Page 29 of After Care

“Easy, girl,” Tommy said behind me, but I turned on him.

“Get out,” I bit, swiping a hand over my barely-there hair. “What was I thinking? Get out. Please.” I stared at him, then shifted to West, whose head hung while he brushed back his longer bangs.

“Mrs. Williams….” It was the first time he’d called me by my full name.

“West, I’m politely asking you. Leave.” My teeth grit with the request.

“Darlin’, I’m sure it looks—”

“Out,” I cut him off. My heart was in my throat. I was the pot calling the kettle black, and I hated myself even more for it. I’d given my daughter the impression this behavior was acceptable, appropriate.

Tommy glared back at me and then gripped West by the nape of his neck. He tugged his charge and shoved him toward the door. I flinched as it slammed behind them.

Turning to Masie, I saw her horrified face before it hardened. Tears welled in her eyes.

“How could you embarrass me like that? Nothing happened.” She slammed the bedroom door in my face. My shoulders fell, and I pinched my own eyes, trying to process that my daughter slept with a rock star in my condo. She was only eighteen!

Crossing to my room, I found Caleb smiling up at me.

“What’s wrong, beautiful?” he teased, spreading his arms like a child wanting a hug. I ignored him. “What happened?”

“I just found West in Masie’s bed.”

Caleb sat up and in mock-surprise shrieked, “What?” A hand came to his chest in an effeminate manner. “How could she?”

“Caleb,” I warned. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything. Sounds like Masie did.” He wiggled his eyebrows and then noticed the seriousness of my stance.

“Oh, fine. He called her after you left. I didn’t see the harm. He’s a decent guy. Masie said they were only listening to music, and I believe them. Geez, Mom, chill. Masie isn’t like me.” I found little reassurance in that statement, but knew what my son meant. He shared too much of his manslut escapades, more than a mother should know. Fortunately, my son and daughter were close, and Caleb was protective. He’d never let someone close to Masie if he thought he’d hurt her.

“How could you let him in here when I wasn’t home?”

“Uh, Mom. Eighteen,” he said, pointing to Masie’s door. “Twenty-two.” He pointed to himself. “Think we can handle being alone.”

Frustrated, I exhaled.

“I’m going to shower,” I snapped, heading for the master suite bathroom. When I finished, Masie still had the door to her room closed, and Caleb was in the other bathroom showering.

The day looked like it would remain overcast, matching my mood, and I decided retail therapy was in order. I needed to step away from all my thoughts and deeds.

I knocked on the bathroom door. “Caleb, I’m going shopping.”

“Kay,” he shouted back.

Grabbing my bag, and slipping into flip-flops, I headed for the parking lot. I wore shorts and a T-shirt for easy access to try on clothes. My credit card was suddenly burning a hole in my wallet. When I stepped out of the stairwell, I found West pacing near our rental car—a Jeep Wrangler my kids demanded I rent.

“West,” I said, surprised to find him walking to and fro, typing on his phone. His longer bangs were a mess, parting his hair in the middle with strands blowing in the low breeze.

“Mrs. Williams,” he addressed me formally again. “Nothing happened. I swear on my life. On my mother’s life. I’m so sorry. I know what it looked like…” His voice trailed off. Something stabbed me in the chest, reminding me he was only twenty-two. His plea seemed sincere.

“How did you get into my condo?” I asked.

“Masie…” he paused, rethinking the direction he wanted to explain. “Masie and I were talking on the phone, and I asked her if I could play her something. I went there…” He stumbled, and I instantly learned West wasn’t a good liar. He was definitely covering for my daughter, the little vixen, who I assumed invited him over as soon as I left. Whose fault was that? Tommy’s? I sighed. Mine, I recognized.

“West, you seem like a decent guy, and I might have overreacted in the moment. I trust Masie. I think I was just a little startled.”

“That’s what Tommy said. But I’m still sorry.”