“Laney, we’re a team, and I can handle anything she throws my way. I have my girls, and that’s what matters to me. She can spew her hatred for me. Besides, she’s the one who lied to you. My guess is she’s here to grovel.”
“You don’t know my mother.”
“Then she’s trespassing. We call the cops if she refuses to give us the key that she obviously has, and leave.”
“This is going to get ugly.”
“She brought this on herself, Delaney. Not you. You are innocent in all of this.”
I nod. I know he’s right, but I just don’t want to deal with her. Today has been amazing, one of the best I can ever remember, and now she’s here to ruin it. With a heavy sigh, I reach for the handle and climb out of his truck. Kent is waiting for me, his hand stretched out for mine, and I don’t hesitate to take it. Hand in hand, we make our way onto the porch to face my mother.
“Well, don’t the two of you look cozy,” she sneers.
“What are you doing here, Mother?”
“This is my house.”
“No, it’s not. This is my house. I have the deed in my name. Dad left it to me.”
She mumbles something under her breath about how she can’t believe he did that. “Semantics. I’m contacting an attorney. This place should have been mine. You are my daughter, I fought for you, and you will listen to me.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask her again. She’s lost her damn mind. What does she mean she fought for me? I’ve never seen her fight for anything in her entire life. She manipulates and bosses, never fights.
“I never left. I’ve been staying in town. I wanted to give you a few days to cool down and come to your senses, but now I see I was wrong in doing that. You let this man get his hooks in you. You always were so naïve, Delaney. You can’t believe everything you’re told.”
“That’s rich coming from you. You mean the way I believed my mother when she told me the father of my child didn’t want us?” Kent squeezes my hand. I know my words affect him, but he’s letting me fight this battle on my own. His silent support means everything to me.
“I did what was best for you. Look at him, Delaney. He’s trash. You deserve better.”
“Trash? Are you kidding me right now? He’s the best person I know. And you’re right. I do deserve better. Better than a mother who would lie to me, better than a mother who has manipulated me and taken advantage of my lost memory to mold my life the way you saw fit. You robbed us of time. You robbed Kendrix of her father. You’re the trash, Mother.”
“Where is my granddaughter?”
“With her grandparents.”
“What?” she screeches. “You left her with his family? You don’t even know them. You’re unfit. I didn’t want to have to do this, but you aren’t capable of raising her.”
“The hell I’m not!” I scream. I drop Kent’s hand and take the three remaining steps so we’re face-to-face. “She’s my daughter. I have raised her on my own!” I scream, not giving a shit who hears me. “She doesn’t know her father because of you. Your lies. He’s a good man, and they’re good people. She’s happy, healthy, and safe.” I shake my head, barely controlling my rage. “You’re not welcome here, Mother. Leave.”
“No. I have every right to be here.”
Before I can answer her, a black sedan pulls into the driveway, and Mr. Garcia climbs out. Kent looks at me and motions with his head as he turns to walk back down the steps to greet him. I’m sure he’s trying to prevent him from hearing the argument.
“Look at you. Following him like some lovesick fool. If you continue to see him, I will take you to court. I will take her from you.”
“Excuse me? Do you actually think a judge is going to take a little girl from her parents? We are her parents, not you. You have no case.”
“You’re unfit, leaving her with strangers.”
I can’t help it. I laugh. Not just a “ha ha” laugh, but a deep “throw your head back, deep in your gut” laugh. She’s delusional, and I hate I’m just now seeing this side of her. She manipulated me for years, and now she’s not getting her way, her true colors come out. I remember her being controlling growing up, but I chalked that up to my being a teenager and rebelling. But this, this is another level, and I can’t help but wonder how many fights like this we had about Kenton.
“You’ve lost your damn mind. Go home, Mother. You’re not welcome here.”
“No, I’m not leaving without my granddaughter. If you want to slum it, that’s fine, but you won’t subject her to that.”