She didn't have many of those for a long time. She had me when she was still in high school and struggled for a long time because her parents kicked her out. We lived in the homeless shelter for almost a year while she finished high school. I don't know how she made it through college with a baby, but she did. She never let her circumstances define her future.
"I didn't want you to wake up at seventeen, alone and pregnant like I did," she says. "I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world, but I wanted you to be able to find your path without worrying about where your next meal would come from or if you could afford to feed your baby."
"I didn't want to disappoint you," I whisper.
"I could never be disappointed in you," she whispers back, her voice choked with vehement emotion. "I'm so proud of the woman you've become. You're smart and funny and have a heart the size of Texas. If Dominic doesn't see that, he's not worthy of you. I know it probably hurts right now, but it won't feel that way forever."
"What if you're wrong?"
"Impossible," she says with a watery laugh that lets me know I'm not the only one crying. She is too. "I'm your mom. I'm never wrong."
I can't help but smile at that. She's told me the same thing since I was a little girl. Most of the time, she's right. But I don't know if she is this time. I've never felt for anyone what I feel for Dominic. It's like he's a part of me. When he pulled me up against his hard body today, I felt whole for…well, for the first time in my life. I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I don't think that's something that just goes away.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, Summer."
"I'm thinking about coming home for a little while before I start looking for another job." Dominic paid me really well, so I have a decent sized nest egg to rely on until I find something else. Enough to keep a roof over my head, food in the fridge, the lights turned on, and buy a ticket to see my mom.
"I would love to have you back here, baby girl, but not because you're running away from your problems," she says. "You're stronger than that. You need to talk to him. Really talk to him this time. If you still feel like coming home after that, then you come. But not until. Deal?"
"I'd rather run."
"No, you wouldn't. You just think you would because you're afraid right now," she says, a smile in her voice. "Talk to him, lovebug."
"Fine," I sigh because she's probably right. Even if all I do is say goodbye to him, I can't just disappear like the last six months never happened. I don't want to do that to him. Even though he doesn't feel the same way about me, he's still my friend. At least he was my friend. I'm not sure if we're even that anymore.
"I've got to get back to work, but I'll call you later to check in. Love you," Mom says.
"I love you too." I wait until she disconnects and then drop my phone into my lap, sighing heavily. Maybe I should have had that conversation with her a long time ago.
I put it off for so long because I've always been so worried about disappointing her after everything she went through to keep me and to make a good life for me. Making sure I was able to provide for myself was so important to her. I guess I just assumed she would be disappointed if a thriving career wasn't what I wanted. I love working, especially with Dominic. But I don't want a career to be the only thing I ever have. I don't want it to be the most important thing in my life.
My doorbell rings, making me jump. I climb to my feet and head toward the door. Once I look through the peephole, I frown. The kid standing outside my apartment looks like he's maybe sixteen or seventeen. I don't know him.
"Who is it?" I call through the door.
"Enchanted Gardens," he calls back. "I have a delivery for Summer Daniels."
"From who?"
"I don't know, ma'am. I'm just the delivery guy."
Right. I guess they don't usually know who sends the stuff they deliver. I unlock the door and pull it open, blinking in shock when I catch sight of the hallway outside my apartment. I didn't see it through the peephole because he was blocking the view, but there are flowers everywhere. In every size, shape, and color imaginable.
Oh my gosh.
Did Dominic do this to convince me not to quit?
"Are you Summer Daniels?" the kid asks me.
I nod, not sure I can speak through the welter of emotion surging through me like a tidal wave.
"You're supposed to sign here," he says, thrusting his clipboard in my direction.
I take it from him and sign my name where he points, not even looking at the delivery slip.
"Where do you want all the flowers, ma'am?"
"Um…" I have no idea what to do with all of them. There's no way they'll all fit in my apartment. I don't have enough tables and shelves.
"I'll take care of them."
I jump at the sound of Dominic's voice. He steps into view at the other end of the hallway, grinning at me like he's proud of himself. He looks so handsome with his hands shoved into his pockets and his hair all messy and wild.
Is he here because…? Does this mean…?
