Chapter Twenty-Seven Truths Revealed over Pancakes
Mom and Jason come home past ten o’clock that night. I’m already in my room after having ice cream and croissants for dinner. I don’t get up to say anything to them.
I probably should, though. I’ve done a lot of thinking since getting home from The Brewberry, about Mom and how hard it’s probably been for her to deal with Jason’s circle not really accepting her.
Sadie said it was heartbreaking that Mom has to change who she is in order to fit in here in Cherrybridge.
And it is heartbreaking, but it’s not the same thing as me not fitting in here, because marrying Jason and moving here was her choice.
She did it because she loves him, and I guess because of that, the hard parts about being here and being Jason’s wife are a little easier.
Mom gave up the life she knew to be with him, and Jason was ready to do the same for my mom, apparently.
Noah and I were only together for a short amount of time. What would I be willing to give up for Noah? Would I cut contact with the LeClairs—really with my mom—for Noah?
I don’t really need my mother anymore. I’m almost eighteen, technically an adult.
My grades are still stellar. I can probably get enough scholarships and student loans to pay for university.
Mom and I have barely spoken all summer, and even before that we both kind of did our own thing.
I don’t need Jason’s money. I’ve gone most of my life without being rich, and honestly, life was easier then.
But the thought of stepping away from Mom makes me think about everything Mom gave up for me.
She didn’t have to have me. She didn’t have to raise me, either.
But she did. She and Nani always talk about how much Mom sacrificed—finishing high school with her friends, having a normal college experience, having a social life, dating.
The first time Mom had to give up the life she knew was when she had me.
Mom did sacrifice everything… for me. All because she loves me so much, more than Jason even.
I remember, during that conversation I overheard in the kitchen, how she said that she’d told him on their very first date that she and I were a package deal.
I want to believe that she would never sacrifice her relationship with me for Jason, or for any man.
But by forcing me to be here, hasn’t she sacrificed my happiness for her marriage?
I don’t get much sleep because my mind is turning over this stuff.
Eventually I pick up my phone and read the comments on Keeley’s post of Noah’s song.
There are hundreds of comments on Instagram, and even more on TikTok.
Noah eventually posted on them both, dropping his account handles, so now he has thousands of new followers.
He hasn’t posted anything new, though. There are a lot of comments wondering who his girlfriend is.
No one doxes me, thankfully. I’m happy that Noah is getting all this well-deserved attention, but I’m not a part of his life anymore.
I finally fall asleep and wake late on Tuesday.
When I go downstairs for breakfast, I’m surprised to see both Jason and Mom having breakfast in the dining room.
Why isn’t Jason at work? Did that article by Kaitlyn and her dad cause a lot of problems for him?
After the stuff Sadie told me yesterday, I’m seeing Jason differently.
He’s more than just the bland rich guy. He’s loyal, dedicated, and a bit of a badass.
Maybe there’s a bit of a grunge singer still in there.
“Meera, we all need to talk,” Mom says. There’s a stack of pancakes on the table. My favorite—cinnamon roll pancakes. And there’s an empty seat with a plate for me.
I exhale and sit. “Okay. Talk.” I stack two pancakes on my plate and start pouring maple syrup onto them. Because even if I’m mad, I really like these pancakes.
“It’s about that op-ed,” Jason says. “Did you know your friend was writing that?”
“Kaitlyn isn’t my friend,” I say. “We hung out in a group, maybe three times this summer. So no, I didn’t know.”
“You were clearly close enough that she knew you were only pretending to date that boy,” Mom says. She still looks angry.
“His name is Noah,” I say. “Jason knows his name. He’s known Noah’s family for a long time.”
“I have told your mother about my history with the Jacobs family,” Jason says.
He sighs. “The article’s been a big blow to my campaign.
We had a meeting with my campaign manager yesterday, and she’s given some ideas for damage control.
But first we want to know why Kaitlyn did this so we know if there’s anything else she could bring up that might be an issue in the future.
I know Stuart hasn’t always been my biggest fan, but I would not have expected this from him. ”
I snort. “Well, maybe you should have? He was extremely racist to Mom at your party. I don’t even get why he was invited. You should have shielded Mom from that crap.”
