Love's Paradox

Chapter 17: Gang Up On Parker Symposium

"All right," I say, walking over to Parker, horse in tow. "This is Sadie. She's the oldest and gentlest horse here. Even a five-year-old could ride her without fear."

"She's massive," Parker says, backing away.

My mom chuckles. "That's because she's lazy and fat." She pats Sadie's belly affectionately.

"I'll let you two get acquainted while I saddle up Rain," I say.

I see the protest racing to his lips, but then his gaze flickers to my mom, who is watching him. He judiciously says nothing and accepts the lead rope.

My mom's horse, Shadow, nickers when we approach him. "What's going on with you and Parker?" she asks with a twinkle in her eyes.

"I really like him," I admit, blushing.

"How'd you two meet?"

I grin. "Remember when I told you our plan to sing about Ian?"

She laughs. "Did you actually go through with it? I thought Cherry was kidding."

"We did it on Wednesday night." I go into detail about that night, including the part where Parker punched Ian in the nose.

"No!" she gasps, grinning.

"And then Ian had the cops arrest Parker," I continue, my voice holding just as much disbelief as I'd felt that night. "But then I possibly blackmailed Ian so he'd drop all charges."

"With what?" She shakes her head, trying to stop herself from chortling.

"That political sign, and his secret love for romance novels."

"You're definitely my daughter."

"Ain't that the truth?" I say, nodding. "Anyway, the next day, Pam told me she had a new temp job at Livingston Oil. Turns out Parker's family owns the entire company."

"And the rest is history?"

"You got it. And in case you're wondering, I stayed with him last night."

My mom pops me with the horse's lead rope. "Rae!"

I stick out my tongue.

My mom and I have an honesty system; we don't lie to each other, especially after all the secrets I kept about Ian. Now it's become the "who can embarrass who the most by telling the gruesome truth." We constantly try to out do the other.

"You know, Mom, that's what you get for my childhood being ruined by all those times you practically sexually assaulted Dad whenever I came into the kitchen. Not to mention the things you two put in each other's Christmas stockings." I shudder at one memory in particular of my dad holding lube in one hand and a lighter in the other while reading aloud the words on the latter: "When I have sex, it's so good even the neighbors need a cigarette." Trust me, that's traumatizing for a fourteen-year-old girl.

After we saddle up our horses and return to Parker, I catch him saying, in a baby voice, "You're a pretty horse, aren't you?" while scratching between Sadie's eyes.

"See!" I exclaim, startling both him and the horse. "She's not so bad."

"Not now. But you want me to actually climb her." He eyes the saddle wearily.

"I thought he was from Texas," my mom stage whispers.

"Me too," I reply from the side of my mouth. "Maybe he lied."

"Hey!" Parker says. "No ganging up on me. I'll ride."

Parker does surprisingly well once he's on Sadie. We decide to just do trail riding today for his sake. For the most part, we stay silent. The forest and stream running along beside us are comforting and tranquil. The one reason why I love coming out here with my mom so much is because it lets me forget about real life. No school, no job, no asshole boyfriend. Just nature, my mom, and the serenity of a steady hoof beat.