AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She gives me that same unsure smile. “I want to talk to you, Colt. I’ve been trying to contact you.”
Shaking my head, I avert my gaze as my heart feels like it’s going to shatter into pieces. “No. I can’t…I can’t deal with this…” My mom, who used to be there for me my entire life,walkedaway from me. I can’t let her back in.
I don’t want to.
Mom’s eyes move to Willow. “Hello. Is this your girlfriend, Colt? She’s beautiful.” She smiles at Willow.
Willow returns a small smile.
Mom faces me. “I know I made some mistakes and I know it’s hard for you to accept me back in your life. Maybe you’re not ready right now, but you might be one day. I’m staying at the Edenbury Inn. Come when or if you’re ready.” She smiles sadly, then does the same to Willow, before walking away.
I stare after her as I shut the door.
Willow wraps her arms around me, squeezing me tightly. She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t have to. Having her hold me like this is enough.
“I don’t know if I made a mistake,” I whisper against her shoulder. “Throwing her away like that? She’s my mom. But…” I lift my head and gaze into Willow’s eyes. “She hurt me. Sheleftme after my sister died. I can’t just welcome her back into my life like nothing happened. At the same time, though, she’s my mom.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “What should I do, Willow?”
She strokes my cheek, then leads me to the living room couch, where we sit down. She’s still got her arms around me when she says, “I can’t tell you what to do. Only you know how you feel. But from what I just saw there, it looked like she wanted to make up for the pain she caused you.”
I run my hand down my face. “What if she leaves me again? What if life gets too hard or she’s triggered when she thinks about my sister and abandons me? I couldn’t…I couldn’t bear it, Willow.”
She holds me close, kissing my cheek. “I know it’s hard, but if you want her back in your life, you need to take that risk and trust that she won’t leave you.”
“I don’t know.” I rub my face again. “I’m just so confused and lost.”
“Maybe talk to your dad about it. See how he feels. Does he want your mom in his life? Or are your parents…”
I sigh. “They never got divorced, so I don’t really know. Dad looks like he’s in pain whenever he talks about Mom. I’m pretty sure he still loves her.”
She takes my hand. “Then maybe what you need is for the three of you to talk and tell each other how you feel.”
I’m quiet as I mull over her words. “I want us to be a family again. I want things to go back to the way they were. I mean, they never will because we lost Bri, but she’d want us to be together.”
Willow presses her forehead to mine. “Tell that to your parents. They love you and want you to be happy.”
I nod slowly as I think over her words again. “Thanks so much for being here for me, Willow.”
She kisses my cheek, then moves to my lips. “I’ll always be here for you.”
I kiss her back. “And I’ll always be here for you, my beautiful, wonderful, genius girlfriend.”
***
After Willow leaves a few hours later, I go to Dad’s office and am surprised to find him cleaning out the place. It’s always been a mess and I’m glad he’s tidying up.
He smiles when he sees me. “Hi. Did Willow leave?”
“Yeah.”
After Dad came home, he talked with Willow and apologized for the way he treated her the night of the party. And he made an effort to get to know her. And when she wasn’t looking, Dad gave me two thumbs up, like he approves of her. I don’t technically need my dad’s approval to date my girl, but it’s great to have his support.
“She’s a special girl,” Dad tells me. “I’m glad you’re happy with her. She makes you smile and lights a spark in your eyes.”
I smile. “She does. Dad, can I talk to you about something?”
He stops organizing and looks at me. “Sure.”
We sit down at his desk.
