“No shit. Who would if they had a free pass to party across the globe? Trey is flashing a freakin’ gold ticket that has sent Wes into a world of delusion. No wonder he’s questioning all his plans.”
Mimi rested her hand on Sue’s shoulder. “Would a year off be such a horrible thing?”
“How can you even ask that?” She walked to the sink and threw out her coffee. After some deep breaths, she could face her aunt. “I would’ve killed for a chance at Penn. Do you realize the difference it would’ve made in our lives?”
Mimi threw up her hands and motioned around the kitchen. “What’s wrong with your life right now? I’d say we’ve all been pretty blessed.”
“Why are you siding with that man? Dammit, Mimi. I thought I could at least count on you.” Sue’s voice cracked.
“Oh, come here, baby.” Mimi opened up her arms, and she couldn’t stop herself from walking into them and holding on to this woman she loved so much. After a long hug, she sat down.
Mimi pushed a lock of Sue’s hair behind her ear. “This has nothing to do with sides. This isn’t about you or Trey. This is about Wes.”
“But he has no right to make decisions about Wes.”
“Why not? He’s the boy’s father. He wants nothing but the best for his son.”
She shook her head. Could Mimi not see the obvious? “I know he loves Wes, but he doesn’t get to plan my boy’s future. He lost that privilege when he left us.”
Mimi rubbed her forehead as if Sue was draining all her patience. “Honey, do you love Trey?”
She huffed. “Right now, I hate him.”
“Hush.” Her aunt patted her knee. “That’s not hate. That’s just hurt scared to show its face. Now tell me, do you love him?”
“Yes.”
Nodding, Mimi gave her a tender smile. “Then you have to forgive him.”
What the fuck is with the forgiveness campaign? Sue turned away, but Mimi grabbed her chin and pulled her back. “If you want to have a future with Trey, you’re going to have to let go of the past, and that means letting the man be a father to Wes.”
As much as she wanted to fight it, she knew there was truth in Mimi’s words, and that scared the hell out of her. She didn’t know if she could really forgive him. Move past it, yes. But a clean slate? But how could she live without Trey? Just the idea made her sick. She couldn’t face it. Not now. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she forced a smile for Mimi. “I need to take a shower, but feel free to stay.”
“No. I’ve got errands to run.” Mimi stood up and cupped Sue’s cheek. “Think about what I said.”
She watched her wise aunt walk out the door. Think about what I said. Hell, that’s the last thing she wanted to do right now. She went to the shower and cranked the knob all the way to the left. Maybe, if it was hot enough, the water would pound her into oblivion. But as she stepped into the shower, memories of she and Trey making love in the cramped space flooded her. She slid down to the floor and sobbed. There was no escape from the decision she had to make.
Chapter 49
“Hey.” Trey stood on Sue’s porch, searching her face for a reaction. It’d been two days of hell since he’d left. Two days since they’d talked. He hadn’t changed his mind about Wes, but he’d wanted to give her some time to think. About Wes. About them. Hopefully, catching her by surprise, with her guard down, would help his cause. He waited, praying the plan wouldn’t backfire.
“Hey.” She let him in and shut the door. When she gave him a weak smile, he took it as a peace offering. He reached out and cupped her face, pulling her in for a kiss. Her lips were soft and giving, and for the first time in forty-eight hours, the ache in his heart eased.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered against her mouth, pulling her closer.
“Me, too,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. He moved his hands down around her waist and held her, neither saying a word, just breathing each other in. He needed this connection. Damn, he needed her. And the way she clung to him made him hope it was the same for her.
He gave her another brief kiss and led her into the living room, pulling her down beside him on the couch. “You okay?”
“I’ve been better.” Her sarcasm lacked its usual fire.
“Me, too.” He brushed his thumb across the dark circles under her eyes, wishing he could wipe them away. “I’m sorry.”
“Why? Have you changed your mind?” Hope flickered in her eyes.
“No.” He shook his head. “But I’m sorry I’ve upset you. I never want to hurt you, Sue. I love you.”
