Page 72 of Hard To Leave

“Oh, my darling boy, I’ve missed you.” For the first time in a long time, I let my mother hold me. It felt good to let go of some of the anger. I was convinced that this guy didn’t have the best of intentions, but I couldn’t just abandon her. That would leave her even more vulnerable.

“I missed you too, Mom.”

My mother pulled back resting her hands on my shoulders. “Please tell me you’ll stay for dinner. I would really like us to spend some together.” She glanced at Chloe. “And I would love to get to know this lovely young lady a little bit better.” She patted my cheek. “What do you say, ready to start this night over?”

I kissed her cheek. “Sure, Mom.”

My mother’s lips kicked up into a smile. A real genuine smile. One I haven’t seen in years. “Thank you.” She ran her hand through her hair and paused. “I’m going to freshen up and take the roast out of the oven. You two sit and relax for a few minutes.”

Once she was out of the room, Chloe came up and slid her arms around my stomach. “Do you feel better?”

I placed my hands on her hips and kissed her hair. “A little bit. Thank you for sticking it out with me tonight.”

She leaned into me. “I’m always here for you Jack.”

I pulled back to look at her. “There is one thing I never want you to do again though.”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t ever compare your relationship with Tanner to mine and my mother’s again. Even though I forgive her, you are nothing like her. Not even close. You would never do anything to hurt Tanner—intentional or not.” I cradled her face in my hands. “I love my mother, but she isn’t strong like you. Tanner is so lucky to have a mom who puts his needs above her own. And I’m damn lucky to have a woman with so much conviction and so much love. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, but I’m never letting you go.”

Her eyes filled with something. I didn’t know what, but it caused me to pause. It felt like she was distancing herself from me, and I didn’t know why.

Little did I know that I would get my answer in less than forty-eight hours.

Apparently, that’s all the time it took to have my entire world crumble to the ground and leave me questioning everything I ever thought to be true.

---