“Let me just get changed first, okay? I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’ll let you know when I get there.”
“See you soon, Sara!”
We cut the call, and I hurried back to my room. I was dressed casually, but since I was meeting up with Mom for the first time since I came to school, I dressed up a bit. It took twenty minutes before I felt I was ready, and headed outside of campus. Finding a taxi didn’t take too long, and I gave the driver the hotel name. With a bit of traffic, I was there in just under half an hour. I texted Mom as I got out of the taxi, and followed her instructions inside.
She stood in the hotel’s lounge. When she saw me walk inside, her face lit up, and her arms opened wide for me. Smiling, feeling a little giddy, I rushed over to her as fast as I could on my three-inch heels and threw my arms around her in a hug.
“I missed you, Mom.”
“I missed you, too, Sara. So much!”
She gave me an extra squeeze before she released me, and we smiled at each other, eyes a little wet.
“How’ve you been?” I asked, looking her over. “You look as good as always. I wish you’d told me you were coming so we could make plans…”
She shook her head, took my hand in hers and squeezed it.
“I didn’t want to interrupt your classes. I was just so excited! I had to come and talk to you. Besides, it’s been so long since we last saw each other. Don’t tell me you’re not happy to see me?”
“No, no! Nothing like that. Of course, I’m happy.” Then I paused. “Wait, what are you excited about? And I know I’ve been… a little busy lately, but we talk all the time.”
She giggled. “This isn’t the kind of thing you can say in a chat message, or a call, or an email! Besides, I wanted you to meet someone, and it would be awkward meeting online, you know?”
My eyebrows jumped up. Right then, I realized Mom was acting unusually excited, and it wasn’t only because we were together after our time apart. Her grin was a little wide, and she looked like she was swaying on her toes a little.
“What is it, Mom?” I asked, curious as to what had her so giddy.
I knew all her friends, so who was this person she wanted to introduce me to that made my mom so happy?
Her eyes looked over my shoulders, and for a moment, I thought her eyes would sparkle.
“Here he is right now! Sara, I want you to meet my husband, Greg. I hope you’ll love him just as much as I do.”
I frowned, puzzled.
Wait, husband?
What the fuck!
My dad had died a little over ten years ago. I still remembered him, just barely, but I did remember he and my mom used to be so happy before the accident that took him away from us. it was hard to say anything good came out of it, but Mom and I grew closer, and she was left with a lot of money and a trust fund for me for when I turned twenty-one, so we were pretty much set.
That was why I felt bad when people paid too much attention to the fact that me and my mom had money. I knew, for the both of us, if we could give all that money up to get Dad back, we would trade it all in a heartbeat.
It had been just Mom and me since then, and while she did meet people now and then, it was pretty rare that she went out with someone.
“Well, we registered the marriage, but we were thinking of doing a wedding soon and inviting close friends and family. He’s just so busy right now and I don’t want to distract him.”
Busy with what?
Fuck, who was this guy that my mom married before she even told me he existed first? What had Mom got herself into? Hurt, anger, shock all mixed as I stared back at her ecstatic face. She turned me, and I moved without protest, to see a man approaching us. He was tall, in a well fit suit that emphasized his broad build, with dark hair and dark eyes. I guess I could say he looked sort of handsome, especially when he smiled and looked at Mom like the sun rose and set behind her.
His looks weren’t really the problem, though!
“Hello,” he said, eyes turning to me curiously when he came closer. “I don’t believe we’ve met before?”
Mom turned to him, holding onto my arm. “Greg, this is my daughter that I was telling you about, Sara. She’s a freshman.”
“Oh,” his eyes lit up. “It’s nice to meet you, Sara. I’ve got to say, you look just as beautiful as your mother.”