Love Me Forever - Juliana Stone Page 0,54

best way to deal with her was to be honest. “Well, that’s the thing about secrets, isn’t it, Mom? They’re meant to stay secret.”

“Huh,” was all Serena said. She busied herself arranging the pottery items, but Poppy knew this wasn’t over. Her mother would bide her time and pick the perfect moment to get the information. Growing up, it had been a point of conflict between the two of them and had led to many awful fights. How many times had Poppy run out the door crying and upset because of her mother and her insatiable need to control?

She hadn’t always been like that. But after her father left, her mom hadn’t been in a good place. It was understandable. At the time, his leaving had been the number one piece of gossip in town. Charlie Fairbanks and the coffee girl who stole his heart. Her mother had zeroed in on Poppy, nearly suffocating her daughter with a need to know everything. She inserted herself into every corner of Poppy’s life and had been the main reason for Poppy leaving town the day after graduation.

But now, as a grown-up, Poppy saw it for what it was. Her mom had never gotten over being left for a much younger woman, and instead of moving on and trying to find another slice of happiness, she wallowed in her gloom and negativity, and covered it up with volunteering on committees and fostering animals. But all that darkness festered and grew until she’d pretty much alienated everyone in her life with her snarky tongue and unwanted opinions.

Sometimes Poppy thought her mother liked the fact Poppy hadn’t managed to find her own happily ever after. That she’d never had a healthy relationship. That she was as alone as Serena.

And then Poppy felt guilty for thinking it, because what kind of mother would that make Serena Fairbanks?

“I hear Boone Avery is back in town.”

Well, shit, Poppy thought. There was no avoiding it now. “He’s been back awhile, Mom.”

“Has he?”

She peered over the box at her mother and sighed inwardly. It seemed as if they were getting into it whether Poppy wanted to or not. She glanced around, grateful no one was within earshot.

“Do you have something you want to say?”

Serena set down the last piece of pottery and tossed the empty box onto the ground beside the other ones.

“I ran into Mrs. Crabtree this morning at the market. She was buying fresh oranges.”

Crabtree? Poppy was busted and knew it, but that didn’t mean she had to make things easy for her mother.

“That’s nice.”

Serena tucked a piece of gray hair behind her ears. “I was buying peaches for canning.”

Poppy did an internal eye roll and attempted a smile, but then realized she didn’t have time for games.

“Mom, we both know you don’t want to discuss Mrs. Crabtree’s oranges or your peaches or canning. So just say whatever it is you want to say. I’ve got a lot to do.”

Serena squared her shoulders, the look on her face not exactly encouraging. “Are you starting up with the man who broke your heart when you were a child?”

“I wasn’t a child. You make it sound like I didn’t know what I was doing back then.”

“You didn’t, and your broken heart was proof of that.”

“My heart, broken or otherwise, isn’t any of your business.” Anger flared inside Poppy, and she made no effort to hide it. “Why do you care so much? And don’t say it comes from a place of love, because the kind of caring you show me isn’t the kind that makes me feel fuzzy and warm.”

“I don’t like your tone.”

“I don’t like this conversation. Can’t you just let it go?”

“As your mother, I have a right to know what’s going on in your life. I’m just concerned is all. That man isn’t good enough for you.”

“In your eyes, no one is good enough for me.”

“Is it so awful to want the best for your child? You’re special, Poppy. You deserve someone equally impressive.” Chin up, Serena looked as if she were spoiling for a fight. “Boone Avery didn’t see it back then, and I don’t expect him to see it now.”

Poppy was done and didn’t care anymore. Her mother was going to get her wish and to hell with the consequence. If she wanted a fight, for once, Poppy wasn’t standing down.

“Boone was just a kid back then. God, he was only two years older than me. And come on, do you honestly think I’m the