One Night ✔

6. Mother/Daughter Goals

"So, how was your last day?" I ask Avery as we sit around the living room, eating Chinese takeout while reruns of Red Planet Diaries play in the background. It was the only idea I could come up with to make her talk to me after this morning.

"It was fine" she replies nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders as she stuffs a piece of orange chicken into her mouth.

I nod as an awkward silence falls around us. I hated not talking to her but I didn't know how to make things better...besides agreeing to go to the reunion.

She sighs. "Mom, I hate this" she admits, turning to face me. "I'm sorry I've been so pushy it's just," she pauses, "school just ended a few hours ago and I already miss all my friends. I can't imagine what you're feeling and I know that you don't want to see my father but he's only one person in a sea of people."

"I know that" I agree, nodding my head. "But I'm just afraid that if I see him then all those feelings from back then will come back up again."

"And what would be so wrong with that?" she presses.

I bring my bottom lip between my teeth. "Well for starters, he's married and he has no clue that you exist."

"Okay but your friends will all be there" she says encouragingly. "Come on mom, go to the reunion and have some fun for once."

"Sweetheart, I always have fun" I argue. She rolls her eyes, dipping her chopsticks into my sweet and sour chicken and stealing a piece.

"I'm talking about adult fun. Lunch dates, real dates, any kind of date with anyone" she replies making me chuckle. "I love hanging out with you but you literally never leave this house except when you go to work."

"Well everyone is so far away nowadays and Farkle and Smackle-."

"Mom" she groans. "Don't you see? This is exactly why you have to go to that reunion! All your friends are in one place for the first time since I was born. I know you miss them and you can't let your fear of running into my father ruin that."

I avert my eyes to my Chinese food, releasing a deep sigh. I hated when my daughter was right, especially when it meant that I was wrong. Besides, I really couldn't avoid Lucas forever. He is Avery's father and it was inevitable that he'd find that out someday....I was just hoping to delay the inevitable as long as possible.

"Alright fine" I concede, placing my food onto the coffee table and looking back at my daughter. "But if I go to my reunion you have to do something."

She quirks an eyebrow at me. "What?"

"Tell me all about your crush on Hayden."

Her eyes widen and I chuckle. "I-I do not have a crush o-on Hayden" she stutters but I shake my head. I knew that look in her eyes, it was the same look I had when I met her father.

"Mhm sure" I reply, unconvinced. A blush rises on her cheeks and I smile. She could deny it all she wanted but I knew the truth and I'd be here for her whenever she was ready to talk about it.