Allegiance - Chiah Wilder Page 0,61
going to join the Navy when you got older—that’s how much you loved the water and ships.”
He laughed. “Then I became a rebel in high school, and you realized there was no chance in that.”
She grabbed his hand and pressed it against her cheek. “You came into your own in high school. You’re not made to follow the path others tell you to. I was happy you didn’t go out to sea because I love having you here. Now, your brother always had his head in books when you and the other boys were hanging out on the beach, tossing balls around. I don’t think Christopher liked the picnics as much as you did.”
Bitterness soured his stomach at the mention of his younger brother. He tried to keep the edge out of his voice when he asked, “Have you heard from him?”
“He’s busy with all his cases. That law firm keeps him working day and night. It’s the largest firm in L.A., and the third largest in California.” Her eyes lit up with pride.
“Yeah, I know.” I’ve heard that a million fucking times. “I’d think he could spare a ten-minute phone call. He managed to take a trip to Spain. Didn’t you get a postcard from him last month?” He regretted his words the minute he saw her pained expression. “Those firms are known for working you to death. You make the big money, but you don’t have much of a life.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “You’re right.”
His mother gazed out the window, leaving Tank to wrestle with the anger he had regarding his brother. Since they were young, Christopher’s only goal had been to rid himself from the shackles of poverty and rise above it, which Tank thought was great. The problem was, he’d forgotten about the mother who had helped him climb the damn ladder. She had scrimped and saved for years to make sure the two of them had what they needed and wanted. For Tank, that was a Harley-Davidson. For Christopher, it was a college education. And now that he was a high-powered lawyer, he’d forgotten where he came from. He sent money to their mom and helped pay for her caregiver, but Tank knew all their mom wanted from her youngest son was to hear from him. His mom never said an angry or disapproving word about Christopher. In Tank’s mind, she was in major denial, but he figured that’s what kept her heart from breaking.
“Are you dating anyone?” His mother’s voice startled him out of his thoughts.
“Not really,” he replied, running a hand through his hair.
“Yes, you are. Do you know that whenever you’re upset or annoyed, you touch your hair? You’ve done that since you were little. So, who is the woman who has you all mixed up?”
Knowing it was hopeless to try and fool his mom, he leaned back in the chair. “I met her at Dawson’s engagement party. She catered it.”
When he didn’t go on, she patted his knee. “And?”
“We saw each other a few times. End of story.”
“No, it’s not. Did she break it off?”
Again, he swiped his fingers through his hair. “I guess. She won’t return my texts or answer my calls. She’s skittish with commitment.”
Her hearty laugh put a grin on his face. “And you’re not? Ever since you divorced Trisha, you’ve closed yourself off from any chance of finding happiness with a woman. This is the first time since your divorce that I’ve seen you caring about someone enough to be annoyed at her.”
“Yeah, I get the irony, Mom. I thought Lena was different, but then she pulls this ghosting shit on me, and it reinforces what I know—women can’t be trusted.”
“I’m a woman. Do you trust me?”
Tank grimaced. “That’s different, Mom.”
“No, it’s not. There are a lot of parents who aren’t there for their kids.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Look at your Aunt Martha. She was more interested in dancing every weekend than she was in her kids. How many times did Justin and Amy come over for dinner or sleep over when their mother was carousing around?”
“Yeah, Aunt Martha sucked as a mom.”
“Trisha was a lousy wife, and Martha was a selfish mother. There are good and not so good people out there, but just because you happened to have married one who was rotten, doesn’t mean all women are that way. I know Trisha hurt you, but you can’t give up on having a happy, loving