Page 42 of Mark Us Little Bear
“Yeah.”
“Wow.” She pins them with a pointed look. “That’s what you do in the city, living with frat boys?”
My face instantly heats up and I scoff at her rude demeanor. “Wow, Mom. Very classy. You always judge people based on their appearance but they are very successful. Ronnie owns a club and his apartment where we live and Bradley is a talented tattoo artist and neither needs your approval.”
Anger boils in my bloodstream but when Bradley squeezes my hand, I calm down a little.
Why does she have to embarrass me in front of them?
While introducing Dad has never been a problem, I never brought friends home and always found excuses to see them outside because of her.
Twitching her lips, she fixes her mocha ponytail, “I have enough on my plate with your sister I don’t need my older daughter to walk in here with her mess.”
That’s rich coming from her.
“It’s okay, I can leave our dog with my family they live just two blocks away.” Bradley tries to come to my rescue but it’s no use. Nothing can satisfy her when it comes to me. I’m a part of the life she is trying to suppress. A part she tried to leave behind for years but when she looks at me, I’m a reminder.
“You don’t know what to do with your future. When you were here you at least had a future with Patrick, he has become a successful lawyer.” She continues without a care in the world about my feelings, knowing she hurts me, it is always about her.
“What future?” I step forward, the rage is evident in my voice even though I don’t raise it. “He was in love with one of his high school friends. And hypothetically what then Mom? Marry him, have his kids, and live a miserable life. Still lost.”
She had my dad who would do anything for her and it was still not enough. She loves him but she still struggles with her demons.
“Oh honey, I want you to be happy.” She suddenly lowers her voice, and her features soften. Out of the corner of my eye, the guys step near me, each on either side.
“At any cost.” I toss it in the air but I’m past this conversation for a decade now if I’m honest.
“Of course not.” The displeasure in her voice is beyond deafening.
“Who’s Patrick?” Ronnie’s soft voice captures my attention as he leans in, whispers in my ear, and rubs my back in soothing circles.
“My ex-boyfriend,” I whisper back.
“So I’m guessing you’re Ronnie and you’re Bradley.” She points at them with a condescending smile. Impatience fills me with a suppressed urge to tap my foot as I wait for her to finish this lame interrogation.
“Quite the opposite,” Ronnie says sharply but I can hear his smile even without looking I know he will be polite and not act as she does right now.
“So who’s your boyfriend?”
My first instinct is to say “both” to piss her off but then Ronnie drapes his arm over my shoulder. “Me. Not a lawyer but a damn good business owner.”
My god… I want to kiss him for that as my cheeks flush.
I don’t even care about her right now.
“Why did you dye your beautiful hair purple? It’s like you’re mocking me with it. And you pierced your nose…” Under herscrutinizing gaze, I feel so small. It doesn’t matter how much I achieved on my own, she is always the voice in my head telling me I’m not enough. I’m almost there but I should try harder.
But it’s funny how she reflects me, like my personal mirror. I hate that I look like her, almost identical which is crazy but I’m thankful to have my dad’s eyes—that is the only comfort I have when I stare at the mirror.
“I also have a tattoo do you want to complain about that too? It’s not about you, I did it for myself.” It healed parts of me she knows nothing about because she never bothered to ask.
“Okay, ladies.” Dad comes to my rescue per usual. “Time out. Come with us boys.” He pulls me away from Mom and into the wooden kitchen behind the staircase. “It’s good to see you, sweetie,” he rewards me with his bear hug. “I made food for a football team.”
“Why does she always have to do that?” An exhale pushes past my lips in full force behind Dad’s ear.
“You know what she is like.” He shrugs his shoulder. “She’s tensed more than ever about your sister almost finishing high school. And she hasn’t seen you in a long time—a year.”
“And she’s acting like that was for the best.”
