“But what about everyone else?”
“What about them? You can see them individually if you want. And if they don’t want to, you didn’t need them anyway. But you know some of them will still love you because they always have, and they always will.”
“I know.”
Liam’s strong hands encompassed my neck, cupping my chin and the back of my head. “If you know, then let’s go.”
I sucked in a breath and gave in. “Okay.” As my aunt’s laughter boomed outside, I dared to scoot my feet forward till my toes were touching Liam’s. Standing alone with him in the kitchen, on our own little vacation from the table, I exhaled. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes, saying a quick goodbye to the house I did have some good memories at. It was where I’d first met Liam after all, and where he’d come every week to save me. Because of him, it was a place that made me realize I could go on and survive and become someone new, even after the Owen debacle. It was for those reasons that I loved this house. Still, it was time to let it go. “Okay. Let’s think of an excuse.”
Liam tipped my chin up. “No. Don’t waste that energy.”
“Fine. We’ll take Riley, too?” I asked.
“Of course. Come on.”
With that, Liam and I headed back out. The second I stepped foot in the dining room though, I felt my mother’s eyes on me. Like a masochist, I met her gaze and confirmed the look of pure disdain she had on. All for me. But I didn’t care. I was seconds from being done with her, and she had no idea at all. She had no idea what she’d put me through last night, or the last ten years for that matter, and to my odd sense of pleasure now, she would never found out. At this point, my mother didn’t deserve to know me, and the best solution for us now was for me to disappear from her life swiftly, without another second of stress or struggle. It was the first step to my new start, and I felt genuine joy and relief in my decision.
“Everyone,” I started nervously. “So… I wish I had a better explanation, and I hate to spring this up out of nowhere, but I actually – ”
“Wrong,” Mom droned. “Wrong one.”
I blinked. “Sorry?”
She heaved a sigh at the bottles of wine I’d from the kitchen that I’d set onto the table. “Those are the wrong ones, Sasha. These bottles have been in my fridge for months. Where are the bottles I specifically sent you to get last night? I told you the brand. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t that complicated.”
I heard Liam curse under his breath as I clenched my teeth, the peace of my decision wavering fast. “They weren’t there, Mom.”
“I called ahead to ask, so yes, they actually were. But it’s alright,” Mom said primly, heaving a sigh. “My fault for trusting you. I guess I never learn.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
Liam said it loud and clear. I froze, as did the rest of my family as he stood at the end of the table, laughing in bitter disbelief with his eyes trained on my mother.
“Do you want to know why she didn’t get your wine, Pamela?”
A chill ran over me. No, no, please no.
“It’s because she ran into Owen at the liquor store. You remember him right? I do. I’ll never forget him and I’ve never fucking met him.”
“Excuse me?” Mom hissed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Liam, but I’m certain this is not the place for the conversation, so please stop talking.”
“No,” Liam declined casually. “You deserve to hear this. You deserve to remember that you abandoned your daughter. You blamed her for something you knew wasn’t her fault, because all you cared about was Owen, and your life and your fun. You gave her no fucking chance in the world to be happy. You’re just lucky she turned out as strong as you like to pretend to be.”
My mother’s blue eyes were mortified and wild like I’d never seen. I watched her grow quickly hysterical as her gaze flitted around the table, confirming the audience she had for this moment of shame. I shouldn’t have been surprised when she finally directed her fury at me. “How dare you tell anyone about this.”
“God, Mom,” I exhaled in final disappointment and reached to grab my purse off my chair.
“I mean it! How dare you? You are classless!”
“Stop yourself,” I whispered.
“No! You are a classless, nasty girl!” she hissed at me. “You are the reason!”
I faced her in tears. “For what?” I wanted so badly to hear it. You’re the reason I had to break up with Owen. You’re the reason I can’t love you. I just wanted her to say it so I could finally hit back with everything I’d been holding in for a decade. I forced you to break up with Owen? Because my fifteen-year-old self seduced him? Is that what you believe? “I mean it, Mom. Tell me what I’m the reason for.”
“You’re the reason things get ruined!” she blurted furiously, still desperate to stay in denial. I lost my sanity fast but Liam wrapped his arms around me and turned me protectively away from the table.
“Tell them about Owen, Pam. Tell even your side of the story. They’ll still figure it out on their own,” he muttered between his teeth, holding me tight as I stared out at the living room and cried. “You let a monster into your daughter’s life, and you blamed her for what he did to her. It’s fucking repulsive and delusional. But you take your time figuring that one out. Maybe in another ten years you’ll start to realize how cruel and worthless you are, but expect to do it alone.”