Fallen Crest High(121)

"Anymore?" I picked up the folder, but hesitated to open it. "What are you talking about?"

"He got a lawyer, honey, and that lawyer said he had rights to you. Plus, with everything you've said to me and how I seem to be the worst mother in the world, I didn't fight it. It's the right thing to do. He raised you. He's your father, not some hotshot lawyer out in Boston."

"My real dad's a hotshot lawyer in Boston?"

She shrugged. "It doesn't matter now. I contacted him last night and told him about you. So you might be having two fathers to deal with."

"And the change of heart came because…?"

"Because I was wrong." She looked up. My heart skipped a beat. She seemed so earnest. "I do love you and I haven't been the best mother to you. I've put myself first. I've continued to do so, but you were right last night. I saw that I lost you. Losing your respect, when it's spoken to you from a seventeen year old who's looking at you like they're thirty-that said a lot to me." Her laugh sounded hollow. "It said a whole hell of a lot."

I fingered the edge of the packet and glanced up. "You told my dad about me?"

I was breathless, though I didn't know why I should've been.

She took a big sip of coffee. "I wouldn't get your hopes up, hon. He's a big arse."

"No, I know, but…um…" I looked at the manila folder in my hands. "So I could live with David if I really wanted to?"

She took another deep breath and nodded. Her head moved so slowly. "You sure could…you could be there tonight even."

"Really?"

"He's been fighting for you since day one."

"He has?"

"Yep, he has." She looked away and wiped something away from her eyes.

When she looked back, she gave me another bright smile. Her lip trembled. "I wanted to keep you all to myself. I didn't want to share you or lose you, but I can't control that. I see that now. You told me that last night. But, honey, I love you so much." She lurched forward and grabbed my arm. "You know that, right?"

"I know, mom."

It felt right to call her that. She'd been Analise so much, but she was my mom at that moment. I gave her another smile. "I'm not going to leave, mom. I'd like to see David, but you're my mom. This has become my home."

I glanced up and saw Mason. He hesitated on the stairwell.

When I gave him a small smile, he came into the kitchen. His eyes fell on the folder in my hands. "You want a ride to school?"

"Sure." I tried to say it brightly, but my life had just been spun around. Two dads… I couldn't get that through my head. What did that mean?

Mason grabbed something from the kitchen and started for the door. I turned to follow and my mom shot up from the table. "Honey, are you okay with this?"

"Yeah." I beamed back at her, or I tried to. "I'll be fine, mom."

"Are you sure? I could call in for you. You don't have to go to school today. I'm sure it's a lot to take in…" She seemed timid as she stood beside the table. Her steaming coffee cup was forgotten behind her.

I waved as I went through the front door. I heard Mason get into his Escalade.

"I'll be fine, mom. Promise. Have a good day."

"You too, honey…"

He pulled out of the driveway and waited until we'd gone a block. "So what was that about?"

I still held the manila folder in my lap. "She gave rights to David. I can see him if I want to and she called my real dad last night. I guess he's some hotshot lawyer in Boston."