Page 80 of After All This Time

"I'd better go see my mom. You know how she gets if her tea isn't practically burning her tastebuds off."

Tobias lets out a gentle laugh and holds out a hand to me, and I take it, allowing him to pull me up from the bed. "You should go see David before the party tonight."

"Can't wait." The sarcasm rolls off him effortlessly, paired with an exaggerated eye roll.

I close the door behind me, pass my nightmare of a room on the way down the hall, and head downstairs to find my mom.

Attached to the west wing of the estate is the summer house, a glass-walled monstrosity that someone in an overpriced suit probably convinced my mom was "timelessly chic." It's filled with light, every surface catching the warm, golden glow of the late afternoon sun. The floral couch, adorned with dainty coral and burgundy flowers, is front and center, looking as pristine as the day it arrived. My mom sits poised, a picture of composure, in her usual spot, her back straight and her ankles crossed. I have to bite back a laugh because this wholeQueen of the Manoract is so far up its own ass it's coming out the other side.

A tray rests on the glass coffee table in front of her, perfectly arranged with two tiny china cups and the most pretentious teapot I've ever seen.It'sstupidly expensive, one of those antique sets she bought impulsively during an auction she attended for "charity."

"Sit, darling. It's been forever since we did this."

"It's been a few months,"I reply, already bracing myself.

"That's the longest I've gone without seeing you. I don't like it."Her tone is light but edged with the kind of guilt she wields like a weapon. "I just can't wait for the year to end so you can come home."

"Who says I'm coming home?"

"Oh, don't be silly. Of course you're coming home."She laughs like I've just told the most ridiculous joke. "Everything you need is here."

"Firstly, it isn't,"I say, sinking back in my chair."And secondly, if everything goes well, I'll have a full-time position with the company and go wherever that takes me."

I pick up my tea and take a sip, ignoring the way it scalds my tongue because, honestly, I might prefer a burned mouth to the conversation I know is about to happen.

"Amelia,"she starts, her voice dipping into that patronizing tone she's perfected over the years. "Do you know how many dancers actually make it?"

"I'm going to be one of them,"I say flatly, refusing to look away.

"I'm sure you could,"she says, which is code forDream on, sweetie. "But just be prepared that it might not work out, and if it doesn't, you'll always have something here to come home to."

"And what's that?"I ask, setting the cup down harder than I mean to.

"Family, security, friends…"She trails off, her tone so syrupy sweet it makes my teeth ache.

"Right,"I say, crossing my arms. "The perfect trifecta of things I didn't ask for."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, Amelia."

"Not succeeding isn't an option for me, Mom. I'll keep going until I get to where I want to be, and you need to accept that. I won't end up like—"I stop myself, but it's too late. The words are out there, and her raised eyebrow tells me she heard them loud and clear.

"Like me?"

"You're happy. This life makes you happy. But it doesn't mean it's the life I want."

She leans back, crossing her arms, her expression hardening into that condescending look I haven't missed. "There are a lot of people out there who would love to have the life you've been provided with, Amelia. I may not have done everything right over the years, but you never wanted for anything."

"And I appreciate it."

"It doesn't sound like it. You wouldn't be where you are now without the dance tuition we've paid for over the years," she snaps back."So really, you should be thanking me, not judging me for enjoying the small luxuries in life after struggling for years when I was married to your father."

My head snaps up, and I can feel the heat rising in my chest. "Nothing was wrong with our life with Dad. We were loved."

On the verge of losing it altogether, I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stop before I say something I can't take back.

"You know what? I'm not doing this with you. We're here for your and David's anniversary, and I won't spend the weekend like this."My tone is sharper than I intended, but I don't care. "All I'm asking is for you to respect my choices. That's it."

She sips her tea, clearly composing herself, but the tension between us remains.

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