Protecting Her(8)

After Garret’s feeding, we go upstairs and I put him in his crib. He’s knocked out after eating. I give my mother a brief tour of the upstairs, then the downstairs, and then we sit in the family room again.

“Do you need to be getting home?” I ask her. It’s now seven, and she usually doesn’t stay out this late without my father.

“I brought my things.” She smooths her short blond hair. “In case you needed me to stay in the guest room.”

“Oh, yes, that would be good.” I’m shocked once again. She’s willing to stay here overnight? In this house, which she doesn’t approve of? “I’m glad that you’re staying, Mother, but won’t Father be upset?”

“I left him a note. I’m sure he’s found it by now.”

“A note. Why didn’t you just tell him?”

She straightens up. “Your father and I are not speaking right now.”

“How long has that been going on?”

“A month, perhaps? I’ve lost track of how long it’s been.”

A month? They haven’t spoken for a month? They’ve never gone that long without talking.

“Perhaps I shouldn’t ask, but…what is the cause of your argument?”

“You,” she says simply. “I want my son back and your father is too stubborn to accept you back into our lives.”

“It’s because of Rachel, isn’t it? He’ll never accept her. You don’t either, do you, Mother?”

She sighs. “I have nothing against the woman. She seems intelligent and I’m sure she treats you well. But she doesn’t fit in our family, and you knew that and married her anyway. Obviously, I wish you had married someone else, but it’s too late now and I feel the need to move on from this and move forward with our lives.”

“I agree, but Father doesn’t feel the same way.”

“He’ll have to get over it. This has gone on long enough and I will not allow it to continue. You’re our only son and we haven’t spoken to you for a year and a half. I had to find out about Rachel’s pregnancy from Victoria. Do you know how humiliating that was? Victoria Sinclair knows before I do?”

“I would’ve called you, but you wouldn’t accept my calls.”

“I wanted to, but your father wouldn’t allow it.” She quickly shakes her head, like she’s shaking him from her mind. “But now we have this beautiful grandchild and I am not going to miss out on his childhood. I don’t care what your father says. I am not listening to him when it comes to this.”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard her this angry. She usually doesn’t show emotion, especially negative emotion.

“Have you tried talking to him about this?”

“Of course. We’ve had numerous arguments, but they never go anywhere. You know how stubborn he is.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“That is not your concern, Pearce. I will deal with your father. We are going to be part of your life again, whether he wants to or not.”

“I don’t want him to be part of my life if he’s not going to treat Rachel well. She’s my wife and I will not allow him to treat her poorly and put her down.”

“I can only do so much when it comes to him. I can’t control the words that come out of his mouth. But I will do my best to make him be civil to her.” She pauses. “Speaking of your wife, what happened to her? You said there was a problem during the delivery?”

“Yes. She, uh…” I choke up just saying it. “She lost a lot of blood and her blood pressure dropped rapidly. The doctor said she could have died.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” my mother says softly. “But she’s doing better?”

“Yes. They gave her some blood and now they’re monitoring her.” I check my watch. “I need to call her. Would you excuse me?”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

I get up to go to my office to call her, but then the baby monitor goes off.

“I’ll check on him,” my mother says.

I nod and continue to my office. I call Rachel’s hospital room, and after several rings, she answers.

“Rachel, did I wake you?”

“Yes, but it’s fine. I was waiting for your call and I just dozed off.”

“Sweetheart, if you want to talk to me, just call.”