Page 76 of Rival Season
My eyebrows scrunch together. “Nope, we don’t hang out much now that we’re broken up.”
Mom sighs. “I had the loveliest conversation with him yesterday, and I hoped that meant things were on the mend between you two.”
This again?I roll my eyes, deciding to change the subject with her other favorite topic—my brother. “How’s Cory enjoying his new position?”
She gasps in delight. “He’s loving it and doing so well! Did I tell you your father had forty applicants for the job, and Cory beat them all out for the position.”
“Wow, that’s great,” I say, even though her words sting. My parents have never acted this excited about anything I’ve achieved. Meanwhile Cory got a promotion at our family’s company that sounds like blatant nepotism, and my mom acts like he just won a Nobel Peace Prize or something. I love Cory, and I don’t want to be resentful, but it’s difficult.
“He has his own office now and everything,” Mom adds. “I would love to see you doing something with that brilliant mind of yours too, sweetheart. I hate the thought of you laboring with no pay. You could be working alongside Cory here at Palmer Solutions making good money and climbing the corporate ladder.”
I roll my lips together to keep a snarky reply at bay. “It’s called volunteering. Safe Harbor helps a lot of foster families, and I love being part of it.”
“Right, right.” She laughs. “I just want what’s best for you.”
An awkward silence passes between us before she speaks again. “So, you really think there’s no hope of mending things with Chadwick?”
I groan. “I have a new boyfriend, remember? Penn Matthews.”
“You’restillseeing him?” She sighs. “What could this Penn have to offer you that Chadwick couldn’t? Chadwick says he’s bad news, you know.”
Ugh, of course he said that to her.
“Well, for one, Penn hasn’t cheated on me.”
“We’ve known the Weatherbys for thirty years—before you or Chadwick were even born—and Chadwick was always a good boy. Spirited but ambitious. I know he feels terrible for his mistake and is doing everything he can to make it up to you.”
“Well, some mistakes are unforgiveable.”
Mom blows out a breath. “Do you always have to be so difficult, Hazel? I’m just trying to help here. Cory loves it when I offer him my advice, but he’s so responsible.”
I blink. Once my brother jumped in front of his friend’s car to scare him, the car skidded to a stop but not before hitting my brother and shattering his femur.
But sure, I’m the difficult one.
“Okay, well, I’m really busy, so I’m gonna let you go.”
“Alrighty! Don’t work too hard; you’re not even getting paid.”
“Goodbye, Mom.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
I hang up and allow my head to fall back as I stare up at the ceiling, wondering how I have the same genes as Bethany Palmer.
Footsteps alert me that Bertie is in the room with me and I snap my head back up to look at her. “Sorry, dear. Had to confirm all of our volunteers for March.”
“That’s okay,” I say. “I got started on the donations.”
Bertie smiles softly. Her steady presence and comforting smile has the tension from my body easing away. I feel safe with her, like I don’t have to be on guard. I usually feel that way with Penn, too. But not today.
Bertie takes a onesie from the box and holds it up to look at it. Her spindly, wrinkled hands hold the fabric with such gentleness. She stares at the tiny piece of clothing like it’s precious, maybe she’s remembering back to when her children were babies.Did my mother ever look at me with tenderness like this?
Smiling, she turns to look at me and her smile falls. “What’s going through that head of yours?” The softness of her voice and the care in her tone has tears rushing to my eyes.
I try to blink the moisture away…I’m not typically a crier, but here I am, crying for the second time in one morning. I’m a mess.
I sniff as two tears break free and run down my face. “Sorry.” I wipe the tears on the back of my hand, but more come.
