Trent

“This ain’t gonna work, boy. You should know that better than anyone. You sitting on me isn’t gonna change who I am. What I am.”

I finished drying the bowl I’d used for my morning cereal and set it in the drainer. “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to try.”

“Oh, yeah? And why would you do that?” She was pushing at me, goading me into getting so mad that I’d walk away. I knew this and yet it didn’t make standing my ground any easier. “Not like I ever tried for you. Want me to remind you of all the ways I let you down when you were a kid? My memory ain’t what it used to be, but I bet I can tell you the top five.”

“You don’t need to remind me of anything. I lived it, Ma.” I reached for my jacket and shrugged it on. “And now I’m living this.”

“Where are you going?” There was suspicion in her tone, but beneath that, I couldn’t miss her fear and panic. She might like to jeer at the fact that I’d come back to Burton to save her, but she didn’t really want me to leave, either.

“I’m going to see about a job.” I zipped up my jacket. “We need to eat. And my savings isn’t going to go very far in keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table.”

As soon as I’d mentioned the word savings I could’ve bit off my tongue. Just like liquor, money never lasted long around my mother. If she could figure out a way to get her hands on mine, she’d be gone quicker than I could imagine.

And when it came to my mom, I could imagine a lot.

“I won’t be long. I’ll be home by lunch time.” Calling this place was a stretch, I knew. If I was honest with myself, only the apartment’s association with Elizabeth gave it any kind of warm feelings for me. But those feelings were quickly followed by a chaser of guilt. After all, I’d basically stolen this place out from under my wife.

Not that she’d ever know because after I’d left her in Crystal Cove, there was no way in hell she’d follow her plan to move to Burton. This would be the last place in the world Elizabeth would want to be.

“Maybe I won’t be here when you get back,” my mother taunted. “Maybe this place will be empty.”

“You walk out that door, and I’ll be on your ass.” I said it mildly. “Mrs. Price across the street is watching the door, and she’s got her phone in her hand, programming with my number. Burton isn’t so big that I won’t find you and drag you back here.”

“Why would you bother?” The pain was there again. “Why won’t you just leave me be like I did with you?”

I stopped, my hand on the doorknob.

“Because, Ma, as it turns out, I’m better than that. Or I want to be, anyway. You do what you’re going to do, but I made a promise to Judge Roony and to myself, and for once, I’m going to keep my word.” I thought of Elizabeth again and the multiple ways I’d broken every vow we’d made to each other. Well, not every vow; I hadn’t been unfaithful to her or even thought about it. But I also hadn’t been entirely truthful, and I definitely hadn’t stuck by her side no matter what.

Thinking of her still hurt, and it hurt bad. I hoped that wherever she was and whatever she was doing, Elizabeth was finding peace, and maybe eventually, the love and happiness a woman like her deserved.

I had never been good enough for her. And I never would be. The best thing I ever did for that woman was let her go.

But during the brief time we’d been together, Elizabeth had made me want to be a better man. So even if my mother mocked and hated me, I was determined to do whatever I could to give her a chance to get better.

Opening the door, I paused and glanced over my shoulder. “I’ll be back at lunch, Ma. I hope you’re still here.”

And then I walked out, bracing myself for whatever welcome my old hometown might dish out to me.

Keep the Small Town Love Sizzling!

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