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16
It’s Time!
One more day.I can handle this. Adam may not be able to, though.
My mother has been a royal bitch to him all morning. For no reason at all. Anytime he says anything, she rolls her eyes. Snide remarks fly from her mouth any chance she can make them. If tossing her out the front door was an option, I might do it.
I'm hoping that she can behave herself at dinner tonight. Maybe with other people around, she'll find a way to act like a loving, caring mother. The mother she once was. Before I disappointed her. Before I made a decision she didn't agree with or support.
I'm not going to hold my breath.
Haley and Gus are the first to arrive. Gus is a great distraction for Adam. Five minutes after they arrive, he's set up a race track on the living room floor. Gus has a tow truck in one hand and a race car in the other, clapping them together in delight.
The timer goes off for the pot roast, and Haley follows me into the kitchen to help finish prepping food.
"So, when does your mom leave?" she asks, keeping her voice low.
"She can't hear you. She went upstairs to take a nap an hour ago." Pulling the roast from the oven and setting it on the counter, I start moving the potatoes from the pan and into the mixing bowl to mash.
"Oh, good."
"She leaves tomorrow afternoon. Chloe’s going to ride with us back to Denver to make sure I don't accidentally drop her off on the side of the road," I remark, a vivid image of my mother in the rear-view mirror as I drive away bringing a smile to my face.
"You can do this. It's only one more night," Haley replies encouragingly.
"I sure hope so. You know, she wasn't always like this. She used to be my biggest cheerleader. She was supportive to a fault. It didn't matter how big or small my decisions were, she always encouraged me to make my own decisions, to be my own person, and supported whatever I chose."
"What changed?"
"Life. She didn't agree with how I handled what happened with Liam. She thought I was pushing him away, and she was right. She couldn't see that as much as I loved him, I couldn't be with him anymore. It was emotionally draining. All I could think about was the baby we lost. It made me resent everyone and everything for a long time."
Turning on the mixer, I slowly add butter and milk until the potatoes are the consistency I'm going for. Passing the bowl off to Haley, she adds salt and pepper before transferring the potatoes to a serving bowl. We work in silence, chopping veggies for the salad. Once that's finished, Haley begins pulling out plates and silverware to set the table without being asked.
I watch her closely, looking for the woman I met months ago and not finding her. She was a shell of a person that day. So much has changed for her. Not only her living conditions but her outlook on life. She still struggles from time to time, we all do, but she has us to help her when she needs it. We've become her family, and she and Gus will always be a part of our lives.
Rubbing my round belly, I smile at Haley even though her back is to me. If I've learned anything about being a mother from her, it's that this child is worth fighting for. I'll do anything for him or her. They'll never have to question whether or not I love them.
Now, if only this baby would decide it's time to come out and meet everyone who loves him or her already. With only a few weeks until my due date, I'm starting to get anxious.
The doorbell chimes, startling me.
Chloe doesn't ring the bell. She waltzes in as if this is her house, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Wyatt tends to knock unless we're expecting him. He may have walked in on Adam and I doing something he never wanted to see.
Oops.
Peeking around the corner, I watch as Adam opens the door. I expect Lola to latch onto him, or even run past him and into the house. Neither of that happens.
Adam's large body takes up the doorway, blocking my view of our unexpected guest. Taking a step into the living room, I inch closer to see who's here but stop dead in my tracks when the sound of his voice hits me.
Liam.
What in the hell is he doing here? Why? How did he even know—
I'm going to fucking kill my mother.
Screw dropping her off on the side of the road. She may want to sleep with one eye open tonight. That's if I don't kick her out before dinner.
Slowly backing up, I turn to find Haley standing behind me, a look of concern on her face. Shaking my head, I close my eyes, suck in and slowly let out a deep breath. When I open them, my eyes fall to my mother, who is now standing in my kitchen looking proud of herself.