She nodded and quickly looked down to where their hands were joined. She sniffed and pulled free, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I won’t allow this year-off plan.” She turned to him. “If you’ve come over here to try and change my mind, don’t waste your breath.” Her face was hard, but there was no fire in her eyes. That told him everything. She knew this battle over Wes’s education was just a speck compared to the boulder in their path.
“I’m not here to discuss Wes. That’s the least of our problems.”
“I beg to differ.” She stared at him, trying to pull off outraged, but he knew she was stalling.
He leaned in and took her hand back, gently caressing her fingers. She’d started wearing polish again, but now the fun pink was chipped, picked at. It gutted him to think he’d caused her such anguish, but they had to face reality. “We’ve got a bigger issue.”
“Why do you keep talking about this? Leave it alone.” She tramped into the kitchen, but he wouldn’t let her run away. He found her gripping the edge of the granite counter, staring into the sink.
“Babe, we can’t ignore—”
“I love you.” She spun and grabbed his face, desperation in her eyes. “I love you, Trey. That’s all that matters.”
His chest constricted, watching her trying to convince him, trying to convince herself. Damn, it’d be so easy to play along. Instead, he pulled her hands down. “It’s not enough.”
She jerked back. “What else do you need? We love each other. Why isn’t that enough?”
“Because there’s a whole lot of shit mixed in with that love. Two nights ago, I saw it. You still resent me.”
She closed her eyes, trying to hide from the truth, but he wouldn’t let her.
“You say you love me, and I believe you. But it’s pretty damn clear you can’t let go of the bitterness. And as long as that anger is in your heart, no matter how deep it’s buried, I’ll never have you completely.”
“What do you expect?” She stared at him, her face full of torment. “What do you want from me?”
“I want your forgiveness.” He grabbed her arms, pulling her closer. “I don’t deserve it, but I need it . . . we need it. You’ve got to forgive me. . . . Please. . . . Let go of the past and move on with me.”
Pain mixed with fear in her eyes. He couldn’t stop from kissing her forehead, then hugging her, wanting to bring her comfort. They clung to one another in desperation, but then she shook her head, and whispered, “I can’t. I can’t do it.”
Despair froze him in place. He couldn’t breathe. Her sobbing brought him back. Despite her resistance, he kept her wrapped in his arms as she wept against his chest. His heart was dead, yet he could still feel the agony of her pain and his loss.
Sometime later, but much too soon, she moved out of his grasp. She’d stopped crying, and her eyes were swollen, but it was the sorrow in them that cut him.
Brushing away the tears on her cheeks, he gently kissed her lips for comfort. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry for it all.”
“Me, too,” she said on a rattled breath. She grabbed a napkin and wiped her nose. They stood in silence for some time, grief overpowering them. But true to form, she pulled herself together, forcing them to acknowledge reality. “Wes will be home soon. I don’t want him to . . . I think you should go.”
She was right, but damn, he couldn’t move.
“Please, Trey.” New tears fille
d her beautiful eyes. “Go.”
His pulse raced as he gazed over her, at what he’d lost. “I can’t—”
“Please.” The anguish in her voice is what finally drove him to leave. At the kitchen entrance, he stopped and turned.
“I love you, Sue. . . . Always.”
Chapter 50
“Mimi?” Sue walked into her aunt’s home, nervous as hell. She kicked off her heels, but she didn’t relax. Was her mother here yet? She needed to start the night with Mimi, the greatest human comforter she’d ever known. Mimi would make everything better. That’s why they’d all agreed to have this test dinner at her home. She blew out a cleansing breath and shook her hands.
“There’s my girl.” Her aunt walked into the living room and gave her a hug that could squeeze the fear out of anyone. Tonight, it didn’t work.
“You’ve lost more weight, child.” She pulled back with a worried face and rubbed her hands over Sue’s shoulders and arms. Then, she grabbed the waistline of Sue’s skirt and spun it around easily. “Good Lord, you’re wasting away.”
She rolled her eyes and walked away. “I’ve been busy, that’s all.”
“Please. You’ve always been busy, but you’ve kept your figure. You’re miserable; that’s the problem.”
