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Trace dropped me off at the dorms after breakfast since I had plans to have lunch with my mom. I showered and dressed for the day and spent some time packing before I had to meet her. Since my mom was now living nearby we tried to get together at least once a week. With her new job, and classes winding down, it had been two weeks since I had seen her.
I glanced at the clock on our dorm wall and jumped up. I should’ve picked my mom up twenty minutes ago, since she didn’t have a car yet.
I grabbed my keys and bag, dashing outside, and drove to Avery’s house. I called my mom on the way, apologizing for letting the time get away from me.
When I pulled into the Callahan’s driveway, she was already waiting outside.
“I’m so sorry,” I told her as she climbed into my old blue Ford Focus.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” she smiled. “I know you have a lot of packing to do.”
I nodded, nervous about having to tell her that our plan to live together wasn’t going to work anymore.
“Where do you want to eat?” I asked her.
“How about T.G.I. Fridays? Don’t they have an area to eat outside? It’s so nice today that I’d like to be outdoors,” she suggested.
“That works for me,” I shrugged. I loved being outside, rain or shine, hot or cold.
The restaurant was fairly busy but we only had to wait five minutes so it wasn’t too bad.
The red umbrella shaded us from the brunt of the sun. The humidity in Virginia could kill you, I swear. Some days, it felt like you were walking through a thick wall of steam.
A waiter came and took our orders, and when he disappeared, I slipped my sunglasses into my hair and eyed my mom.
“You look like you have something to say?” She sipped her ice water, eyeing me over the glass.
“Um, yeah,” I looked down, fiddling with the strands of my hair, searching for split-ends.
“So, what is it?” She questioned.
“Um,” I wet my lips, “you see…Trace…he…um…he asked me to move in with him, and I said yes,” I cringed.
“Oh, honey, that’s great!” She reached for my hand, giving it a small squeeze.
“Really? You’re not mad?” I brightened, the anxiety draining from my body. I had been worrying unnecessarily since I had made my decision.
“Of course not,” she scooted the metal patio chair back so she could see me better. “I understand completely. He’s your boyfriend, and you need to further your life with him, not worry about me.”
“Still…I feel bad,” I admitted, adding sugar to my tea, and using my straw to mix in the granules. After what happened with Aaron, I felt responsible for my mom.
“Don’t,” she demanded. “I’m fine. I’m doing great at the hospital. They’ve already been hinting that if I keep up the good work, I could possibly be considered for a promotion,” she explained, excitedly.
“That’s great, mom!” I exclaimed. It was so nice to see her starting a life of her own, where she was able to do what she wanted.
“And,” she took a deep breath, “with Resa’s help, I’m seeing a lawyer next week to discuss my options for leaving Aaron. I was scared to do it earlier, but I’m ready for a divorce. It’s been five months since I left,” she took a deep breath. “I need to completely cut my ties with him and that life,” she swished her hands through the air in a cutting motion. “I’m ready to move on and I can’t do that if I’m still tied to Aaron.”
“I understand completely,” I grinned, so incredibly proud of her. She had come a long ways in only five months. There had been a change in her almost immediately, but the differences, now, were drastic. Sometimes, it was hard to recognize her as my mom. She seemed so much younger and vibrant now. Her skin glowed and her hair shined. But the biggest change, in my mind at least, was the fact that she smiled and laughed all the time, which were two things she never did while she was with Aaron.
She smiled gratefully at me. “I’m so lucky I have you, Olivia. You’re the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.”
“Mom,” I groaned, “you’re just saying that.”
“No, I’m not,” she shook her head forcefully. “I always wanted a daughter and I never imagined that I would have one as strong as you,” she reached for my hand, giving it a squeeze. “You’re a fighter, Liv. I know you don’t see yourself that way, but you are. Most kids,” she swallowed thickly, “that grow up with someone like Aaron as a ‘father’ don’t turn out well. It usually pushes them over the edge and th
ey let it affect everything about them. But not you, Liv.”
