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“He beat you and me daily. He was a bastard, a fucking asshole that was a drunk and needed to be put in his place a long time ago.” Toby’s anger grew, and although he regretted saying the words as soon as they left him because his mother’s eyes widened, he had meant every word.
“I won’t lie and say your dad didn’t have his faults, but I loved him, Toby.”
He shook his head and blew out an exasperated breath. His mother loved a man that was a worthless, abusive drunk. “So you aren’t coming back to Silver Springs with me?”
She patted his hand, smiled, and shook her head. “Will you stay a bit longer, help me finalize everything before you head back?”
He nodded. He had time off of work, as much as he needed to take, but staying here brought back a lot of memories. “Yeah, Mom. I’ll stay here for as long as you need me to.” His mother had been a slave to his father for far too long, and even in his grave Robert Mason still controlled shit.
“I just don’t understand how they could pass you up for that promotion,” her mother, Geraldine Clarke, said and picked up her dainty little fork. She poked at a piece of lettuce, put it in her mouth, and stared at Shoshanna. “I mean, you have a degree, are far more qualified than half the staff there—”
“Mom, please,” Shoshanna said and leaned back in her seat. She was having lunch with her mother and father, and although Shoshanna hated this at times, she did love her parents, even if her mom was on her case constantly.
“Geraldine, please let her eat and don’t hound her about work,” her dad said and grabbed his hamburger. Her father had always been a hardworking man, and when he’d made it big with his investments he still didn’t stop working from home. He had money now, but did everything himself, and wasn’t this snob that her mother had turned into over the years.
“I’m just saying, she could have gone to Birmingham University and gotten a degree that wouldn’t have landed her in a job that didn’t promote her.”
“Geraldine, please,” her father said with a stern, almost angry voice.
Her mother threw her hands up and leaned back, as if she were exasperated with the whole thing. “I just want the best for her, and with that worthless guy cheating on you and leaving you for some bimbo—”
“Mom, I don’t want to talk about any of that. In fact, I came to lunch in hopes that maybe, just maybe, you wouldn’t get on my case for once.” Anger and annoyance filled her.
It had been two weeks since she’d been with Toby, and although she knew his father had died, and he must be going through so much right now, she wished she could see him again. Hell, she’d settle for talking to him.
But even though she had always wanted him, and had felt this connection with him during that one night of pleasure, she wished that things would end up how she wanted, instead of how she knew it would be. Toby had so much to deal with, and surely he wouldn’t have time for her now more than ever.
“For once how about you remember where you came from?” Her anger rose as she stared at her mother, her wide blue eyes trained on Shoshanna, and her red lips pursed. Her mother stared at her stunned she had said anything in return. Her dad patted Shoshanna on the shoulder, a smile on his face.
“I understand you’re upset about the job and boyfriend—”
“Yes, I am, Mom, but still, I am done hearing about how you wish I would have chosen a different profession, and how you wish I would meet a guy that had money to take care of me like Dad does for you.”
Her father cleared his throat, probably uncomfortable that Shoshanna was speaking to her mother this way, but there was something inside of her that just couldn’t handle this right now. She had always been the quiet and timid person that let others call the shots.
Shoshanna had been that geeky little schoolgirl who did her homework early, didn’t have a social life, and always kept her head down.
But for some reason she was done with all of that, at least right now. Her annoyance was winning out, especially as she listened to her mother complain about the life she’d led.
Her mom tossed her napkin on the table and stared at Shoshanna with still narrowed eyes. “Fine, Shoshanna. If you don’t want to listen to what I have to say, then you can sit here and eat alone.” She stood, stared at Shoshanna’s dad, and then lifted a brow. “Marlon?” her mother asked annoyed, “Are you coming?”
“I’ll meet you in the car,” her dad said and stared at Shoshanna. Her mother stormed off, acting more like a child than a grown adult. When they were alone at the table he reached out and took her hand.
