My mouth opened slightly as my eyes involuntarily invited him to stay.
As if reading my mind, he breathed, “If I had clean clothes with me, that would be an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
I tried to hide my disappointment as I placed a kiss on his lips and watched him head down the stairs, taking two at a time. As the entry door slammed shut behind him, I wondered how it was possible that my emotions could straddle both ends of the spectrum at the same time. How could I feel fulfilled happiness and empty sadness with the same heart? I had to find a way to bring all the aspects of my life together.
Even knowing who I was, Con’s mother showed no ill will during our first meeting so I couldn’t explain the tremor that worked its way through me as she approached us.
“It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it?” Her tone was sincere and cheery.
Con stood and kissed her on the cheek. “Good morning, Mom,” motioning to me, he added, “and you’ve met Meg.”
She extended her hand, saying, “Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting her a few days ago.”
Con pulled out a chair and she thanked him before turning her attention to me.
“I’ve thought a lot about what you and I discussed when you were here last. Have you spoken to your grandparent’s by any chance?”
I looked to Con and back to her. “We were there last night but it didn’t go any better than our meeting with Joker went.”
She looked to Con in disbelief. “You took her to meet Joker?”
“She insisted.”
“I’ll bet he wasn’t what you were expecting,” she laughed.
I shook my head. “That meeting was... unusual.”
“Well, if you made it through a meeting with him, you deserve to be commended.”
Con said, “He made reference to you, Mom.”
She raised her eyebrows seeking an explanation.
“He pushed Meg into a corner and she told him off. He said if he were looking to be disrespected, he’d see you.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Good for you, Meg. Don’t you let him give you a hard time without giving it right back to him.”
“It wasn’t planned, it just came out.”
I caught the look of approval she exchanged with Con.
“So then, I assume Joker was of no help. Your grandparent’s couldn’t help you either?”
I shook my head. “Couldn’t or wouldn’t. Other than telling us about Wisteria Falls and how the feud began, we don’t know any more than we knew before we went to see them.”
She clasped her hands together under her chin and rested her elbows on the table.
“Wisteria Falls...” She closed her eyes for a moment, a smile stretching across her face. “I haven’t thought about that place in ages.”
Con asked, “You’ve been there?”
“Oh yes, your father used to take me there, during better times of course.” She sat back in her chair. “Your fathers’ once spent an entire weekend there.”
My eyes grew wide. Realizing that she was unaware of my family tree, I ignored the mistake and wiggling a finger between Con and myself, asked, “Our fathers? Together?”
She smiled and nodded.
“But I thought they hated each other.”
“Only in public and the presence of family.” She glanced around the café. Seemingly satisfied with everything, she continued. “Joker has always been a hard man to be around. My late husband dealt with his father’s heavy hand by turning to the bottle—at a young age, I might add. Your father covered for him on so many occasions to keep Joker from...”
Con interrupted, “Donny was her uncle, Mom.”
She questioned him with her eyes, and he answered, “It’s a long story and I’ll let Meg tell you when she’s ready.”
The curiosity in her eyes disappeared as she nodded and continued her story.
“Well... unbeknownst to Joker, they were indeed friends, so when Wesley killed Donny and his wife in that terrible accident and seriously injured their daught...” I saw the light of realization in her eyes, as her words trailed off. “It was you wasn’t it, Meg? You were the young girl in the accident.”
Confusion raced through Con’s eyes as he sat rigid in his seat. “Mom, what are you talking about?”
I broke from Sally’s stare and bit my lower lip. Con already harbored so many negative feelings toward his father; I didn’t want to give him another reason to hate him.
I answered the question he asked. “Con, I was in that accident. There’s been so much blame laid between our families, so many fingers pointed, I didn’t want to add to a situation that already seems irreparable, that’s why I didn’t say anything when I realized that you didn’t know.”