Page 47 of Open Water
"I'm scared, Mom," I said. "I'm scared this will ruin my rowing career. What if they don't accept me?"
"They will. They have to. You're so talented."
"But Alex's dad knows people. He's rich. He's a psycho. And Alex might get kicked off his team. He might get expelled. And I don't know what he could do to my career —"
"Honey, it's going to be okay. This is your fear talking. Slow down."
I stopped.
"You can worry about all of that tomorrow. Right now I need you to hear me."
I paused.
"Are you listening?"
"Yeah."
"I am proud of you. I have always been proud of you. And nothing — not a photo, not a person, not a single thing on this earth — is going to change that. You are my son. You are brave and stubborn and you work harder than anyone I've ever known."
I pressed the phone against my ear so hard the case dug into my cheekbone.
"Okay," I said.
"You are going to overcome anything that comes your way. That's just you Liam. You've always been like that."
Her words were a relief in my heart, in my brain, in my body. She always had that way with me. She reminded me of who I was and I believed her. She was right, I had gotten this far despite my circumstances.
"Okay." She sniffed. "Now. When do I get to meet this boy properly? Because I've seen him on TV and he's very handsome but I need to look him in the eye and make sure he's good enough for my kid."
"I don't know. Maybe during the summer."
"Summer? No, not when this boy is kissing my son. Sooner."
"Mom…"
"I'm a mother. This is what we do."
"I'm hanging up."
"You are not."
I wasn't. I held the phone and listened to her breathe and let the quiet settle between us.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, baby. So much. Always." A pause. "Call me tonight. After you've seen Alex. I want to know he's okay."
"I will."
"And Liam. Eat something. You sound like you haven't eaten."
"I'll eat."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
She hung up first. The line went dead and I lay there holding the phone against my chest in the quiet room.
