Page 77 of The Last Second Chance
“I just don’t want to faint if you say ‘cancer’ or ‘unplanned pregnancy’ or something like that,” April said, her voice a wispy note of anxiety now.
“I’m seeing Jax. Casually.” She emphasized the last word and hoped it would break through her mother’s fear fog.
“And you’re pregnant.”
“No. I’m not.”
“You’re not sick? Or hurt? There wasn’t a fire.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Mom. I slept with Jax last night. I’m probably going to do it again.”Hopefully today. In the tack room.
There was silence on her mother’s end as April processed the news.
“Well, your father isn’t going to be pleased, but I’m really not surprised.”
“You’re not?” It was Joey who was surprised.
“Sweetie, I’m not an idiot.”
“Okay. Sooo, how do you feel about it?” Joey would have rather bitten off her own arm than ask the question, but it was always better to know where one stood when facing a battle.
Her mother sighed. “I’ve been expecting this call since Jax moved back last year. I’ve had a lot of time to process in anticipation. You held out a lot longer than I would have.”
She was still holding out. Sort of.
“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?” Joey was wary of things that were too easy.
“Your father blames Jax for your accident.”
“Yeah, that came through pretty loud and clear over the years, Mom.”
“I never blamed him for it.”
“But?”
“But what I do blame him for is abandoning my daughter when she was in the hospital and needed him.”
“I blame him for that, too,” Joey confessed.
“Maybe he had a good reason, or maybe he was just a scared young man. But either way, you needed him there and he wasn’t. So I’m just asking you to be careful.”
“I will, Mom. I promise.”
“Good. So, what do we do about your father?”
Joey’s toes curled inside her boots. “I was thinking maybe you could tell him for me?” Her voice had gone up an entire octave.
“You’re lucky he’s not on Facebook,” April sighed. “I’ll see what I can do. He’s usually in a good mood on Tuesdays. It’s dollar draft night at the fire company.”
“He got me a dog, Mom.”
“Oh, boy.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, be careful.” It was her mother’s blanket cautionary demand that covered everything from crossing the street to not slipping in the shower. But this time, Joey knew it meant something more specific.
“I will. Thanks, Mom. And thanks for telling Dad for me. You’re the best.”
