Wildest Dreams (Thunder Point #9)(89)

He shrugged. “I guess. Anything is okay with me. Whatever you want.”

“Let’s go to the diner,” she said. “We can enjoy the Christmas lights.”

The diner was busy; a lot of the folks who were decorating decided to stop in for a quick bite rather than going home to cook. Lin Su said hello to about ten people and answered positively when asked how Winnie was getting along. She marveled for at least the hundredth time about how easily she was drawn into the community. This was something she would hate to give up. And yet, when it was time for her to be a friend, she resisted. She didn’t like that about herself, but she had her reasons.

Charlie visibly relaxed when they were in the diner. He probably thought there would be no discussion until later, until they were at home alone. But she was of no such mood. As soon as they were seated in a booth and had ordered drinks and hamburgers, she launched her argument.

“Charlie, I’d like it if we could come to an understanding about a couple of things. I think you were wrong to go behind my back and get in touch with members of my family.”

He just listened.

“It’s going to take me a while to get past that, I’m afraid. You’re getting older, I know, and want to make your own decisions about some things, but as long as you’re my son, you’re going to have to listen to me.”

“I always listen.”

“I’m very proud of you. You’re brilliant and you’re wise, but there are still some things I know more about than you do.”

“I understand,” he said.

“I want you to stop investigating my family. I want you to stop talking to Leigh Simmons. I can’t prevent you from doing as you please when you’re an adult, but for now, this is what I want.”

“I think you’re making a mistake,” he said. “We’ve talked. She’s awesomely nice and we have a lot to talk about. She knows where we live, and she wants to know us. She feels terrible about the problems you had and hates that you didn’t get any help or support. She’s not a bad person!”

“Tell her that you’ve had a conversation with your mother, and if you still feel the same way when you’re eighteen, you can get in touch with her then. If she’s as awesome as you say, she’ll respect my wishes.”

He gave his head the slightest shake. He pushed his glasses up on his nose.

“Please,” she said.

“If that’s what you want,” he said.

She could tell she’d reached an impasse with her son, maybe the first one. He had no intention of obeying her. He was going to sneak! Lie to her!

“Charlie, if you defy me, we’re going to have trouble on this issue. If it’s in your best interest I won’t hesitate to quit my job and find us another place to live.”

He was stunned. “Because I got in touch with my aunt? Mom, since we’ve been here, everything good has happened for us. We have good friends, a good place to live. I’m in a good school, no one’s chasing me to see if I have money in my pockets. You have a great job and I know you love Winnie. It would be a big mistake to move us away just because you’re mad, but if you want to be that stupid...”

“Show respect!” she snapped. “I am your mother!”

“If you mess up this whole thing we’ve got here just because you’re mad at me, just because I did something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time...”

“If you’re still adamant about that, you can pursue it when you’re over eighteen. For now, if you want to stay here, you’ll do as I say.”

“Jesus,” he muttered.

“I’ll make arrangements with Spencer to continue your training routine at the high school. He offered before but I didn’t want to impose and Blake’s was more convenient. But under the circumstances, you’re going to have to stop spending time at Blake’s house. It puts me in a very uncomfortable position.”

“What?”

“Apparently I misjudged Blake. Whatever that was, that relationship we began, I’ve put a stop to it.”

“No way. You did what?”

“I can’t trust him, Charlie. Not telling me something important about my own son, that’s the same as lying.”

“No, it’s not,” he protested. “It just turns out that Blake understood. You don’t. You think my history belongs only to you and I think it belongs to both of us! If you don’t want to know about it, that’s your choice, but I do! And that is not Blake’s fault. It wasn’t his idea.”

She gritted her teeth.

He looked right at her, grim faced, pushed up his glasses again. “No, ma’am,” he said. “As long as Blake will let me, I’m going to work out with him. He’s an expert and he’s my friend. Taking that away from me is not just unfair, it’s mean. I’m sorry you’re uncomfortable but I’m not doing it. I listen to you all the time but you don’t listen to me. I need things, too. I need to know where I came from, who I am. I need my friends. I can show you respect without agreeing with everything you say.”

“You’re really testing me,” she warned.

“Ground me,” he said.

“What are you thinking, Charlie?” she said angrily.

“I’m thinking we’re having a fight,” he said. “If you want me to say yes to everything you tell me to do, I will. But I’m not shunning Blake because you’re stubborn and pissed off.”