Page 84 of Mistaken Identity
There was a long gap of time while she typed and told her computer what to say.
“I’m leaving next week, and he agreed to take me on remotely,” the computer answered. “So, preferably, in the next three or four days.”
I looked at my watch and thought about what I had to do in the next few days.
I did fully plan on getting on a plane with Creole to Hawaii Friday and planned to stay there all weekend. So that left today or tomorrow.
“I can do tomorrow,” I replied reluctantly.
“Perfect,” she typed. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Noon would be best. Love you.”
I hung up without replying to her words of endearment.
I wasn’t sure that I’d loved my mother for a long time.
At this point, she felt more like a burden. Had since she decided that her life started and ended with my sister. Since she stopped being a mother to me, and a wife to my dad.
My dad was my best friend.
And she’d been jerking him around so fucking long.
Instinctively, I called my dad and said, “Did Mom call you?”
He hesitated. “Yes. I’m going to go up there either today or tomorrow and meet with her and her therapist.” He cleared his throat. “We’re officially divorced. A judge fast-tracked it for her.”
That was news to me.
I’d always thought a divorce took a long time to accomplish, even when both parties were in agreement.
“Um,” I hesitated. “Congrats?”
My dad snorted a laugh.
“Dad,” I said quietly. “You should call her.”
My dad made a strangled sound in his throat. “I’m guessing neither one of you ever moved on. You are in love with each other. It’s time to start living again.”
Dad sighed.
“I don’t think you should go tomorrow,” I said. “I think that you need to clean your hands. Don’t go. Don’t dredge up anything else with her. If there’s anything important said, I’ll relay it. But you don’t need to be dealing with her shit anymore. I’m not sure what, exactly, this is supposed to be, but I’m not letting her keep her claws sunk in.”
Dad didn’t say anything.
“Just, trust me, okay?” I pleaded. “Go to Hawaii. Go see her.”
Dad made a noise in his throat. “I thought you were using the house this weekend.”
I grinned. “I am.”
“Are you saying I should go, and then stay with her?” He chuckled.
“If she’ll have you.”
Dad made a growling sound under his breath then said, “You’ll tell me what she said?”
“If I think you need to hear it,” I agreed.
After a few more words of encouragement on my end, and agreement on his, we hung up.
