Page 18 of Marriage & Mockery

Lucy followed my gaze, then sat up straight. “Mom’s home!”

10

LAINA

I’d had the entire house to myself since I arrived around noon, which had been perfect because it gave me plenty of time to move some of my stuff into the biggest guest room before I restocked the kitchen. It had only taken five days for the fridge to end up half empty, and I’d been in the mood to cook since I hadn’t been able to all week.

Since I couldn’t be sure what time Bennett and Lucy would be home, I decided to make a loaf of sourdough and a meatloaf. They’d made a delicious dinner for me, and they could be easily paired together for cold sandwiches that went perfectly with Lucy’s favorite pasta salad, which I also made.

By the time the garage door rumbled up, my belly was full, and everything was cleaned up, with the leftovers in the fridge.

I was at the counter pouring a glass of wine when I heard a car door slam shut. Then Lucy’s footsteps in the butler’s pantry that connected the garage to the kitchen. I set the glass down and turned to face the doorway as my daughter came hurtling into the room.

“Mom!” Lucy dropped her backpack on the floor and rushed toward me. “I missed you so much.”

I opened my arms, and she walked straight into them. She was growing every day, but she still fit perfectly against me.

I held her tightly and rested my cheek against her hair. “I missed you too, sweetie.”

Her arms tightened around my waist. When she finally pulled back, her eyes were shiny. “I’m really sorry about what I said that night. I keep thinking about it. I was awful.”

I brushed a piece of hair away from her face. “Thank you for saying that.”

“I mean it.”

“I know you do.” I kept my voice gentle. “I’m not going to lie to you. It hurt, Lucy. A lot.”

She sniffled. “I know.”

Although we had texted a little while I was gone, we’d kept it surface level until now, with her keeping me in the loop on how school and pep squad were going. But now that she was right in front of me, we needed to hash this out. “I was already barely holding it together, and then the person I love most besides your dad told me he was right when he’s the one who caused my pain.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. “I didn’t think about it like that until Dad talked to me the following morning.”

I wondered what Bennett had said to her, but I didn’t want to sidetrack our conversation. This was too important. “I’m not telling you to make you feel worse. I just need you to understand why I needed some space.”

“I do.” She nodded. “I swear I do.”

I brushed the wetness from her cheek. “Can I ask why you said what you did that night?”

“I don’t know.” She shifted her weight, her gaze dropping to the floor before meeting mine again. “It was already everywhere online. Dad had just won the award, and he’s always the one who knows the right thing to say. So it was hard to think it was that bad when you…um…are kinda…um...”

“Quirky,” I finished for her with a soft smile. “I get why you’re worried about saying it after what happened, but I’ve never denied that I can be a little wacky at times. I just never expected my foibles to be turned into the punchline to jokes I wasn’t aware of while everyone else was laughing at them.”

“Yeah.” Her shoulders slumped. “You looked so upset when you walked in. I think I got scared and tried to make everything seem smaller so it wouldn’t be as huge. I should’ve just hugged you instead. Like you do whenever I’m hurt about something. Not pile on and make things worse.”

“We’re going to be okay, you and me.” I pulled her in for another hug. “I just needed you to understand why I’ve been so distant this week.”

I heard the front door open and assumed Bennett had come into the house that way to give us time to talk. Lucy didn’t seem to notice. She stayed pressed against me for a moment before stepping back and wiping at her face with the heel of her hand.

“I’m glad you’re home,” she whispered.

“Me too.” I just didn’t know if I could bear to stay, something that was better left unsaid to my teenager. “There’s meatloaf in the fridge and a loaf of sourdough I baked if you want a sandwich, and I made the pasta salad you like. Go shower and change first if you want. It’ll keep.”

She nodded, picked up her backpack, and headed for the stairs. “I’ll be quick.”

A moment later, Bennett stepped into the kitchen. We looked at each other for the first time in days.

He stopped just inside the doorway, like he wasn’t sure how close he was allowed to get. “You’re here.”