Breaking point

Second chances

"Mom?" My expression now mirrored hers; floored, beyond shocked.

She ran toward me immediately, engulfing me in the type of hug that only a mom could give. I hugged her back tightly, feeling relief wash over me.

When we finally pulled back, she held me at arms length, looking me over.

"God, your beautiful," my mom assessed with a loving smile, "you can't imagine how much I've missed you. Did you get my letters?"

I blushed at her motherly compliment, "well, not exactly. Dad hid them, I just recently found them. Everything kinda feel apart so I started digging for the truth and found a file that explained the divorce and had all your letters."

She nodded, "that explains why I never once got a letter back."

Nodding, I gave a small almost somehow apologetic smile. My mom turned to her boss, "can I take a personal day?"

The boss nodded and gave her a pat on the back as she removed her apron and motioned for cole and I to follow her outside.

It seemed she hadn't even noticed Cole's existence yet, she was to busy catching up with me since she hadn't seen me since I was a baby.

We all sat down on a bench and my mom finally realized it wasn't just us two.

"And who's this?" She asked, smiling warmly with a slight glint of a knowing look.

"This is Cole," I paused, smiling giddily, "my boyfriend."

My moms smile grew wider, almost a smirk, as she looked at us, "you two are very cute together, nice to meet you Cole."

I already found myself way more attached to my mom than my dad. It seemed she had fixed whatever issues had divided her and my father. She was pleasant and seemed well put together.

Cole shook her hand with a polite grin.

"So what happened? What brought your father's kingdom of lies crumbling down?" My mom asked, looking genuinely curious.

"The news." I answered simply before explaining, "he said he was going on a business trip, so when I was left home alone I watched the news and saw a segment about him and his company in a money laundering scandal and an illegal project. So that got me wondering what else might've been a lie and he would never talk about you so I decided to find out more myself. I found a file with the record of the divorce and custody and all your letters."

Her hand gently brushed back my hair, smiling as she saw I was wearing her necklace.

I smiled as well, "I haven't taken it off since I read the letter."

She once again smiled, a certain motherly pride in her eyes, she sighed, "well you've told your tale so I guess it's time I explain what I did. Because as much as I hate to admit it, your father wasn't completely in the wrong. I was definitely a leading cause of the problems."

My stomach twisted slightly, I didn't want my proud image of her tarnished so soon but I guess I needed to know and she needed to get it off her chest. I felt Cole's hand slip into mine, squeezing reassuringly.

I nodded and my mom started to explain, "so when we first got married everything was great, we were happy and had you. Though your dad was always busy with work so I felt like I was forced to raise you alone. I started feeling pressured and overworked an turned to drinking."

I could've sworn I felt Cole flinch; like he related to that part of her story.

"I thought since he spent so much time at work he might be having an affair so I kept on drinking until it started to become an addiction. That's what got me in trouble. When I was drunk I didn't consider the consequences and ended up sleeping around. Your dad found out and decided he wanted out of our marriage. I couldn't say I didn't want the same but I couldn't risk losing you. At that point of my life you were just about all I had left. But the upcoming custody hearing had me nervous and I got to drinking again. Before I never it, it was the day of the hearing and I was a drunken mess and showed up late. That gave your dad all the leverage he needed to get full custody."

My smile was long gone, I felt bad for her and somehow for my dad.

She continued, "that was it, I'd lost the one thing I still cared about, that really shocked me back to reality. I got into a rehab program and started trying to get help. I got a job an started writing letters to you to make up for my absence. When there was no response I almost turned back to drinking but figured if I did that and then you found me I'd only have made it worse. So I worked harder and that's what I've been doing ever since. And now here we are and I couldn't be more glad that I chose to work instead of drink."

We sat in silence for a while, I was completely at a loss for words. I glanced up and noticed some unspoken communication between Cole and my mom. I gave them confused stares but they looked away quickly, pretending that it was just plain silence.

I pushed away my confusion for now, letting go of Cole's hand and hugging my mom tightly, "well I'm glad I found you. Everything with dad has kind of gone to hell in a hand basket for me."

She nodded sympathetically, "I don't know if you would even want to after all these years, but you're welcome to come stay with me for awhile if you want."

That was it; my ticket out, my escape from facing my dad and having to live with him and his constant lies. But I couldn't bring myself to speak.