Page 193 of Fame & Rhythm

Mum looks like she’s barely holding it together, so I stand and walk over to her. When she looks up at me, her eyes are already glistening.

I lean down and wrap my arms around her. “I love you, Mum. You’ll always be my mother, no matter what.”

She breaks, tears spilling as she clings to me. Dad rubs her back while she buries her face in my neck.

“I just love you so much, Annie. I couldn’t stand to lose you.”

I pull back enough to look at her. “You’re not going to lose me. She might have given birth to me, but she’s not my mum. She didn’t raise me. She wasn’t there for the sleepless nights, the sickness, the bad days. You were. You’ve been here my entire life, loving me, supporting me, guiding me. That’s what makes you my mum. Not her. You always will be.” Her sobs deepen, which sets me off too. “I love you, Mum,” I whisper as she clings tighter.

“I love you too, Annie. So much.”

I sit beside her while Dad watches us, his eyes shining. He reaches over, taking Mum’s hand, and she looks at him as he gives her a soft, understanding smile.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. You shouldn’t have to see me like this,” she says, wiping her tears.

“It’s fine, Mum. I get it.” I squeeze her shoulder gently.

“Annie, why don’t you call Aston? See if he can come over. He can stay the night if you like. I think you need some support right now, and as much as I hate it… he’s the one who can give it to you,” Dad says. “Go on, before I change my mind.”

I smile faintly, squeezing Mum’s shoulder again. She gives me a small, shaky smile, and I kiss her cheek before turning to leave the kitchen. I pause just outside, pressing myself against the wall as their voices carry.

“Oh my God, Colt, Loretta was a mess. She can’t be related to Annie. There was nothing nice about her. Annie deserves better than that,” Mum says, her voice tight.

“Baby, I know this is hard. I know you’ve dreaded this day since we adopted her. But Dee, if this is her birth mother, Annie needs to know her. If it turns bad, we’ll be there to support her.”

“But what if she likes her more than me? What if she goes to her for advice? For comfort? What if I’m not enough anymore? I couldn’t stand it, Colt. I love her too damn much.”

The scrape of chairs echoes as they move, and fresh tears spill down my cheeks. I hate that Mum feels this way. She’ll always be my first choice. Always.

“Dee, come here,” Dad murmurs, her sobs muffling against him. “That’s not going to happen. The bond you have with our girls is too strong. Annie loves you. You know that. Trust her. She’s made mistakes, sure, but she’s a good person. She knows right from wrong. This will be okay. I promise.”

I can’t listen anymore.

Mum’s crying cuts too deep.

So I head upstairs, moving quietly past Ella’s room. I push the door open just enough to peek inside. She’s fast asleep, and I don’t have the heart to wake her. She can stay blissfully unaware a little longer. I close the door softly and walk into my room, grabbing my phone.

I dial Aston.

It rings twice before he answers with a yawn, “Hey, baby,” he mumbles.

“Hey,” I reply, my voice flatter than I mean it to be.

“You okay? You sound… off. Sad?” The tears hit again before I can stop them. “Lennox, are you crying?”

I nod even though he can’t see me, sniffing hard. “I need you,” I whisper.

There’s a sudden shift on the other end, like I know he’s already moving.

“What’s going on, baby? I’m getting dressed now. I’ll be at your house in five minutes. Tell me what’s wrong.”

I half-smile, knowing he’ll drop everything for me. “My mum showed up on our front doorstep,” I whisper.

He chuckles lightly. “What do you mean? She lives there, of course, she would.”

I exhale, then suck in a sharp breath. “Aston… my birth mum.”

He goes completely silent. I watch myself in the mirror, really look this time. My eyes… they’re the same as hers.