fifteen. I also know about the time you claimed you were going camping with the girls, but really, you went camping with Jackson for the weekend.”
I didn’t know what to say, and I did my best to hide my shocked face, but I also knew that the blush on my cheeks confirmed she was right.
“You want to know how I knew you were seeing him again?”
I nodded.
“Because, my dear, for the first time in years, I saw you smile again. You were finally happy, and you seemed at peace with yourself. The only time you’ve been like that was when you were with him.”
