Greythorn: The Complete Set by Amanda Richardson

Author:Amanda Richardson [Richardson, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-16T18:30:00+00:00

15

Lennon

I wake up thirty minutes before I’m supposed to meet my mom at Café du Pont for lunch. It’s a new place, inspired by Parisienne brasseries, and it looks pretty fancy. It wouldn’t be Genevieve Rose without a fancy lunch, though, so I’m not surprised. I make a quick cup of coffee and take a few ibuprofens to numb the pounding headache behind my eyes. I shoot a response to Mindy, who had texted me that she’d gotten home in one piece, and then I throw on my most sophisticated dress—which just so happens to be the dress I wore to my engagement party.

Smoothing it down, I look at my reflection.

This isn’t me. The white lace, the A-line cut, the neutral sandals, the pearl headband.

I quickly unzip the dress and pull on a form-fitting black maxi dress instead, shaking my hair out and teasing it a bit.

There we go.

Smiling, I exit my apartment and glance into Savage Ink as I walk down the main street. It’s empty, of course, but my skin pebbles when I think of what happened to Noah. I wonder if he’s awake yet—if he’s freaking out. My smile grows slightly, and there’s an extra kick in my step, knowing he’s suffering, even just a little bit. I’m sure he’ll have the tattoo removed, but not before the people closest to him see him for what he is.

Once I arrive, the hostess takes me to the back of the restaurant, which overlooks the central park. There is china laid out at each place setting, along with white linen napkins. I look around for my mother, but I don’t see her anywhere. A glance at my watch confirms that she’s twelve minutes late. I order us some white wine since I know she loves chardonnay, and then I sit back and wait.

So similar to my childhood—always waiting. Always needing. Always wanting.

I haven’t seen my mom since my father’s funeral. Wright invited her to the engagement party last year. He even bought her a plane ticket. But she was a no show, and later explained that she hated flying. It hurt, that kind of rejection. It always did, and it never seemed to lessen, even though I was a grown ass woman now. But certain things, like a mother’s love, just can’t really be found elsewhere. And when it’s missing from your life, it feels like a giant void in your chest.

I always think I’ve gotten used to it, come to terms with it, then something else happens. That wound opens afresh, cutting deep like it always does, bleeding everywhere.

That was life with my mom… one big, gaping wound that never really healed, and hurt extra bad every time it reopened.

I take a few large sips of wine after the server brings our glasses over, and I try to quell the anger that’s beginning to rise inside of me at the thought of being stood up by my own mother.

Maybe I should’ve confirmed today. Maybe she forgot.

I shake my head and close my eyes.

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