Messy Love(48)

He grabbed my pointer finger and held me captive. His frown then rivaled with my own. “I get it, but it’s not about him. It’s about your…Hm, birth mother.’’

“What about her? Is she alright?’’

“She’s fine, I guess. I don’t know much, but apparently, she doesn’t take it so well that you haven’t been in contact since you went to meet her. Long story short, Mr. Burton questioned Wyatt, and he let it slip that it’s because of him that you’re not in contact. Wyatt is many things, but he’d rather hurt himself than let someone in his family hurt.’’

“You know he did everything to push me away from Lydia, right?’’

“I have a feeling you’re quite lost yourself in this situation and that it suits you just fine to stay away.’’

I tugged on my hand hard twice until Ralph released me and I crossed my arms over my chest, not liking how his observation made my heart stutter in my chest as if in answer. I didn’t want to see myself that way.

“True or wrong, the fact is I have a right to stay away from Wyatt and Lydia.’’

“When you met Lydia, did she give you the impression of being a bad person? Did she look like she was happy to abandon you?’’

“Stop it, Ralph. We don’t know each other well enough to delve into this.’’

“It’s funny you know. You’re more alike to Wyatt than either of you would like to admit.’’

“I’ve never hurt anyone just for the sake of it.’’

“But are you willing to let Lydia hurt just because you’re scared or uncomfortable?’’

“You’re not adopted are you, Ralph?’’ At his admittance, I powered on. “Then you can’t possibly understand the kind of emotional crap meeting your birth mother is.’’

“You knew it would be a mess before you went to her, Marissa. Be the kind of woman I know you are, the kind of person Wyatt is ashamed of hurting the way he did.’’

I blindly searched for the rolling chair behind me, and once my hands came into contact with the arms, I dropped on it. My eyes got lost in the intricate tats on Ralph’s arm, and once I found the one I added, covering the sloppy piece there before, I fixed it without blinking.

“Sometimes I wonder if meeting Lydia wasn’t the biggest mistake of my life.’’

“As long as you’re not sure, then there’s still room to let her convince you it was a good call.’’ He knelt in front of the desk and put his head right where I couldn’t miss it. “Wyatt also asked me to tell you he wouldn’t get in the way this time.’’

“Do you believe him?’’

He shrugged and tapped the tip of my nose with a smile. “He’s a difficult one and unpredictable when scared so… I believe that he was truthful when he said it. You’re the wild card in this scenario, sweetheart.’’

“I’m not doing anything.’’

“You exist. That’s enough in his world.’’ He straightened up then and waved at Kam. “Alright, I better go before my father gets on my ass for bailing on painting my aunt’s house. Again.’’ He mock-cringed and left with another wave, this time for me.

Once again, I was left in an emotional jumble because of Wyatt. He didn’t need to show his face to leave an impact in my life.





MARISSA


I looked around the entrance to the park and finally spotted Lydia. After Ralph’s visit, I sent a text to Lydia asking her if she wanted to meet somewhere the next day. Not two minutes after sending the text I had an answer with a place and date.

Now, on my day off I was about to see my birth mother again, but this time I didn’t tell anybody about it. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was because I didn’t want Sophie or Jamie to get on my back for getting closer, even if indirectly, to Wyatt. Maybe it was because I knew in the fibers of my very being that I would be in contact with Wyatt again because of this. And still, I came anyway.

“Hi, Lydia,’’ I greeted her as I approached while she stared at a young mother murmuring to the baby in her arm.

She started, but quickly a big smile stretched Lydia's lips and carved tiny wrinkles in the corner of her eyes. “Marissa!’’ She jumped to her feet and made a move to envelop me in her arms, but stopped before she took a step in my direction.

Without meaning to, I stiffened when her intent registered. Disappointment and maybe was it pain too, broke her smile and extinguished the light in her eyes. Feeling sorry for hurting a woman who had never done anything to hurt me, I forced the stiffness out of my body and moved closer to initiate a quick hug.

When her arms closed around me, it smashed a part of my heart and once again Lydia Burton stole a tiny piece for herself unknowingly. It was scary how quickly this woman could worm her way into my heart.

“Let’s sit here. I like this bench, and people watch sometimes,’’ she said.

I followed her and let my eyes wander on the parts of the park I could see. The trees, tall and swaying in the calm wind could practically make me forget we were in the heart of Atlanta. I remembered coming here a couple of times when I first moved to the city, and I missed the quiet of my hometown.

“How have you been Marissa?’’