The table fell silent and our mom stared at me like I’d grown two heads. Dallas leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stubble in a very stressed out way. Austin’s brows shot up as his expression hit theoh shit, Avery went thereface.
“Excuse me?” she asked.
“We think you need therapy,” I said firmly. “It’s a good thing. It’s healing. I go to therapy and?—”
“Well you go because you’ve got problems up there,” she said, making a gesture toward my head.
“Jesus.Mom,” Dallas interjected. “That’s not an okay way to say that. And therapy is healthy, especially after loss?—”
She sat her fork down, the metal clinking against her plate like a sharp exclamation point. “I’m not going. I’m doing just fine.”
“You’re not though,” I said. “You’re not wearing any makeup. You’ve lost weight. We know you’re not going out like you used to?—”
“I’m saving money.” She tipped her chin up defiantly, and I got a glimpse at where my fucking stubbornness from. “None of you need to worry about me.”
“But, weareworried,” Austin said. “We all think you need to do this.”
“And I said no. End of discussion.”
“It’s not the end of discussion,” I said. “We’re not children anymore, and you can’t just shut us down.”
Her eyes narrowed on me. “Why do you always have to pick a fight with me, Avery? What did I ever do to you except give you a roof over your head?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that was a hard thing to do, since you’re the one that chose to have me,” I seethed.
“Avery,” Austin said softly.
“No, really,” I said. “It’s not even that I’m picking a fight with you. I’m just not rolling over and doing exactly what you say anymore. You do need therapy. Half of the money I pay my therapist has literally gone to me trying to fix my relationship with you.”
“Well, they’ve done a shit job.”
Ouch.My eyes stung. “I’m trying harder than you are.”
“Are you? You never come see me. Never call me. Never do anything with me.”
“You don’t see me, call me, or do anything with me either. It goes both ways. I shouldn’t always have to be the one to reach out.”
“And I should be?”
“At leastsometimes,” I said, exasperated.
She scoffed. “Well, I’m sorry I’m not your father. He always had a way of getting through your bullshit. I have no idea how, though, and never will.”
I stared at her for a moment and then pushed my chair back.
“Avery,” Dallas pleaded.
I stood up and grabbed my plate, taking it to the kitchen. My spine stiffened as my mom sighed.
“Avery, I take it back,” she said. She clearly didn’t fucking mean it. “Stop being dramatic.”
“Mom, you’re not being nice right now,” Austin said, his words stiff. “We’re trying to help you, and you’re not listening to us.”
“What? I’m not the one stomping around and being a bitch about it. She is.”
“Mom,” Dallas snapped. “What iswrongwith you?”
I cleared my plate and put it in the sink. My eyes continued to burn as I swallowed back tears. I needed to get the fuck out of here, but I paused to look at the three of them. She twisted in her chair to give me an exasperated look. Austin was clearly angry, and Dallas was in shock.
