Chapter 87
“ M om.” My eyes widen when I open the dressing room door and see her on the other side of it. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see my only son perform,” Lace replies.
“I’m glad you came to Pittsburg to do that, but…” I trail off, using my body to block her view into the room. “The guys are all inside.” I glance back to make sure no one is getting a blowjob, and I let out a sigh of relief that they all have their pants zipped.
“Didn’t come to see them.”
“Realize that.” I rake a hand through my hair. “This is just unexpected.”
“I’ve never seen one of your shows live.” Lace tips her head to a considering angle, studying me like I’m one of her designs. “But you don’t want me here.” Suddenly, she looks unsure. Beautiful, yes. My mother is stunning and she’s immaculately dressed, wearing a sparkly black bandeau top and black jeans, but unsure nonetheless. “Should I not have come?”
“It’s perfectly fine. I just need to see about getting you some VIP seats and passes.” I’ll have to ask the extremely unpleasant manager who has replaced Peace, but I don’t really mind. Not too much anyway. “Where’s Dad?”
“I’ve separated from your father.” Her amber eyes sheen with wetness as she drops that bomb.
“Why?” The ground shifts beneath me. My parents argue, like most parents I assumed, but they’ve always been solid, even in their disapproval of me.
“Um.” Carson taps me on the shoulder. I startle from the contact because I’m so tense. “This sounds like a private discussion. Me and the guys will just skedaddle. We can ask Frankin about those passes for you.”
“Thanks, man.” I give him a grateful look.
“No problem.” Carson dips his head to Lace. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Jackson.”
“You too,” she returns in a polite tone.
“Mrs. Jackson,” Stevie acknowledges her as he slips out the door.
“Just Lace,” she corrects him.
“Lace.” Levi twirls his sticks and checks her out as he steps into the hall. I shake my head at him.
“Can I come inside?” Mom asks, refocusing my attention on her.
“Yes.” I step backward. She walks inside, the stilettos on her shiny black pumps clicking on the concrete floor.
“What happened?” I ask and close the door. Turning to face her, I clarify, “Between you and Dad?”
“It’s been building a while.” She glances away.
“Because of me?” Dread burns in my gut like acid.
“I love your father, Bo. But we disagree about how he’s handled you. We had another terrible fight when the photos of you and War’s daughter came out.”
“Peace,” I interrupt. “Her name is Peace.”
“I know it is.” She nods. “I told him to stay out of it, and I disagreed with his conclusions.”
“Which are?”
“That you were playing both of War’s girls to further your career.”
“It has only ever been Peace for me.”
“Really?” She adjusts the bag on her shoulder. “But in Seattle…the charges…It seemed like you were with Harmony. We thought you were using again.”
“Not using. It was Carson with Harmony that night.” I set her straight. “I haven’t had a drink in months, haven’t done drugs for longer than that.” I tuck my thumbs in the front pockets of my jeans. “Car has a juvenile record. He panicked, and?—”
“You stepped in and took the fall for him,” she cuts in. “Like you did for Peace that Christmas when we were all together. Only with much more serious consequences.”
“Could have been serious,” I correct. “Except that Peace got all the charges dropped.”
“Sounds like she has a sacrificial side to her personality like you do.” She studies me some more. “Are you in love with her?”
“Yes. Absolutely,” I reply. “It’s been building between us for a long time. I didn’t think I was worthy of her. But she thinks I am, and that’s what matters.” That miracle will take some time to fully sink in.
“You are worthy, but I can see where you’d doubt it. That’s our fault for being too hard on you.” Her brows draw together, and I notice new fine lines between them that I never saw before. “She’s a lucky girl to have you.”
“Thanks, Mom. That means a lot. So does you coming out to see me perform.”
“I’m proud of you. For what you’ve accomplished. For how you turned your life around. Your dad hasn’t ever struggled with an addiction like we have. He’s very dogmatic in his positions. But you’re his son.” She sighs. “He does love you in his own way, but he’s done a piss-poor job showing it.”
“I agree.” My hands curve into fists.
“I know there have been too many occasions where I didn’t speak up for you.” Her gaze moves to my hands, then rises. “But I’m speaking up for you now. I was very firm with Bryan about where I stand, and that it’s with you.” She blinks through the tears in her eyes. “I hope in time, you might be able to find it in your heart to forgive me.”
“I don’t know, Mom.” The years of rejection have done damage. But she’s here now. She’s putting in the effort. Not sure how I feel about her leaving my dad because of me. If things aren’t working out, that should be between them without me being brought into it. However, she’s my mom. The only one I have. If Peace can forgive my missteps, can’t I at least try to forgive my mom’s?