Page 35 of Mountain Freedom
“I guess you’re pretty angry at me?”
“No,” I said, feeling instant guilt. “I’m not angry. I just wish you understood that I’m capable of making my own decisions, and this was the right one for me.”
She was silent for a moment. “Are you lonely out there?”
“No,” I said. The answer came quickly, and it surprised me how true it was. Despite everything, I felt less lonely here than I had in Memphis, surrounded by people.
“Are people being nice to you?”
I hesitated, unsure of how much to tell her. Of course she would be worried. She had endured my father’s reputation, and she worried it would be the same for me, even after all this time. I wasn’t about to let her know she was right.
“Yes,” I said, giving her a half-truth. “The director of the clinic has been great. And I went to the town dance last week and reintroduced myself to a lot of people. Some of them said to tell you hello and that they hope you’re well.”
“Sure they do,” she laughed, a trace of bitterness marring the words. “I can’t believe they’re still having town dances. I guess they’re stuck in the last century.”
“I guess so,” I said, trying to keep my voice light. “But it was fun. You remember Jackson from next door? He’s a detective now, working for the sheriff. Can you believe it?”
Mom paused for a minute. “That cute little blond boy you ran around with?”
“Yes,” I said, laughing. “I’ll have to tell him that’s how you referred to him.”
“Do you…see him often?”
“Pretty often, yeah. It’s been a blast catching up with him.”
“Allison.” I could hear the warning in her voice.
“What?”
“You have absolutely no business cozying up with a man like that. You know how his father was. And after all these years, Jackson’s still living in that awful town. Detective or not, that tells me all I need to know.”
“Mama, we’re just friends,” I said, shocked by her outburst.
“You better be.”
I closed my eyes and pictured her face, the same one she used to scold me as a child. Eyes narrow, lips in a tight line, her face white with anger.
Jackson didn’t deserve that.
“He’s a good guy,” I said, wanting to defend him. “He’s nothing like Russell. He was adopted a few years after we left town, and he only came back a couple of years ago. And did you not hear the part about him being a detective? He’s practically the town hero.”
“That’s not saying much.” Disapproval seeped through the phone’s connection. “But, changing the subject,” she said, brightening her tone. “Guess who called me today.”
“Who?”
“Mike.”
My alarm bells instantly went off. “What? Why did he call you?”
“He said you’re not answering his phone calls. You two were so great together. I think you’ve taught him a lesson. Why don’t you call him back?”
“Why don’t I call him back?” I asked, raising my voice. “Mama, he cheated on meandsaid I should have slept with a superior to get a job. I don’t really ever want to speak to him again.”
She let out a breath. “He’s sorry about the other girl. It was a mistake, Allison, and one you should forgive him for. He was only trying to get a better position so he could take care of you.”
I shook my head, dumbfounded. “Are you hearing yourself right now?”
“And he never said you should have slept with that man,” she continued, ignoring me. “You completely misunderstood him. He explained everything to me. He loves you, and he’ll be an excellent provider.”