“Mimi, please, let’s just stick to the game plan: dinner and some videos. What do you say? No more talk about my body or supposed misery.”
“Supposed, my patooty,” Mimi muttered.
She ignored her aunt and looked around the house. “Is she here yet? Is Luke coming?” She’d invited her cousin at the last minute, hoping another friendly face would ease the dinner conversation.
“They went to get ice cream. It’s still Luke’s favorite dessert.” Her aunt headed into the kitchen.
Twenty pounds dropped off her shoulders as she realized she had a little longer before facing her mother. She was so tempted to run. As unhealthy as it was, she was all about avoidance these days. It’d been two weeks since Wes’s world tour announcement. Two weeks since she’d seen Trey. When the phone rang, she made Wes answer. If he was gone, all calls went to voicemail. If Trey came over to pick up Wes, she stayed in her room. It didn’t help, though. Just hearing the man’s voice through her door triggered the tears and sobs she hid in her pillow. Hell, it was avoidance of Trey that made her agree to this dinner with her mother. Talk about swapping miseries.
Mimi must’ve sensed her temptation to flee because she walked out of the kitchen with a stack of plates. “You set the table, and I’ll toss the salad. Your momma made her chicken pot pie.”
“Really?” Sue stood there, holding the plates, remembering her favorite dish. Her mom used to make it for all of her victories. The last time she’d had it, she’d finaled in some debate tournament. It was hard to remember she’d once had a normal family. Well, as normal as one could be when led by someone like Jim Brinkley. But her mother had always made a point to celebrate her successes. Had even made a scrapbook full of her ribbons, photos, and awards. Wonder if Jim had burned that?
She finished the table, then joined Mimi in the kitchen. Despite her aunt’s constant directions to relax, Sue’s heart still raced. When the timer rang, she jumped, but when she saw the golden crust of the pot pie Mimi pulled from the oven, she actually felt hungry for the first time in days. Then, the back door opened.
“Hey, kid.” Luke walked in, holding a grocery bag, and gave her a one-armed hug. She clung tight, even though she’d seen him just yesterday. He’d taken over koi pond duty with Wes now that Trey wasn’t around. The thought choked her up once again, and her eyes pooled just as her cousin pulled away.
“What’s wrong, Susan?” Her mother walked up and cupped her cheek like she had every time Sue had come to her crying as a child. Maybe it was her grief, her nerves, or just her body reacting to a response it’d known for so many years, but Sue found comfort in her mother’s touch. Maybe she’d finally snapped. Her mother wrapped her in her arms and held on while Sue sobbed. Yes, she’d definitely snapped.
She eventually came to her senses and pulled away, wiping her eyes, realizing everyone in the kitchen had stopped and was watching. “I’m sorry.” Fortunately, her mother didn’t take advantage of her breakdown, she just patted her back, then stepped away, giving Sue the space she needed. She wiped her nose and laughed with embarrassment. “That’s not how I envisioned the night. Life’s been a little crazy lately.”
“A little?” Mimi asked, then laughed. “Come on, let’s eat.”
Her meltdown had been an effective, if not awkward, stress reliever. Sue actually relished the meal, and thanks to avoiding the subjects of Trey, Wes, parenting, and basically everything but the weather and Netflix, the conversation was bearable. Sue found it odd, but actually pleasant, to hear her mother again—her voice, her favorite expressions, and even her laughter. Maybe she could move past hate. For the first time in weeks, a spark of hope lightened her heart.
After they finished and all pitched in with the dishes, they settled into the living room for home movies. During the planning of the dinner, Mimi had suggested they watch videos of Wes’s early years. Her theory, Peggy would enjoy seeing them, they’d no doubt make Sue happy, and it would eliminate the need to force conversation. The plan had worked for Sue. As she settled into the couch between Luke and Mimi, she was grateful and excited for the break.
Immediately, they were all captivated, gushing over the world’s most precious child. In the movie, Sue leaned into the shot to kiss baby Wes. “Oh my God, look at my precious boy. He was so little.”
Luke chuckled. “Look how little you were.”
