let it upset you. That’s what I’m doing. And I’m sorry I didn’t call you before my decision went public. I should’ve done that.”
“Don’t worry about me, although I’ll admit I’m a little disappointed I won’t get to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom.”
Nick laughed. “I could probably make that happen now if you’d like.”
“Nah, I’m just kidding. I hope you know that one of your parents is very proud of you for all you’ve accomplished and is looking forward to whatever comes next for you and your family.”
“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate the call. We’re looking forward to seeing you guys at Thanksgiving. Scotty got a new race car driving game he says the boys are going to love.”
“We’re looking forward to it too. We’ll see you next week. In the meantime, take care, son.”
“You too.” Nick put down the phone and sat back in his chair, resting his head against the leather while wishing he had some control over the tangled emotions his mother stirred in him. He loved her and hated her and wished she were different while also wanting her to go away and leave him alone. He felt all those things in the span of a few seconds, the same things he’d felt all his life where she was concerned.
When he was a child, he hadn’t yet figured out how to manage the emotional carnage she left behind. As an adult, he’d tried his best to avoid her and the mess that came with her. But the emotions… They were exactly the same as when she’d promise him a visit and then never show up.
Why was he even thinking about this shit when his life was so great now? Why did he let her suck up his mental energy? Without giving himself too much time to consider the implications, he picked up the phone and called her.
“Nick,” she said, sounding surprised.
With one word from her, he realized he’d made a huge mistake. The sound of her voice made him feel like the love-starved child he’d once been, waiting for something, anything from the mother who couldn’t care less about him. Then and now. “Why are you doing this? Why are you going on TV and talking about me like you know anything about me or my life?”
“You’re my son! Of course I know about you and your life.”
“When we haven’t spoken in months, you have no right to go on TV and talk about me like you have some sort of inside info when you don’t.”
“That statement you released was very disrespectful.”
“Are you for real right now? You want to talk about what’s disrespectful? You wanting nothing to do with me until I became successful and famous, and now suddenly you want your little piece of the action.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh please. Don’t make it worse by lying to me on top of everything else. I don’t want to get ugly with you, but I will if you don’t stay out of my life and my business. The next time I see you talking about me in any capacity, you’re going to face legal action.” He should’ve taken that action after she resurfaced during the Christopher Nelson investigation, but he’d refrained. That, he now knew, had been a mistake. “This is the only warning you’re going to get before I play hardball with you.”
“Maybe I should go public with my son the vice president threatening to play hardball with his mother.”
“Do whatever you need to do. Just keep your mouth shut about me and my family. I won’t hesitate to make your life as miserable as you’ve made mine.”
She released a harsh laugh. “Your life has hardly been miserable. Look at where you work.”
“No thanks to you. Leave me alone and keep your mouth shut about me. I mean it.” He ended the call before she could say something that would further lacerate the heart she’d broken too many times to count. It infuriated him that his hands shook for five full minutes. He was thirty-seven, and she was still getting to him the way she always had.
Closing his eyes, he focused his thoughts on Sam, Scotty, the twins, the family they’d created with their children, Sam’s family, his dad, their close friends. He thought of each of the people he loved—and who loved him.
He’d traveled a million miles from that apartment in Lowell, Massachusetts. He worked in the White House. Millions of people knew his name and were crushed he wasn’t going to run for president. Why