Page 17 of Honey Bun
I was starting to close the door when he said, “Also, I’m going to talk to Elon about what you said, and if he wants something from you, I’ll text.”
My pulse picked up.I never should have told him about my husband stitch.Heat was in my face, and I must have been red. However, I put the keys in the ignition. “You don’t have to.”
“He’s my little brother. It won’t cost anything, and I’ll be discreet, Maddie.”
For years, I’d wanted to go to my doctor in Montana to discuss this, but something had always stopped me. I gulped and met his brown eyes. “That’s nice to hear.”
He tapped my door and waved. I started my car and drove away. I wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him senseless, but that would be reckless, and I needed to be safe.
Chapter Six
Madeleine
My head was in the clouds as I drove home. The truck practically flew. The smell of the beach air amid the memories of Arman and thoughts about my future life with him all blurred together into some better, amazing future. A divorce would finalize me never seeing Bob again. I wouldn’t be in fear or close to tears all the time. And for years, I’d wondered about the husband stitch Bob had asked for when I gave birth. I’d never researched it. But I had a chance to find out what it was.
I’d somehow earned a second chance at my dreams. Maybe Arman was right about me. I used to enjoy party planning and working out small details concerning crowds and enjoyment. My first job was in many ways a dream come true.
Arman’s company colors were royal blue and gold. I could use those as my main palette to get started on this party. I imagined gold chairs and rectangular tables. The anniversary would be fit for a king.
As I parked the car, I heard my mother’s raised voice. I quickened my step as I went inside. Aurora was in tears, looking like she had when her father had tried to command her.
She rushed toward me. “Mom!”
I held her tight. I’d fought Bob tooth and nail to make him steer clear of his daughter with those demands about how she must behave.
My mother had her arms crossed, and her lips were thin. “Good. I told your daughter that she shouldn’t hang out with the Solomons or join them for dinner.”
The Solomons had always been so happy as kids. Their children were probably good too. I stepped in front of Aurora and said to my mother, “That’s not your place. She’s my daughter.”
She shook her head as if I was foolish. “You and I don’t know anything about them, really.”
She’d snapped. Driving from Montana, I’d wondered how long it would be before this happened. I swallowed and tried to stay calm. My daughter didn’t need to see more people who screamed like her father had.
I asked, “What happened to you today?”
“I saw Reverend Jerry, and when I got home, I found your daughter on the beach, wearing almost nothing, playing volleyball with virtual strangers.”
Reverend Jerry, who was surely retired, had struck fear in me as a child. His sermons were about fire and brimstone, not God’s grace and love. If anybody was to blame for my lacking faith, it was Reverend Jerry.
“I told her she could play volleyball with them. And you promised to take your bipolar medication and be more open if I came here to you.”
“I don’t know, Madeleine.”
“I believed you’d changed. Look, we won’t be here any longer than we have to, but my car is still broken, so we can’t leave yet.” I rubbed Aurora’s arm and thought about what we would do. I wished my mother would take her medication. But Aurora was priority one.
There was no time for a date with Arman. I took out my phone and texted him:I need to find a place to live for me and my daughter and march down to Henry’s to find out the state of my car. I can’t come.
I texted him the list of what I needed to accomplish. I reread the words then showed Aurora my phone so she would know the plan, and she nodded. Then my phone beeped, and she read the message as we headed to the door. She stopped and gave me my phone back.
Arman had written,You can stay here. I’m on my way to get you.
I blinked. I hadn’t expected help. If I refused the offer, it was possible my daughter and I would have nowhere to sleep that night.
I let out a breath. I would be a fool to say no. I pressed a hand on her back. “Aurora, go to your room and get your luggage.”
She kissed my cheek and ran to her room. I waited till she’d closed her door and then found my mother. “I am done being judged. I’m not perfect, but this God seems to be punishing us while he blesses others.” I thought of the Norouzis with their love and prosperity and the Solomons with their simple family joy. “Aurora and I are not bad people. We do not deserve to be treated this way.”
“I’m… not trying to judge you. Or anyone. I was scared because I don’t trust anyone except my plants. And I don’t think that God punishes you or any of us, though I’d murder Bob with my bare hands for hurting you.”
