AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s fair, but let’s see the other side now. What do you risk by going against your father’s wishes?” she prompts.
My throat tightens, pulse racing. “He . . . Dad said he’ll cut me off completely if I meet with her.”
Tori makes a thoughtful sound. “That reaction seems extreme, given how close you two once were. He may come around with time to accept the idea. Still . . .” She sighs. “It’s a serious threat that could damage your relationship with him irreparably.”
I close my eyes, feeling tears threaten again. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Then I remember what happened to Cedric when he decided to quit medical school. Sure, Dad was upset. Highly disappointed. Though, he did give him an opportunity to do something different. What if it’s just like that with me?
“Only you can decide if having a relationship with your mother is worth the potential fallout with your father,” Tori says gently before I can voice out my theory about Dad’s threats. “It’s important to stay true to yourself, to listen to what your heart is telling you. The rest will fall into place in its own time.”
I let her words sink in. This choice is in my hands now. “Thank you, Tori. You’ve given me a lot of clarity.”
We exchange good nights and I set down the phone, suddenly feeling emotionally drained but clearheaded. I stretch out on my bed as darkness gathers around me. There’s so much I still have to figure out, but not tonight. It can all wait until the semester is over—or in five years. It’s not a life-or-death decision.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ameline
I wait until I receive all my grades before I sit down to dissect my new family drama. This time I don’t call Tori though. It’s all on me. I know the pros, the cons, and also what my brother and sister think. Cedric and I already discussed it, but Izzy . . . Well, she never told me she spoke to Mom. Somehow the conversation we had weeks ago feels false, a lie that I need her to explain.
The last thing I want is to resent her and to lose the relationship we have now.
Mom . . . well, I still haven’t decided what to do about my mother yet, but the most pressing thing is to confront Isadora. Why is she keeping things from me?
“Everything okay?” she answers immediately.
“Not sure yet,” I reply, sinking into my bed. All the emotions that I’ve kept bottled up now rush to the surface. Anger, betrayal, and sadness whirl within me.
How could Izzy, my sister who swore to always have my back, advise me against speaking to our mother while secretly talking to her herself?
What else is she keeping from me?
How could she do this to me? After all these years of being kept in the dark about our mother’s whereabouts, I finally have a chance to know the truth, and Izzy wants to take that away from me.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“You spoke to her. To our mother. You lied to me,” I accuse, my voice quivering.
On the other end, Izzy exhales sharply. After a couple of seconds she clears her throat and says, “Technically, I didn’t lie, Ameline. I omitted some information because I didn’t want to upset you, but if you must know, yeah, she called me first.” She pauses, and I picture her biting her lip with worry. “Dad found out and he was absolutely livid with me. I was able to persuade him that it was an innocent call, that we barely spoke, and it wouldn’t happen again. I just . . .” Her voice trails and I wish she would finish that thought, but she doesn’t.
I close my eyes, trying to calm down. I know how strict our father can be, and I don’t want Izzy to get in trouble because of me. But at the same time, I can’t understand why she wouldn’t tell me about her conversation with our mother.
“I’m sorry for hiding it from you, but I truly think it’s best if we forget about her,” Izzy says. There’s an edge of desperation in her tone. “Dad made it clear he doesn’t want us to have any contact with Mom, and it’s better for everyone if we just let this go.”
I grit my teeth as tears sting my eyes. “Let it go? How can you expect me to just forget this? I only had a mom for six years and I barely remember her. I want to know why she abandoned us the way she did. I deserve at least that much.” My voice cracks.
Izzy sighs heavily into the phone. “Believe me, I understand you. But it’s not that simple, Ameline. Please, for your own good, just drop it.”
Her caginess makes me certain—she knows more than she’s admitting. I want to insist, to demand that she tells me everything. But I can already sense her shutting down.
“Fine, but I’m not at all happy with you right now,” I say bitterly.
“I’m only trying to protect you. Please, try to move on,” she pleads before we curtly say goodbye.
I hang up, feeling simultaneously defeated and more determined to figure out what happened back then and why this is affecting us now.
Honestly, I don’t understand why they think I’ll let this go so easily. I finally have a chance to learn the truth. I can’t simply shove it aside and pretend it doesn’t matter. But there’s that small voice nagging me in the back of my mind. Is it really worth provoking an all-out war with Dad?
