Four Doors Down(36)

Now, my mom is beautiful, like really beautiful. Even I can see it and when I look at pictures of her from when she was a teenager, she looked like a model, but she has literally never cared about what she looks like. My dad says the first time he spotted her was at a student rally, protesting against a homeless shelter in the local town that was about to be knocked down. She’s incredibly passionate about things that she cares about. He took one look at her and knew he had to speak to her, but when he went over to introduce himself, she looked straight past him and went and started arguing with a nearby cop or something.

By all accounts, my dad was a pretty big deal in college. He was on a football scholarship and was tipped for the big time before he busted his knee. According to my uncle, he was a bit of a player, always with a different girl, but the day he saw my mom that all changed. He was desperate to meet her, to speak to her. Finally, he bumped into her at some party or another and watched her turn down several members of his football team with humor and good nature. He was completely besotted when he finally gathered up the courage to talk to her. She grinned at him, invited him to a debate she was going to the next day and that was it. He was locked down and they’ve been together ever since.

She graduated in the top ten of her class, went to law school, turned down a fancy job at a top law firm and instead works for legal aid, assisting those that she feels really need her help. Her and my dad are still crazy about each other. She told me it was tough for them after his football career ended, but he works as a sports journalist now and I think he’s pretty happy. The only crappy thing is that my mom’s suffered two miscarriages. One before me and one after. But she even turned that into a positive and set up a support group for mothers that have had similar experiences, and she still runs it to this day.

So, yeah, sometimes I think she’s the best person in the world.

Today is not one of those days.

“You cannot keep threatening to take my car from me every time you want me to do something!” I tell her vehemently.

She smiles calmly back at me. “Yes, I can. I paid for it, I can take it away.”

I let out a huff of annoyance. “I cannot pick Jay up twice a week from school, mom! I have plans and he has his own parents.”

Annoyance crosses her face. “You know how Aunt Ruth has been recently. I’m just asking you to help out more, Becca. I’m slammed at work and need your help.”

“This is so unfair,” I bark back at her, conveniently forgetting how I’d vowed to make more effort with Jay. Don’t get me wrong, I make more effort to talk to him and play with him when I see him now, but why does my schedule have to change around him?

“Becca, I am genuinely worried about your aunt. You could show a little thought for someone other than yourself for once and help me out,” she snaps back at me. I bite my lip to stop from retaliating. I think she’s being completely unreasonable, but she hardly ever snaps and shouts at me, so she must be really worried about Aunt Ruth. I don’t know why, she can take care of herself, she’s just letting off some steam.

I set my mouth into a firm line and cross my arms.

She sighs and offers me a small smile. “I’m sorry, Becca, I’m just a little stressed.”

I nod but don’t smile back at her.

“How about I take you shopping this weekend?” she offers. Now I know she feels bad for snapping. “We could make a day of it, grab some lunch? I know we haven’t spent much time together recently and Jay’s around a lot more now.”

“You actually think I’m jealous of you spending time with Jay? Give me some credit, mother!” For some reason, I can feel tears tickling the back of my eyes.

She frowns.

“Just tell me whatever you want me to do it and I’ll do it, all right?” My voice cracks slightly and I get up to leave the room before she starts interrogating me.

Too late.

“Sit, Becca. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Becca, I know you. Something’s wrong.” I look away from her, sit back down at the table and stare down at my phone. Surprise, surprise still no message from Charlie. I’ve really messed up this time. “You know, I’m a really good listener, Becca. You can talk to me about anything,” she continues.

I shrug and she sits down across from me, watching me carefully, waiting for me to speak.

“I’ve not seen Charlie around for a while,” she finally says.

My eyes shoot up and I see the sympathetic smile she’s giving me. “You know Becca, sometimes things don’t work out the way we want them to.”

I sigh. “I messed up.”

“If he can’t see how special you are and how lucky he is to have you, then he’s not worth it.”

I scowl in her direction. Of course she’s going to say that to me. She’s my mom, she’s bound to think that. “You know plenty of guys would love to date you, Becca.”

“Mom, stop. You don’t know anything.”

“I can think of at least one boy from your school that I’m pretty certain would love to date you,” she says smiling at me. I roll my eyes. How on earth would my mom know any of the guys at my school? Much less who they want to date. Besides, even if that were true and not just her obvious attempt to cheer me up, I don’t want any of the losers from my school. Charlie’s the only guy I’ve ever felt like this about.