“Mama!” she said, fighting laughter. “Chill! It wasn’t even that long!”
“It was two years, Lora. Too long for you to be away from me. I at least hope the guy who stole you away from us treated you good.”
Lora sighed and shrugged, and she was lucky Mama let it go. I could tell Lora wasn’t in the mood to talk about Aaron.
Mama’s eyes pinned me next and she came in for a hug. I held her tight, and was glad her hair smelled like the honey and vanilla shampoo she’d asked me to send during the last visit. She was keeping herself up, like she’d promised last time. Her hair was brushed and she even had makeup on. Only mascara, but it was a start.
“You look good, Ma,” I told her. “I’m glad to see you like this.”
“Well, you know, I try,” she teased with a grin. “One of the girls here, Carrie, takes real good care of me. She found out about my birthday when you last visited and bought me some of my favorite makeup the next day. She wasn’t supposed to, but she painted my nails and even did a little makeover on me. She just transferred from another clinic. Such a nice girl.”
“Good. I’m glad they’re treating you well.”
We all sat, Mom taking the seat beside Lora while I took the one across from them.
“So, how’s everything been?” Lora asked, a hand under her chin, unable to fight her smile.
“Oh, so good, baby. I know I always say this, but I think this is it. Really, really it. No more fooling around. I’m ready to live my life and make a fresh start with my kids.”
Lora pursed her lips, giving her a suspicious look. “You aren’t just saying that because Buck is getting out soon, are you?”
Mama’s eyes widened. “What? No! I really want to do this for myself.” She looked from Lora to me, like she was really trying to prove a point, but even I had my doubts. I kept my lips shut, though.
“Well, in case you even try to consider it, I want you to read this. Maybe it’ll make you think twice before caving this time.” Lora pulled out the folded letter that was now crumpled around the edges, sliding it toward her on top of the table.
Mama glanced sideways at Lora, eyes burning with curiosity, before picking it up and reading it. Her eyes moved quick, and with each line read, they filled with a familiar horror.
Her throat bobbed as she folded the sheet of paper and placed it down on the table again. “I thought he was getting better too.”
“He’s never going to get better,” I muttered, and she peered up at me, eyes glistening. “Ma, he’s a worthless piece of shit. He doesn’t care about us. He never has. You read the letter. He’s trying to come for Tempt when he’s out.”
She dropped her head.
“I won’t let him mess with my company,” I went on. “I have worked too hard to let him ruin things. The only way he won’t be able to get close is if you keep your distance. Lay low, ignore his letters, and forget he ever existed.”
“He’s your father, Quinton,” Mama pleaded. “That’s a lot easier said than done.”
“No. That’s where you’re wrong. He is not a father. A real father wouldn’t be out to hurt his children or tarnish their career. A father wouldn’t have beaten his own son to a pulp at the age of ten because he forgot to bring home a carton of milk.” The thought of it made me clench my fist on top of the wooden table, but I didn’t stop. She needed to hear this. I’d hidden a lot of things from my mother for the sake of her sanity and happiness, but enough was enough. I would do whatever I needed to do, say whatever needed to be said, in order for her to stay away from that conniving prick. “A real father, wouldn’t have tried to come onto his own daughter while you weren’t around.”
Through the corner of my eye, I saw Lora flinch. “Q,” she warned.
“No, Lora, she needs to hear this shit. She always runs back to him, no matter what he’s done or how badly he beats her. It has to fucking stop.”
“Lora,” Mama gasped, a trembling hand covering her lips. “Is that true?”
Lora shook her head and bit her bottom lip, fighting the tears.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why wait so many years later?” Mom demanded.
“Because you wouldn’t have believed me, Mama!” Lora barked. A few people looked our way, but prying eyes weren’t going to stop my sister from finally confessing the truth. During the ride here, Lora and I both agreed that we would let Mama know about it, no matter how bad it got. Lora tried to hide it from her, but it was time. Mama loved Lora to death, and even we knew that Buck coming onto her would have been crossing the line for Mama. “You were always too high or drunk to ever do anything about it anyway, Ma!”