Page 42 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“That isn’t true,” she says.

But it is true because Dad is always taking off, she’s always feeling like shit and burying herself in a novel, and that leaves me by myself.

“Come on, Mom. We haven’t had a real family trip since I was a little boy. I don’t want to be hurtful, but Dad isn’t going to change, and you deserve better.” The words fly out of me like some bad case of vomit I can’t help. Since I’ve broken up withScarlett and have been hanging around with Annie, we’ve been having these deep conversations and I’ve been seeing the world differently.

“Where is this coming from, Cade?” Mom asks.

Her denial runs deep. It pains me that she doesn’t want more for herself. A man who will love and respect her. My dad is not that man. The only person he loves is himself and hockey.

“It’s how I feel, Mom. Dad hasn’t treated either of us well in a long time, and yet, we put up with it,” I say to her.

“We are a family, Cade. We stick together through thick and thin,” she reasons and my heart breaks for her.

“Mom, I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but he’s hitting on young girls all the time. The minute he was unfaithful to you meant he didn’t respect our family.” On some level, I regret saying these things to her because it will hurt her, but on the other hand I am doing it because I love her. Because I don’t want to see her throw away her life on a man who doesn’t respect her. “Mom, are you there?”

The phone has gone silent. I hear sniffling.

I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling terrible.

“Mom, please don’t cry,” I plead.

“You’re right, Cade. It hurts to hear the truth but you’re so right. I’m a damn fool. I don’t know where your dad is. I haven’t seen him in two days. It’s Christmas morning. I was feeling sorry for myself.”

“You don’t have to stay with him. You can leave him.”

“I’m scared, Cade,” she says, breaking my heart.

“I’m here for you. Whenever you need,” I assure her.

“Thanks, honey,” she sniffles. “How are things going in . . . I know you’re in Michigan, but what is the town called?”

“Sunny Springs.” I laugh. “The farm is beautiful. I’ve met the cows. One of them is named Sally and she licked my face. I also had a goat poop all over me.”

Mom laughs. “That all sounds. . .great. You sound happy.”

“I am. There is some stuff going on with Annie’s family too. No family is perfect, but I am having a good time with her.”

“You like her,” Mom says.

When I don’t answer, Mom continues, “Come on, Cade. You just broke up with Scarlett so you haven’t been with Annie that long. I could tell at breakfast you guys barely know each other. My guess is you brought her for breakfast to piss your father off and it worked,” Mom says.

Damn, how can moms tell these things?

“I haven’t known Annie long. That’s true. I did want Daddy off my back. I knew he would be an ass about my breakup with Scarlett, but yeah, Mom, I like Annie. She’s different.”

“She’s special,” Mom notes.

“She really is,” I agree.

“I’m going to pack up here. I’m going home or maybe I’ll fly somewhere else. I don’t know, but I can’t stay here one more minute.”

“I know it’s hard, but I’m here if you need me. I was thinking of flying Annie back home for a few days if you want to meet us there,” I offer.

“That sounds sweet. But you and Annie are still new. I don’t want to intrude.”

I can’t lie to her a second longer. “Mom, Annie and I are pretending to be together.”

“What does that mean?” she asks.

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