WTF?
Anger and disappointment boiled up inside of her. Not her mother, too. Couldn’t anyone be a decent person for five minutes?
She sprang to her feet and walked toward the door. “I’m going to get my suitcase.”
“It’s in your room,” Austin told her. “You okay?”
“Fine.” Harlow knew her voice had an edge, but she was about out of control. “Mom, could you help me?”
“Sure. Lillian, I’ll leave you in these gentlemen’s capable hands.”
“A wonderful idea. Mason, it’s after two. Let’s have cocktails.”
Robyn joined Harlow in the hall. “I think your aunt is having a few too many cocktails these days, but the woman is ninety-four. I probably shouldn’t say anything.”
Harlow waited until they’d stepped into the room she always used here. For once she ignored the big bed, the French doors that opened onto a small balcony and the overstuffed chair where she’d spent hours reading. Instead she spun toward her mother.
“How could you?” she asked, letting out her anger. “My God, it’s disgusting. I don’t get it. Am I the only person on the planet who hasn’t cheated? Is it because of Dad? Is that it? I know that he wasn’t faithful in your marriage. That was awful, but now you’re acting the same? Why? He did it, so you want to try it? Or have you been doing this all along?” She paused, then shook her head. “Never mind. Don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.”
Her mother stared at her. “What are you talking about? Harlow, are you sure you feel all right? You’re acting very strange.”
“Strange? How about disappointed, because that covers it.” Her eyes burned. “Mom, I never thought you’d cheat on Jase. You and Mason were all over each other. You’ve been here two weeks and you’re sleeping with him? It’s gross and wrong.”
Her mother’s expression tightened. “Ask a few questions before jumping to conclusions. Not that it’s your business, but Jase and I broke up before I left Florida, and I’m not sleeping with Mason.”
Harlow’s anger deflated, and embarrassment took its place. “You broke up with Jase? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“When was I supposed to do that? After you told me not to come to your wedding? After you stopped talking to me or texting me? You seem to enjoy assuming the worst about me, Harlow, and I have no idea why. Maybe instead of getting mad because you think I’m cheating on my boyfriend, you should consider that not everything is about you.”
Harlow saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Austin had stepped into the bedroom. His was next to hers, and they shared a Jack and Jill bathroom. He was watching them both, but didn’t speak.
“I don’t know what to say,” Harlow admitted.
“An apology might be a good start, but I know better than to expect that.”
Her mother walked out. Austin waited until she was gone to look at Harlow.
“We haven’t even been here an hour. Why are you always all over her? She didn’t do anything wrong. This one’s on you.”
With that, he left as well, closing the bathroom door behind him, leaving her alone and feeling very, very small.
* * *
Robyn decided to work on her hurt and frustration with a little physical labor. A couple of rooms on every floor were, for lack of better description, filled with junk. Broken chairs, boxes of old paperwork, abandoned craft projects, cracked bowls and stained carpets. Two days ago she’d ordered a big bin from the trash company. It was due to be delivered by the end of the week. Until then, she could spend some time sorting the junk into save and toss piles.
She walked from Harlow’s room to the junk room on the main floor, hoping the movement would make her feel better. But she arrived just as upset as she had been.
Why did it have to be like this between her and her daughter? Why did Harlow assume the worst? She would never cheat on Jase, and Harlow had to know that.
Only Harlow knew about Cord and his cheating, so that had to be upsetting. And, as her daughter had said, gross. No kid, no matter how old, wanted to know about a parent cheating. Worse, Cord was dating Kip’s sister. Yet another point of concern on the queasy scale. Harlow had a lot to deal with, and she hadn’t had much time to process it.
“Maybe I should give her a break,” Robyn murmured.
“I’m not sure she deserves one.”
Robyn spun and saw Austin walking into the room. She pressed a hand to her chest.
“You scared me.”
“Huh. Usually you’re happy to see me.”
She laughed. “And I am today as well. I can’t believe you drove cross-country by yourself.”
“Harlow was with me.”
“For part of it. You’re only eighteen. I worry.”
“As we’ve discussed, my judgment center isn’t fully developed, Mom. You need to accept I’m going to make bad choices.”
She hugged him. “I do accept it, but I don’t like it. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you more.”
She stared into his blue eyes. “Want to talk about why you’re here?”
“Can I have a little more time to process?”
“You can. Are you willing to tell me why you quit your job with your dad?”
Her son’s mouth tightened. “He wouldn’t listen. I tried to talk to him, but he wasn’t interested.”
Her heart squeezed tight as she felt his pain. “I’m sorry. Despite his actions, he loves you very much.”
His posture relaxed. “You always support him, even though he would never act the same way about you.”
“I find pleasure in being the bigger person. No matter what happened between me and Cord, he’s still your father, and I respect the connection.”
“If not the man?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. He can be a jerk.” He shoved his hands into his shorts front pockets. “When he wasn’t interested in what I had to say, I quit. I closed the apartment and turned in my keys, then packed up to drive here. Oh, I checked on the house. All good.”
She didn’t bother pointing out she’d hired a house-sitting service. Austin was the kind of man who would always check on the house, even when not asked.
“I’m glad you’re here. What’s your next step?”
He laughed. “I don’t get twenty-four hours to settle in?”
“It’s a mom thing. How about if you reassure me you have a plan? Then I can relax.”
“I have a plan.”
“Okay, then. I’ll be around whenever you’re ready to talk.”
He kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now go unpack, then hang out with Lillian.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I was going to clean out this junk room to help me deal with Harlow-generated emotions, but I’m feeling better.”
“Because of me. I’m like a unicorn. Basically I’m a magical creature.”
She laughed and pushed him out of the room. “You’re a weird kid, and I’m not sure what I was thinking, bringing you home in the first place.”