Happily This Christmas (Happily Inc #6) - Susan Mallery Page 0,71
you about this later, but as it came up, I’m thinking you can pressure wash and paint the deck in the backyard over your holiday break and do twenty hours of community service between now and the end of January.”
Hunter’s eyes widened, but he didn’t speak.
Major Rumsey nodded. “That sounds fair. It will give Hunter a lot of time to think about what he did wrong.” He steepled his fingers. “Junior ROTC is different from the college program. There’s no commitment of military service, and we are working with young people who are still developing. I have a fair amount of discretion when it comes to admissions. Our goal isn’t to exclude anyone interested in our program. Society as a whole is better when people understand commitment, leadership and service.”
He dropped his hands back to the desk. “If you complete your punishment at home and the community service and stay out of trouble, you can reapply for next fall.” He looked at Wynn. “Assuming you agree.”
“I do.”
“Then we have a plan.” He stood and held out his hand to Hunter. “I hope you take this opportunity to learn an important lesson.”
“I will,” Hunter promised. “You’ll see.”
Wynn thanked him and they walked out. Once in the hallway, Hunter leaned against the wall.
“It’s not over. I have a second chance.”
“Yes, you do.”
He flung himself at her, holding her tight. “I’m sorry, Mom. I won’t ever screw up again, I swear.”
She chuckled as she hugged him back. “If only that were true.”
* * *
JOYLYN STARED AT her phone as it rang. The picture and accompanying Mom made it clear who was calling. She’d spent the past week or so only dealing with her mother by text, where it was easy to pretend everything was all right. A phone call was different.
She debated not picking up but knew that was an immature response to what was going on, so told herself to suck it up before pushing the speaker button.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetie. How are you doing?”
A simple enough question, Joylyn thought. And yet she wasn’t sure how to answer.
“I’m good. Dad and I went to the first birthing class last night.”
“Your father went with you?”
“Someone had to. I can’t go alone—I need a partner.” Something her mother should know.
On the heels of that thought came an uncomfortable combination of resentment and hurt. After all, her mother had been the one to kick her out of her own home and force her to go live with her dad. Something Joylyn had resented. Only now that she was here, she found herself enjoying her time with her father more than she would have thought.
“Did it go all right?” her mother asked.
“Yes. Dad’s pretty freaked about it, but I’m happy to have the information.”
“So things are good between the two of you?”
There was a tentative quality to the question, as if her mother wasn’t sure she wanted the answer.
“They’re better now.” Joylyn put down the paper snowman she’d been assembling. “Mom, why did you let me not see Dad when I was a teenager? Why didn’t you force me to go with him on the weekends? I was a kid. I shouldn’t have been making that kind of decision myself.”
“You were determined not to see him anymore. You said you’d run away if I made you.”
“And you believed me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I should have pushed the issue. There was a lot going on in my life, Joylyn. You were a moody teenager, and I had three boys under the age of ten. As you’ll find out when you have children of your own, knowing the right thing to do isn’t exactly intuitive, okay?”
“You sound really defensive.”
“I feel defensive. All you do is complain. It’s not pleasant.”
Joylyn stared at the phone in surprise. “I’m not complaining. I’m asking why you let me stop seeing my father when I was fifteen years old. The parenting plan gave him every other weekend. But you didn’t enforce that.”
Her mom was quiet for nearly a minute. “I don’t know why. It was easier to give in and not fight you on that. Maybe a part of me was jealous that you always had such a good relationship with your father when all you and I did was fight.”
Joylyn felt her mouth drop open. “Why would you be jealous? You’re my mom.”
“I know, but I had the day-to-day slog, and then you’d go off and have fabulous weekends with him. When you got home, you couldn’t stop talking about how great a