Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

responsibilities and then down that terrible resentment road we’ll go. I’ll drag
him, he’ll go along happily…until he’s miserable, and I’m left with someone
who has to choose between me and a fulfilling life. I won’t. Fucking. Do it.
“You done?” Ma says.
My head snaps down as I peer at my phone. “Sorry. My mind wandered.”
“Tell me where it went.” She leans in and sets her cheek in one hand. “I’ve
got all day.”
Searching her eyes, I bite my lip in hesitation. I love my mother. And before
I was always a checklist of health issues, I felt like we were close. Has time
whittled away that barrier between us? Can I open up to her and unburden
myself?
Her eyes are like mine, and they brighten as she smiles. “I know I can be
overbearing,” she says. “But I called because I miss just talking. That’s all. I
trust you to take care of yourself, okay?”
Oh, the guilt.
“I won’t nag or poke you about anything health related,” she says. “I
promise. I’ll just listen. And we can talk about other stuff.”
With a glance over my shoulder, I see Ren wandering the kitchen,
presumably cooking breakfast. Regret tugs at my heart. I just pushed him away.
I’ve become a bit of an expert at that, haven’t I? As if I need further proof, I peer
at my mother, the woman who loves me imperfectly, but loves me, nonetheless.
Who after our mutual hurts and blunders, I’ve slowly, systematically withdrawn
from.
Leaning close to her image on my phone, I clear my throat, searching Ma’s
eyes, the ones she gave me. “I miss you,” I tell her, unsteadily.
Her gaze softens behind her glasses. She sniffles. “I miss you, too, honey.
But you look like sunshine and seventy degrees almost year-round suits you. So
that makes missing you a little easier, knowing you’re happy where you are. You
are happy, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, I am.” Glancing over my shoulder, I see Ren, at the window,
eyes down. As if he senses me watching him, he glances up. Our eyes lock. I
offer him a tentative, apologetic smile. He gives me one back, then turns and
disappears deeper into the kitchen.
“I feel like I’m seeing something I shouldn’t,” Ma says wryly.
Breaking my distraction, I refocus on her. “Sorry. I snapped at him, and I
wanted him to know I was sorry. And…” I sigh. “I feel like I owe you a sorry,
too. I’ve been distant. Gabby nags me every time we talk to just have it all out
with you, but I never know where to begin, Ma.”
She nods. “I know, honey. I feel the same way. But maybe we can just talk