Fallen Crest Home (Fallen Crest High #6)(88)

“Before going to treatment, I would’ve used this favor against you. I would’ve agreed to ask James if you’d break up with Mason. That’s what I would’ve done, but that’s not what a true mother should ever do to her child.” Her hand reached out, but pulled back again. “You have been justifiably angry at me. I was gone for two years, and then I stayed away for the last year and a half. The truth is, I never should’ve come back. You were better off when I wasn’t here. James had someone watching you for me.”

What?

She hung her head in shame. “It wasn’t all the time, but every now and then. I just wanted to know what was going on in your life. You were happy. That’s what I saw, and then you changed when I came back. You were always looking over your shoulder in his pictures. I can’t help but think that was because of me. Like I was a shadow behind you.”

Exactly. Everything she said was how I felt.

“Then you guys came back, and the last two rounds of pictures he sent to me were all of you running. There were a few others from during the day, but you looked so harried. That was me, too. The thought of seeing me. I couldn’t bear seeing any more so I asked James to have him stop.”

“You were at the driveway that one day.”

“That was by accident. I went for a walk, and I didn’t walk past Malinda’s house with the intent of seeing you. She told me you’d been staying at Helen’s house with Mason. I usually walk the other way, but that day I didn’t. There you were, helping her load those gift baskets into her car.” She leaned forward, a reflection of me with both our elbows on our knees. “I was so jealous. Malinda’s been amazing. She’s protecting you by knowing what’s going on with me. I know a part of her feels for me—mother to mother, you know—but it’s really about you. She wants to be in the know about what I’m doing. Almost like keeping your friends close, but your enemies closer. But it doesn’t bother me. She’s doing it for you.” She paused a beat. “She’s the mother I should’ve been. She’s the mother you should’ve had.”

I should’ve reached for her. I should’ve had words of reassurance at the tip of my tongue.

I didn’t move.

“You don’t owe me anything, Samantha,” she added after a moment. “I used to think you did, but Mason’s words hit me hard tonight. You don’t. I’m letting you go. Officially. We’re going to move. James and I talked about it tonight. Mason brought up the house, so you guys can have it. I know Helen’s coming back at some point. She’ll want to see Mason and Logan and if it’s before they go back to Cain, I know you won’t want to be there when she does. James and I will be gone by the end of next week. You can move in then.”

Mom…

I almost said that word.

She patted my leg before standing back up. “If you ever want to get coffee, I’m here. I’m here for anything you need, okay? But you never have to do anything for me. You never have to see me. You never have to talk to me. If you see me in a store, you don’t have to say hi. You can walk past me like we’re strangers, and I will never get angry with you. I’m letting you go, Sam.” She cupped the side of my face, and her thumb brushed over my cheek. “You’ll always be my baby girl,” she said lovingly, “but I’ll be whoever you want me to be.” She bent down, and I closed my eyes as she kissed me on the forehead.

I reached up, bringing my fingers to rest where she’d kissed me as she went back to the elevator. I tried to remember another time when she’d kissed me like that.

I couldn’t.

The elevator opened. She stepped inside, and the doors closed.

I sat there for another hour.





“Sam.”

I was finally leaving the hotel when I heard my name. Becky rested against Logan’s Escalade. She twisted her hands together and straightened as I drew near.

“What are you doing here?” I looked around. The lot was full of cars, but it was relatively quiet, like the lobby. A party bus pulled up to the front entrance, and a bunch of people staggered off it, laughing loudly.

“It was Adam.”

“What was?”

“Adam’s the one who turned in that video of Mason. He saw that one of the workers there had his phone out, and later he tracked him down. He edited the video so it looks like Mason attacked that guy for no reason. Here.” She held out a flash drive.

“What is it?” I took it.

“It’s the rest of the video. It’ll show that the guy’s about to hit you and Mason is just protecting you. It should get him off.”

“Why are you giving me this?”

“Because Adam’s wrong with what he’s doing.” She looked away. Shoving her hands in her back pockets, she looked like half the person she’d been. “I’m really sorry, Sam.”

I laughed. This had become the night of apologies somehow. “I… Why did Adam do that?”

“Because he’s still mad about how Mason humiliated him in high school.” She lifted her head, and her eyes swam with tears. “Because he knows you guys are behind getting his dad arrested, and because of Logan’s threat to go to law school with him.” She stopped and took a breath. “Adam’s not thinking straight right now. And he’s angry because…” She took another deep breath. “He’s angry that I broke off the engagement. He’s blaming you for that.” She nodded to the flash drive still in my hand. “He wanted to hurt you guys. This is me trying to make it right.”