“Look,” Ty continues, “Lottie’s allowed to make her own decisions, even if they aren’t what you want. She’s put up with your demands for far too long.”
I go numb.
Ty is really doing this.
He’s standing up to my mom, who I turn to, bracing for smoke to shoot from her ears as she goes ballistic. Her eyes narrow, and she snaps back in a mocking tone, “You think you’re going to be Lottie’s savior?”
“No, she doesn’t need a savior. This isn’t about that.” He reaches back and touches my hand. “I care about her deeply, but I also care about your family. I’ve known you all for years. That’s why I don’t want her running away while things are unresolved—but that doesn’t mean I’m standing back and letting you bully her.”
My heart melts. I didn’t know shy Ty, the boy I’ve known since I was in grade school, had it in him to stand up to my mom. He stays fixed on her, going off without wavering, “And while I’m at it, I want to address the hockey comments you’ve made. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I’m good at what I do, and I make a great living. Thousands of guys would die to be in my position. I won’t apologize for anything. I know you look down on me because I don’t have some corporate, bow tie-wearing job. I don’t care what you think.”
He steps back, positioning himself next to me. “If you want to salvage any relationship you have left with your daughter, you need to get over yourself,” Ty continues. “Because from now on, anyone who disrespects her answers to me.”
And … my jaw drops.
Heavy silence presses in.
A frown sags on my mother’s lips, and I brace for the lecture to end all lectures. The world is likely to tilt off its axis from theexplosion she’s about to have. Ty has no clue what he’s set into motion. I cringe and wait.
“You remind me of someone.” She zeroes in on Ty. She’s not yelling, but shockingly calm. “Or I should say you remind me of someone who promised me the world and left me standing in the wreckage when it fell apart.”
I hold my breath, unsure where she’s going with this sob story. She’s not screaming yet, but it must be coming ...
Ty nods once. “I’m sorry that happened to you, but I’m not that person.”
My mom stares at the floor, and I start to doubt she’ll explode. Her expression is completely foreign to me and heavy. “Lottie, I was only trying to protect you,” she says with a hitch in her voice.
I tuck in my chin and peer at her. “Protect me from what?”
Her hard expression softens, sadness lurking behind her eyes. “I don’t need to go into all the details now. Just know I was young once too.”
I’ve never felt sorry for my mom, but a tinge of sympathy rises in me. Whatever happened to her definitely had an impact. She looks at Ty. “I don’t like this. I know your type, and you’re clearly going to break her heart and ruin her life.”
“I won’t promise not to hurt her,” he says calmly. “Promises like that are easy to say and easy to break.”
Mom’s mouth tightens, and my heart sinks.
What is he even saying?
“But I will promise this,” he continues, not breaking eye contact with her. “I will never make her earn my love. I will never walk away when things get hard. And if she decides tomorrow she doesn’t want me anymore, I’ll let her go—because all I want is for her to be happy.”
He breaks eye contact with my mom and turns to me. My heart nearly stops when he adds, “That’s how I won’t break her heart. By treating her like her happiness matters more than my own.”
A bomb could explode in the room, and no one would flinch. I desperately want to fling my arms around Ty and kiss him, but my mom glares like we’re two teens in over our heads. I’m not sure she’ll ever accept I’m living my own life. Her lips roll in slowly, and she nods several times, as if the bobbing motion soothes her. After a beat, she simply says, “Okay.”
“Okay?” I repeat, unsure what she’s okay with.
“Yes, okay.” She nods faster. “You’re an adult, as you so rudely pointed out, so I’m getting out of the way.” She wags her finger at Ty and back to me. “But let’s be real here for a moment. You won’t find anywhere to take those goats. Why don’t you leave them here until you find a place? It’s their home too.”
I crinkle my nose. “Since when do you care about the goats?”
“I don’t care about them. I just know the trouble they cause. I can imagine if you try to board them somewhere, they’ll get into trouble, and it’s all over social media—”
“Ah!” I cut her off but then stop. She’s worried the goats will bring public drama. Shaking my head, I bite my tongue while Ty smiles at me, as if to help me stay quiet. My mom will never change. That doesn’t mean I can’t change how I react to her and how I let her arrogance affect me. Today, I’m choosing to stay unbothered. “Okay, Mom, deal. I’ll leave the goats here. I guess it doesn’t hurt to stay in the guest cabin until I have a new place, but it’s going to be sooner than you think.”
“Fine.” Her voice ticks up, like she’s taking control of the conversation again. “I have meetings tonight and have to leave again, so make sure you get them back in the pen.” She starts walking away but pauses at my doorway. Without looking back, she says, “If you need a reference for work, I’m happy to help with…” her voice trails off, and she murmurs, “Just give Brett a call, and he’ll get you what you need.”
“Sure.” My voice is so quiet I doubt she hears it. She’s never been generous with her time and has already turned on her heeland headed down the hall. Once her footfalls hit the steps, the tension finally drains from my body, and I sag onto the edge of my bed with an exaggerated groan.
