I whirl around, my eyes zeroing in on Nana. The shocked look on her face says everything, and I feel a momentary stab of sorrow that she’s having to learn the truth about how my mother talks to me at her own birthday party.
“Did you honestly call Lily a…slut?” she whispers the last word, as if she’s too horrified to utter it out loud.
“A trollop, but it’s the same damn thing, pardon my language, Margaret,” Jude says in a gruff, firm voice that leaves no room for debate.
Nana slowly walks over to me and takes my hand before narrowing her gaze at my mother. That silent show of support, along with Jude’s steady strength, is what keeps me upright. The eyes of everyone in this room are on me, and I can’t help but feel the weight of their curious scrutiny. Are they seeing what my mother sees? A woman who dresses too provocatively and deserves those harsh words. Or are they seeing my mother for what she truly is, a horrible woman bent on destroying her own daughter.
I fervently hope it’s the second option.
“I’m ashamed to call you my daughter. No, I take that back. I’m ashamed to share a last name with all of you. Every single one of you, with the exception of Lily. You call yourself family but treat her like she’s less than you? That girl is the best thing this family ever produced. She has the biggest heart out of anyone here and deserves a hell of a lot more than what she’s ever received from her so-called family. I am ashamed. This party is over.” Nana shakes her head, glaring at my mother, and then my father, aunt, and cousin in turn. “Jude, be a dear and give me a ride home, won’t you? I don’t think I want to be around these people any longer.”
Unbidden, my eyes dart from my grandmother over to my mother, just in time to see the faintest flash of pain mar her face. It’s gone before I can even register the fact that my mother might feel a shred of remorse over her actions. Then again, it’s far more likely she’s just embarrassed at being called out in public, by her own mother, no less.
I wonder how she likes the taste of her own medicine.
Jude nods at Nana, and keeping one arm firmly around my shoulders, he offers his other to her. We leave the restaurant and my family behind as he guides us to where I parked the car not so long ago. On the short drive back to Nana’s place, she fills the silence with mindless gossip about some of her neighbours. I’m grateful for the space to process what just happened. I’ve never told Nana just how awful my mother can be, not wanting to cause any harm to their relationship. But now she knows, and not only that, she stood up to all of them.
And Jude. My grumpy knight in shining armour. I’ve never had anyone defend me like that. And while it wasn’t fun having the spotlight on us as he called my mother to task for her cruel words, listening to him put all of them in their place was… Well, it was amazing.
He spoke as if he loves me. As if I am the most precious thing in the world to him. As if he would protect me at all costs.
We pull up in front of Nana’s building, and Jude opens her door and then mine before stepping back to give us some privacy. Nana opens her arms and beckons me closer. I fold into her embrace, letting her love seep into me and soothe the damage done earlier.
“I’m so sorry, my love. We’ll talk later about why you never told me how bad things were with your mother. For now, just know that none of it is true. I can’t pretend to know what possessed my daughter to speak to you that way, but now that I’m aware of it, I’ll be setting them straight. No one deserves that cruelty, Lily, no one. Least of all, you. And I’ll be making it very clear that I won’t tolerate it.”
The hard edge in her voice surprises me. I don’t think I would want to be on the receiving end of whatever she’s going to dish out to my family.
“I’m sorry, Nana. I didn’t want to come between you and Mom.”
“Darling girl.Youdid not. Any problem between your mother and me is of her own doing. She’s been a jealous girl since she was young. I thought the closeness she shares with your aunt was a good thing, that their drive would give them strength. But it hasn’t. It has clearly made her cold and heartless. That is not on you at all.”
She pulls me in for another hug before releasing me. “Now, promise me you’ll go and let your wonderful man comfort you and cherish you and forget all about what happened earlier.”
I muster up a small smile. “I’ll try. I love you, Nana.”
“I love you, too, darling.”
After I get back in the car, I’m expecting Jude to drive us home, to his place or mine, but instead, he goes back to the parking lot at the beach where he confessed to me that his feelings are real.
“Is this our spot now?” I try to say teasingly, but the rawness that I feel in my soul bleeds into the words.
“I think so.”
Jude turns in his seat and strokes back my hair, his fingers landing on the earrings my mother despised earlier.
“I know you’re smart enough to realize that everything your mom said is wrong. That your family is toxic, horrible, and cruel, and none of what they said should be taken seriously. But I also know your heart is sensitive enough to be breaking right now.”
Tears form behind my eyes, and when the first one spills over, Jude’s there with his thumb, gently wiping it away.
“They’re my only family,” I whisper brokenly.
“No, they’re not. Your grandmother was correct when she said those people don’t get to call themselves your family if that’s how they treat you. You don’t need to ever have anything to do with them again, Lily. They don’t deserve you.” He leans in and kisses my cheek softly. Then he tips my chin up so I’m looking into his eyes. “You have my family. You have for a long time, and you know it.”
Chapter twenty-five
Jude
Ever since the luncheon when the shit hit the fan with Lily’s family, she’s been different. Quieter, but not necessarily in a bad way. More like I can sense she’s rearranging her entire understanding of herself and her life.
