“I don’t care if the old man sees red. He can go chase a squirrel up a stump and get stuck there.”
“Well, it looks like you’re going to get the chance to tell him that yourself. Here they come.”
My stomach rolled as my parents approached. My father's clenched jaw still made my stomach drop even though I was a grown man. It wasn’t often that we got into trouble with him growing up. On the rare occasion it did occur, we were left terrified and quickly fell into line. He was a good man but held the same outdated beliefs that my mother did.
“Walker,” He said.
“Pa,” I muttered.
“I’d like a word with you in private.”
“Sorry, the auction will be starting soon, and I don’t want to miss anything.” I lied.
“Sweetheart,” My mother said to my father. “Would you mind going and getting me a lemonade?”
He softened as he turned and stomped away. There was one person my father would always listen too, and vice versa. My mother now stood in front of me, her eyes watching me as he left. I had nothing to say to her, either. I wasn’t about to get into it with either of them again while we were in public. They needed to get it through their minds that I wasn’t going to be placated anymore.
“I spoke with Stacy,” she muttered.
“What!” I yelled.
Every head turned, the conversations lowering to a hushed whisper around us as I took her arm and led her outside. My blood felt like it was boiling as I paced back and forth outside the livestock arena. Instantly the hear rose to my cheeks. How could she still not see that she was just making things worse? I’d called Stacy five times a day for the first three days. After that, I made the decision to give her space. I had yet to hear anything from her.
With each passing day of silence, my heart broke a little bit more. I desperately wanted to find Stacy and make her see that all I ever wanted was to be a part of her life, but it was starting to feel like a distant dream. Like traveling all around the country, the fantasy of a life with Stacy and Harrison was slipping through my fingers because of my mother.
“How dare you go to see her,” I hissed. “What the hell gives you the right?”
“I know that you are upset. I just want to apologize to you for everything I’ve done regarding Stacy and Harrison. It was wrong of me to interfere.”
“Oh?” I was stunned.
“Yes. She is a wonderful young woman who’s only goal in life is to make a future for her and her son. I never should have stepped in. I was selfishly thinking about protecting my own son without realizing that you are a grown man who can do that yourself.”
“Ma, you don’t understand. Stacy is so much more than just the mother of my child.”
“I do understand that now,” her voice cracked. “If she leaves because of me, I will never forgive myself. If you leave because of this, I will have broken up a family that’s survived thick and thin.”
I sighed and pulled her into my arms as she softly started to cry. My mother rarely apologized. The look in her eyes had been sincere. I couldn’t go my entire life holding a grudge against the woman who brought me into the world and raised me. She was only doing what I would have done, protect her son. It was the same thing that Stacy was doing now.
“So you went and saw her? How did she take that?” I asked.
“She was cold at first and wanted me to leave, but after we talked a little, I think I started to make progress. I promised her, just like I promise you, I am staying out of things. I just hope it’s not too late.”
“You’re going to stay out of it?” I asked. “I find that hard to believe. Where is the loophole? Is this a recorded conversation?”
She cringed. “No loopholes, no layers, no more fighting. If you want to leave Lakeview and Calumet, I won't stop you. I’ll even make sure that your father understands. But we do want you to stay.”
“I don’t know, ma, if Stacy leaves, I’m going to have to follow her. I can't just let the woman I love take off, not knowing if I will ever see her again.”