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CHAPTER
18
Lucy’s parents approached dressed in their best attempt at a night out. She had last seen her father in a suit jacket at her cousin’s wedding three years before, and her mother wore the wrap dress and cardigan she saved for trips to the local theater. They looked positively lost on a glitzy rooftop in downtown L.A. The fact that they were even there sent a warming rush of affection to Lucy’s chest. She tried to remember if she invited them or simply let the time and location slip to her mother. Most likely the latter.
Based on their faces, she knew they had, thankfully, missed the drama. Her father would have inflicted twice the damage Leo had if he had witnessed the scene. And her mother... Well, Lucy could only imagine.
“Happy birthday, darling,” her father said, and kissed her cheek. He held a pink envelope in his hand, no doubt stuffed with a birthday card bursting with glitter or butterflies or flowers and a generic quote about being a beloved daughter. There would be a check inside for one one-thousandth the amount of the one stuffed down her bra, and Lucy would put it toward useful things like groceries or her internet bill even though the card would instruct her to buy yourself something nice. The predictable sentiment tightened her throat with emotion.
“Thanks, Dad.”
Her father excused himself farther down the bar, leaving Maryellen and Lucy alone for what Lucy knew was the whole reason they had come.
Her mother hesitated, one hand on her purse’s strap like someone might steal it. Or like she was nervous.
The thought that she had made her mother nervous twinged Lucy’s heart with sadness. “Mom, listen. I didn’t mean to upset you earlier. Sorry if what I said sounded harsh.”
Maryellen looked like she was fighting to let Lucy finish speaking. Lucy wasn’t sure what to make of that, since her mother often cut her off. She took a breath and nodded. “It’s okay. I understand why you would feel that way, sweetheart.”
Lucy started, expecting to be scolded.
Her mother let go of her purse strap and continued. “I just want what’s best for you; both your father and I do. And I’m... I’m sorry if I get carried away sometimes, if I may seem perhaps more involved than you would like me to be. You are a remarkable young woman, and we are so proud of everything you do.”
Lucy thought she might be dreaming. In fact, she couldn’t be sure that her mother had ever told her she was proud of her before. She had shown it in various ways, sure. But saying the words out loud? Lucy had no specific memory of it.
“Thank you,” she said. “And thank you for driving all the way up here. You didn’t have to do that.”
Her mother brushed her off. “Well, I know you’ve had a hard day, and we thought it would be special to see you on your birthday. How are things with work?”
The reflex to roll her eyes came on strong but fizzled out given her mother’s peace offering. But still, they’d gone from greetings to discussing her career in under a minute.
Lucy realized with a rush of relief that she had good news to report on that front. “Work is excellent. I’ve been promoted to senior publicist.”
Her mother nodded in impressed approval. “That’s fantastic. And that man...?”
The way she trailed off, Lucy knew her mother had read everything she could find on the internet. She’d spent the afternoon watching the volley of allegations and denials, and she had just narrowly missed the grand finale. Though if she stuck around the party, she’d surely hear about it.
“I won’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“That’s good to hear. You know, girls your age have so much more support than back when I was working full-time.” Something unexpected and dark shaded her voice, and Lucy wondered just what was in her mother’s past. What did she not know about the woman who raised her? Maryellen paused and looked down at her feet in sensible pumps. She looked back up and gave Lucy a soft smile. “I’m glad things have changed enough that you can speak up now, even if it is still hard.”
Lucy cast eyes toward the table where Annie had joined the crowd. She chatted with Nina and sipped her cosmo. “I had help.”
Her mother breathed a contented sigh. “Well, I don’t doubt that you know what you’re doing and that you are making the best decisions for your career.”
The words melted over Lucy like golden light. She basked in the approval.
“And what was that you told me about you and Caleb earlier?”
The golden light snapped out, and Lucy silently swore that if the topic of marriage and children came up, she would drown the rest of the night in tequila shots.
“We broke up.”
“Ah, that’s what I thought. Unfortunate, but for the best, I presume?”
“Yes.” Lucy’s face burned, and she looked at her own feet. “He was not the one for me, turns out.”
“Well, I wish Caleb the best, but I trust you to follow your heart, Lucy. And I hope I have reason to get to know the very nice young man who was asking about you in the elevator.”
