Intoxicated By You

Her entire attitude rubbed me the wrong way. And I was at my limit today. Why couldn’t she greet me with “Wow, what have you done with the place? I’d love a tour.” Or “I’ve missed you so much. What can I do to help?”

Instead, I got a raised eyebrow. I was tired of this song and dance. Irritation lurked underneath the surface, just begging to be unleashed. “Mom, I’d love to show you everything we’ve done around the clinic. But if you’ve come to lecture me about what happened with Raquel, please don’t. Raquel and I will work it out if she would just grow up.”

Without paying me any attention, Mom continued, “Seriously, Alexa, I’m disappointed in you.”

She was always disappointed in me. Always. I could find the cure for cancer, and Mom would still have something to gripe about. I bet even if rainbows shot out of my ass, there would be something wrong with one of the colors. Nothing I ever did was good enough. Nothing.

Beside me, I could feel the annoyance rolling off Drake in waves. Hollis was more stunned than anything. Even his mom wasn’t this cold.

I tried again to be pleasant. “Would you like to see the clinic?”

She shook her head, about to say something, when her phone rang. “Pardon me. Hi, sweetheart. Yes, I know. Oh, please don’t stress yourself out. It’s not good for your singing voice. It needs to be strong for the dinner tonight. There’s a chance Dixon’s friend will go back to Los Angeles and tell someone about your talent. I know Alexa is sorry. She told me so. Yes, I’m on my way.”

It took everything I had not to roll my eyes. When she hung up the phone, she gave me a tight smile. “Where are my manners? You haven’t introduced me to your sweet Hollis.”

Drake’s jaw tightened, and his fingers dug into my hip. There was only so much he was going to take before he spoke up. “Mom, this is my friend, Dr. Hollis Fritz. And, of course, you remember Drake. We’re dating again.”

Mom stood still with the same bland smile I remembered her giving Dad when he would say something she refused to acknowledge. Oh boy. This wasn’t going to end well.

Drake took a step forward with his hand outstretched. “Good to see you again, Irene.”

When we’d first met, he called her Mrs. Owens, which hadn’t gone over well. Irene wasn’t much better. Mom preferred to not have any interaction with Drake at all. It was honestly a no-win situation.

“Drake. How’s Macy?”

Macy? Who’s Macy? At this point, I’d reached the end of my rope. Dropping her name was most likely a ploy to plant a seed of doubt in my mind. At one time Raquel had done that when Drake had gone out of town hunting. I’d been crushed, thinking he was cheating on me. One thing I’d promised him that night was that I would never doubt him until I’d had a chance to hear him out. But hearing his name associated with someone else sent jolts of jealousy through me.

He let out a deep breath and shook his head. “I’m sure she’s good. You’d have to ask her. She hasn’t been in the bar for about five months—since I turned her down for a date.” Drake crossed his arms over his chest and took a step forward. “Listen, I get that you’d rather Lex be dating Hollis. I think that picture has been painted pretty clearly. But I’m back in Lex’s life, and I’m here to stay. I’d like things to be civil between us, Irene, but I won’t tolerate you putting doubt in Lex’s mind. Nothing happened with Macy, and nothing will be happening with Macy.”

I knew it! My fists balled at my side. This was my mother. But no matter how angry she made me, dumping a bucketful of water on her like I had with Raquel wasn’t acceptable.

A loud truck engine drew our attention to the driveway, and we watched Ike and Amie pull in. Nervously, I glanced at Drake. The last thing I wanted was for his parents to be caught up in this drama. The way my mother treated me was embarrassing. That was why I was never seen with her in town or invited her over to the Fosters’ for dinner.

With a stiff nod, Mom smoothed her new baby blue outfit into place. Amie got out of the truck in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Our mothers were complete opposites of each other. “Irene, it’s so good to see you. So you’ve heard the news about our kids finding their way back to each other? We’re so glad Alexa is back in our lives.”

Mom gave a nod. “Yes, yes I heard. And I’m sure you are.”

Whoa. The tone she was taking with Amie was completely uncalled for. I took a step forward. Mom may not have agreed that it was happy news, but there was no need to be disrespectful to Amie. “Mom, please.”

She waved me off. “I need to go see your sister. Have a good day, Amie. Ike. Hope to see you for dinner, Hollis.”

Without another glance at me or Drake, Mom left. She had grown colder to me since Dad died. So much colder. I remembered at the cemetery, I’d wanted her to wrap her arms around me the way she’d done with Raquel to show me that unconditional love only a mother can provide. She’d never once asked how I was doing. Not once. Amie and Drake had held me as I mourned the loss of my father. Not my mother. My mother would never love me like Raquel. And it hurt.

I watched as Mom drove away, wishing things were different.

“Ike, why don’t you and Drake show Hollis the plans you drew up for the cabin. I’m going to have Alexa show me around the clinic.” Amie’s sweet voice brought me out of my thoughts.

Drake looked like he wanted to protest. When Amie raised her eyebrow, he followed his Dad to the truck. I wasn’t sure what to do.

With an arm around my shoulders, she ushered me to the door. “Come, let’s go inside. I want to see what’s been done since the last time. And I have fabric samples.”

We’d barely made it into the house when I felt her squeeze me. “I’m here, sweet girl. If you ever need anything, I’m here.”

Furiously, I wiped at the tears that were coming too fast to stop. “Sorry. Let me show you around.”

She walked me over to the bottom of the stairs instead. “Nonsense. I just wanted to check on you, see if you needed someone to talk to. I know Drake wants to be everything you need, but sometimes a girl needs another female to talk to. I may not be your mother, but I consider you one of my children.”

I shook my head as more tears slid down my cheek. “I don’t get why she acts like this. When Dad was alive, I think his presence made her less harsh, less severe. Or not. I don’t know.”