12
KAT
Iwaited, sitting on the edge of my chair as Ivy and Charles spat out their animosity toward me. I was “too young.” I had “no experience in life.” And my favorite insult was, “She’s obviously just out for your money.” That one had put a scowl on Victor’s face and actually hurt me too. I was nothing like my mother and I would never use Victor for his money. I loved him.
Charles was worse than Ivy, though her words had venom in them. When Adam chimed in to speak his piece, both of them seemed to shut up. Adam had a bit of pull with the group that Victor seemed to lack for whatever reason. Maybe it was because the two partners were okay with whatever may come of our relationship, but Ivy and Charles were not partners. They were just employees, which reassured me.
“Victor…” I laid my hand on top of his. It had only been a matter of minutes, but Mom had stormed out and I felt personally responsible for getting her home safely, even if she was acting like a child.
“It’s okay, love. Go.” His comforting expression and small pat to my hand released me from my duty to entertain his bickering friends, so I rose and left the room.
I heard Ivy start in again, only this time the words she chose were far more hurtful, “bitch, skank, slut, and even gold digger.” I tried not to let them get to me as I let myself out, but tears pricked my eyes anyway. I had expected it to be a difficult day, but I had expected the drama to come from my mother, who thus far had not even spoken. She paced the end of the driveway, purse slung on her shoulder, arms crossed over her chest.
As I approached, she shook her head and held up her hand, indicating she did not even want to hear my voice, let alone speak to me. The last time I’d seen her this angry was when Gavin Butcher asked her to sign a prenup and told her it was the only way he was walking down the aisle. She had fumed for weeks about that particular breakup, likely because he was the wealthiest man, she’d ever been able to hook.
“Mom…”
“No!” She glared at me as she paced, like a lion at the zoo, stalking back and forth in front of the iron bars meant to keep it safely away from visitors. Only, there was no safety net here.
I waited, stepping back a few paces to give her space. “I can call an Uber.” I just wanted to be helpful at that point. I was not changing her mind, nor was I going to back down and give her what she wanted. So, the least I could do was get her a ride home because I was staying. Victor and I had guests to entertain—even if those guests were incorrigible.
“I can’t even believe you, young lady.” Her hiss of a voice should have stung. When I was a child, had she used that tone, it would have ruined me. Today, however, I didn’t give a single fuck.
Jillian Scott-Baxter had pushed him away 10 years ago. She had no right to be jealous or angry, for any reason. If she were just a mother worried about her daughter and the age difference, I could see that. But this anger went far deeper. I didn’t know what nerve my seeing Victor had hit, but it appeared to be worse than smacking your elbow on something.
“Just listen—”
“To the bullshit you’ve fed yourself? Do you know who that man is?” She stopped only a few paces away from me and stared me down. Her jacket blew open in the breeze and she scrambled to pull it shut. I was chilly too, but I had not worn a jacket, and my hoodie was thin, more of a summer hoodie. I hugged my arms across my belly and dropped my head.
"Mom, I love him."
"Is this seriously how you treat your mother? You just swoop in and try to replace me?" The drama was in full swing now. I could hear the “woah is me” tone in her voice, her victim card now laid out on the table.
My eyes snapped up as she started pacing again. She was limping, as if her feet hurt. Her shoes looked brand new, and I wondered if she had purchased them just for the dinner Victor had put together. I wouldn’t have put it past her to try to put the moves on my new boyfriend either. Not that she’d done it before, but she knew he was wealthy, and she knew he was older than me. That left me with the obvious conclusion that if John Baxter hadn’t figured out she was in it for the money yet, he soon would, and she’d be off to her next victim.
“Replace you? Mom, you guys have been over for 10 years.” I rubbed my temples, wishing her Uber would just show up so I could return to Victor’s side. He was my source of comfort and strength, and all I wanted was to be held at that moment.
“You were a baby. He was your father. You’re going to date your father?”
“Ew, no! Mom, he is not my father. He was dating you at one point, but he was never my father.” A sudden rage took over and I couldn't stop the angry words from spewing out. “You drove my father away just like you have every other man. I got calls on my birthday and cards or gifts at Christmas. And what was worse, was every man you brought home was a jerk. Except Victor. He actually cared, and you drove him off too. So no; he wasn't my father, but he was the only man who ever loved me enough to give me some self-confidence.”
“Now is not the time nor the place to be discussing this.” Her eyes flicked up the street then toward the house as if someone would be eavesdropping. “You know my relationship with your father was challenging. I shouldn’t have to explain myself again.”
Mom shook her head more, and I thought maybe her earrings would fly off. Her hair tossed in the breeze, looking more disheveled by the minute. I couldn’t tell if it was confusion or anger on her face anymore. It was like she was stuck inside her head, trying to figure it out. A car pulled up across the street and she looked up. My gaze followed hers, but it wasn’t her Uber. It was a pizza delivery guy.
“Mom, please just listen to me.” I let go of some of my anger and tried reasoning. I didn’t think it would work, but I had no other options left.
“Did he hurt you honey?” She crept in closer, taking one of my arms in her hand and holding it. Her doe eyes peered into mine, tears glistening. “If he hurt you when you were little and you’re feeling some sort of Stockholm Syndrome or something—”
“God, Mom.” I yanked my arm away from her. “No. Victor never hurt me. We are in love. I loved him back then, and I love him now.” Completely insulted by the accusation against Victor’s character, I was ready to smack her. I had never been so insulted in my life.
“Well, what in the hell is going on then?” Instantly her tone turned from compassionate, caring mother, back to a dragon spewing fire. “Because you’re just a little girl and he’s a grown man.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. Apparently having grown up, being 25 years old, and successfully building my career did not classify me as an adult yet. I was beginning to feel nauseous just standing there. My head spun as I tried to conjure words that were not entirely disrespectful. She didn’t deserve my respect at that moment, but my character was more important than what she actually deserved.
“I am in love with him. We ran into each other a few weeks ago and we’ve been catching up recently. I—”
“I forbid you to date him.” She stopped, planted her feet, and looked down her nose at me. Her hands were clenched into fists, shoved in her armpits in an angry manner.