My One and Only(26)

“I’ll be down in a minute,” her mother yelled from upstairs. A staunch proponent of punctuality, Meredith was never late for an appointment. Dinner with her daughter seemed to be the exception to the rule.

“That’s fine,” Haleigh assured. “No hurry.”

Though she took great pride in her community duties, Meredith did not give the same effort and attention to her daughter. At age ten, Haleigh hadn’t understood the cold looks and lack of affection. By fifteen, she’d matured enough to recognize jealousy in another woman’s eyes.

Stepping into the living room, Haleigh crossed to her favorite picture on the bookshelf. Her parents beamed with pride and joy as they nestled close, each holding a child. Haleigh had been three and perched on her father’s knee showing off a mouthful of baby teeth. Her mother balanced Ryland on her hip. He’d just begun walking and Haleigh could still remember his toddler demands of “Down! Down!”

If only things had stayed that simple.

Richard Mitchner had doted on his daughter, declaring her the most beautiful girl in the world. He’d bragged of her intelligence and determination, telling anyone who would listen that Haleigh was destined to be more than a wife and mother. She would do important things. She would be somebody.

The more he’d bragged, the more Meredith silently seethed.

Haleigh knew Daddy hadn’t meant to belittle his wife. He was a progressive thinker, ahead of his time, while cursed with the age-old male trait of obliviousness. He didn’t see Meredith’s hurt, because the possibility that Haleigh’s mother didn’t share his pride and hopes for their daughter never entered his mind.

Willful or not, that failure to recognize the consequences of his words had poisoned Haleigh’s relationship with her mother. When he’d been killed in the car crash, the situation had only gotten worse. A review of her father’s financial dealings revealed a sizable college fund for Haleigh, but no will or even reasonable life insurance policy on himself.

Which meant Haleigh’s college dream had remained intact, while Meredith had been left to fend for herself and Ryland. Guilt, even by association, could be a powerful motivator. Guilt had driven her to drink. And guilt was the reason that most of her current income went straight into Meredith’s bank account.

At least she didn’t have to pay for Ryland’s college education since he’d gone into the military. Haleigh had always suspected that he’d signed up to get away from their mother, though he’d never confirmed the fact. Thankfully, he was stationed at an army base in Germany and not in the fray in the Middle East.

Running a finger along the frame, Haleigh lamented the family they could have been. If only things had been different. If only her father had chosen his words differently. If only her mother had spoken up instead of bottling her hurt and anger.

Though the chances were slim, Haleigh held out hope that someday she and her mother could have a better relationship. That, eventually, Meredith would stop holding her father’s words against her and give Haleigh the love and approval she so desperately desired.

“I see you couldn’t be bothered to change your clothes for your mother,” Meredith said from the doorway to the foyer. Critical blue eyes assessed Haleigh’s scrubs. “I guess I don’t rank high enough for regular clothes.”

Without waiting for a response, the older woman spun and disappeared into the kitchen. Clearly, that love and approval would not be granted this evening.

Bracing for the meal ahead, Haleigh cut her eyes back to the picture. “No use dwelling on the past,” she said to herself. “When the present is so much more fun.”

Her mother wouldn’t appreciate the sarcasm, but at least Haleigh was smiling when she entered the kitchen.

“Something smells good,” she said, determined to be cheerful. “I can’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal.” Both of them knew this dinner had not been cooked in a home, but the pretense had become habit at this point.

“That explains why you’re swimming in those shapeless scrubs. Being a doctor doesn’t mean you have to look like one all the time.”

They’d had this conversation on more than one occasion. Haleigh didn’t like fashion any more than she liked decorating. Scrubs were easy. And thanks to supporting her mother, who refused to sell the house and move into something smaller—meaning cheaper—Haleigh couldn’t afford to buy the high-dollar pieces her mother would approve of.

Employing her most successful tactic—deflection—Haleigh asked, “How was your week?”

For the next fifteen minutes, her mother provided uninterrupted commentary on the deteriorating state of the Rotary Club—that tramp Piper Griffin never should have been elected president—predicting that they would be lucky not to lose half their membership by the end of the year. On a roll, she shared her relief in not having to attend any more of those dreadful Ruby Restoration meetings, having left the committee due to an influx of new members with whom she’d rather not associate.