Valerie grew quiet, but her chest rose and fell deeply, like she was confining her anger to her lungs.
My mom wore her expressions like words on a page—and she looked pissed.
Tucker just looked awkward, staring at the floor like he had no idea what else to do.
Cleo was still, like she hoped she could just fade into the background.
Derek adopted his usual attitude when we fought, trying to be as small as possible until it stopped.
Mom set down her drink. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak to my son that way.”
Oh fuck. “Mom—”
She got to her feet and pointed at Valerie. “You don’t own my son. He’s free to do whatever he wishes, move in with anyone he wants, and it’s really none of your business. Cleo is absolutely wonderful, and he could marry her tomorrow and we would all be thrilled. Who are you to talk down about her position when you didn’t have a penny to your name before my son came along and fell into your trap? All the nice things you have are from my son’s hard work. You did nothing to earn it—except lie on your back.”
Jesus Christ. “Mom.” I got to my feet and moved in front of her. “Enough, alright?”
Tucker covered his mouth with his hands, like he was trying to cover his smile.
Valerie got to her feet. “Derek, let’s go.”
He stayed on the couch next to Cleo. “I don’t wanna…”
She snatched him by the wrist and pulled him off the couch.
I was on her so fucking fast. “Don’t. Do. That. Again.” I put myself between her and Derek, not allowing her to drag him any farther across the couch and the floor like some kind of rag doll. She didn’t strike him or slap him, but her behavior was inappropriate. I wouldn’t tolerate it.
She knew I didn’t get angry like this often, so she didn’t challenge me.
“Derek stays here for the weekend,” my mother said. “You can go, Valerie.”
“Don’t tell me what I can do with my son, bitch,” Valerie screeched. “I can make sure your son never sees him again. That goes for you too.”
“Really?” Cleo asked, getting to her feet, her phone in her hand. “Because I just recorded the entire outburst on my phone…and you look a little unstable.” She held it up and replayed it, getting the shot of Valerie dragging her son across the floor, of me stepping in and defending him.
Valerie had never looked so pissed. She clearly didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to handle the loss of power she’d just experienced. All her leverage was gone with the snap of a finger. She could tell the judge about my drinking problem, but there was no video footage, and this moment made Valerie look a million times worse than I ever would.
She moved to the door and walked out.
Mom went after her into the hallway. “That’s what I thought, bitch.” She stormed back into my condo and slammed the door.
Tucker got to his feet and burst into hysterical laughter. “Holy fucking shit…that was awesome.”
I didn’t even care about the cussing at this point. There was so much of it.
“Mom…you’re a badass.” Tucker gave her shoulder a squeeze.
“Thank you, honey,” Mom said proudly. “Those mama bear instincts never go away.”
Cleo was the only one who understood I wouldn’t be relieved, that I didn’t want this to happen, especially in front of Derek. She moved to me, giving me a sad look as she rubbed my arm. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why?” Tucker asked. “You got concrete evidence that she’s a bitch—”
“Okay, enough with the cussing,” I snapped. “Derek is still here.”
Derek shrugged. “She is a bitch—”
“Don’t talk about your mother like that. Go to your room.” I pointed down the hallway. “Now.”
Derek didn’t provoke my anger and did what I said.
Tucker looked at me quizzically. “We should be celebrating right now. She can never pick up her shit and move away from you. She can never take Derek away from you again. This is awesome. Do you understand how free you are right now?”
Yes, it was a blessing. “It is a relief. But I do want Valerie and me to get along—for Derek’s sake. I don’t want him to have two parents who can’t be in the same room together. And I don’t want Derek to think it’s acceptable to call a woman, especially his mother, a bitch.”
“Even if she is a bit—”
“Yes, Tucker,” I interrupted. “That’s not the kind of man I want my boy to grow up to be.” I moved my hands to my hips and sighed, unable to believe all of that just happened.
“But you should also show him to stand up for himself,” Mom said. “Not to accept less than what you deserve, to call people out on their flaws instead of tolerating it. Don’t be so hard on yourself, Deacon. Life isn’t some controlled experiment in the lab. You’ve done everything you possibly can for that kid, but you can’t hide the fact that his mother is a terrible person. That’s not your fault.”