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“You’re not going to face her alone. She doesn’t get to hurt you.”
I know what he’s doing, but for the first time since we met, I don’t need him to comfort me or protect me. This is my battle. I have to face my mother.
Viktor must see it too, because he doesn’t add anything else. Instead, he washes me in silence as I lose myself in my thoughts. This is his way of loving me. It’s how he reminds me I’m not alone.
I leave the shower as Viktor gets under the water. I need to sort myself out before facing my mother.
Being a mother, I don’t understand how any woman could abandon not one but both of her children.
What can she possibly tell me that will justify her actions?
A few minutes later, there’s a knock at the bedroom door.
“Come in.” Oliver enters the bedroom. He is pissed. “Oliver, what’s wrong?” I ask on high alert.
“You don’t have to see her,” he declares, just as Viktor did ten minutes ago.
“What’s wrong?” Viktor asks when he exits the bathroom. His voice sounds as worried as I am.
“Everything is fine. I was just telling Ava she doesn’t have to see Diana.”
I glance between them, in awe of their love for me. “I know you’re both trying to protect me, and I love you for it, but I don’t need protecting. I need to face her.”
“I’m right here,” Viktor assures me before he kisses the side of my head, making me close my eyes.
I lean into him. “I know…” I step toward the bedroom door, “… but I have to do this alone.”
They don’t speak as I leave the bedroom. I feel Oliver close behind me. He might not admit it, but I know this is hard for him too.
I take a deep breath before I tread onto the bottom step. I won’t let a woman who hasn’t been in my life intimidate me. She might be my mother, but she isn’t my mom. Seeing her won’t break me.
I stroll to the living room with no expectations. Diana is standing casually by the fireplace as if she hasn’t a care in the world.
“Hi, Mom.”
She spins to face me. “Hi, sweetheart.” She heads my way. “Thank you for seeing me.”
She tries to hug me, but I make it clear that I’m not interested in hugging her. “Why are you here?”
She doesn’t even flinch at my waspish tone. It’s like she was expecting my reaction. She also doesn’t try to hug me again.
For a few seconds, we stare at each other in silence. It’s long enough for me to see that the woman before me doesn’t have a motherly bone in her body. Diana Byrne isn’t a mother to anyone. She wants something, and I suspect she will use Oliver and me to get it.
“And Olly is here too. It’s nice that both of my children are here,” my mother says, looking past me.
“My name is Oliver, and I’m not your child. What do you want?”
Oliver steps in front of me, blocking our mother from stepping any closer.
“I didn’t come to argue with you, Oliver. I just want to talk with your sister.” She turns her attention toward me. “Ava, you gave me quite the scare with your friend, the photographer. I wanted to make sure you’re alright.”
I step to the side to get a clear view of her, but Oliver moves with me.
I place my hand on his arm, wordlessly asking him to stand down before I step to the side.
“How the fuck do you know about Max?” I grab Oliver’s arm to stop him from doing something he might regret later.
“You are my children. Of course, I keep tabs on you.”
