Page 21 of Homewrecker

“And then Caleb told me he was married.”

Daddy looked at me.

“And I stayed. I became the woman I watched my mama hate my whole life.”

Mama’s eyes filled.

“And that’s the part I can’t get past.”

I looked at my mother. “I did to Ravenna what I watched women do to you.”

Mama stood and I shook my head.

“Mama—”

She came around the table anyway and wrapped her arms around me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

She held me tighter. “I know.”

“I knew better.”

“I know.”

“I hated those women.”

Her hand moved slowly over my back. “I know.”

“And then I—”

Mama pulled back just enough to look at me, keeping both hands on my arms. “Blair.”

Her hand moved to the back of my head. “Baby, listen to me.”

I closed my eyes.

“You did something wrong. You participated in hurting that woman. You knew that man was married, and whatever he told you after that doesn’t change that.”

“I know.”

“But.” She pulled back and held my face. “You cannot spend the rest of your life hurting yourself because you hurt someone else.”

Her thumbs wiped beneath my eyes. “You apologized?”

I nodded yes.

“You changed?”

I nodded again. “I’ve tried.”

“Are you still sleeping with that married man?”

“Mama.”

“I’m asking.”

“No.”