He breathes into the phone and then whispers, “I miss you.”
I’m about to respond that I miss him, too, when I hear my mother’s voice in the background. “Darling, can you make me a tea since you’re making yourself a coffee? Oh, you’re on the phone. Sorry. Is that Ana? Say hello to her for me.”
Closing my eyes, I sigh. “I better let you go.”
He’s silent again, and I know this time it’s because he’s desperate to say something but can’t. “Okay, I’ll speak to you later.”
“Bye, Jake.”
“Bye, Ana.”
The empty silence down the dead line is exactly how my heart feels.
23
After my phone call with Jake, I go back to work, simply going through the motions of my day. Nausea bubbles in my stomach at the thought of my mum being with Jake in domesticated bliss. I know full well that’s not how it really is, and that my so-called mum was just putting on a show, but it still doesn’t stop the shards of glass piercing through my gut whenever I close my eyes and picture them like that together.
When work is over, I immediately drive home with Jessie promising she’ll be following about an hour later. I made assurances that I will be okay and on high alert which seemed to appease her.
In the parking lot of Sunnyside Apartments, I get out of the car and lock up. I’m about to make my way to the apartment when I hear my name being called.
Startled, I quickly turn to see who’s calling me, spotting my mother driving Jake’s car. Anger like no other reaches the pit of my stomach, but I will it down.
“I was just in the neighborhood when I spotted you.”
I narrow my eyes at her. It’s all bullshit. There’s no way she just happens to be in a parking lot of an apartment building unless she’s here to see someone specific. That specific someone being me.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, as despite how much I dislike the woman, she’s still pregnant with my brother.
“Everything’s fine,” she replies. “Still some aches and pains, but getting better.”
She sits high up in Jake’s car, her blonde hair all straightened and polished like she’s just been to hairdresser. She wears Prada sunglasses, and her fingers tap the steering wheel of Jake’s car, showing me her newly manicured, pink nails.
The thought that she looks just like a “Yummy Mummy” all dolled up, no doubt with the help of Jake—or rather Jake’s money—hurts my heart. A part of me wonders why she’s still living with Jake if she’s looking and feeling so well now. Maybe I don’t want to know the answer.
Awkward silence ensues, and I’m about to make my excuses to leave when she speaks.
“How are you coping now that Alan’s back on the scene? Jake’s been filling me in on everything.”
I grit my teeth because I know her telling me this thrills her to her core. “I’ve been fine. Just trying to live my life as normal as I’m able.”
“Oh, that’s good,” she coos back.
Something doesn’t feel right, and the longer she’s here talking to me, the more my spidey senses are kicking in. My mum would never just “drop by” like this without there being an ulterior motive.
“I bumped into this lovely young man a couple of days ago. So sweet. He was asking me so many questions. He offered to buy me tea and donuts, and we had a really good chat together. He said he knew you.”
The smile she has on her face makes the color of mine suddenly drain. I really don’t like where this is heading.
“Who was it?” I eventually ask, swallowing the anxiety lump in my throat.
Her grin gets even wider when she responds. “Phil Spector.”
Gritting my teeth, I close my eyes. “What did you tell him?”
“He was so lovely, he even offered to get me some donuts to go.”
“What did you tell him?” I repeat, my tone more forceful this time.
She waves her hand, flippantly. “Oh, he only asked me about your past, Alan, and your situation now. He was also very interested in Jake and me. What is he to you anyway? A possible new suitor? He’s obviously very interested in knowing everything about you.”
Fisting my hands together, I take in a deep breath, trying to get my anger under control. “What did you tell him?”
“Just how much you’ve been through in the past and how much you’re going through now. He seemed