Anna nods. “I guess that makes sense.”
I’m glad when the conversation moves on to something else, but I notice how my mom doesn’t join in on any of the new topics.
“How come you’re so quiet?” I finally ask.
“Am I?”
“Yeah.”
She scrubs the side of a pot where food is stuck to the glass. “I’m just worried about you.”
I should be happy that her mother's intuition is so on point. Maybe I would be if I were a child about to run in the road before checking both ways, but I’m a grown woman who can fend for herself.
“You don’t need to be worried about me. I’m fine.” My defenses close over my chest like one of those heavy-duty Carhartt work coats.
“Are you sure?” She eyes me. “Because something seems off between you and Justin.”
“Nothing’s off.” I say the words in my cheery tone even though I feel the friction in my heart.
“You’ve always been so happy and bubbly—the summer sunshine that brightens every room—but the last few months, something has changed. You’ve lost the light in your eyes.”
Her words hurt, cutting deep into my soul more than anything else ever has. She’s not trying to hurt me or be rude. Everything she’s saying comes from a place of love. I know that. It just hurts because there’s truth behind it, a truth I don’t even want to admit to myself.
I’m not happy.
My gaze drops, and I focus on the next plate that needs drying.
“I think that’s why I’ve been so hard on you about Justin. I blame him for the dimness, but then he showed up last night, and I saw the old you return, and I thought that maybe these last few months I’d been too harsh.” She pauses her scrubbing and looks at me. My eyes slowly drift to her. “But I see the sadness again today, and I don’t know what to do about it. I want my happy, cheerful baby girl back.”
What do you say to your mom after something like that?
Tears start to well behind my eyes, and I glance away before she has a chance to see them.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say. “I’ve never been happier.”
“Okay.” She goes back to scrubbing. “If you don’t want to face the red flags in your relationship, then I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
Justin working one holiday does not mean our relationship has red flags. Things were so much easier and enjoyable last night when I didn’t have my mom scrutinizing every little thing about us.
“Hey.” Justin pops his head in the kitchen. “Should we go? I could really use some time at home to get some work done before the Black Friday sale hits at midnight.”
“You guys can’t go. We’re going to play games,” Hailey says from across the kitchen.
If I want my family—and mymom—to approach my relationship with Justin differently, then I need to pave the way. Lead by example. I can’t keep getting butt-hurt every time he doesn’t meet my family’s expectations, because like my mom said, she’s noticing the sadness. So I smile, knowing everyone is watching my response. “Why don’t you go home and work? You have such a big day tomorrow that you need to prepare for. I’ll stay and play games, and Juliet and Rick can drive me home.”
“Are you sure?” There’s complete shock on Justin’s face that I gave in so easily. Heck, I’m shocked. “I hate to leave you on Thanksgiving.”
I force my smile even wider. “I know, but it’s better this way.”
“Okay, then.” He leans in, kissing me on the cheek, then whispers in my ear, “Thanks for understanding.” That’s me, the most understanding girlfriend of the year. Hooray! He waves at my mom. “Janet, thanks for dinner. It was delicious.”
My mom gives a polite nod, but I know inside she’s biting her tongue, holding back all the things she wants to say to Justin. And after he leaves, she’ll unleash all those grievances on me. TheI told you so’sofI told you so’s.
thirteen
CALEB
A car door slams outside,and a few seconds later, a heavy knock bangs out in the family room. I glance at the clock. It’s eleven twenty-two at night. The only person who would be coming over to Justin’s condo this late is Summer.
