Page 65 of Summer Affair

A couple hours later, Andrea was sitting at her mother’s dining table, the familiar setting both comforting and stifling. The aroma of her mother’s signature chicken parmesan filled the room, but Andrea’s appetite was nowhere to be found. She glanced at her mother, who was busy setting the table, her movements precise and practiced.

Her mother always used her finest dishware and settings, even though dinner should have been a more casual thing between them.

“Mom, sit down for a moment. Can we talk?” Andrea began, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions brewing inside her.

Her mother looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes. “Of course, dear. What’s on your mind?”

“I’ve been going through a rough time lately.” Andrea took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “My health…” Her mother waved her off and continued placing the food.

“Yes, but you’re better now,” she said quickly, sitting down.

“It was a serious issue, Mom. Life-changing.” Andrea felt her chest tighten.

Her mother’s expression shifted slightly, but she quickly masked it with a smile.

“Oh, sweetie, we all know that you always worry too much. You’re young and strong. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Besides, you’re back at work, how life-changing could it be?” She poured herself some wine.

“Mom, this isn’t something that will just go away,” Andrea insisted, feeling the frustration build. “I’m back at work because I love my job at the camp. I love the people I work with. They’ve helped me through this. They’ve been more supportive than I could have ever imagined. More than you or Amy have ever been. You both…you don’t seem to take my health or my work seriously.”

Her mother waved a dismissive hand again. Like she was shooing away an annoying fly.

“You never tell me anything, Andrea. How am I supposed to know what’s going on with you if you don’t talk to me?” Her voice turned slightly whiny. “You’re always so secretive,” she accused as she dished up two plates of food and set one in front of her.

It appeared as if her mother was more focused on eating than having this conversation.

“I’ve tried to talk to you, but you never listen. You’re more interested in keeping up appearances than understanding what I’m going through.” Andrea clenched her fists under the table, trying to keep her composure.

“Well, maybe if you communicated more, we wouldn’t have these problems.” Her mother sighed, a touch of irritation creeping into her voice.

“I do try to communicate! But you brush everything off . Like Amy’s marriage problems. Did you know she’s been having serious issues with Brad?” Andrea’s frustration reached its peak.

Her mother’s expression softened momentarily when she mentioned Amy. “Yes, I know about that. But everything is fine now. They’re having a baby, and that will fix those little hiccups all marriages have in the first few years.”

Andrea’s heart ached at the casual dismissal. Her mind raced back to Dean’s family. The secrets they’d confided in her. How strong the three of them were throughout all the years, all the struggles, all the pain.

“A baby isn’t a solution to their marriage problems, Mom. You can’t just sweep everything under the rug and pretend it’s all okay.”

Her mother gave her a tight smile.

“Andrea, you need to have a more positive outlook. Life is too short to dwell on negativity. Honestly, I don’t know why you’re bringing all this negativity into my home tonight.”

Andrea felt the weight of her mother’s words pressing down on her, suffocating her attempts to be heard. She wanted to scream. To punch something. To hit out and yell until she was noticed. Really seen.

“This isn’t about negativity,” she said, her voice strained. “It’s about facing reality. I’m going through something incredibly difficult, and I need your support, not platitudes.”

“Well, if you talked to me more, maybe you’d get the support you need.” Her mother’s face hardened.

“I love you, Mom. I really do. But sometimes it feels like you don’t really see me.” Feeling suddenly defeated, Andrea looked down at her hands.

“I see you perfectly clearly. I just wish you would open up more.” Her mother’s expression softened again, but there was still a distance, a hardness in her eyes.

Andrea nodded, realizing that this was as close to understanding as they were going to get tonight. Unable to take the awkward silence and unwilling to eat dinner with a complete stranger, she made some excuse about not feeling well and left.

She was glad that the awkward evening with her mother was over but felt sorry that she hadn’t been fully listened to.

At least she had tried to take a step forward in trying to heal her family. She knew that true understanding and support from her mother and sister were still a long way away.

Feeling a little overwhelmed and emotional, she sent Dean a text before pulling out of her mother’s condo complex and asked him if he wanted to come over to hang out. By the time she got home, his car was already parked in her driveway.