She studied the girl she’d been. The girl who looked so innocent, yet wasn’t. She’d learned a decade of life lessons that first year. She wiped a tear away and reached for Mimi’s soft hand, whispering, “I don’t know how we could’ve ever survived without you.”
“Honey, you two were such blessings in my life. Still are, but God delivered you at just the right moment. Your Uncle Wes was gone, and Luke had moved out. I was just sitting around, longing for someone to love. And there you were.” She laced her fingers with Sue’s. “You made me a grandma. Lord knows, the way Luke’s moving all the time, it may be my only chance.”
“Enough of the guilt, Mom.” Luke sounded gruff, but he smiled.
They laughed as Wes destroyed a cupcake and rubbed the frosting in his hair. A younger Mimi was clapping her hands in the background, face full of joy. Sue kissed her aunt’s cheek. When she leaned back, she looked over at her mother, sitting by herself in a chair, silently crying. Sue’s chest tightened. She hurt for the woman, but there was also anger. It was her own choice that she hadn’t been a part of Wes’s life. Then, she remembered what her mother had said. I knew she would take care of you. Give you what I couldn’t. I didn’t desert you. I gave you up.
Mimi noticed the situation and got up. “Come on, Luke. Let’s make those sundaes.” He got up without a word and headed to the kitchen.
Compassion sent Sue over with a box of tissue, and she tried to lighten the moment. “He was a happy baby. And a pretty good sleeper when he wasn’t teething. Never gave me much trouble.” Her attempt didn’t work, just set loose her mother’s sobs.
“I hate that I’ve missed so much. Of your life. Of Wes’s.”
Raw nerves clawed at Sue’s heart. “You could have been there for all of it. You chose to stay with him.”
“It wasn’t that simple. I told you what would’ve happened.”
“We could’ve found a way. Mimi would’ve helped you, just like she helped us. You could’ve fought for us. I did.” Her voice was loud, easily carrying into the kitchen, but she didn’t care. It felt good to shout all the thoughts she’d kept bottled.
“You’re right. I was weak and scared.” Her mother’s admission surprised her, took the edge off. She settled next to the chair as her mother wiped her face. She gave Sue a weak smile. “You’ve been a fighter since birth. You get that from your da
d.”
She might as well have slapped her. “How can you compare me to that son of a bitch? He kicked me to the curb.”
Her mother patted Sue’s shoulder, but it didn’t ease the sting. “Susan, I’m not saying you would ever do anything so horrible, but the man was stubborn as a mule. Wouldn’t give an inch, held a grudge forever.” She cocked that damn brow of hers. “Sound like anyone you know?”
Sue jumped up, trembling with anger. “I cannot believe you’d say that.” She pointed her finger at the woman. “Take that back!”
“I won’t.” Her mother shook her head adamantly. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I want to help you. Don’t be so stubborn that you regret your choices for the rest of your life. Mimi has told me about you and Trey. How you can’t forgive him. Don’t you see how that will only hurt you? Do you want to end up like me?”
The betrayal sent Sue reeling. “Mimi!”
Mimi walked in, not at all repentant. How could she share something so private with a woman that had no right to be in her life, let alone in her personal business? Sue gathered her shoes and tripped while putting them on. She reached for her purse, but stopped. “You know, Mimi, I don’t know what kind of scheme you and my mother had planned here, with the pot pie and baby videos, but I never thought you’d hurt me this way. Never.” On the last word, her voice broke, but she took a deep breath and headed for the door.
“Susan Elaine Brinkley, you stop right there!” The older woman’s voice did the trick. She stopped and turned to find her aunt with eyes full of fire. “I’m not done talking to you. You get your bottom over here. Right. Now.” She hadn’t seen this Mimi in years.
She glared, making her resentment obvious, but went back to her aunt.
Mimi pointed at her. “I’ve never pushed you to talk to your mother. Never forced you to read the cards she sent. But I’m telling you, this one time, you need to listen to her. She may be the only person that can knock some sense into you.”
Then He Came Back (Love From Austin Book 2) Page 27