I grab the last suitcase and a single bag full of my toiletries and swing it over my shoulder as we make our way down the stairs.
“Well, hello,” I hear my mother.
Clearly, she’s seen Caine.
“Ma’am,” I hear Caine say politely as I make my way down the steps.
“I’m hardly old enough to be called ma’am,” my mother coos.
I think I may have just thrown up a little inside my mouth, but I force myself down the last step where I come face to face with my mother.
Her eyes dart to me and then Jack, who stands behind me. She’s thinner, her eyes shadowed, her skin more weathered than last I saw her. Maybe her Botox is wearing off.
“I see you came for your things. I’ll call the police if you take anything valuable,” my mom says directly to me.
My heart pounds at her accusation. But I keep my mouth shut. Nothing good can come of me saying anything.
“We didn’t take any of your jewelry, Mom,” Jack says, and I can hear the derision in his voice. “We didn’t even go intoyour room.” His voice is clipped and direct.
“So, that’s it?” Mom asks, raising her arm and pointing it at me. “She’s poisoned you against me,” my mom says in a holier than thou tone.
“No, you did that well enough all on your own,” Jack claps back.
He places his hand on the back of my shoulder and pushes me toward Caine.
“So, this must be the boyfriend,” my mom says, eyeing Caine up and down before cold eyes stop on his face. “If you think you’re getting a girl with money, you have another think coming. Mikayla has nothing. She gets nothing. So, if that’s why you’re with her, you’re wasting your time.” I stiffen under Jack’s grip when my mom looks at me. “You’re such…”
“You know nothing, Heidi. Nothing. But here’s a little bit of truth for you. Caine isn’t with me because he thinks I have money. He actually loves me.Love. A word you seem to know nothing about. And I deserve to be loved!” I yell at her.
My throat feels as though it’s swelling, and I lift my chin in defiance of my tears.
“You selfish…”
“That’s enough,” Caine says. “Mick, go to the truck. Jack, is that everything?” Caine asks, turning to my brother.
“Yeah. Looks like we didn’t need the truck after all,” Jack says. “I didn’t leave much here, I guess.”
“Then I’ll call the pilot, see if he can stick around for another night,” Caine suggests. “Otherwise, we may still have to drive.”
“Pilot?” my mother asks. But no one responds. “Jack, are you seriously letting them mooch off you?” my mom asks, her lips twisted in disgust. “You can’t afford a private plane.”
“Goodbye,” Jack says, and I hear the break in his voice.
I take his hand in mine and squeeze it. “You’re the best of men,” I whisper to him as we follow Caine out the door.
“You’re such an ungrateful bitch!” my mom yells. “Taking advantage of your brother, taking his money, just like you took from your father. You just take and take! I did you a favor! Now you’re living with this lowlife? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
For a moment I stop moving. I shut my eyes and let the words hit their target. My heart.
“Dad knew me,” I say softly.
“Get your shit in the truck now!” Caine bellows from the hatch of the truck.
I walk over as he walks past me, my hands shaking. I turn in surprise as he walks up to my mother.
“Say goodbye to your daughter. This is the last time you’re going to see her. I will not tolerate you speaking this way to her or anyone else. Get therapy. Because you’re going to end up alone. And when we have babies, you sure as hell will not be welcome anywherenear them!” he yells, his face red with rage.
“Excuse…”
