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62
Drew
After Bailey skips out on me to go shopping, I ponder what my mom said the other night at dinner. What could she possibly be hiding? The whole thing is so strange. It’s utterly shocking in the best way possible, but I want to get to know the rest, so I jump out of bed and into the shower. I can still smell Bailey all over me. I could sit in her scent all day, but my mother would not appreciate it. They seem to have gotten off to a good start—no reason to mess up a good thing.
When I pulled into my parents’ driveway an hour later, I notice two things right away. My dad’s BMW is sitting in the driveway, which is strange because typically, he’d be on the golf course on a Saturday or out of town. No fail. Secondly, an attractive younger woman is sitting in the passenger seat who is not my mother.
It’s no secret that my father is a philanderer, but he has never blatantly rubbed it in my mom’s face. This is downright tasteless. I’ve gone from zero to fucking pissed in less than .01 seconds. He better hope he manages to sneak by me because I want blood. Luckily for him, he doesn’t even see me and remains in the car.
I tear out of my car, stalking toward the front door without even a second glance at that woman. I yank open the front door with a jerk and yell for my mom. Barreling down the hallway, ripping open door after door, I continue to call for my mother. I see her frazzled face as she turns the corner, hauling ass in my direction, clearly concerned.
“What in God’s name, Drew? We could hear you all the way on the other end of the house. What’s the matter?” She looks horrified, if not dumbstruck.
“What the hell is Dad doing here with another woman?” I’m seething.
Her face softens, and she pats my hand. “Oh, come now. That’s only Sarah, his financial advisor. She accompanies him on most golf outings.” She rolls her eyes. “Nothing new there.”
“Golf outings, my ass,” I say under my breath, but my mom throws a stern look my way. “I don’t care who she is. It’s disrespectful to bring his whores here.”
“Drew, calm down. Nothing is going on between those two. Sarah is actually a very nice girl. In fact, I think she’d run in the opposite direction from your father if she could. She’s very young and bright. She’s just doing what’s expected of her by him. I’m quite fond of her. You can relax.”
“Why is he even here? He hasn’t been around the past several times I’ve stopped in. I thought we were finally rid of him.”
She frowns. “Despite any issues your father and I have, you should respect him.”
I scoff. “I can’t respect someone who has given me every reason to be disrespectful toward them.”
“Please don’t carry this hate for him on my behalf. I allow most of what occurs in this house.” She lowers her head, looking ashamed.
That may be the case, but my mother shouldn’t have to allow that sort of behavior. He’s an adult and knows right from wrong. He’s a world-class prick, and most days, knowing I’m his offspring makes me cringe.
“I just don’t get why you stay with him.”
She laughs. “Where would I go, huh? Would I come live with you? Your father isn’t giving up his sprawling estate, and I organize the charities. This world would not be kind to me if I tried to start over. I came to terms with my fate a long time ago, Drew, and I wouldn’t change a second because I had you.”
For the first time in maybe my whole life, looking at my mom feels comforting. This is what a mother should be. Why wasn’t it always like this?
“Why, Mother? Why the coldness all those years?”
She sighs, resigned to have this conversation. She knows I won’t back down until I have the answers.
“I’m sorry you felt I was cold. It was never my intention. I put a wall around myself, but I never knew it affected you. For many years, I tried to build my own empire. I worked so hard to network and build a brand in myself so that eventually, when I had the resources, I could take you and we could leave. I tried to get out from under your father’s thumb, but I failed.”
“I can understand that, Mother, but where did it all go wrong? Between you and Dad, I mean.”
“I know you think you know what my life has been, but there are a lot of things you don’t know. Your grandma and grandpa were not my birth parents.” My mouth drops open, and creases form between my brows. My mother continues.
