Page 81 of Defending the Post
Me
Happy Mother’s Day. Can we work on us?
My heart pounded as I waited for her response. If she cursed me out, I deserved it because I’d been a complete bitch. Instead of speaking my pain, my behavior mirrored Marquise as I locked her out my life. As the three bubbles appeared, I held my breath.
Mom
Always.
My eyes watered as I read her message and relief flushed through me. I didn’t deserve a second chance, yet she was extending herself again.
Me
Can we start with daily phone calls?
Mom
I would love to hear your voice every day.
I smiled at my mother’s text message. At thirteen, my parents were divorced, and I took his side, shunning my mother. I hated her for breaking up our family, but as an adult, I understood why. Daddy lived two lives and one of them wasn’t legal.
Me
Tomorrow be ready, so much to tell.
Mom
I can’t wait. Thank you.
Me
I didn’t do anything.
Mom
You’re open
A smile graced my face as I promised to make the best of this opportunity.
This morning, I sat on my legs and sipped on a cup of coffee. It’s not often I drink it but sometimes my taste buds craved the warmth. Growing up, my parents would trick me into thinking I drank coffee, but it was cocoa. Daddy would kiss Mom, and we went our separate ways to school and work. One day we parted, and we never mended. Instead of cooking or prepping dinner, she tried to convince me to leave.
The air left my lungs as I tried to imagine our family breaking apart. I was a daddy’s girl, and it felt criminal to ask me to leave him behind. When I refused, the light left my mother’s eyes. I pushed away the thoughts as I pushed myself to keep my promise. Peering down at my phone, I checked the time before I called.
“Erin.”
Hearing my mother’s soft, nurturing voice pushed tears to come forth. It had been years since I heard it and, somehow, I forgot how comforting it was.
“Hi, Mom,” I stammered.
“What’s wrong, Tulip?” she said, and I sniffled as the warm tears kissed my skin.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
Marquise joined me, sitting next to me. He pulled me closer to his body as he attempted to comfort me. A few of my tears landed on his white tank top. Marquise’s large lands rubbed my body as he kissed the top of my head.
“Erin, talk to me,” my mother voiced.
“Mom, I messed up. I didn’t know daddy was?—”
