But as I saw fields that I used to run in as a kid get flattened for houses, it felt like an invasion.
“Dean, I know you hate all of the change, but more houses mean more for me to do.”
I groaned. She still didn’t get it.
I didn’t want her killing herself for me. I didn’t need a fancy life like some of these other people did. Did I get looked down on in school sometimes? Yes. Did I hate that the rumor mill here only seemed to grow as more people arrived? Also yes.
I would deal with it, though. She didn’t have to do so much for me.
“You still need days off, Mom.”
“Dean,” she cut me off with a flat look. “We’re not having this talk again. I’ve got this.”
She didn’t, but she wouldn’t let me do anything about it. I gritted my teeth and went back to my food. I hated feeling powerless.
I couldn’t wait to start working. Then she’d never have to do this much again.
“I’m sorry about your plans with Julie, though. What if I drove you to whatever you had planned?”
Yeah, that wasn’t happening. Mom driving me in would be a total mood killer.
Besides, kids at school already looked down on me for being as poor as I was. In this town, there was a divide between the people who’d lived here for years because it was cheap and the newer ones who’d moved in with money.
All of the new people wanted it to be like the cities they came from. They wanted strip malls and amenities. It looked like they were getting what they wanted.
I didn’t care what they thought, but I also didn’t want to give them more ammunition either.
I shook my head and forced my voice to be level. “I can make my plans happen at school. Should I walk home?”
“I’ll come and get you on a break. It’s fine.”
“You should use your break to relax,” I said. “I’ll walk. It’s a nice day.”
Mom tilted her head to the side, smiling softly at me. Sometimes she would say that my giving nature reminded her of Dad.
I didn’t know if I could hear that today.
In my head, I reworked my plans with Julie.
Today was going to be good. If all went well, Julie would be my girlfriend by the end of the day. She would be theone.
Just like when Mom and Dad met in high school.
I’d always looked up to them. Their love was like the sun. Bright and warm. It still was, even though Dad had never come home from the last call he’d responded to.
“And what’ll you be up to then?” Mom knew I was messing around. Weeks ago, I’d come home to a pack of condoms on the table and had to endure the worst conversation of mylife,but she was mostly supportive as long as I was safe. And I would be.
I knew she wanted me to have a great love story like she and Dad did, and hopefully, that was about to start.
“We’ll be at school, so nothingtoowild can happen.” I shoved the last bite into my mouth. “But it’ll start with me giving her something this morning. I just need to go see if the wildflowers are still blooming.”
Mom’s eyes lit up. “Flowers, huh? Are you making it official?”
I nodded, ignoring the fluttering in my chest. I’d been feeling this ever since I wanted to go steady with Julie, but I knew us dating was the natural next step.
Hell, it sure seemed to make Mom happy.
“Picking wildflowers for a sweetheart,” she said with a smile. “Just like your dad.”