Page 62 of Against All Odds

By getting engaged.

Mom huffs. “Did he?”

“Yes, and I have nothing more to say to him.”

“That’s your decision.”

One she doesn’t agree with. Although that’s nothing new. Mom is my biggest critic. “It is and I’m content with it.”

“Good, then. And Ember Falls? Have you seen any of your old friends or Gran’s old neighbors?”

I smile at that, because yes, I have seen Gran’s neighbor. “A lot of the people we knew here are still in the town. Hazel is doing great, Miles is the principal, which I told you, and I saw Everett as well.”

“I hope you stop by to see their families, and when you do, be sure to send them our love.”

“I will, Mom. I know Dad will want me to do that as well.”

My father grew up in Ember Falls, but he never felt like he belonged here. He was into digging holes and finding buried treasure. He would tell me about how the other boys wanted to ride bikes and play sports, but he’d rather dissect something.

However, this place was his home.

“Yes, he would. Now, I’m curious, did you file for divorce, or are you and Dylan going to find a way to work through your issues?”

My head drops and the exhaustion overwhelms me. Not just because I’m running on only a few hours of sleep, but because talking to her always drains me.

There are expectations I can never meet. I don’t do things well enough. I don’t work hard enough. I don’t put the effort in required to be a success.“It takes a lot of work to be at the top, Violet. You can’t worry about boys and makeup, you need to focus on what matters.”I heard it over and over or I got:“Marriage isn’t for quitters. You have to give more of yourself than you take.”

I gave all and was left with nothing.

“Mom, there is no marriage to save. He cheated on me, and he’s now engaged to another woman,” I say, using the firmest voice I can manage with her.

She’s silent for a moment. “That’s that then.”

“Yes, that’s that.”

It should’ve ended years ago, but when I went to my parents to talk about how I was feeling, they nearly blew a gasket about walking away from a marriage. It’s unforgivable for them.

“I’d love to stay and chat, darling, but I need to meet your father and get things organized for the dig. We’re finding that doing it a little later is proving to be better.”

As if I knew what that meant. “I’m glad you’re finding success.”

“Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will, Mom. Give Dad a kiss for me and tell him I love him.”

“I will. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I hang up. “I love you too, Mom,” I say quietly.

After I take a twenty-minute power nap, I hop in the shower and get ready to head to Hazel’s. Once I’m in my jeans and USC hoodie, I make the fifteen-minute drive. Hazel moved out of her family’s home and into her own that’s closer to the center of town. It’s small, but super cute.

“You made it!” Hazel says as she sees me climbing the stairs. She and the girls are out on the porch, which has an adorable swing and two chairs.

“Oh wow! Your porch is to die for.”

She smiles as she closes the distance between us. “It’s why I bought this place. I loved the porch and figured I could fix whatever I hated inside. Luckily, I love the inside just as much.”

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