Chapter Sixteen
Even with anger coursing hot like lava through my veins, watching Everett leave is the hardest, most painful thing I’ve ever done. I want to chase after him, to apologise for storming off like a teenager, but I need answers from my mother before I can sort it out with Everett.
Once the front door has closed, I turn back to her. “What the bloody hell is going on, Mum?”
She takes my hand, her face pale and her eyes full of tears. “We should sit down.”
That’s the last thing I want to do. I want to pace and scream and shout that my perfect weekend has been ruined. I can take some of the responsibility by storming off, but if Mum has decided to leave, I should at least have some say in the matter. Where does she plan to go and when? “Tell me, Mum.”
“I’m going to live with Granny and Granddad. At least for now.”
She says it quietly as if saying it out loud will make the blow worse.
“Why? Has something happened to you? I should’ve stayed here with you instead of going out all the time.”
“That’s exactly why, Noah. You’re twenty-three. You should be going out with your friends, finding a boyfriend. Being with someone you love and starting a life. You won’t do that with me here. However many times I tell you I’ll be okay, that I can manage, you will still put me first. And that’s not fair.”
“You’re my mum. Of course I’m going to put you first. It’s what you’ve done for me my whole life. I want to be here for you. I don’t begrudge you for anything.”
“I know that, my sweet boy. But I don’t want you to. I want you to be with that amazing man who loves every inch of you. I want you to have everything you deserve. It’s all arranged with Granny and Granddad. They will pick me up on Friday, which gives me plenty of time to pack up and get ready.”
“When were you going to tell me?”
I can’t control the tremor in my voice. I feel like everything around me is tumbling down. I gave up my flat to come back here. And instead of staying in college, I got a job so we had enough money coming in, and she wasn’t even going to let me have a say in what she does. “I gave up so much to help you.”
A tear drips down my cheek.
“I know, lovely, and I’m so grateful. But you have Everett now, and it’s time for you to get back all you gave up for me.”
“What if things with Everett don’t work out? It’s so new.”
I’m not so sure about us now. He may not want me back.
“That man loves you so hard, Noah. You’ve got the real deal with him, I promise you.”
Everett is it for me for as long as he’ll have me. But it’s a lot to ask a man nearly twenty years my senior to have someone so young. She still hasn’t told me when she was going to fill me in. Not that it matters. Her mind is made up. “I’d better get started sorting out some boxes.”
“What? Noah, no. You need to go back to Everett. He’s waiting for you.”
I shake my head. All that can wait. I can only deal with one drama at a time. I’ll think about what to do when Mum has moved.
After a crazy few days, it’s finally all over. Mum has noticed that Everett hasn’t called. I know she wants to ask, to interfere and get either of us to make the first move. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. Mum has obviously talked to him about her living with her parents.
I give my grandparents a hug as they get ready for the drive back to Calston Cove, the little seaside town where I spent most of my holidays. Maybe if I can bring myself to face Everett again and it all works out, we could go and visit.
“Call him or go to him. Don’t let him go. I love you so much, sweet boy, and so does he,”
my mum whispers in my ear and gives me the tightest hug of my life.
With a nod, I hug her back. “Call me when you get there. I love you, Mum.”
I watch the car drive away and around the corner, then go back inside the house. My house now. It feels so empty, a bit like how I do. After nearly a week of no contact, I may have blown all my chances of being with Everett. My stupid actions last weekend have probably put the final spanner in the works, and he’ll be over me by now.
The day slowly passes, but finally, Mum calls to say they have all arrived safely and are too tired to do anything but sleep. If only I could do the same. I haven’t slept properly for a week. I should be rushing to his door to apologise and beg for his forgiveness. It’s past eleven when I give myself the final talking-to and go to him. Maybe, given the time, he’ll be asleep and won’t be awake. But as I reach his house, the living room is lit up with the soft glow of the side lamps. Instead of pulling up onto his drive, I park at the kerb and switch off the engine.
I should get out of the car and knock on the door. That’s all I have to do. The rest is up to him. I’ll either be back in my car with a total “fuck off”
ringing in my ears, or he’ll let me in. Here goes nothing.
As I stand on the doorstep, I see movement through the opaque glass in the front door. Before I can knock, the door swings open.
I drink in the sight of the man I love. He stares back, uncertainty flickering in his gaze.
“Am I too late, Daddy?”
The next moment I’m in his arms and his mouth is on mine. He kisses me brutally, desperately, hungrily, and I return it with equal fervour.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you, kitten.”
The End