AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nod. Mom’s right. I can’t be the loser who stopped living my life. That guy who’s waiting and never moving forward. That guy definitely won’t win back his ex-wife.
“There’s something I’ve been considering,” I admit hesitantly, almost afraid to share my thoughts out loud. “I’ve been thinking about running for mayor. For real, this time.”
Mom’s eyebrows bounce upward before quickly smoothing back out. “Well, you’ve already got my vote, son. I know you’d be an amazing leader for this town.” Even though she’s trying to play it cool, I see the excitement swirling in her eyes.
I know she’s proud of the man I’ve become. She tells me all the time. But like me, I think she knows I could do more.
“Thanks, Mom,” I say, leaning in to give her a tight hug. “We’ll see how things go.”
We chat a bit more but I keep the details of my plan vague, not wanting to over-promise anything and build up Mom’s enthusiasm too much. Just in case I wake up feeling differently tomorrow.
But today? I have to admit that I’m leaning toward doing this. I’m leaning toward running for mayor.
I might be crazy, but maybe I’m ready to take this leap after all.
35
ALANA
“Itried to be nice,” I say sternly, my hands balled into fists as I stand on my mother’s rickety front porch. “I asked you to come to me if you actually needed something. But you didn’t. And you’re still stealing from me.”
I’ve been putting off this conversation, but I’ve finally gathered the courage to confront my mother about using my credit cards. And the other stuff, too.
In the past, I shied away from this sort of direct confrontation. I’d always beat around the bush, without really saying what I wanted to say. I always feared that putting my mother in her place would only stir up trouble.But where has that gotten me?
I’ve had enough. I’m ready to give my mother the tough love she needs. The hard truth is that so much of the turmoil I’ve experienced in my life has been the result of me trying to appease and protect this woman’s feelings.
I’m not fucking doing it anymore.
As usual, she’s not taking me seriously, though. My mother rolls her eyes, wrapping her robe tighter around her.
“Come on. You’re not serious, Alana. Stop being dramatic.” She takes a long suck from her cigarette and blows the smoke in my direction.
I remain unmoved in the face of her attempt to bait me.
“You’re my daughter,” she says flippantly, “and family helps each other. No matter what. That’s how I raised you.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Raised me? Raised me?! I’m not even going to respond to that nonsense.” But then all the things I’ve had to endure because of that woman come flooding back into my head. And I’m sick of avoiding that, too. “You know what?? Iwillrespond to that. Because your idea of ‘raising children’ was neglecting us, abandoning us and using us to do your dirty work whenever it suited you. Mothers don’t do that.Realmothers don’t do that.”
Right on cue, a police cruiser swings the corner, slowly rolling down this rundown street on the rough side of town. The vehicle pulls to a stop and Officer Mendoza steps out. When our eyes meet, he gives me a subtle nod. I nod back. He leans against the side of his vehicle, arms folded over his chest, staring sternly in my mother’s direction.
This morning, I called up my police friend to tell him I was ready to take him up on the favor he owed me. I’m pretty sure he didn’t expect to be playing police escort today, yet here we are. I’ve got to show my mother that I’m serious. And I think this may be an effective way to do it. At least that’s what I’m hoping.
From the look on her face when she sees the police officer, my mother finally seems to be getting the message. Her voice rises higher as she starts to panic. “You called the police?!” Her eyes bulge wide. “Fine. You’re mad. I’m not perfect. But you’re just going to throw me under the bus now?” she barks. “We’re family, Alana.”
The living room curtains flutter. I see Jordan peeking out. It crushes my heart. He deserves better than this. He’s a good kid who got caught up in a bad familial situation. Just like Stacey and me.
I’d like to believe that, by standing up for me, I’m standing up for him, too.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re family,” I say. “There are boundaries. Stealing is stealing. And if it doesn’t stop, I’ll be pressing charges.”
I hear a startled gasp from her chest. “You wouldn’t!”
I shrug like I don’t care. I do care about her. But I’ve got to care about myself, too. “I’m sick of being taken advantage of. Heck, I’m supposed to be the daughter here, the one who’s taken care of, but I’ve long acknowledged that we’ll never have that traditional relationship.I’m fine with that.But I’m not fine with being your personal ATM.”
“I thought you loved me, and here you are trying to send your own mother to jail? I don’t deserve—”
“I do love you, and that’s why I can’t continue to be your crutch. If you steal from me again, you’ll be hearing from my friend, Officer Mendoza.”
