Chapter 18
Isaac
“You really don’t have to do this Isaac, it’s okay.” Serena grips my hand tightly underneath the restaurant table while we wait for her mother to join us.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be Preciosa.” Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. I’m not going anywhere.
I didn’t think I’d be meeting the parents so soon, but hell, I’ll take it. It was only a matter of time, anyway, seeing as how she’ll be walking down the aisle for me some day. Maybe sooner than she thinks.
When her mother texted her yesterday asking her to go to lunch, I could tell she was nervous to agree. No doubt worried about having to explain her injuries to her mom. Without any hesitation, I told her I would go with her for moral support.
The silk tablecloth brushes against my knee, fluttering from Serena’s leg bouncing up and down next to me. Releasing her hand, I rest mine on her knee and her leg stills.
She blows a piece of hair out of her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I mean, my mother isn’t exactly the epitome of a good mom…” Serena trails off when a middle-aged woman approaches the table.
She’s dressed in cream slacks tailored to perfection, a silk blouse tucked neatly into the waistband, and enough gold jewelry to quietly remind people that she “has money.” And her perfume announces her before she even speaks.
I get the feeling that if you were to wipe away the polished armor she is hiding behind, you would find a tarnished woman underneath.
She pulls her glossy nude lips into a tight smile. “Serena, darling. It’s so good to see you.” Serena stands to greet her mother, who leans in and gives her an air kiss on each side of her face before holding her out at arms length. “What happened to your pretty face? You look awful.”
“Oh…I uh…I was making breakfast and bacon grease popped in my face.” She brushes her hair, so it hides the burns on her face, but it’s too late.
“You’ve always been so clumsy dear. I would think you’d have grown out of it as an adult.” Perching her oversized designer glasses atop her head, she eyes me up and down. “And who’s this?”
“Isaac, this is my mother, Vivienne. Mother, this is Isaac. He’s my…” Serena shifts me a sideways glance, unsure as to what to introduce me as. Her boyfriend? Friend? Fuck buddy?
Standing, I hold out my hand across the table. “Her boyfriend, ma’am.” My girl blushes next to me, a soft smile on her face.
Ignoring my outstretched hand all together, she eyes Serena. “What happened to Tyler?” I have a feeling I’m really not going to like this woman.
Serena winces and I grab her waist instinctively, pulling her close. “I’d rather not talk about it mother. It’s a long story, and I don’t want to spend our lunch together going into it.”
“Very well dear.” Vivienne sets her large designer tote on the seat next to her and sits down. We follow suit, and Serena slides her chair closer to me.
“So mother, what did you want to get together for?” Serena paints a rehearsed smile on her face, her shoulders stiff. It is subtle enough that most people wouldn’t notice, or care for that matter.
But I do. And so does her mother.
I can tell by the satisfied glint in her eyes.
“Can’t a mother just want to see her daughter? It’s been almost six months since the last time we saw each other.” She waves down a waiter from across the room.
“You weren’t answering any of my calls and I got worried.
Only to find out you got a new phone. I had to track down Juliet at the clinic just to get your number.
” Her tone is sweet, every word dipped in fake innocence.
A quiet accusation designed to make Serena feel guilty without saying it outright.
And judging by the way Serena tightens her fingers in her lap, she notices it as well.
Was this how her entire childhood with her mother was? No wonder she has confidence issues.
“Sorry mom. It’s been a really hectic few days and I forgot to tell you.” Serena shifts slightly in her chair beside me.
“Mother, darling. Please. You know better.” Vivienne points a perfectly manicured finger towards Serena and then taps it on the table in front of her. The way Serena shrinks in her seat next to me and ushers a soft apology, sets my skin on fire.
We aren’t going to last long at this lunch if she keeps this up. Because there’s no fucking way I’m going to sit here and let this woman tear Serena apart in front of me.
The waiter approaches our table and her mother orders a bottle of merlot, sending him off with a casual wave. “It’s okay sweetie. Honest mistake. Nothing you need to get upset about.”
My teeth ache from how hard I’m clenching my jaw. Vivienne rummages through her purse and pulls out a compact mirror, powdering her nose before she snaps it close and drops it in her bag.
“Oh, how I have missed you darling. There is so much we have to catch up on.” She holds up her wine glass for the waiter to fill. “For starters, I’ve met someone.”
I raise an eyebrow at Serena. She gives me a subtle shake of her head, telling me that she had no idea her mother was even dating. Is her father still in the picture at all?
“Father would roll in his grave knowing you were shacking up with someone new.” Serena says lightly, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
Vivienne's smile doesn’t falter. Instead, something cold flashes in her eyes before disappearing a second later beneath a polished sip of wine. She smiles at me over the rim of her wine glass, perfectly composed.
