AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mom pauses. “Where else would he work?”
“I just thought since he moved, it would be a shorter commute.”
Mom’s frown deepened. “I don’t think it’s that far. Ten minutes, maybe?”
I’ve been to Rhys’s apartment. It’s not in town unless he’s living a double life which I highly doubt. The only thing I can think is he’s been driving to and from work every day for six hours both ways so he could be close to me.
My heart warms and breaks at the thought. He’s been with me the whole time, refusing to give up on us and I acted like a child. Sure, I still believe my fears are valid, but it makes my heart ache.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you two together again,” Mom’s saying when I climb out of my thoughts. “Rhyswas devastated when you left. He had no idea until he came home to find you gone.” Mom clicks her tongue and shakes her head. “He was crushed. I asked if something happened, if you guys got into a fight, but he wouldn’t say, and you wouldn’t say, but you were both hurting. I hated it.”
My stomach writhes like a dark pit of angry snakes. I stare at a chunk of ice floating across the yellow surface of my drink to clink into the side of my glass.
“I kissed him,” I blurt before I can stop myself.
My gaze darts up quickly to catch her reaction, her face. Kissing is a tame explanation to that night, but I have to see what she’ll say, how she will react. This is a tiny prod sent out to test the waters, and Mom doesn’t disappoint.
Her jaw drops. Her eyes go round. She stares at me with a soft, “Oh.” But I see something register and her expression morphs into a grimace. “Oh!” she repeats with remorse. “Oh, Addie, I’m so sorry. I’m sure Rhys was just taken by surprise. You know he adores you.”
I’m amused that her immediate thought isn’t,what the fuck is wrong with you,but sympathy that I’d been rejected. So, out of shame and hurt, I ran.
She’s not wrong, I suppose. Shame was exactly why I left.
“Ad?” Mom touches my arm gently and I blink out of my thoughts. She’s watching me with concern tilting her head. “You okay?”
I nod and clear my throat. I take a sip of my tart drink to busy my hands. “Fine. Just thinking I can’t believe it’s been ten years for you and Oz.”
Mom does not fall for my attempts to distract her, but she doesn’t press. “Me neither. It feels like only yesterday he walked into my life.”
I snort a laugh. “You mean when you crashed your car into his at a stop sign?”
Mom’s cheeks darken. “Same thing.”
We both laugh at the guilt wrinkling her nose; only my mom could total a man’s whole car and walk away with a date.
“I’m really happy for you guys,” I say, settling back in my cushions with my drink cradled between my palms. “I love Oz, and I love that you’re so happy.”
Mom sighs and unfurls her legs to stretch out before her. “I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s my whole world, next to you, of course, and Rhys.” She taps a French tip against the side of her glass contemplatively as she stares at something across the lake. “Addie, why did you kiss—?”
I quickly interjected like I hadn’t heard her.
“How’s the macramé business?” I counter, changing the subject.
Her eyes narrow, but she lets me evade the question. But a shadow flitters over her expression and she quickly averts her own eyes to the lake. The fingers around her glass tighten.
“Mom?” I press, setting my drink down on the table at my elbow.
Mom sighs and follows suit placing her glass aside.
“A few months ago, Ozzy had some clients over for dinner and the wife loved the piece I have over the loveseat in the living room. Ozzy told her about my business when she asked where I got it.” She took a sip of her drink, gaze still avoiding mine. “She was so lovely and complimentary. I showed her a few others when she asked and she looked up my website. During dinner, she mentioned knowing companies that would buy my pieces in bulk all over the world.”
My eyes widen. “Oh my God! Mom, that’s fantastic. What’s the problem?”
A wrinkle formed over the bridge of Mom’s delicate nose. “Love Knot is my baby. It’s a passion because it’s personal. Ihand create each piece with care and love. If I start hammering them out in bulk, it’s not the same.”
I consider her worries and understand her concerns, but this is a huge deal. Too big to ignore.
“You can still do both. Keep your storefront and online but expand. Pick companies you align with and maybe hire a few of the women from town to start. You deserve to get your name out there. It doesn’t mean you’re selling out. You’re reaching a broader customer base. It’s a good ... no, great thing. I think you should go for it.”
