  Strange.
      &quot;I'm really glad you're here … Both of you.&quot; She smiles without looking up. I hand Jake the bowl of salad after dishing my own and watch her, I feel like there is so much to say yet I don't have the words at all.
      Where would I start? Twenty-six years of pent-up emotions and accusations, yet here we are, acting like me coming home for a weekend with my boyfriend is normal. Not that she's even asked if that is what he is now. Maybe that's what that look was all about, maybe it's obvious.
      Jake digs into his food, his normally chatty self, quiet, he's leaving me to take the next step and for once I would rather ultra-sociable Carrero would just step in. He's a master at idle chit-chat and dominating a conversation, normally.
      &quot;I'm not sure how long we'll be staying,&quot; I mutter indirectly to break the silence.
      Maybe it's best to say i

  &quot;What the fuck?&quot; I spin, yelling at her. &quot;Is that how you justify it to yourself? That I just imagined it?&quot; My pain can't conceal itself. &quot;Or was it that I asked for it, Mother? Like I seduced Ray?&quot; I swipe the counter in my rage, sending crockery flying and smashing to the floor. Jake's on his feet instantly and comes to me in two strides, pulling me to him as tears fill my eyes and he tries to reign me in a little. I push him away and turn on her again. Putting myself in front of him so I can face her.
      &quot;Why do you always do this?&quot; I yell but she continues to sit with her eyes faced forward on the wall across from her, her expression blank as though her child is just having a tantrum. &quot;You always make me feel this way! You always act this way whenever I try to broach this subject.&quot; It's all ripping loose from inside of me, teen E

  &quot;You said you wanted to go see her, so we're going.&quot; He hands me my case to pack, but I put it back down on the bed moodily.
      &quot;I've changed my mind.&quot; I pout, trying to avoid his gaze on me, sitting on the edge and pulling at my hair. I'm emotional again and I've no idea why. This was decided by me and yet now he's making good on my decision, I've changed my mind.
      &quot;Look, Emma … I know things with her are messy, but I don't want you waking up one day and regretting this. Go, talk … Just do it.&quot; He picks up my case and flips it open, pulling my fingers out of my hair as he passes, wandering to the wardrobe he starts pulling out some of my casual clothes and throwing them toward it.
      What is this obsession he has with packing for me?
      &quot;Why do you care if I see her or not?&quot; I snap, irritated by his pushiness. We've had a week of l

Strange.
      &quot;I'm really glad you're here … Both of you.&quot; She smiles without looking up. I hand Jake the bowl of salad after dishing my own and watch her, I feel like there is so much to say yet I don't have the words at all.
      Where would I start? Twenty-six years of pent-up emotions and accusations, yet here we are, acting like me coming home for a weekend with my boyfriend is normal. Not that she's even asked if that is what he is now. Maybe that's what that look was all about, maybe it's obvious.
      Jake digs into his food, his normally chatty self, quiet, he's leaving me to take the next step and for once I would rather ultra-sociable Carrero would just step in. He's a master at idle chit-chat and dominating a conversation, normally.
      &quot;I'm not sure how long we'll be staying,&quot; I mutter indirectly to break the silence.
      Maybe it's best to say it now and not let her think the whole weekend would be &quot;catching up&quot;.
      I take a f

Chapter 71