Jason blinks at me, then looks at Mom, who doesn’t say anything because I’m right.
“Kaitlyn hates Noah because that song of his went viral,” I add, this time with less of an attitude in my voice. “And because a concert promoter discovered him at Donut Den and offered him a gig at a music festival. Kaitlyn would kill for that to happen to her.”
“So, she was jealous?” Mom asks.
I nod. “She wants to be a singer.”
Jason closes his eyes a moment, and I see a vein throbbing in his forehead. Is he mad at me or at Stuart and Kaitlyn? “I assume Noah and Mike have seen the article?”
“Yeah, they were both really mad. Noah was publicly called a delinquent and a drug addict, when you know he’s not. This is totally going to affect his future opportunities. He’s blaming me for it.” I pause, moving pieces of pancake around my plate. “He broke up with me yesterday.”
“What?” Mom says. Her face falls. “Oh, Meera, I’m sorry.”
I shake my head. I want to laugh, but I don’t.
I know I’m acting like a petulant kid, but Mom doesn’t get to pretend that she cares about how I’m feeling now that she’s gotten what she’s always wanted.
“No, you’re not. You can’t even say his name.
You’re happy he dumped me.” I take another big bite of my cinnamon pancake.
I’m not usually an emotional eater, but in the last two days I’ve learned of the magical properties that sugar has on heartbreak.
“You don’t want me dating the son of a plant worker.
A tattooed and pierced musician. It messes up this new image you’ve created for yourself.
And Jason doesn’t want me dating Mike Jacobs’s son, because it reminds him of how he ruined that poor family’s life.
You’re both happy.” I wipe a tear. I didn’t even realize I was crying again.
All three of us are quiet for a while. Mom and Jason don’t even try to eat, so the only sound in the room is from my own silverware against the plate.
Mom takes a big breath in. “I’m not happy that you’re upset,” Mom finally says, her expression flat. “I’ve called your nani. If you still want to go back to Toronto for the rest of the summer, we can do that. She’s busy today, but she can come as early as tomorrow morning to pick you up.”
I nearly drop my fork. “Seriously?”
Mom nods, her expression unreadable. “Yes, seriously. I hate that you’ve been so miserable.” She pauses. “Jason has a campaign event on Sunday at Gordon Park that I should be at. If you are also willing to come, then we can go together back to the city Monday morning.”
I… I don’t know what to say. They’re letting me go home. Maybe I should stay until after Jason’s party for her? Maybe I should be there to show the haters that they didn’t win?
But I don’t think I can be there, at Gordon Park again. On the bandstand that Noah and I restored. Where we kissed for the first time.
I first saw Noah in that park. We weeded, and pruned, and planted, and painted. We laughed and talked about our dreams and about how we were going to make them happen. I’m pretty sure I fell in love with Noah at that park.
I don’t think I can be there, knowing I’ll probably never see him again.
I shake my head. “I think… after everything that happened there… I would rather go home tomorrow.”
She nods. “Okay. And in September you can choose where you want to go to high school. Here, or back in Toronto.”
I don’t need to even think about that one. “I want to go to high school in Toronto so I can do the BEAD program in person,” I say. “And so I can graduate with my friends.” I am not giving up on my goals. Not for anything, or anyone.
Mom looks down at her plate, blinking. “Then that’s what we’ll do.
I’ll confirm with my mother that you want her to pick you up tomorrow.
And I’ll be there with you on Monday. Glad I didn’t sell the condo, yet.
” She gets up from the table and picks up her empty plate, but then looks back at me.
Her eyes are glassy. “I didn’t believe in this family curse anymore.
I thought nothing bad was going to happen because of falling in love this time.
But… I guess I was wrong.” She pauses, breathing.
“I know I’ve been a terrible mother lately, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Meera.
” She takes the plate to the kitchen, then walks up the stairs.
What did Mom mean by that? There’s nothing she wouldn’t do? And why is she glad she didn’t sell the condo?
It suddenly comes to me. I turn to Jason, eyes wide. Mom is leaving Jason. She’s coming back to live in Toronto with me, because that’s where I want to be.