All I Ask(67)

“Can we talk about this later?”

My mother’s head turns to me. “Why can’t you talk now?”

Because I don’t want you to hear this, duh. “It’s between Chastity and me.”

“And you don’t want me to hear this.”

That was freaky. I wonder if she can hear all my thoughts. Maybe that’s why she hates me so much. She knows I’ve killed her a hundred ways…with my mind.

“No, Mom, that’s not it—completely. I think my daughter”—I say with a pointed stare—“and I need to have this conversation in private.”

“Would you like your father and me to step out?”

“Huh?” my father asks, oblivious to the conversation.

I have always envied that about him. He can tune my mother and me out like no one else. We’d have full-blown arguments and he wouldn’t move a muscle. He’d sit in his chair, ignoring us both.

“Just eat, Dad.”

“Okay.”

Chastity giggles once and then looks back to me. “All I wanted to know was if you guys were dating still.”

“What does it matter?”

“You’re my mother…I’m curious.”

She’s baiting us both and I know that as soon as my mother is on the hook, I’ll be reeled right in. Damn kid knows all my weaknesses.

“You know, I’m not sure what it is right now since we’re just enjoying being friends again.” And making out a lot. “So, once I have something to report, you will all be the first to know.”

Chastity gives me a sarcastic smile. “Great.”

Then something she said before hits me. “Wait. You and Everly talk?”

“Well, it would be hard to do the social media project if we didn’t.”

Yes, but they’re talking about more than the project. “I didn’t know that Dr. Hartz and I were part of your presentation.”

She crosses her arms and leans back. “It’s kind of hard not to talk about the fact that our parents are dating.”

I raise my brow and then take a bite of my cake.

“Well,” Mom draws the attention back to her. “I’ll say that if you are dating, which it sounds like you are, it’s encouraging that you’re not going to die alone in that store. Besides, he’s a doctor and was always a good man.”

“I’m glad you approve, Mom.”

“I wouldn’t go that far…”

Yes, why would we ever want to actually go that far? Approval is aberrant to her. “My point is, we’re going slow and taking our time.”

Chastity snorts. “That’s not what Everly said.”

“What does that mean?”

As much as I’d like to avoid this discussion right now, it’s clear Chastity is intent on keeping it going.

She slams her hand down on the table. “It means that I went from being made fun of for the way I looked, dressed, that my father didn’t want me and my mother was supposedly a whore, to now being the girl whose mom is going after a man who just lost his wife!” The anger in her eyes roots me to my chair. “I hate this town! I’ve always hated it, but you always made it better. Now, you’re making it worse!”

I sit here, unsure of what just happened.

“What are they saying?”

“Oh, nothing other than my slut mother has to go after a man whose wife died not even six months ago. That you couldn’t help yourself because no one in this town who knows you would want to date you so you went after a guy who hasn’t seen you in years.”

“Now that’s just absurd!” My mother huffs. “These girls are being ridiculous. No one says that.”

“No, Mom, that’s what many people in this town say.” I turn to Chastity. “I’m sorry that you feel this way, but I’m not going to live my life based on what other people say.”

“Not even if you’re ruining my life?”

I fight back the urge to roll my eyes because she’s thirteen and everything is the end of the world at that age. “I’m living my life, Chas, not ruining yours.”

“Yes you are!” Chastity gets to her feet and rushes out of the room.

My mother touches my hand. “She’ll calm down, Teagan.”

My heart breaks because I’m hurting the one person who matters most. The thing that I was most afraid of is coming to fruition. My relationship with Derek is ruining the closeness I have with Chastity, and that can’t ever happen.

I won’t allow any man—or any person, for that matter—to be the source of her pain. And it’s clear that is exactly what’s happening.

“I have to end this.” I choke on the words as my chest tightens.

“End it? Because your daughter doesn’t want you to date someone?”

I look up and nod. “She’s my world, Mom. She needs to know I have her back even when no one else does. I’m not going to be the cause of her anguish.”

I never want to hurt her.

“You’re going to walk away from a man that you’ve had feelings for because his daughter is making things difficult for Chastity? Of course she is. She’s angry, hurting, and mourning the loss of her mother. That doesn’t mean she has the right to dictate how her father lives his life. I know you think I don’t love you.” She shakes her head a bit. “I know I’m not the mother you wish I could be. There are many mistakes I’ve made, but neither of those kids know what it’s like to raise a child. If you make this choice, no matter what the reason, what does it accomplish?”