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Owen shook his head.
“I was alone a lot at fifteen,” my mother said.
I whipped around to face her. “That’s probably why you’re so fucked up.”
Vera’s eyes widened. “That’s how you speak to your mother?”
I turned back around and closed my eyes, so spent from this day.
Owen responded in my place. “Vera, I think you lost the right to any respect the day you walked out on your kids—actually, the first day you walked out on Devyn many years ago.”
“How much have you told this guy, Devyn?”
“He knows everything,” I murmured.
“Well, no wonder you don’t like me, Owen. But trust me, you don’t know me or my motivations. I think my kids are better off without me sometimes, so I leave them be occasionally. Heath and Hannah are smart kids. Trust me.”
I straightened in my seat. “That makes no sense. No kids are better off left to fend for themselves without their parents. As much as you hurt me growing up, I always wanted you around. That’s the messed-up part.”
She reached out to touch my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Dev.”
I winced from the contact. “How many times have I heard that, Mom? Really…”
After a long moment of silence, Owen spoke again. “You can’t possibly know how lucky you are that Devyn cares as much as she does, how lucky you are that despite everything, she’d come to bail you out. Do you have any idea how much she’s sacrificed to be here for her siblings?”
“No one asked her to,” Vera had the nerve to say.
I turned to look at Owen. His expression was just…sad. I knew he felt bad for me. Which I hated. But at the same time, I felt validated that he was finally witnessing it with his own eyes. He could see what I’d had to endure for so long, how unreasonable and narcissistic Vera was. How hopeless it was to try to get through to someone whose perception of reality was so warped.
“That’s exactly why what she’s done is remarkable,” he responded. “No one asked her to come help. She just did. That’s what you do for love, Vera. For family.” He reached for my hand and brushed his thumb along mine.
I couldn’t imagine how different this ride would have been if I’d come to get her alone. It would’ve sucked. Life felt much different when someone had your back.
“Well, now that I’m coming home, you can return to your life in California,” she said.
I turned around to face her again. “You’re joking, right?”
“No, of course not.”
I raised a brow. “You think I actually trust you not to bolt on them again?”
She shrugged. “I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“Right.” I huffed, crossing my arms. “And what about your pending court dates in Boston? What a mess. God knows how many times you’re gonna have to go back there.”
“The case will be thrown out once they look into his background. He’s been violent before.”
“Then why the hell would you have left your family to be with this man?”
“I don’t know.” She sighed. “You can’t always choose who floats your boat. Kind of like you and that actor, right? Certainly he’s not the best person on the inside, but I’ll bet he’s good in the sack.”
“Why would you even say something like that right now?” I scolded.
“Well, why should I respect your boyfriend’s feelings when he doesn’t respect me?”
Owen raised his voice. “You don’t have to respect me, Vera. But you need to start respecting your daughter.”
“You know what?” she huffed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all of this. I just want to get home and go to sleep.”
