Page 99 of Holly versus Mr. Ivy
She pursed her lips, her brows furrowing. “You need to call him and ask him to get you out of the house and away from me. You’re hovering worse than a helicopter mom, and you’re driving mebatty.”
Harsh.
And I couldn’t. I’d told Rhett to leave me alone, and so far, he had.
“If you don’t call him, I will,” she threatened.
There was no way I wanted Mom calling Rhett. He’d tell her what happened. Dropping my head into my hands, I hesitantly admitted, “I broke up with him.”
“Holly Anne Dewhurst, why would you do an idiotic thing like that?!” she reprimanded.
Mom only pulled my full name out when she was particularly upset. My stomach tied itself into knots. “Because he’s the one who got me fired.” Really, it was Skye, but I’d never have met Skye if it weren’t for Rhett.
Mom patted the bed next to her. I climbed in, lying back on the pillows, staring at the ceiling.
“Holly,” she said sternly, “I’ve never seen you light up as much as you do when you’re around Rhett. I know my diagnosis has put your life into a tailspin, but you arenotallowed—do you hear me?—not allowed, to stop living your life because of me.”
Was I doing that? Giving up my life? “I go to work and take care of you.”
“I rest my case.”
My defenses rose. I responded, a bit prickly. “Excuse me for helping the person who raised me. I’m sorry for wanting to keep you around for as long as possible. Should I have not moved home, let you care for yourself instead?”
She grabbed my hand. “Sweetie, I’m so grateful and honored for everything you’ve done for me. But my diagnosis was never meant to be a prison sentence for you. I’ve found joy seeing you happy. That feeling keeps me fighting. Don’t give up on Rhett because of me. If anything, feed that flame so I have something to look forward to. And for my sanity,pleaselet up on the need to control everything. Life throws you curveballs. You have to learn to smack that pitch over the wall instead of letting it strike you out.”
Mom had been lighter in December. Happier. A glow had settled in her eyes that hadn’t been there four months ago. Her skin had gained some color, and she’d laughed more since meeting Rhett. Had I made a mistake? Had everything I’d done to feel in control of my life been for naught?
My phone rang as I mulled over Mom’s words. Skye’s name lit up the screen. She’d called me about twenty times over the past four weeks. I’d ignored every single call, still reeling from the pain of her betrayal.
I scooted off Mom’s bed and went to my room, shutting the door. It was time Skye got the memo that I did not want to speak to her.Ever.
“What?” I spat.
“Holly, thank goodness you answered!” she said, relieved.
I plopped onto my bed, crushing my blanket between my fingers. “I only answered to tell you to stop harassing me. I don’t want to talk to you.”
“I know,” she rushed. “Please don’t hang up. Just give me five minutes, and after that, if you don’t want to hear from me again, I’ll leave you alone. Promise.”
Would five minutes change the fact that she’d ruined the best thing I had going? I’d had a kitchen I finally enjoyed being in and a man who loved me.
“Please,” she begged.
“Five minutes,” I barked. “Your time starts now.”
“Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Okay. First, I need to apologize and explain why I told Anthony Ivy about you and Rhett. Remember in my interview how I said my ex was a coworker at my last job?”
I grunted.
“Well, when I saw you and Rhett out and about and the way you looked at one another at work, I started suspecting you might be dating. I ignored it, figuring you were both adults and knew what you were doing.
“But then I ran into my ex with his new girlfriend, and all the pain I felt from that came rushing back to me. That same night, I saw you two kissing, and I freaked out. I let my own issues cloud my judgment. Instead of talking to you, or keeping my mouth shut, I ran to Anthony, thinking that I was saving you from the same heartache I was enduring. But you didn’t deserve that. You’re my friend, and you trusted me, and I broke that trust.”
Yeah, she had. In the cruelest way possible.
“Please know I’m so incredibly sorry. I miss you like crazy. In fact, everyone here does.”
Now she was just lying to make me feel better.Not helping your cause, Skye.