“He wouldn’t be too thrilled about you bringing a random man to lunch either. But we won’t talk about that.”
“Mother! He is a good man. Don’t judge him before you’ve even given him a chance.” That’s sweet, she thinks I need defending.
She places her wine glass down delicately on the table and raises her hand in defense. “I’m only saying dear, it would have been nice to know that you weren’t with Tyler any longer. I quite enjoyed him, and he was such a gentleman. For heaven’s sake, you guys were supposed to get married.”
The fuck they were. Not a chance I would be letting that happen, attack or not. Serena snorts softly into her water, quickly covering her mouth as she coughs.
“Serena, watch your manners.” Vivienne wipes water from her sleeves, a disgusted look on her face. “My shirt better not be ruined now.”
“I’m sure it’s fine, Mother. It’s only water.”
She scoffs. “Please, I won’t be taking any fashion advice from my daughter who doesn’t know a designer shoe from a cheap knock off.”
Serena forces out a small laugh before I feel her tense against me. “I think she looks great.” My arm slides over Serena’s shoulders and I pull her closer against my side. “Better than great, actually.”
Vivienne looks at me, her smile remaining perfectly intact, but tightening at the corners ever so slightly. “Oh yes,” she says smoothly, opening the menu in front of her. “Of course she does.”
She flicks her eyes briefly over to Serena, feeling less like approval and more like she is assessing her.
Serena picks up her menu, barely looking at the words in front of her. I lean in closer, lowering my voice near her ear. “We can leave at any time, Mi Vida. Just say the word.”
Her hand finds mine under the table, and she gives it a small reassuring squeeze. Mouthing the words I’m okay , before letting go. I straighten in my seat and make eye contact with Vivienne. “So, Viv, what is it that you do exactly?”
“It’s Vivienne.” Her eyes narrow at me from behind the menu. “And I work in Human Resources.” Setting the menu down gracefully before folding her hands beneath her chin. “And what exactly is it that you do, Isaac?”
I grab my water glass from the table and take a sip. “I’m a bartender at a local club.”
Vivienne’s expression shifts instantly. A subtle flicker of judgement in her eyes before shooting a disapproving look at her daughter. “A bartender?” She repeats carefully. “Sweetie, you could do so much better.”
Does she not see me sitting right here? The audacity nearly makes me laugh.
Serena visibly shakes beside me while Vivienne reaches into her designer purse again, pulling out her phone.
“I’m going to call Tyler’s mother and see about getting you two connected again.” She says casually while unlocking the screen. “He was so good for you darling.”
What the fuck did she just say? The air around me turns razor sharp and beside me, Serena has gone completely still.
And across the table, Vivienne continues scrolling through her phone with the complete confidence of a woman who genuinely believes she gets to decide who her daughter belongs to. Does she even know the way that Tyler treated her? If she did, I doubt she would want her to go back to him.
She hasn’t even asked about her daughter’s obvious injuries. The bruises on her neck. The healing cuts across her cheek. The bandaged wrist and the fact that Serena still flinches when someone moves too fast near her. All caused by the so-called "gentleman".
“He hit me, Mom.” Serena’ voice is barely above a whisper.
Vivienne finally glances up from her phone and lets out a small sigh. “Honestly, Serena. You have always been so dramatic.” She waves a dismissive hand through the air. “A few bruises and suddenly everyone wants to leave and act concerned. Your Father hit me, and I turned out great.”
Serena’s eyes widen. “He didn’t just hit me… he tried to fucking kill me.”
Without even another glance from her phone, Vivienne has the audacity to say, “Tomato, tamahto honey.”
Everything inside me stills.
My chair scrapes harshly against the floor as I stand. The sound cutting through the buzz of the restaurant loudly enough to turn heads nearby. I don’t give a flying fuck who watches, I am getting my girl out of here. I’m done.
Grabbing Serena’s hand, I pull her up beside me. Vivienne blinks up at me. “Excuse me?”
I let out a humorless laugh under my breath.
“You know what? I was trying real hard to be respectful because you’re her mother.
” Leaning forward slightly, I plant my hand flat on the table.
“But any woman who can sit there and dismiss what happened to her daughter, doesn’t deserve the fucking title. ”
“Isaac, please.” Serena whispers next to me.
“No.” My grip tightens around her hand. “I’m done sitting here listening to this shit and letting her degrade you.
We are leaving. Now.” Before we walk away, my eyes lock onto her mother’s.
“You do not get to sit here and belittle my girl. You don’t get to decide who she belongs to, control her or act like she is an inconvenience to you. This ends today.”
Vivienne’s expression hardens instantly. “You boy, are wildly out of line.”
“And you are a sorry fucking excuse for a mother.” Serena and I walk out of the restaurant hand in hand, leaving her mother alone at the table, eyes wide and mouth hung open.