Page 27 of Honey Bun
I narrowed my eyes, and my ears buzzed as I expected a lecture. “That’s it?”
She shoved the plant at me. “Yes, and I wanted to give you this and say I’m sorry I haven’t been the mother you wanted me to be.”
My mother thought plants were the only things she could relate to. I held her gift, which rose higher than my head. “Thank you.” Then I put it down and offered her my hands. “I wouldn’t have come this far if you hadn’t offered to take us in.”
She reached out and cupped my face. “I just want you to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. If he makes you happy, who am I to judge?”
Honestly, I’d had no idea she would have a change of heart that fast. The image of being Arman’s girlfriend played in my mind, as if I suddenly had permission. I shook it off. “I thought our cultures were too different.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I am trying to be more open, but I worry about you. You’re my daughter, and I never want anything bad to happen to you.”
Good Mom tonight.Sometimes her words were worse than bee stings that pierced the skin. I wished she were always a caring person.
I stepped back, thankful I could pick up the small tree as a shield. “Now, that sounds more like you. Thank you for the plant, Mom.”
She took my shoulders. “If you don’t want to go to New York, you are welcome to stay with me. I didn’t mean to kick you both out.”
At least for the moment.But she’d never exactly been reliable. I’d taken a chance, and she’d proven to be exactly as I remembered. I shuffled the plant in my hands. “Mom, you are allowed to have an opinion about more than just plants. Maybe one day, you’ll miss us enough to come visit.”
“Doubtful.”
I carried the fiddle-leaf fig over to Arman, who stood with four of his brothers. I tapped on his side and noticed that he was staring directly at his brothers in the distance. “Arman, what’s going on?”
He took the tree from me. “We’ll put the plant in the car, and I’ll explain.”
“Okay.”
We passed Aurora and her friends and waved to let her know we’d be back. She didn’t seem to mind, and we weren’t going far. As we made it into the paved lot, he asked in a low voice, “Remember Dr. Leah Lichtenberg?”
She’d been sweet when we talked. I nodded. “Of course.”
He tipped the tree sideways to get it into the back and tucked the stem behind his seat. The drive home would be green with branches in the rearview mirror, but there was still room for Aurora. He wiped his hands together. “She mentioned she’d gone to school with Cyrus.”
I was on pins and needles, waiting for more. “You’re only telling me things I know.”
He met my gaze. “Well, she… she just told him that he’s the father of her son.”
My mouth couldn’t quite close. My mind buzzed, and I couldn’t quite think clearly. “No way.”
He locked the car door behind us and placed his hand on my lower back to walk with me to the carnival. “She moved here a few months back, with the baby, but none of us had been here. I’m not sure she even knew that our family vacations here or if she planned to tell Cyrus about the baby. Right now, my mind is spinning, and I’m sure my brother is worse.”
We were in step. I’d never been this at ease with my ex and spent every day on edge, waiting for disaster. I focused on the crowd and tried to stay in the moment with Arman and forget Bob. “Can I help?”
He shrugged. “Nothing any of us can do except be there when needed.”
That was true. He was stable because he came from a supportive family. I took his hand. “It’s one of the best things about the Norouzi family. You’re all super close.”
Except for my time with Arman, I’d been on my own and lonely. The ache inside me from having no one on my side had defined me for years, probably long before I ever got married. The only times I’d felt whole had been when I was in mom mode or with Arman. I’d always wanted to be part of his world.
As we approached the rides and my daughter, he went to the ticket booth and said, “You probably shouldn’t ride the roller coaster, but we could do the Ferris wheel.”
My daughter rushed toward Arman, ignoring me entirely, and took the offered tickets. She and her friends left to do a twirling ride. I probably should have said something about manners, but the moment had been so fast, and it felt like Aurora and I were part of his family. I wished we were.
He waved the rest of the tickets at me, and I said, “I’ve actually never been on one.” I walked with him to the ride.
As we handed over the tickets, he said, “Glad I can still be your first time, then.”
I laughed, and we took our places in the line to get a cabin for ourselves. I glanced at his profile and imagined what being his wife would be like. He probably wouldn’t enjoy seeing me in tears. I’d heard sex was fun, and with Arman, maybe that was true.
