Page 81 of Meet Me in the Valley
The gaunt-faced lady who haunts my dreams stands in front of me, full of life and color.
Hannah Harper. My mother.
She’s beautiful, and I hate her for it.
I hate her for giving me her eyes. When I look at her, all I see is a sad kid, wondering why his mom didn’t love him enough to stay. Why the fuck is she here? In Nora’s house, clutching to Cali like that’sherkid.
I haven’t seen my mother in years. Shit, I can’t even remember the last time I’ve had a conversation with her. The way she says my name seems so foreign, yet I can’t help but cry a little on the inside with how much I missed her.
But,no.
She doesn’t deserve it. She left me when I’d done nothing wrong. No matter how many times I begged for this woman to fight it out and stay because my dad isn’t a bad person. She made damn sure I knew she believed he wasn’t good. But he is good.
He stayed. She didn’t.
“This guy is your son, Hanny?” Cali asks with nothing but amusement in her eyes. Typical pre-teen, eating up the drama unfolding in front of her like it’s a freaking soap opera. I’m farfrom amused. Even Tia’s gentle touch on my arm does jack shit to keep me calm.
“Yes.” My mom breathes out the words in a rush, as if she can’t believe I’ve appeared out of thin air, disrupting her life.
Yeah, well, same here, lady.
“Hannah, when you said you had a son … you never told me …” Nora stammers, clutching both hands against the kitchen counter, shaking her head in utter disbelief.
“Cali, go back to your room. Adult conversation happening.”
“No way! I’m not missing out on this! I’m not five, Mom. I don’t need earmuffs,” Cali sasses. My mother’s face falls, the same look of frustration I’ve seen her wear many times before. Usually the look she gives before she runs away from her issues.
But I don’t know who the hell she is anymore. Maybe I don’t have a sixth sense for these things anymore.
“Cali. Now,” Nora orders for the second time since we’ve arrived. Cali’s defiance is warranted. I’d also be confused and pissed as fuck if these random people showed up at my house, unloading years of trauma like that’s a normal Sunday afternoon activity.
Cali finally storms off toward her room, taking my appetite with her. The last place I want to be is near my mother—and especially without a buffer. The tension in the room grows thick, and anger grows heavier. And right now, I don’t trust myself to say anything that won’t burn the whole room down.
“I’m sorry, Nora. Thank you for inviting me, but I can’t be here. I don’t know how the hell my mother is in your home and in your life, but this is …” The words clutter and clash in my brain, causing a dull throb at my temples. “This is too much.”
“Logan, wait. Please. Let me explain,” my mother cries out to me, leaning in my direction. I shrug away like she’s diseased, and I feel like an asshole for it.
Tia softly cups my jaw, turning me to face her. I’m trying to hold it together. I look in Tia’s eyes and see the outpouring of sympathy—she hurts for me. I lean into her touch, slowing down my breaths to focus on the pulse in her wrist.
Without a word, Tia pulls me down the hall and around a corner, away from Nora and my mother. She kisses me with everything she has, clutching my shirt in her hands as if to pull me deeper into her. The anger dissipates, and I get lost in the kiss, reveling in her taste and the way our mouths move perfectly against each other.
She breaks away first, rolling her forehead over mine. I hold on to her waist with shaky hands, our chests flush and heaving.
“It’s okay, Lo. You’re okay,” she whispers sweetly against my lips.
I’m not much of a crier. I try not to shy away from feeling my emotions. Dad wanted to put me through therapy after my mom left, but I refused. In hindsight, I probably should’ve listened to the guy. Maybe I’d have tools to equip myself for something like this. Instead, I cling onto the one person who’s holding me to the ground.
With Tia’s body against me, her hands circling my waist, and her lips ghosting over mine, I have my reason for facing the hardest obstacles in my life. I’ll do just about anything to be the man she needs me to be. I’m completely at her mercy. One kiss, and she disarms me in an instant.
“I don’t know if I can talk to her, T.”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I trust you’ll do what is right for you. Whatever you choose to do, I’m with you. You want to leave? We can go. You want to stay? I’ll be here long after the conversation is over.”
My heart thrashes against my ribcage at the sound of her voice and the meaning behind her words. I’m downrightpossessive about the trust Tia has in me. She doesn’t give it freely, but for me, she hands it over with no strings attached.
Fuck, I think I might even love …
“Your call, babe,” she murmurs.
