Only Her Best Friend - Cami Checketts Page 0,54
escaped from Argentina at sixteen.”
Cruz straightened. He hadn’t known his grandparents on his mother’s side, but his mom had told them they’d died when she was sixteen. His dad had told him once that his mother had worked hard to hide her accent and her heritage, which had seemed sad to Cruz at the time.
She nodded. “I lied to protect you from ever having to meet him. He beat my mother to death because she tried to protect my little brother when he was in a rage, but he was never prosecuted for it. Back then, in my home village, women were treated like possessions. I loved my mama, and her death about killed me too.” She paused for a moment, and the room was silent. Then she waved a hand. “I’m not trying to make this about me, like I’ve done so many times, but I needed help mentally and emotionally. Your dad tried to coerce me into it, but I refused to listen. I would berate and belittle him all the more when he tried to help me see reason because it made me so embarrassed and irrationally angry. Even worse than how I treated him was how I treated you. I was so angry inside that I couldn’t handle your adorable light and happiness.” She smiled wistfully at him. “You were so cute and funny, and instead of being proud of that, of loving you like any sane mother would, I tried to kill your happy spirit. I am so, so sorry.”
Cruz’s breath was coming in hard pants. He felt something break inside of him at his mom’s confessions. Not only that she’d deliberately tried to break him, but she’d been broken herself by her father’s abuse and her mother’s death. His throat was so thick he couldn’t swallow, and his eyes pricked with a strange wetness.
He found himself on his feet and rushing across the space. He gently tugged his mother up and, for the first time in years, gave her a soft hug. She couldn’t hug him back with the shackles, but she leaned against him, and he heard her sniffle. Then a gut-wrenching sob shook her small frame. Cruz let the tears run down his own face, and a peace washed over him. Free. Hugging his mom and forgiving her was setting him free. He said a prayer inside to thank the good Lord for this moment, for his mom getting help and confessing this to him, for Cat pushing him, for Grams, for his dad, and most of all for Meredith.
When he finally pulled back, he released her and said, “I forgive you, Mom.”
Her lip trembled, and her face was more beautiful and radiant than he’d ever seen it. “Thank you, Cruz. Thank you.” She sniffled and pressed her bound hands to her nose. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, or God’s, but I’ve prayed for it every day. Cat has forgiven me, and maybe someday your dad can.”
“Dad’s a good man. I think he’ll forgive you.”
“I hope so. I want him to be happy.”
“Time’s up,” the guard said, shifting from foot to foot and not looking at them.
“Thanks for coming,” his mom said. “I know you travel a lot, and I’m super proud of your success, especially rising above … me.” She licked at her lips and said, “If you’re ever in the area, I would love to see you again sometime and hear about your life.”
An hour ago, Cruz would’ve laughed at her request. Now he simply nodded. “Of course, Mom.”
“I’ll be praying for you,” she said as the guard took her arm and walked her away.
“I’ll be praying for you too,” he said before the door closed.
She looked back with one last smile.
Cruz stood alone in the room for a few minutes, simply feeling the cleansing power of forgiveness and sending up a prayer of gratitude. Then he spun and all but ran from the room. Meredith. He could be to her in two hours. His steps were light and happy. Meredith was a happiness he’d never known, but with the light of him forgiving his mom, he felt like that happiness was about to explode.
Chapter Sixteen
Meredith’s house was completely dark as Cruz pulled up. She hadn’t answered any of his calls or texts, and now as he sat in his truck looking at her dark house and her empty driveway, he cursed himself for being so impetuous and not making sure she was home.
He got out of his