Wrecking Ball by B. N. Toler Read Free Book Online

fell victim to her very effective methods of persuasion. 
    “My friend Antonio and I are going to Scotland.” Tia shrugs and plops down on the sofa.
    And there it i s. Tia baited my father. Looks like we’ll have another Tia scolding before the evening is through.
    Wait for it. Three…two…one ...
    “Who is this Antonio fellow?” Dad asks as he plops down in his recliner, his thick brows furrowed in disapproval.
    And he bit.
    Age has begun to seep its way across my father’s face, fine lines now having turned into bonafide wrinkles and hints of gray in his eyebrows. “Hope he’s treating you right.”
    “Just a friend.”
    “You know, Soph. I was just about to start dinner. Why don’t we let your father and Tia catch up while we get supper going?” My mother takes my hand giving me a knowing look and leads me into the kitchen. Tia smiles sweetly at me as Mom pulls me through the doorway.
    “You sure we should leave them alone?” I ask my mother once we’re alone in the kitchen.
    My mother chuckles softly. “Tia likes to ruffle his feathers. He hasn’t learned she enjoys the attention.” She opens the fridge and begins pulling out lettuce, tomato, and cucumbers for a salad.
    “I’ll make the salad , Mom,” I offer as I pull out a knife and cutting board and take a seat on a stool at the kitchen island.
    We set about making dinn er, a simple salad, corn on the cob, and my mother marinades some chicken for grilling.
    “So , my dear…” She places her hands on the counter facing the kitchen window. “Tell your mother what’s going on with Brandon.” She doesn’t bother looking at me so she misses my attempt to look like I have no idea what she’s talking about.
    I pause momentarily. “What do you mean?” I drop my gaze and continue chopping the tomato in front of me. Damn. I do not want to have this conversation with her. What would I tell her? Hey, Mom, Brandon kissed another woman and I’m contemplating ending our marriage .
    When she spins around, h er eyes soften as if she’s pitying me for trying to deny something is wrong. My mother is a wise and beautiful woman and age has been merciful to her. In her late fifties, she still exercises and tries to eat well to keep in shape. Her mind is still sharp as a tack and she doesn’t miss much, so it shouldn’t surprise me that she picked up something was wrong the moment I walked through her front door. “I know you better than you think I do, Sophia. You’d not leave your husband to run off and vacation with Tia without a good reason. Are you two having problems?”
    When my gaze meets hers she nods and reaches across the counter and pats my hand. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
    Good because I don’t want to.
    “Just tell me, is it so bad it may end in divorce?” Her face twists slightly as if she’s bracing for me to say the unthinkable; that yes it is that bad.
    I set the knife down and sigh heavily. “He didn’t sleep with anyone, but Mom, I don’t want to tell you what happened because I don’t want you to think less of him and please don’t tell Daddy anything’s wrong.” I don’t know why I’m protecting Brandon’s image, but I know deep down if we do stay married, my mother and father may never be able to look at him the same again, and that could make things very uncomfortable.
    She lets out a little chuckle. “It’s a good thing you came wit h Tia. He’s distracted with her so I think you’re safe.” She skirts around the counter and sits on the barstool next to mine. “I don’t know what happened, but I think I have a feeling, and I’d understand more than you think.”
    My mind immediately fumbles over itself wondering if my father was unfaithful to my mother. How could he cheat on her? As my gaze turns towards the door that leads to the living room, my mother clears her throat.
    “Not him , Sophia. It was me.” My jaw feels like it’s on the floor. My mother cheated on my father?