Page 60 of Forever Theirs

That fake smile from Aspen shifted to a shocked expression as she gaped at the phone.

“Wait a second, Mom. How do you know all this? I called to say hey and let you know where I was. I haven’t mentioned anything about me leaving the magazine.” Her voice trembled with restrained emotion. “And who the hell are you saying I left behind?”

“Since you didn’t feel the need to call and inform us of your little breakdown…” I stifled a curse and dared a step toward Aspen. Her gaze jerked my way, dark eyes widening. “I was concerned about you when you didn’t return my messages, which is very rude, Aspen. When you get home, we will have a long discussion about respecting your parents.”

“How did you know, Mom?” Aspen gritted out, jaw clenched so tight I worried about her teeth.

“Well, this James fellow, very kind and utterly concerned about you, called and told me everything.”

“I highly doubt that,” Aspen muttered under her breath. “And what didJameshave to tell you, Mom?”

“That you two were a couple, that he really saw a future with you, even though you were the independent type. A family, Aspen. He talked about wanting a family withyou.” It was my turn to gape at the device in Aspen’s hand, at her mother’s incredulous tone. Was she really shocked that someone would want to marry and have a family with Aspen? Because that’s exactly what it sounded like. “He was worried about you and called to see if I knew where you were and if you were okay.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“That I hadn’t spoken to you, but I was certain you were fine and that I’d let him know once I heard from you. But I think it would be best coming from you, dear. Rebuild that bridge before he walks away, realizing you’re too much trouble.”

“What the fuck?” I murmured before I could restrain myself.

“Is someone there?” her mom said, and Aspen winced.

“Please don’t let him know you talked to me, Mom. He’s not who you think he is. Did you not question his claims about us being a ‘couple’ when I never once talked to you about him over the years?”

A long sigh came from the phone, amping up the anger burning in my veins.

“Fine, fine, if you want to throw away a perfectly wonderful future, that is on you. I was just thinking if you wanted to stay in Seattle, he was a good option. Though it sounds like you just need to come home.”

“I am not coming home.” Aspen laughed with zero humor.

“How are you going to live, support yourself, have a roof over your head with no job or husband to keep you?”

Keep her?What the fuck? Was this woman pulled from the Dark Ages?

“Just because I left the magazine doesn’t mean I can’t make a living selling my pictures online or?—”

Her mother’s snort cut her off, and a broken expression flitted over Aspen’s face.

Having heard enough, I started toward the couch, ready to crush the damn phone to keep her mom from spewing her messed-up lies, but Aspen raised a palm my way, stopping me.

“It’s time you give up on this crazy dream, Aspen, and figure out your life. You’re getting older, and there comes a point when you’ll be beyond the age of what any man would want for a wife. But don’t worry, it’s not too late. When you get home, I’ll introduce you to a few of the men from church who are?—”

“Are old enough to be my dad,” Aspen shrieked while leaping from the couch.

“Aspen Bee Carter, do not raise your voice at me. They are good men who will provide for you, take care of you, and give you the family you need to feel fulfilled in life.”

“I don’t need children to feel fulfilled, Mother,” Aspen snapped. “I’m doing just fine and have no plans to alter course.”

“You’re a foolish child, Aspen. This photography thing is a hobby, a fool’s dream. Get your head out of the clouds and realize your purpose in life, the one you were created for.”

“And what is that?” Aspen said, sounding resigned while rubbing at her temple.

I really didn’t want to hear the answer to her question, knowing it would piss me off, but I couldn’t force my feet to move.

“To be a wife, a mother. Aspen, this is who we are. Jobs and careers just distract women from their true purpose, the only fulfilling one that we have.”

Grinding my back molars to keep from shouting at the phone, I spun on my heels and quietly marched to my bedroom. Stripping off my sweat-soaked shirt first, I tossed it onto the bathroom floor. Mind still on their conversation, I toed off both boots, stepped out of my pants, and kicked everything to the side, taking my anger out on the clothing instead. Behind the glass shower door, I turned the handle all the way to the left. Goose bumps rippled along my skin at the freezing-cold water that sputtered from the showerhead and cascaded along my skin.

Palms sealed to the smooth gray tile wall, I dropped my head forward, allowing the now-lukewarm water to flow over my shoulders and down the ruined skin on my back. Streams poured along my face, falling to the river-stone floor, and swirled down the drain, taking layers of dust and sweat from the hike down with it.

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