Mom shifts uncomfortably. “Have you seen her yet?”
She doesn’t have to say her name. We both know she’s asking about Lucy.
Leaving Lucy was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But Ihadto. Once I lost the scholarship, I knew we’d never make it. Lucy was going to be a doctor. She wanted to work with cancer patients. I smile as some of our conversations come back to me.
Of course, the fact that she’s a professor means something in her life changed. I bet it was Joseph. That selfish prick.
“I have seen her,” I admit.
“She got married you know.”
That gets my attention. “Youknewshe got married? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Before she answers, a whistle erupts from the kitchen. She jumps up. “Let’s have tea.”
Mom retrieves the tea bags while I grab the mugs. We had this routine the few times my mom was sober while I was growing up. I realize now how much I’ve missed it. She places a tea bag in each mug, and I pour the hot water, then carry the mugs to the table.
Once we’ve sat down again, I stare at her, waiting for her to answer my question. I’m certain she’s going to change the subject, but instead she clears her throat. “I didn’t tell you because by the time I heard about it, you were deployed. Then you were missing. When they found you, and I knew you were safe, the last thing I could do was break your heart with that news.”
I close my eyes. I remember that visit; my mom couldn’t stop crying. I thought it was because of the close call I had, but maybe it was this.
“She’s divorced,” I say.
Mom sets her mug down and reaches across the table to take hold of my hand. “Cody, don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“You should leave her alone. I know you think you loved her, but—”
“Lucy is the only woman I’ve ever been in love with. I want to leave it alone, but I can’t.”
She squeezes my hand. “You have to. You know her father doesn’t like you, and he doesn’t want you two together.”
I sit up taller at that. “You said doesn’t. Present tense. What do you mean by that?”
My mom sighs. “Did you forget? He wasn’t kind to you.”
That’s true, but that’s because he’s a prick. “He may not have liked me then, but Lucy and I are adults now.”
“And she wants to be with you?”
I sink back in my chair. “I think she has a boyfriend.”
Mom nods. “Probably for the best.”
“Because of her father?”
“Cody, you never really knew him, but he has always been a powerful man. He’s more so now. If he doesn’t want you with his daughter, he’ll make it happen.”
I laugh. “Mom, I was a SEAL. He’s not going to intimidate me.”
She sighs as she stares at her tea. There are fine lines around her eyes I don’t recall noticing last time I saw her. When she glances back to me, I see fear in her eyes. “He intimidates me,” she says quietly.
That’s odd. Not many intimidate my mom. My defenses go up. “Why? Did he do something to you?”
“Oh, my god!” my sister yells as she bursts through the door. “You reallyarehere.”
I may have texted her to let her know I was on my way to Mom’s, but I’m regretting that now, because Mom was about to tell me something, and now she’s hugging my sister.
