Broken Promises

59 | noah

"Hey, Mom," I say breezily into the phone. Hearing her voice on the other line reminds me of how much I miss my mother, and I can feel invisible strings tugging at my heart.

"Hey, Noah!" Mom exclaims. "You haven't called me in forever."

I know Mom is right; I haven't called her nearly as much as I should, which feeds into the guilt I already feel for being away from her for so long. When she first sent me to live with Dad, I was angry. But I'm starting to realize that moving to Magnolia Heights was one of the best things to ever happen to me, and I have my mother to thank for that.

"I know," I admit, chastising myself. "Sorry, Mom. I've just been busy, I guess."

"Busy in a good way, I hope," Mom mutters, a teasing lilt to her voice.

I can't help but laugh. It's unbelievable to me how much I've changed in such a short amount of time, and for the better.

"Busy in a good way," I confirm. "There's a lot I have to fill you in on."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere," Mom says. "Lay it on me."

I tell Mom everything that has happened over the past few months, filling her in on all the details. I talk about the Ford that I finally got running and about Blake, and Mom seems to be surprised that I really have a girlfriend. I update her on my grades (which actually aren't too bad for once), and I can tell she's proud. I tell her about seeing Thorne and Mia again, as Mom has always had a soft spot for Mia McHenry. Finally, I talk about Dad and how I've decided to put effort into mending our relationship, words I never thought I'd say.

"I know it's hard for you, Noah," Mom says, tone soft, "with your dad and all. But he really does love you. He always has. You've always assumed that because your father wasn't around meant that he didn't want to be, but that was never the case. I'm so proud of you for trying, Noah."

"I guess I always knew you were right," I murmur. "I'm tired of holding grudges."

"I want to talk more about this Blake girl," Mom prompts, sounding excited.

I can't stop myself from grinning at the mention of Blake, as all it takes is the sound of her name to get my heart racing.

"She's amazing, Mom," I admit. "She's compassionate and beautiful. She has this smile that makes everyone around her want to smile, too. Basically the complete opposite of me."

Mom laughs at this, the sound making me smile.

"She sounds wonderful," Mom says. "I can't wait to meet her."

"You'll really like her, Mom. Everything about her . . . she's as close to perfect as it gets."

"You sound smitten," Mom teases.

"Probably because I am," I admit. "More than that, actually. I . . . I love her, Mom."

"Young love," Mom says with a sigh, though she sound happy. Wistful, almost; as if she's looking back on better times. "I'm glad, Noah. You're doing so much better. I hope you know how proud of you I am. I can't say that enough."

"Thanks, Mom." My voice is hoarse, and (I'd never admit it out loud) I know this has something to do with the overwhelming emotion I suddenly feel.

"I miss you, Noah," Mom says faintly, the words barely audible.

"I miss you too, Mom." I mean the words, yet I do genuinely like living here in Magnolia Heights. I've created a life for myself here that I never thought was possible for me. I have an awesome girlfriend, I've met people I like, I'm finally starting to get along with my father, and I have a job. I have to admit that part of me doesn't want to leave, yet I know the end of the year is creeping up slowly yet steadily. I'll be eighteen in June, which means I'll be an adult—free to make my own decisions. If I had to make a decision about what to do with my future today, I can't deny that I would choose to stay here.

I can't help wondering what decision I'll make when the time comes.

____

a/n: why is it that the one time i'm in a good mood my playlist chooses to only play sad songs? like. thanks for bumming me out ig.