AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m about to answer Jessie when my phone starts to vibrate. I flash the screen to her.
“Mom,” I say and sigh deeply.
She shoos me away, and I answer, heading to the nearest doors to find some privacy for a call.
I wish I were the kind of person who could put my phone on “do not disturb” and just let it ring through. But if my mom needs me . . .
I rub my fingers across my forehead as I pick up, a heavy weight in my stomach.
“Hi. You okay?” I say, cutting to the chase.
“Hi, Jadey.” My mom’s voice is wobbly. She’s definitely been crying.
My stomach catapults down to my feet, and I find a wall to lean against to steady myself. She’s been dumped, and I’m going to have to go home, like, right now. My car is still not working, though, and I don’t know how I’m going to get there. Maybe Mac would let me borrow his car. I live two hours from home—it’s definitely too far for an Uber.
“Mom?”
“I don’t know.” She’s actively crying now. I recognize the change in her voice.
“What happened?” I put on my most calming voice. Now I’m in caretaker mode.
“I just think Rob might break up with me,” she says with a slight wail.
I close my eyes, a wave of relief washing over me. She hasn’t been dumped yet, so she’s probably not drinking yet. I’m not going to have to go home—yet. This bit usually precedes a breakup, so I don’t have long, but I have some time.
“What happened? What did he do?”Or really . . . what are you making a big deal about that isn’t a big deal at all?
My mom’s insecurity in relationships is what eventually ruins them. I’ve tried to tell her, but she doesn’t hear me. My grandma used to tell her too, but she didn’t hear her either. My mother believes she is a victim of her own life. It’s one of the most frustrating things about her.
“He hasn’t texted me back since last night! We went on a date, and I texted and said I had such a lovely time, and he responded with a ‘me too’ and a heart emoji, and then I textedthis morning to say good morning like I always do, and I haven’t heard back all day.”
I search the depths of my soul for some patience and come up with scraps. Running my hands through my hair, I conjure the energy she needs from me right now. Scraps will have to do.
“It sounds like maybe he just had a busy day. He works, right? Maybe he couldn’t get to his phone today.”
“Yeah,” she says in her mousiest voice.
“Then probably nothing to worry about,” I say, as I’ve said a million times in the past. Of course, I was wrong all those times, and I know I’ll be wrong this time too, but what am I supposed to tell her—the truth? “Listen, why don’t you draw yourself a bath? That always makes you feel better. You got those bubbles. Light a candle. Just soak for a little, okay? You’ll feel better.”
“Okay. I do love a bath. Thanks, Jadey. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She probably meant for those words to feel like a compliment, but they’re heavy. They come with expectations and implications and responsibilities—all things I’ve carried for way longer than I should have to or want to.
I shake my hands out and lean against the cool brick of the building, taking a few deep breaths. I don’t want to bring this stuff back into the bingo room with me. The bingo room is for fun, not dramatics.
Plus, Jessie will ask questions when I get back inside. She’ll pry, but not too far—unless I give her an inch, and then she’ll try to take a mile. It’s something I love about her, except when it comes to my mom.
She already knows too much. She knows my mom drinks, and she knows that sometimes my mom drinks too much. That is more than anyone else in my life besides my grandma knows, and some days, that feels so scary I wish I could go back in time and un-tell her.
So I like to pretend like she doesn’t know anything.
I sigh one more time, letting it all out, before rejoining the noisy bingo room.
“What’s up? Everything okay?” Jessie asks as I settle back into my chair.
“Yeah, just . . . my mom.”
“Did something happen?”
