Page 86 of Shuttered Hearts

Declan reaches for me, concern evident on his face. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to make sure she doesn’t cause a scene. I’ll be right back.” I kiss his lips quickly and make my way to my mother.

When I make it to her side, I don’t say anything. I grab her arm and drag her toward the door.

“What do you think you’re doing?” She jerks her arm out of my grasp.

“You’re not welcome here. You should go,” I tell her, crossing my arms over my chest.

“You don’t have any right to tell me what I can and can’t do.”

“What are you trying to accomplish here?” I ask, wanting to be done with all of it. “Aren’t you sick of this yet?” Something over my shoulder catches Mom’s eye a second before I feel someone step up behind me.

“What do you want?” I hear Caleb ask.

“I just wanted a drink,” Mom says in exasperation, gesturing to the bar behind me.

“No, I don’t mean tonight. I mean, with all of this. What are you trying to accomplish by getting custody of Max?” I don’t think I’ve ever heard Caleb take the tone of voice. I’ve seen him mad, but this sounds so much worse.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Mom glances around, avoiding eye contact with both of us. “I just want my son. Why can’t that be enough for you?”

“You’ve been without him for ten years now, making no attempt to see or talk to him. It’s hard to believe that suddenly you want something to do with him,” I tell her.

“Well, with your father being sick, it felt like the right time,” she mumbles so quietly I almost don’t hear her.

“How did you even hear Dad was sick?” I ask, more confused than ever.

Who does she still talk to that would know Dad is sick? And why would that make her want Max back in her life? If she knows Dad is sick, she would likely know everything else about Caleb’s and my lives. She’d know we are both personally and financially stable and more than capable of taking care of Max.

And then it hits me. It’s not Max she’s after. It’s money. She thinks she’ll end up with money by having custody of Max.

I don’t know if I’ve ever been more disgusted with her than I am right now, and she said some pretty horrible things to me at The Diner.

“When I say there is nothing for you here, I mean that. Even if you somehow end up with custody of Max, there will be nothing else other than him. When Dad dies, nothing will go to you. Everything will be split between Caleb, Max, and me. And Caleb and I will manage Max's inheritance until he is old enough. You won’t get the house, you won’t get anything in the house, you won’t get any money. Nothing.” I’m a little surprised by how even my voice is, but I’m shockingly calm.

“I-I don’t know what you mean,” she says in mock offense.

“I don’t know what you think Dad’s situation is, but he has no money. Cancer treatments aren’t cheap. Neither are adoptions. Or supporting your children through college. When I say there is nothing, I mean it.” Now I’m getting angry, thinking about everything Dad has done for the three of us and everything Mom is trying to take from him.

“Do one good thing in your life and walk away because I can promise you this,” I say, taking a step closer to her, my voice quiet, “You. Will. End. Up. With. Nothing.” I emphasize each word, making sure she hears me. “I will always make sure Max is taken care of, but you? I don’t care what happens to you.”

And I realize, as those words leave my mouth, I mean it. I am done with her. I’m letting go of everything from the past, and I’m no longer worrying about how she impacts my future. Nothing she does now can hurt me unless I let it. And I am officially done letting her dictate anything in my life. I am nothing like her.

“Go back wherever you came from and forget about us. Exactly like you have for the last ten years. We don’t need or want you.”

“Quinn.” I feel Caleb’s hand on my shoulder and realize I’m shaking.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, taking a step back from Mom. “I’m fine,” I repeat. I look at Mom for one more second before turning around and returning to the table. I see Declan standing as if battling to stay where he is instead of coming to my side.

I offer him a small smile as I return to him. The weight that has been lifted off my shoulders is so incredibly freeing. After my conversation with Dad, I knew staying in Ashford Falls was exactly what Ineedto do for myself. But truly letting go of everything with my mother and being free of that makes me realize how much Iwantto be here. Not just because of Declan and my family but because I am more myself here than anywhere else. I feel safe and seen and at home when I’m in this town. Things I have never felt anywhere else.

“You good?” Declan asks when I’m close enough to hear him.

I smile, lean up, and press a tender kiss to his lips. “I’m great.”

forty

DECLAN

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