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She dumped the mug she’d carried over with her onto the table and poured coffee from the carafe in her arms. I didn’t mind that she’d preempted my order—most folk went for coffee after all—and I was just grateful she wouldn’t be interrupting again.
When she disappeared, slouching off, I grabbed the cup just so I could stop my fingers from fidgeting.
Clearing my throat, I murmured, “When Lauren and I were dating, I knew how much she wanted to work at a major museum. She’d already sent out internship requests, and I already knew I was aiming for New York.”
Ellen’s smile was sad. “She was offered an internship everywhere she applied. Even the Uffizi wanted her.”
My throat was tight at the loss Lauren had endured. I knew she wouldn’t view it that way. She’d stayed for her mother’s fight, and had been repaid a thousand times over by the remission that had been so hard won, but she’d had a gift.
Art restoration had been her joy, and I’d watched her lovingly apprentice for it with a local restorer. Had watched her blossom and bloom as she found her place—a place that had been lost when her grandfather had died. He too had been a restorer, one who’d taught her all the tricks to the trade.
“You let her go so you could have fun in New York? Is that it?” Joseph demanded angrily. “You think that’s a sob story?”
I scowled at him, then softened the glance because I didn’t want to argue. “No. Not at all. This isn’t a sob story. If anything, it’s just proof that the best plans can go awry.” I ran a hand through my hair, disheveling it and uncaring that I did so. “Everything was okay until I graduated a semester early. When that happened, Lauren…” I swallowed. “She panicked, I guess. She’d applied for all those internships at the beginning of the year, and had been so excited. But that excitement died when she realized I’d be leaving for the city too. She told me that she was going to quit school.”
My voice dropped at that last statement as I awaited the blow out my words could stir.
“Bullshit,” Joseph snapped. “Lauren would never do that. She had too many goals, too many aspirations… No way would she have dropped it all for a guy.”
Ellen, on the other hand, didn’t say a word. A sad smile curved her lips though. It was barely there, but its presence told me she knew I spoke the truth.
Joseph’s blast cut off when he turned to his wife, obviously expecting back up, but when he saw that smile, he too understood its meaning. His mouth gaped for a second, before he demanded, “You can’t be serious?”
“She told me,” Ellen confirmed, and rapped her fingers against the table a second. “I wasn’t happy about it. How could I be? But I couldn’t exactly make her stay.” She blew out a small breath. “I wasn’t sure if that’s why you broke things off with her, Cooper, but I guessed. I saw the way you two were together, knew it was real. I was honestly relieved that you’d let her go, and sorry for you both too.” She sighed. “I never thought I could be so sad my only daughter was in love, and with such a gentleman too, but the day you left, I knew what you’d done. For her.”
Joseph fell silent, his thoughts turning inward as he reached for his cup and took a deep sip. Then, he demanded, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Ellen bit her lip. “I wasn’t sure how it would pan out, and I knew how you’d react.”
“Fucking furiously, that’s how,” Joseph snarled, but Ellen didn’t flinch.
“I know,” she snapped back, fighting fire with fire. “That’s why I didn’t tell you. That’s why I never told you even when Lauren calmed down and started getting over Cooper. I knew you’d never understand.”
“Of course I wouldn’t. She’s… she’s clever. So damn smart… Why would she throw it all away on a guy?”
“She did the same for me,” Ellen pointed out gently.
“That’s different. You’re her mom, and you were sick!”
“It doesn’t matter. She dropped it all for me. That’s the kind of daughter we raised,” she said, and I could see the pride in her eyes at that fighting with sorrow at Lauren’s sacrificing of her goals.
I rubbed my thumb along the rim of my coffee cup. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m intending to date your daughter again. She’s not seeing anyone, is she?”
Joseph’s eyes flared wide at that, and I could see his innate response was to be annoyed. Ellen, on the other hand, looked relieved.
Her response warmed me, made me feel like the hope I had wasn’t a futile one.
“I think that’s a very smart decision, Cooper,” she informed me. “Lauren’s never gotten over you. And no she isn’t seeing anyone. Not that she’d be happy about my telling you any of that,” she tacked on.
I breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve never gotten over her either.”
She cocked a brow. “Truly?”
I nodded. “How could I? I never wanted us to break up. I wanted us to be one of those sappy couples who marries in college and sticks it out forever.”
Joseph snorted. “You mean like Ellen and me?”
“Oops.” I made the comment wryly, and they both laughed—though Joseph’s was definitely begrudging. “But yeah, like you and Ellen then.”
