Page 129 of That Moment
Mom’s voice carries from the kitchen. “Sweetheart! You’re just in time.”
I force a smile and hang my purse on the hook. “Smells amazing.”
My dad looks up from carving the roast, brows lifting. “Rough day?”
“You could say that,” I mutter, taking my usual seat at the counter. There’s already a glass of red in my spot, waiting for me.
“Your brothers?” Dad asks, sliding a slice of roast onto my plate.
“Just one of them,” I say, stabbing a potato like it’s my brother’s face.
Mom glances between us, frowning. “You two fight again?”
I take a sip of wine, hoping it can release even a fraction of the tension in my shoulders. “Something like that.”
Dad settles across from me, the overhead light catching the streaks of gray in his hair. “You know, the three of you used to be inseparable. Now I swear you’re more likely to bite each other’s heads off than talk.”
“That’s because they can’t seem to stay out of my business,” I say quietly.
Mom chuckles softly. “Well, that’s family for you and especially with you being the only girl.”
For a few blessed minutes, the only sound is silverware on plates as Mom finishes dressing everyone’s plates. But then, dad clears his throat, and I can already tell it’s about to be some more bullshit.
“So, speaking of your brother, I heard from one of them that you turned down that offer in L.A.”
My fork stills mid-air.Of course he did. Of course he ran his stupid mouth to my parents even after I bit his head off earlier about gossiping about me.
I inhale slowly, set it down with a sarcastic smile. “He really can’t help himself, can he?”
Dad tilts his head. “So it’s true?”
“Yeah,” I say, exhaling. “It’s true.”
He nods once, setting his knife down like a gavel. “Mind telling us why?”
And here it comes… dad’s lecture on why I need to be the best. On why, as a woman, I have to work twice as hard to prove myself in this world. Like I don’t already know this stuff, like I haven’t been living it for the last twenty-nine years.
“I realized it wasn’t what I wanted,” I say, keeping my voice even. “I thought it was, for a long time. It’s what I worked toward. What everyone expected. But when I pictured my life there, I didn’t see myself in it anymore.”
Mom’s expression softens instantly. “Adrienne…”
“I was chasing something that looked good on paper,” I continue, eyes on my plate. “But that version of me, the one who needed to prove she could hang with the big-city firms, live the high-stress, fast paced city life, she’s not who I am anymore.”
Mom’s hand covers mine, warm and steady, like it always has. “Honey, I’m incredibly proud of you. No matter where you work or live, you’ve already made us proud. The most important thing to your father and me is that you’re happy.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Dad stays quiet, which is somehow worse. I glance up at him. “Go ahead. Say whatever you’re thinking.”
He leans back in his chair, studying me. “You always had that spark,” he says finally. “The drive to get out, do more. So forgive me for wondering what changed.”
Before I can answer, the front door opens and slams shut. “Sorry, I’m late!”
Axel’s voice. I close my eyes. “Perfect.”
He strides in, jacket half off, with a huge grin on his face until he looks at me, then at Dad. “Oh wow. Am I interrupting something?”
Dad’s brow furrows. “Your sister was just explaining why she turned down L.A.”
