Page 150 of The Penalty

“I’m glad you have them in the absence of your father.” Her words aren’t cold, but they are curt. Maybe she doesn’t feel comfortable talking about them. We let go of each other. “Do you want me to make some tea?”

“That would be nice.”

We move into the kitchen, and I get the cups and tea box while she gets the kettle going. It boils quickly and we sit at the table making our tea in silence.

“Are you happy?” she asks at length.

I nod. “I am. It was a hard year, but it was a good one.”

She studies me. “Mrs. Ellis told me you and Teddy are dating.”

I nod, internally cringing a little. Hating that I didn’t tell her first. “We are.”

“Teddy? Not Tobi.”

I recoil. “Yes. Teddy.”

“Huh. That’s not what I expected,” she muses.

Did everyone but me and Teddy see Tobi’s feelings? Now I feel worse.

“He’s really wonderful. He helped me get through a lot this year.”

She smiles, genuinely, but it only lasts a second before a shadow comes over her. “I’m sorry I kept those things from you, and it made you feel like you couldn’t come to me. I thought I was doing what was best for you, but I do see I took away the choice from you and it’s your life. I don’t want that to happen again.”

I take a slow breath. “I don’t want it to come between us either. I know why you were jaded against Dad and his money. He lied to you for a long time and made our lives hard, but I’m not going to do that to you.”

“I don’t want your brothers to do that to you either.”

“I don’t think they will. I don’t think they are like their father.”

She nods, digesting my words. “I didn’t think your father was bad when I met him. He hid a lot from me.”

“I know. I know you didn’t know he was married or any of it, but this is different. They are my brothers, not someone I’m seeing.” I don’t want to argue this with her. Not again after how it went during the holidays.

She meets my eyes. “I know. And I know they are your choices to make. I hope they are good to you.”

“Thank you.”

“How did Tobi take you and Teddy dating?” she asks, taking the conversation in a totally different direction.

I stare into my tea mug. “Not well. I was actually going to go see him after you.”

“Be gentle with him. I’m sure he’s hurting. He’s loved you for a long time.” She reaches her hand out across the table, and I take it.

I squeeze her hand. “I will. I feel like a jackass for not seeing it.”

“It’s hard to see things we don’t want to. He’s been a good friend to you, and I hope you can fix things.”

“Me too.”

I get up to walk over to Tobi’s when there is a knock on our door. “Are you expecting someone?”

Mom shakes her head. “No.”

I walk over and pull it open to find a man I don’t know standing there. “Can I help you?”

“Rhys Godfrey?” he asks.

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