Page 102 of Finding Hayes
“I think it was a mix of everything,” I said.
“I don’t think so.” My mother reached for her wine. “Because you came back home eventually. Saylor came back home with you. Romeo and River came home. But you were never the same, Hayes. And I think it’s because you two were one another’s person, and you lost that. So, you spent time with that evil woman, Kate. Even agreeing to marry her, which was shocking. And I was just happy that she showed her true colors before you made that mistake.”
I took a long pull from my beer. I didn’t think my mother had even been paying attention back then. It surprised me to hear how observant she’d been. “You never liked Kate, that much I knew.”
“No one liked Kate,” Savannah said, shaking her head in disgust, and the table erupted in laughter.
“I didn’t like Kate because I recognized the pattern.” My mother folded her hands together, and her gaze locked with mine. “I’d been with two horrible men in my life because I thought I didn’t deserve better. That’s why I let you take custody of Saylor and get your own apartment when you were just eighteen.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked. I’d been surprised all those years ago that she hadn’t fought me on taking my sister out of that house.
“I knew you were making sacrifices, but I allowed it because I was in too deep. But I didn’t want that for Saylor, and I knew you would provide a better home for her. A safer home for her. And I believe that you were with Kate because it’s all you knew. You only knew ugliness and instability when it came to relationships. And Savannah had been the one person who’d always been a light in your life. And after she left, I worried so much about you.”
Fuck me.
I glanced over at my wife. Her eyes were wet with emotion. She just smiled at me and then held up her wrist. “Peas and carrots, baby.”
I chuckled. “How about we update these tattoos and call it what it is?”
“You two really were peas and carrots.”
“What would you call it now?” Savannah asked me.
“Something I never thought I believed in. But it’s the truth. We’re soul mates. It didn’t matter if we were living near or far. We belonged together.”
“Soul mates does sound slightly more romantic than peas and carrots.” She chuckled.
My mother sighed. “Life is a journey. And the road is bumpy. But if you’re willing to go through the rough spots, you can come out okay on the other side.”
I looked over at her. “Is that what you did? You came out on the other side?”
“I hope so. I know it took me a long time to get here, but I’m trying. And I’d like to have a relationship with my son and my daughter-in-law, so I’m going to just keep trying.” She shrugged.
I thought over her words. I never thought I would want towork on things with my mother. I was used to being let down by people. Used to putting up my walls.
But maybe Savannah was right.
Maybe some people deserved a second chance.
“Keep trying, Mom. It’s nice to see this side of you.”
Savannah clapped her hands together in celebration.
My mother laughed, and I rolled my eyes.
But I was happy, even if I pretended to be annoyed.
I never planned on being happy.
But here I was.
Living it.
twenty-eight
. . .
Savannah
