Hummingbird Lane by Brown, Carolyn (good books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

Emma was the speechless one now. Her mother had been in love? Was that why she was so bitter?

“Why didn’t you marry that man?” Emma whispered.

There was a long silence.

“You didn’t mean to say that, did you, Mother?” Emma said. “You’ve always been so closemouthed about everything that I don’t even know you. What happened that the love of your life didn’t marry you?”

“My mother happened,” Victoria answered. “She said he wasn’t good enough for me, but she said I had to have a child to leave the family business to, so I married the worst guy I could find. Every time I looked at you, I thought of what I should have had, and I hated you. At least you were too backward to ever run the business, so I can sell it instead of passing it down to you.”

“I’m sorry you’ve had such a miserable life,” Emma said, “but you are not controlling mine anymore. Why don’t you just do what’s right and unfreeze my bank accounts? For once have a heart.”

“I’m not having this conversation with you. My company will never be in your hands, or any of the money from it. I have a buyer for it, and since you aren’t mentally stable, you don’t get a dime of that money, and I’m not giving you a dime of that money that my mother left you. Time’s up. If you come home, I might let you live in a decent permanent-care facility.”

“Mother, I wish you all the best in your retirement, but I don’t give a damn about the company, and there’s no way you can put me in an institution. I’m an adult, remember? That’s why you always made me sign myself into those places. If I’ve got enough to make rent and put food on the table for myself, that’s all I need,” Emma said. “And maybe a fancy new flowery skirt every so often. I do like the way I dress these days.”

“Why couldn’t you have had a backbone when you were a little girl?” Victoria sighed.

“I was afraid of you back then, but I’m not anymore. I’ve come to realize what is important,” Emma said.

“And what’s that?” Victoria’s tone went icy cold.

“I woke up after a horrible nightmare about that rape, Mother, and Sophie was here for me. She has helped me get past the guilt and the pain. After that night, something just clicked, and I realized that I care less about what other folks think of me and more about what I think of myself. I have come a long way in these past few weeks. I thought my life was such a mess that I would never recover, but this little family I have here supports me with love and kindness. I can smile again and put all those horrible memories behind me, and I’m proud of my strength and the person I’m becoming,” Emma said.

“That sounds like a bunch of psychobabble,” Victoria said.

“You should know the sound—it’s from all those institutions you sent me to. I’m sorry you feel the way you do. I’m sorry you couldn’t hang on to the love of your life. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the person you wanted me to be, but I’m not sorry that I am the person I am right now. If you ever change your mind, you know where I am,” Emma said.

“Goodbye,” Victoria said, and hung up.

Emma’s head pounded so hard that it would take more than two aspirin to make it better. She just wanted to be alone—no, she needed to be by herself for a little while so she could cry or throw things or just scream to get out the rage that she felt. Her time was her own.

She pointed at the door. “You can leave now, Jeffrey. I’m not going with you.”

“Please come home with me.” He’d resorted to begging. “I simply can’t go back there without you.”

“Like I said, I liked you, but I’m not leaving this place,” Emma told him.

Jeffrey’s face looked like he had eaten green persimmons, but he gently closed the door when he left.

“Well, that went well,” she told Coco. “And poor old Jeffrey is still a gentleman, even though he’s been in Mother’s presence so much that he has a little mean streak. He didn’t even slam the door even though I know he was so mad he was humming.”

The cat opened one eye and meowed.

“Don’t take it personal. Jeffrey is just like Mother. Neither of them likes kids or animals.” Emma picked up the phone and called Sophie.

“Hey, girl, how’s it going? Are you all right there by yourself?” Sophie answered.

“Jeffrey just left, and I called Mother,” Emma answered.

“Holy crap!” Sophie gasped. “What happened?”

“I’m fine, and I mean it this time,” Emma said. “I love you, Sophie. You are my best friend, but I’ve just figured out that I can stand on my own two feet. I can make it on my own, so I. Am. Fine. I’m not just saying that this time. She spoke her mind. I spoke mine. I may be poor the rest of my life, but in a lot of ways I’m richer than I’ve ever been.” She told Sophie the rest of what had happened.

“I’m proud of you and so sorry that you can’t have a relationship with her like I have with my mama,” Sophie said. “And I’m so glad you called because I just talked to my lawyer. He had your mother served with papers. We are suing her for what is rightfully yours. I’ll testify for you, and I bet Arty and Filly will, too. And Josh will even come out of the park if we need him to, I just know he will.”

“It wasn’t easy, Sophie, but I feel stronger for having told her about the rape.” Emma’s voice almost broke, but she got it under control. “You told me I was strong and that I can