“The reason we broke up is because he cheated,” I say. “I found out before my last trip to Seattle.”
“Wait—what?” Tanner stiffens, his cutlery landing on his plate with a clatter.
“It’s true,” I say. “He got caught out and then tried to deny it. It all got on top of me, so I moved my stuff out one weekend while he was away playing basketball and stayed with Susan before I flew out for Seattle to see Beth.”
“I thought you were on extended leave?” Mom says, her mouth just about hanging open.
“I was, Mom. But I decided to make it permanent. I gave out my notice and spent the rest of the time working on my app. There were too many reminders of Aaron, and I had hardly made any friends in LA. It was like living in a concrete bowl.”
“Why are we just hearing about this now?” Dad’s tone has taken a turn for the worst, and as I glance over at him, his eyes are like a storm cloud. “Is that why you didn’t want me to come and help you move? You thought I’d find out what that cheating, lying asshole did?”
“Billy!” Mom chastises, flicking her eyes towards her grandson.
Luca is busy stuffing Dad’s dinner roll into his mouth to be too concerned about his grandpa’s swearing.
“Yes, that is the reason,” I say honestly. “I didn’t want you guys to worry. I knew you’d be mad.” As I look at Tanner beside him, I can see his face is a serious rainstorm, the same as my dad’s. Oh no. This isn’t what I wanted at all.
“He cheated?” Tanner grits out.
Deb reaches over and gives my forearm a squeeze. The air temperature in the room has been lowered a few notches, but it still feels stifling.
“Yes, he cheated,” I say. “And took no responsibility for it.” They don’t need to know all the other sordid, embarrassing details. As if the just cheating part isn’t bad enough.
“I’m so sorry,” Deb whispers.
My smile toward her is small, but appreciated. Even Mom’s eyes soften.
“Honey, why didn’t you tell us?” she cries, just about leaping from her seat. She leans over from the end of the table and pulls me into her arms. Damn those tears that just seem to want to leak out all over the place. They rim the surface, but I quickly wipe them away.
“I didn’t want you guys to all get upset. And I thought I was handling it,” I say. “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about school. I felt bad because I wasn’t gelling there and I’ve put so much into my degree. I didn’t want it all to be a waste of time.”
“It’s not a waste of time,” Mom says, her voice shaky and on the verge of tears, too.
“We just want you to be happy,” Dad says. “No matter what, Jade.”
Mom pulls back and cups my cheek with her hand. “You never have to handle these big changes in your life all by yourself. I’m shocked that you kept all this from us.”
The hurt in her eyes bites back at me. And here I was thinking I’d done the right thing, not wanting them to worry about me.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I realize now I should have told you, but I was just trying to navigate around it in my own way.”
“I really hope I don’t run into that ass?—”
Mom waves her hand toward Tanner before he can finish his sentence and swears again in front of Luca.
“Maybe I should come with you to LA when you retrieve your belongings,” Dad says, and the edge to his voice indicates that would involve taking a little trip over to Aaron’s place.
“It’s okay, Dad.” I shake my head. “It’s really not worth it. He’s not worth it.”
“But you are,” Dad goes on. “And I’d love to give that guy a piece of my mind.”
“A piece of my mind!” Luca calls out with enthusiasm and I can’t help but laugh because he’s repeating my dad with no ideawhat he’s really saying. I’m just glad he didn’t repeat the word asshole. But just like that, little Luca breaks the tenseness that formed around the table with my two big confessions. Robbie even barks to that under the table, where he’s wormed his way in to catch any left overs that get dropped.
“Thank goodness we’ve got you to keep us on the straight and narrow,” I say towards my gorgeous little nephew.
“He certainly has his way with words,” Deb laughs.
A squeeze of a hand over mine tears my eyes away from my nephew and my eyes meet Mom’s. I know she’s hurt and upset that I kept these things from her, but I also know there’s no judgement either. She will come around, even if I know they’ll be worried if I can make a living going out on my own.
