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“I won’t, but how close did you two get?”
Mama paused before she spoke.“I thought I loved him, but then I met your daddy and I realized what true love was.”
“Damn,” Sweetie breathed.“That explains a lot.But I still think it’s a ridiculous feud.So what if you once were in love with Sam?You chose Daddy.Sam should accept that and Daddy should be happy ...instead of acting like stubborn, jealous fools.Of course, after last night, it seems like all men are stubborn, jealous fools who assume the worst without letting you explain.While you might be able to deal with that, I can’t.I won’t spend my life with a jealous husband who I can’t speak my own mind to.”
Mama’s eyes widened.“Is that what you think of me, Sweetheart Mae?You think I can’t speak my own mind to my husband?”
Sweetie wanted to kick herself for not being more careful with her choice of words.But it was too late to backpedal now.“I’m sorry, Mama.But it’s the truth.You have never once gotten after Daddy for being pigheaded, stubborn, and jealous.”
“Of course I have.I just choose to do it behind closed doors.”
Sweetie stared at her.“You yell at Daddy?”
“Yes, I yell at your father.Why do you think I made him build me a master bedroom on the back of the house when I was expecting you?Because I didn’t want our children to hear us arguing.I knew the pigheaded man I’d married and I knew I was going to get mad at him.But children shouldn’t have to listen to their parents fighting.”
Sweetie was too stunned to speak.All she could do was stare at her mother as she continued.
“But I guess maybe I should have let you hear a few of those arguments.Especially if it made you think your mama was a weak woman who couldn’t speak her mind.”
Sweet took her hand and squeezed it.“You’re not weak, Mama.You’re the strongest woman I know.I don’t come close to being as strong as you.”She hesitated.“Which is why I don’t think I can put up with someone as overbearing as Daddy.”
“I hate to point this out, but in your and Decker’s relationship, I don’t think he’s the one who’s overbearing.”
Sweetie blinked.“Mama!”
“I’m sorry, honey.I’m not trying to make you feel bad.I fell head over heels for an overbearing person so there’s nothing wrong with being a little more controlling than most folks.Just like there’s nothing wrong with being a little more quiet and levelheaded.Decker is the definition of quiet and levelheaded.Which is probably why you two hit it off so well.”
“He didn’t act so levelheaded last night.”
“Because he obviously cares a lot about you, Sweetie.Your daddy wasn’t the only one who made a fool of himself because of jealousy.I once caught your daddy in town talking with Jenna Leigh Jenkins.I jumped out of my car and threatened to pull out every one of her peroxided hairs if she didn’t stay away from my man.”
The thought of her sweet mama threatening anyone was too shocking to believe.“You didn’t.”
“I sure as heck did.You can ask Mimi.I couldn’t go into town for a month I was so humiliated by my behavior.Especially when I found out Jenna was just asking your daddy what he thought about her throwing me a surprise baby shower.”Mama hesitated.“Let me ask you something.How would you feel if you caught Decker sitting on a porch swing with Viola Stanley?A woman you know he’s dated and kissed before?”
Sweetie’s eyes widened.“Decker has kissed Viola?Did they have sex?”Just the thought of Decker making love to Viola like he made love to her had Sweetie feeling like she’d been punched hard in the stomach.It also made her want to pull out Viola’s dyed blond hair.Her mama must have read her thoughts because she smiled.
“See.Jealousy makes people do crazy things.So I wouldn’t be too hard on Decker.You’re upset with him for not letting you explain, but you aren’t letting him explain either.”Mama glanced at her phone sitting on the nightstand.“Is that off or on?”
Sweetie sighed.“Off.”
“So you’re just gonna run off like you did last time without talking things through?You didn’t talk things through with Jace.You didn’t talk things through with your daddy.And you didn’t talk things through with the town.Look how that turned out.Running never fixed anything, Sweetie.”Mama took her hands.“You mentioned that your daddy should be happy that I chose him over Sam.Does Decker know that you choose him over Jace?”
Tears welled again.“No.”
Mama sighed.“I know it’s hard for you to express emotions.I think that’s why you love to write songs.It’s a way of getting everything out without having to look people in the face when you do.But sometimes you have to face people when you’re telling them how you feel.”
“But what if I disappoint them?”
Mama stared at her with confusion.“Disappoint them?”
She nodded.“What if I can’t love Decker enough?I disappointed Jace and the entire town because I couldn’t love him enough.What if I screw up again?Decker’s their beloved town sheriff.”
“Oh, Sweetie.”Mama pulled her close.“I think you knew all along that Jace wasn’t the right boy for you.Just like I think you know that Decker is.Trust your heart, honey.”
“What about Decker’s heart?He hasn’t told me he loves me either.”
“I think last night spoke pretty loud and clear.Maybe the reason he hasn’t used words is because you’re leaving.Maybe he doesn’t want to throw anything in your path that will keep you from your happiness.”
