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“I see.” She sighs heavily. “What do you want?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, shaking my head.
“You know, Victoria” —I turn my head toward her firm tone— “Brady lost her, too.”
My gaze falls to the floor as regret stirs in my belly. “I know he did.”
“On top of it…” She grabs my face and turns my head so I have to look at her. “He lost you.”
Her hand falls to her lap. The disapproving look on her face stabs me through the heart. “Are you saying I should take him back?”
She smiles. “You’re far too old for me to tell you what to do. I’m just giving you something else to consider.”
“In other words, I’ve been selfish.” She didn’t have to say it. I haven’t considered his feelings once since we lost Mona, as if I was the only one suffering.
She tilts her head. “You’re hurt, and you feel betrayed. The two usually lead to us being selfish.”
I put my head on her shoulder, exhaling a deep breath. “Tug said he’s not with Annabelle.”
I feel her shoulder lift. “I never thought he was.”
I lift my head and stare at her in disbelief. I’m not sure I heard her correctly. “What?”
“Anyone could see how attached he is to you. I never believed for a second that he moved on with that girl.”
I’m shocked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She smiles, a knowing smile. The one reserved for mothers. “If I had, would you have believed me?”
My brow furrows as I think about it. “I don’t know…maybe…probably…no.”
She lets out a small laugh. “I didn’t think so.”
Does any of it matter now? “But I know what I saw.”
Her hand rubs circles on my back. “Did you ever ask Brady?”
I stand up and turn away from her. “No.” God, how can she ask me that?
“I know what you saw looked bad, but you don’t know what happened once you walked away.” She gets up from my bed when I don’t respond. I feel her behind me.
I turn to
face her. “I don’t want to know.”
She laughs, a little too condescendingly. Why is she laughing at me? She’s upsetting me, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think it was on purpose. “Don’t you lie to me, Victoria Marie. You wouldn’t be talking to me if you didn’t want to know.”
I wish she weren’t right. I do want to know. It’s hearing Brady actually admit it that’s kept me from asking.
“You’re right. I think I’m afraid to hear the truth.”
“That’s understandable, but that fear is keeping you from being happy.”
I shrug, as if my happiness is no big deal. Lately, it isn’t. “I’m happy here with you and Dad.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not the same kind of happiness, and you know it.”
I do.
