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No new messages.
That’s weird too. Kaelyn and I often spend the day sending messages back and forth.
We’re always talking.
Always keeping in touch.
I like to feel connected to her even when she isn’t here. It’s why I got the tattoo.
Something inside me feels off.
Kaelyn needs me.
But I can’t just shrug off my mother.
“Fine.” I bite out. “I apologize for hanging up on you.”
“Thank you.” She falls into her seat and tosses one leg over the other, making herself comfortable.
Mom looks like the air-brushed version of an aging model. Her face is oval and sharp with eyes that are a curious shade between sky-blue and navy. She rarely frowns or laughs because it can create lines and wrinkles, but those eyes can communicate exactly what she’s feeling without her saying a word.
Her mouth is firm with stubbornness.
She’s here to make a point.
To remind me of my place.
“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way,” she kicks her fancy pumps and leans her hands against the chair, “let’s talk about why you hung up on me.”
I tap my fingers against my leg. “You didn’t give me the full story when you sent that Make It Marriage form.”
“If I’d told you that you were marrying Harriet’s daughter straight up, would you have skipped all the way down the aisle?”
“So you knew I’d have a problem with this?”
“I knew I needed more time to convince you. And I figured the Make It Marriage women would be better at that than me. You’ve seen Venus on the television discussing Brett McQueen. She’s quite the sweet-talker.”
“Don’t you want to know how I found out?”
“It really doesn’t matter—”
“Heath was here today.”
Her eyes turn stricken.
Pink lips tighten in distress.
Just like she knows where to hit me where it hurts, I do too.
Mom recovers quickly and dons an unconcerned expression. “Why do you think I’d care? Your brother chose his own path years ago.”
“Heath and I were talking. Catching up. I had my phone on silent, so I didn’t hear it ring.” I scrub the heel of my hand over my cheek.
It’s a half-truth.
Doesn’t matter.
I just need her out of my hair so I can get to Kaelyn.
