Complication

Chapter Twelve

"You are not going to Florida!" My mom loudly states from across the counter.

My lesson five days ago ended with Brandon telling both me and Lucas about leaving for Florida in a bit more than a month and how he has classes planned out all winter for us. I've been trying to figure out a way to tell my mom for the past three days. I meant to plan it out better, ease her into the idea. But after my homeschooling teacher left and she came home, I kinda blurted it out. And now we've been going back and forth for an hour.

"Mom, I've been to Florida before. What's the difference now?" I ask calmly.

"Before, we planned six months ahead, not one month. And how do you expect to find a reasonable price for the flight there? Hotel? All the show bills?"

I smirk, "That's the beauty about what I do."

"What?" She's asks annoyed and confused at the same time.

"I'm most likely going to drive up with Brandon because he's driving all the horses that are going. And he told me that if I can't drive he will pay for the flight. He's also covering the hotel, and he will cover Aspen's show bill while Jackie will cover all of Casper's expenses."

"So if I let you go, you're technically going for free?" She thinks for a second, "What about food?"

"I can take care of that." Having a job that you get paid for is awesome!

She thinks for a good five minutes, contemplating what to do when she finally answers with, "Have fun in Florida."

I jump up from my chair and hug her, "Thank you!"

"But I want all the information, what hotel you're staying at, if you are flying, all the flight details, everything down to what barn number Two Trees is staying at. It's too much of a short notice for me to go."

"No worries" I reassure. Her work schedule is always crazy and now she's the main vet at Westchester Stables, so I understand. "And I'll have all the info to you in a day or two."

"Okay" She turns around and mumbles, "I can't believe I'm letting you go to Florida by yourself."

"Hey" I say and she turns around, "If you're really worried about me going then I won't go."

She takes in a big breath of air then sighs, "No, This is a great experience for you and I can tell you're really excited about it. Go to Florida." she opens the fridge and grabs a water bottle out.

Just then Justin walks in, "Hello Mrs. Ortz" He flashes his smile. But my mom raises her eyebrows, waiting for a different greeting. Justin picks up his hands in defense, "I'm sorry. Hi Lynn" he corrects himself.

"That's better" My mom approves.

Justin turns to me and raises his eyebrows, "So?"

I give it a second before I excitedly yell, "I'm going to Florida!"

I get up and happy dance around the island and pull Justin along who reluctantly happy dances with me.

"Wait a second" My mom stops us, "You knew?"

"Umm... no..." He answers hesitantly.

"Sorry mom, but you were a little scarier to tell so I went with him first."

"Fair enough" she agrees. "So what are you guys doing?"

"Well, Gina wants to halter break Zara so I'm going to help her with that then after probably get something to eat." Justin answers.

"No Harry, Gina?"

"If I have time, yeah."

"Let me talk to Gina for a second." Her tone gets serious.

"I'll be in the car" Justin walks out, sensing the the changed mood.

I walk back over to the island countertop and sit down, skeptical of what she wants to talk about but somehow I think I know what it is.

"Gina, it's almost like the same problem as before. Yes you are riding now but you aren't riding Harry. How long until he falls back into old patterns of trying to kill everybody?"

"Okay, I know that I haven't had much time to ride him lately, but that's just for right now. So-"

"Soon you're going to be in Florida where you re going to disappear from him again. What do you think is going to happen? Then when you get back you're probably going to have even more training horses. Leaving absolutely no time for Harry."

"That's not true, I -"  She cuts me off again. Anger explodes inside me, knowing where she's headed in this conversation.

"And that's not fair to him. He's a show horse that loves his job. I know he's your first horse and he means the world to you but I think it's time for you to let him go. Move on to bigger and better things." Her voice was caring and sweet but I didn't want to her it.

"I will never sell him." I speak through my teeth. If I open my mouth I'm going to break down in tears. How could she even say that? She doesn't know how much he means to me if she said that!

"Well here's your choices. You can put him up for sale and wait until your preferred buyer comes along. Or I do it."

I break, but this time with anger. "How could you do this!?"

"Gina, don't blame me for this."

"Don't blame you!? Are you kidding me? No- absolutely not! I'm not selling him!"

"You're going to do what I say because not only am I your mother but I'm the person that pays the bills. So you will do as I say!" She raises her voice for the first time.

Tears are about to overflow out of my eyes. I fly out the door, slamming so hard I thought I would have broken the glass. I slam the door of his car shut and he notices I'm in a mood right away. "

"Should I wait or ask now?" He asks.

"Give me a minute." I cross my arms and calm myself down while Justin pulls out of our driveway. "I can't believe her! She's being such a bitch! She doesn't understand! She doesn't! No! I will not sell him! Never!"

"Whoa, whoa, wait. Who are you selling?"

"My mom's making me sell Harry." The tears back in my eyes.

He stays silent the whole ride. I don't blame him, there's nothing to say. I sit and clear out the tears in my eyes, refusing to full on cry. I haven't cried in almost a whole year and I'm not going to change that today.

Finally he pulls into the gravel parking lot and shifts the BMW into park. "So what are you going to do?" He asks quietly, unsure if he's stepping too far over the line.

"Right now I'm going to ride my horse because it may be the last ride I get on him. Then after... I'm going to try and come up with something." I take in a deep breath of air, "I'll deal with Zara after but in the mean time, do you want to go for a trail ride?" I ask.

He nods his head, "Yeah, I'm sure Maggy will let me hop on something."