Page 82 of Wristlocked
“They didn’t do it for you or Lyot.” Realization dawns. “They did it for me.”
“They did it for you.”
“And they helped Gale for me too.”
“Yes. Although I know your mother a bit better than I did in those days, and I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if taking some of the wind out of Celeste Sullivan’s sails wasn’t a gratifying side perk. They’ve never liked each other.”
“I’ve noticed.” I think of my mom’s eyes sparkling with amusement in Chauncey’s when she talked about my chemistry with Gale, and the smile on her face in the car recounting her conversation from this morning. “Why? I mean, I know why I don’t like her, but that’s a fairly recent development. You make it sound like they have old beef.”
“I only know that about ten years ago, when Celeste was building ACCA, she asked your father to be on the Board of Directors.”
“Him, but not my mother?”
“Yes. He said no, obviously, citing his commitment to Duo Laurent and their contract with Mirage, but there were rumors that your mother was the one who made him turn it down. There’s been…tension between her and Celeste ever since.”
“Do you think my dad and Celeste were having an affair?” The thought makes me feel sick, but I’m remembering fights behind closed doors and my dad spending a month sleeping in the guest room when I was little. The timing could have been about right.
“I think that if he had, your mother would have left him, career be damned,” Jo says. “And I also think that nothing is more important to either of your parents than their family, even if that doesn’t always look the way you want it to.”
“They’ve never cared much for what I wanted.”
“Sometimes, when people are successful, they think the waytheybecame so is the only right way. It doesn’t mean they’re bad people. And it doesn’t mean they don’t value your success.”
“Just not my happiness.”
“Maybe to them, it’s the same thing?”
When I don’t respond, she takes the empty mug from my hands and moves to the kitchen.
“Call your mother, Gia,” she tells me. “She deserves the chance to know how you feel.”
It’s after nine. She’ll be in bed with a glass of wine and a book but not asleep yet. So I do as I’m told. I owe it to Jo, even if I’m not sure I agree with the rest.
“Gia? What’s happened? Why are you calling this late?”
“I’m at Jo’s, Mom.” It seems the easiest thing to say, even though it doesn’t actually answer any of her questions.
“Are you okay? Why aren’t you at school?” Confusion coats her voice, along with genuine concern, but none of the expected judgment. I take a deep breath.
“It’s Gale, Mom. I don’t think I’m going to be working with him anymore.”
She’s quiet for a long minute.
“Are you going back to school?” she asks eventually.
“I thought you hated ACCA,” I say, avoiding the question.
“You know that’s not true. Certainly not after what I did today to ensure that you continue to thrive there.”
“I know, Mom. I’m sure sticking it to Celeste was a real sacrifice.”
Jo shakes her head at me from the kitchen, and I sigh.
“Are you mad at me?” my mother asks. “Because I was only trying to help.”
“I know, Mother. You’re always trying to help. This time it turns out you weren’t actually helping me.”
“Are you telling me that boy dropped you? I don’t believe it for a second.”
