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

I have no idea what to say so I stare at her blankly hoping she’ll say, ha ha just kidding . Noting my shock, she smiles apologetically, than takes both of my hands in hers. “It was the most selfish thing I’ve ever done, and I’m horrified to be telling you this. It’s not something I’m proud of dear.” Her gaze drops to our hands and I can tell she’s ashamed. This conversation is already so surreal. When you grow up thinking your parents have the perfect marriage only to find out something happened that made it far from perfect, it kind of knocks you on your ass.
    It takes me a moment to absorb her confession. “So why are you telling me?” I murmur.
    “Because I think Brandon loves you dearly , and I know what it is to make a giant mistake you’d do anything to take back. Now I won’t tell you who or when or how—”
    “I appreciate that ,” I interrupt her. That’s the last mental image I need, but I can’t help but wonder if it was someone I know. My mother has always been attractive and a bit of a southern flirt calling everyone sugar and sweetie. Maybe some guy took that as invitation and my mother went with it.
    She straightens her back and glances sideways as if she’s thinking about how to get her point out best. “I had no good reason for it , Sophia. It was selfish. An attractive man gave me attention and I enjoyed it and it went a little too far.”
    “How did Daddy find out?” My heart aches for my father knowing what he must’ve felt. I mean, I guess I know exactly what he felt. I’ve always known, even as a child how crazy my father was over my mother. I grew up determined to find that kind of admiration in a husband for myself.
    “I told him ,” she sighs and my eyes widen in disbelief.
    “Why?”
    “Because I’m a good woman , Sophia. I hated myself afterwards and knew it would eat me alive if I tried to hide it from him forever. It was out of character for me.”
    “Wh—what did he say?”
    “He was very hurt and angry, obviously. It took a solid month before he’d speak to me.”
    I try to remember a time where I might’ve picked up on that kind of tension between my parent’s, but can’t. They did a great job hiding it. My mother watches me, eyes full of regret. I can see she’s ashamed of herself. “Did he threaten to divorce you?”
    “At first, when the news was new and raw. My world crashed when he threatened it. I love your father so much the thought of losing him sends me over the edge. I expected him to be hurt and angry, but I don’t know why I was so shocked he mentioned divorce. I gave him his space and time, I tried not to push him, but after three months, I couldn’t bare it anymore. So I went to him and said, ‘Gary, I know I’ve wronged you, and you’re hurt, but we either need to try to fix this and move on or you need to tell me you’re done with me. If you’ll stay with me and love me, I’ll never stop trying to make it up to you.’”
    “What happened?”
    “Obviously, he forgave me,” she says dryly. “In fact, Tia was conceived that night.”
    “You’re kidding me?”
    “My point, my dea r,” she continues, “is today, people who are supposedly in love tuck tail and run for the hills anytime something bad happens in a marriage. It’s easy to run, Sophia. Hide from it. But the thing is we’re all human. We all make mistakes. Your father could’ve thrown me out, been done with me over one horrible decision I made, but he did something bigger. He forgave me. Forgiveness is the most unselfish thing you can do for another person. It’s also the hardest sometimes.”
    “I want to forgive him Mom, but it’s so—”
    “Hard?” She chuckles. “Sophia, whatever you decide, we’ll be behind you. I’m not telling you to suck it up. That’s not what this is because every person has to make this decision for themselves, but let me point out one thing. Look at my marriage. You never would’ve known that happened unless I told