29. Chloe #3
I still my spine and control my breathing.
I don’t lash out at people, but with my mother across from me now, I’m tempted to.
The woman who was never there for me, the woman who neglected me for years, is now turning the blame on me because I haven’t called her up to ask her about her deadbeat ex-boyfriend.
The anger I’ve kept locked within is itching for release.
“You were the one who abandoned me,” I snap back.
“You made me feel like Dad leaving was my fault. You had years to make me feel loved and supported, but you didn’t.
What do you expect from me that I took off?
I needed to find people who were there for me because you never were.
And even then, I fucked things up, and now that I’m here and I’m happy, you want to come in and bring me back down to the miserable hole you’re in? ”
“Don’t speak to me like that, I’m your mother. You need to treat me with respect.”
“That’s not how respect works. Just because we are related doesn’t mean I am obligated to do anything.
” I lean back in my chair and will my shoulders to relax.
I cycle through the relaxation techniques I used to help Tyler with at the housewarming party.
Birds chirping, fireplace smoke, the wooden chair beneath my thighs. Breathe.
“So, what, you’re just going to play house with your rich boyfriend? I worked my ass off to support us, and what do you give me in return? Can your boyfriend at least give me some cash for the trouble of raising you?”
“You didn’t raise me. You didn’t do shit.
I’ve done more without you in my life, and I will keep doing more.
I’m managing a professional athlete and have a group of people around me who actually care about my life.
And yes, I’m going to do it with my boyfriend, who has loved and supported me more than you ever will.
I don’t want to see you or talk to you ever again.
Don’t try to get in touch, don’t try to get Mia to tell you what I’m up to. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
I open my mouth to lash out again as another car pulls up. Reid’s truck. We both turn to see Reid and Annika get out of the vehicle. Annika’s eyes squint as she looks at my mom and then back at me. I can’t tell if she recognizes my mom. But her and Reid stand by the truck for a moment.
My mom whips her head back to me. “Of course, your girlfriend is always with you. I’m surprised you two aren’t married by now, given how much time you spend together.” She spits out.
“Don’t disrespect Annika. Her family was there for me more than you ever were.”
“The Gomeses can go to hell! They made life look like a fairy tale when it really just goes to shit,” my mom retorts, her face red with fury.
I don’t have a closet to run away to. I need to face my mom and push her out of my life for good.
I’m not that little girl anymore. I can’t hide from the past. I need to find closure.
Just like I did with Dane, I need to do this with my mom and end things for good.
I can’t continue to reach for someone who isn’t reaching back.
“Heather, to what do we owe your presence?” Annika quips as she walks up the stairs.
“I’m here to reconcile with my daughter, and she’s treating me miserably. You’ve probably brainwashed her. Maybe you can put a spell on her to treat me kinder.”
“You don’t deserve Chloe in your life,” Annika starts, but Tyler, who I just realized has been standing in the front doorway, walks out and stands next to Annika arms crosses. The picture of the two most important people in my life, side-by-side defending me, fills me with love.
“That’s enough. Please get off my property,” Tyler says, walking over to my mom, who huffs and looks at me.
“Are you going to let him talk to me like that?”
“Mom, you need to leave, and I’m not going to call you.
So, don’t bother reaching out to me. This is where our relationship ends.
I don’t care if you think I’m being a bad daughter or if you’ll hate me forever, but I can’t keep letting you drag me down.
This is done. Good luck with whatever you get up to in life.
” I stand up and walk next to Tyler. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, keeping me close.
“Please, leave.” I will myself to say without shedding any tears.
She huffs, stands, collects her bag, and descends the porch stairs. I breathe in to release a sigh, until she whips back around. I think she’s going to lash out at Tyler or me again, but she takes a step toward Annika.
“She’s going to abandon you, just like she did to me. When she leaves for her big new marketing job, she’s not going to call you or keep in touch. She’s just like her father,” Heather spits out at Annika.
“Get out of my face,” Annika snaps. My mom storms off to her car and drives off.
I feel like I could scream. I want to let go of all the negativity my mom brought with her. I push away from Tyler and go to Annika. “She’s wrong, I will never abandon you. I’ll still call when we leave.”
Annika waits before Heather leaves then turns to me. She doesn’t have anger, but confusion, blanketing her face. “Where are you going?”