AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Sixteen
Liam
I watch the Uber drive away, feeling my heart being ripped apart. Looking up at the sky, I wish I could go back in time and fix this before it all fell apart. I never should have brought Tracey and Deja around my mother. Even with my dad’s word, I should have known my mother would find a way to corner her and say something to send Tracey running.
When my mom had gotten up from the table, she had excused herself, saying her new medication was making her sick. Worry had flooded me as I wondered whether or not the cancer had come back. When she is in remission—as she is now—she shouldn’t be on any medication.
It had been my fault. I hadn’t suspected anything when she scurried away to the washroom, too blinded my own panic.
I should have known better. Should have learned from the track record my mom had already set with Tracey. If I could go back in time, I would have followed my mom to the washroom and made sure that she didn’t say anything to Tracey.
It was time for her interference in my life to end… past time.
I storm inside, ready to tear heads off and cut ties with my family. Tracey told me she isn’t going to make me choose, but there is no choice. My choice is her, and it will always be her. My mother is a cruel woman, and I’m not going to sit around and let my life wither away so my mother can feel good about herself. Cancer be damned.
I’ll always be there for my mother, but it’s time I establish clear boundaries in my life with her. She needs to know Tracey will be in my life for as long as she will have me.
“What did you do?” I ask, slamming my hands down on the table. Plates quake on the table as Dad jumps back and Jason stares at me with wide eyes.
“Liam, don’t start a scene in front of our guests,” Mom says, folding her hands primly in her lap and looking to the Goldsmiths. “They have come a long way to be with us here tonight. They ended their vacation in Thailand early for your dad’s birthday, and they shouldn’t have to be witness to family drama.”
“There wouldn’t be any family drama if you stopped trying to steer my life in whichever direction you decide is best,” I say, not giving the Goldsmiths another thought. Mr. Goldsmith has done business with my father since I was a child. He has seen more than his fair share of our family drama over the years.
“Actually,” Mr. Goldsmith says, looking at his watch, “I think it is time we were going. I think this is a family matter we shouldn’t be intruding on.”
Mom waits as the Goldsmiths gather their belongings, thanking them for coming to dinner, and wishing them a safe drive home. The moment they are gone, the smile drops from her face as she scowls at me.
“What did you say to Tracey?” My hands grip the edge of the table until my knuckles turn white. I don’t want to make a big scene in a restaurant, but this discussion can’t wait.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Mom bats her eyelashes and sits back in her seat. “Where did your little friend and her daughter go? The cake is about to come out. Although, I think you might have ruined the dinner with your temper tantrum.”
“What are you talking about?” Dad glares at my mother. “Elaine, what did you say to Liam’s girl?”
“I merely suggested that our son shouldn’t be dating the help.” My mother shrugs and crosses her arms over her chest. “She is not a suitable match for Liam.”
My heart jumps in my throat as I shake my head. “You callous, horrible woman. You ruined the best thing that has ever happened to me because you can’t stand the thought of me being with a black woman?”
Mom looks around, her mouth dropping open. People are staring, and some of them are people she knows. “Liam, lower your voice. We do not need to make a scene.”
“You’re damn right we don’t. I’m done with you. I thought maybe with Dad keeping an eye on you, you would keep your mouth shut and actually get to know Tracey. Maybe find out what an amazing woman she is. But, no. You decided that the color of her fucking skin was enough of a reason to hate her.”
“Liam, I didn’t think your mother would do this.” Dad gets up from the table and rests his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, son.”
“It’s not me you need to apologize to.” I shrug off his hand from my shoulder. “I’m done with Mom. If you want to see me, it won’t be while she’s around.”
My mother’s protests follow me as I leave the restaurant and get in my truck. I head for my house, my mind already running through the apology options. I need to apologize to Tracey. I will apologize to her every single day for the rest of our lives if that’s what it takes to keep her. This is my fault. I had foolishly believed my mother would rather see me happy than to be following her plan for my life.
I’d allowed my guilt over her diagnosis to blind me to her schemes.
I had allowed the best thing in my life to slip through my fingers because I couldn’t keep my mother in check.
The weight of my guilt threatens to overcome me as I enter my house and storm up the stairs to take a hot shower. I slam my fist into the tile, my knuckles splitting open. Blood pools on them before dripping to the white tile below.
“Liam!” Jason’s voice echoes through my house.
I turn off the shower, heading to my room to get dressed. There’s no point in answering him; he’ll find me soon enough. I’m sliding on my shorts when the door slams open and Jason appears.
“What are you going to do to fix this?” Jason crosses his arms.
