Page 109 of Twisted Beauty

Talk about a non-sequitur. How did this have anything to do with Grant? Or even Liv? “Um, no.”

Her mother leaned forward with her arms resting on the table, but didn’t shift her gaze from the window. “He was a cinematographer. So handsome and so talented. It was sort of a whirlwind romance. Sometimes he took me with him to the studio when he worked. Introduced me to actors and directors, showed me Hollywood from the inside.” She looked dreamy-eyed, and honestly, about ten years younger as she reminisced. “I was head over heels. We’d talked about running off to Vegas to get married as soon as his film was finished.”

“Why do I feel like this story is about to take a tragic turn?”

Her mother glanced over and smiled. “Considering we all know I married your father, that’s a decent guess.”

Why did love have to be so complicated? Liv wondered if her mother’s story was anything like her own with Matt. As in, one minute you’re in the arms of this gorgeous hunk of a man, and the next he’s looking at you like he doesn’t even know you.

I can’t believe anything you say now, can I?

Liv sipped at her coffee and wondered what her mother was like when she was young and in love. Was she kinder? Softer? She couldn’t picture it. “What’s his name? Have I heard of him?”

“Probably not. Brian Chandler.” The corners of her lips twitched up when she said his name. “He never did anything big. Not that I know of anyway.”

Liv shrugged. That wasn’t the important part. “So what happened?”

“We were supposed to meet for dinner near the studio one night and I was early. The guards knew me, so they let me in. I heard his laugh inside a trailer. I’d have recognized it anywhere. So I poked my head in.” She glanced over at Liv again, and then back out the window. “He wasn’t alone.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and Liv gasped. She knew that feeling all too well.

“Oh my god. What did you do?”

“I ran.”

Liv’s breath caught in her throat. Like mother, like daughter. But her mom was such a powerhouse, always so sure of what was right, what needed to be done, that it was almost unbelievable she’d ever run from a problem. Liv felt like such a loser for slinking away after she’d walked in on Grant and Jillian. So weak. And yet her opinionated, headstrong mother had done exactly the same thing.

“He must have seen me, because I heard him calling my name when I took off. I never looked back.”

“You never talked to him again?”

“I did. He hounded me for weeks until I agreed to talk to him. He said he’d only kissed her and that he’d made a horrible mistake. He begged me to forgive him, but I’d already met someone else. Your father. And he was a good man—honest, hardworking, stable. Everything I thought I should want. I chose him.”

Liv’s hands flew up to cover her mouth. “Oh my god. You regret marrying Dad.”

“No, of course not. I love your father. And he gave me you. She reached out and took Liv’s hand. “You’re the best part of my life. But I’ve always had a lot of what-ifs in my head. And I didn’t want that for you. When I told Grant you made bad decisions, I meant those heat-of-the-moment decisions you make without thinking them through. Like running away instead of talking it out.”

Liv rubbed a hand over her forehead. “I’ve had plenty of time now to think it through.”

“You need to talk to Grant, to find out if it was just a terrible mistake. I want you to be very sure leaving him is the right choice. Sometimes love is enough to overcome a lot of obstacles, and I know you love him.”

“No, Mom. You love him. Well, you and every other woman with a pulse in this city. Everyone but me.”

Her mother’s eyebrows shot up, and she set her cup down with so much force it was a miracle the coffee didn’t splash all over the table. “What? How is that possible?”

Liv dropped her head and pressed in on her temples with both hands. “You’ve only seen his ‘Hollywood’ side. He’s arrogant and uncompromising. Selfish. He’s got a great stage presence, but one-on-one, he’s not all that easy to love.” She looked up. “Is that really so hard to understand? Looks aren’t everything.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. Her mother never rolled her eyes. This whole conversation felt like talking to a complete stranger. A two-way conversation with someone who actually waited to hear what Liv had to say instead of talking over her, trying to shut her down. “No, I meant, how is it possible you stayed with him for two years and agreed to marry him if you don’t love him?”

Liv groaned. She wrapped her hair up into a bun, trying to distract herself from just how pathetic she was about to sound. “I thought it would finally make you proud of me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Her mother frowned and shook her head, then leaned back in her chair with her shoulders drooping. “I’ve always been proud of you.”

“Bullsh—sorry. No, I’m not sorry. Bullshit. There isn’t anything I’ve done you’ve ever been proud of.”

“You’re my beautiful, smart daughter. Of course I’m proud.”

Liv wanted to say, “Who are you and what have you done with my mother?” Instead, she decided to call her bluff. “You think my photography is a waste of time.”

“I can’t deny I’m afraid you’ll wind up sleeping on my couch when you’re forty with three dollars in your 401K. But I’d still be mighty proud.” Her mother flashed her a smile, and Liv couldn’t help but laugh.