Page 69 of Miss Treated

Or to make a point about not liking the way I’d ignored her over the last couple weeks. This was my penance for thinking I could establish boundaries between us.

“Hello, darling.” She went in for the hug as if I’d requested her to be here with me.

“What are you doing here?” I was no longer willing to be her pawn.

She fastened a look toward her ex-husband as if exasperated by my question. “I’m here for you, my dear. Just like my voicemails indicated.”

She was making it clear I shouldn’t have disregarded them.

“I wouldn’t miss a chance to see my only daughter.”

There wasn’t an ounce of sincerity in her words. “I didn’t ask you to be here.”

She seemed taken aback by my tone but shook it off. “You didn’t have to ask. I know my daughter well enough to understand when she needs me.”

I bit my tongue so hard it started to hurt.

Dominic must’ve sensed my distress because he squeezed my hand.

My mother, of course, moved on to cause more drama. “Warren, you look tired. And this must be your current wife, Candace. Enjoy it while it lasts, dear, before he trades you in for a newer model. Soon it will be someone else planning this yearly anniversary party to celebrate his one true love.”

Candace turned beet red and turned to my father, who sputtered, “Kelsey, it would be best if you left and took your mother with you.”

So much for coming to see my brothers. I was being asked to leave. Given the way all heads were turned toward us, I was tempted to run out of there. But I turned, head high, and walked out calmly, Dominic by my side. We didn’t speak until we were outside.

“Are you okay, Kels?”

“No. Not at all.” I’d come to see my brothers and out of a misplaced family obligation. I’d failed on both counts, instead ending up in the familiar scenario of my mother using me as an excuse to make things about her. “Do you mind getting the car?”

“Not at all.” He left just as my mother descended the stairs.

“Who is the young man you’re with? Is he the same guy who was rude to Joel in New York?”

I turned on her, furious beyond rational thinking. “He’s no one. Absolutely no one. He didn’t go to an Ivy League school, he’s not wildly successful, nor does he have a lot of money. He’s absolutely no one for you to spend a moment thinking about.”

The sound of a clearing voice had me pivoting around. Dominic was standing there. It was obvious from the stain on his cheeks he’d heard every word. “I think you have the rental car key.”

Shit. I did. I dug it out of my purse, beseeching him with my gaze to understand. My words were intended to protect what we had, not criticize him.

But he turned on his heel and left to get the car before I could muster the words to explain.

“Why would you waste your time with someone who can’t take care of you? Joel wasn’t exaggerating. You aren’t yourself.”

I tried to channel what I’d learned in therapy. Confronting a narcissist only fed into their power. Disengaging was more effective. But I had things to say.

“You had no right to show up here today, just like you had no right to tell Joel where I was in New York.”

“I think you might need a psychological intervention. Are you taking your meds?” It was a familiar question, one Joel had often thrown in my face. Everything was always my fault because if I took antidepressants, I was automatically the irrational one.

“I’m more myself than I’ve ever been. Goodbye, Mother.”

When Dominic pulled up, I was relieved to get into the passenger seat. But one look at his tight expression, and I knew I had a lot of damage control to do.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Dominic

My hands gripped the steering wheel while Kelsey got into the car. It was clear she was very upset. Who could blame her with her mother showing up uninvited to the party, and her father essentially kicking her out of his house.