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"What about all of his out-of-town trips?" I had always suspected my father had kept other women Maybe even took them on these business trips

"He works hard, Nate," she said, avoiding my eyes "You know that--"

"Mom," I squeezed her hand so she’d look at me "Let’s be real here"

"I don’t think so, Nate" Why did this woman hold her cards so close to her vest? It made me want to shake her and rescue her all at once "You still love hiht on that word and that alone told led to love him That there was a fine line between love and hate That she still saw soet it after all of this time "Does he feel the same way?"

Her eyes filled with shiny tears "Of course" But her words came out like a plea A hope A prayer

"Mo her hands "I hate to see you cry I justwant you to be happy"

"Now you listen to htened herself "I want you and your brother to finish college, find decent jobs, and make it in this world"

"If that’s why you’re" The idea that she’d stick with him even after we’d become adults made me see stars "I’d make it on my own, Mom I’d leave the keys in that damn car out there and walk back to school"

"Stop it You’re so close," she said, grippingyou"

I stared into her eyes Would she leave then--after I got my shiny diploma? Or would she find a new excuse to stay?

"What about you?" she asked suddenly

I blinked slowly at her "What do you mean?"

"What are you so afraid of, honey?" she asked "Why won’t you let anybody get close?"

"Like I said before, I think you knohy," I said and she waited me out, her eyes on me "What if I’m just like him?"

"You’re not," she responded immediately Vehe at the words

"Honey, there are so many differences between the two of you"