Beyond Love: The Love Series, #6

1

I t feels sooo good to be home, I say, as I sit down on the couch and kick off my shoes.

I'm glad you're home.

Spencer walks down the hall toward the bedroom with my suitcase. He comes back a minute later and sits down on the couch next to me.

It does feel kind of weird… I spent so much time in Chicago that it was starting to feel like home.

Yeah, Spencer says, but I wasn’t there.

I shake my head as he leans toward me and plants a kiss on my cheek. He’s so ridiculous.

You’re right… which is why I’m glad to be done.

Going back to Chicago the day after our wedding was pure torture. All I wanted was to spend time with Spencer and I had to go right back to work. I was jet lagged the first couple of days, but it eventually passed as I got back into a regular sleep pattern and focused myself on the film.

I get it, but you’re still glad you did it… right?

For sure, I’m very glad I did. It was totally different from working with you and Dex… but it was still good.

I’ve had a couple films where every day was torture… and I completely regretted ever signing on to do them.

I shake my head and scoot closer to him on the couch.

It was nothing like that, thankfully. It was tolerable most of the time… the worst part was being away from you for so long.

I visited almost every week.

It’s true… even after the wedding he flew out every time I had a day off. I don’t think I would’ve been able to stand being away from him for so long if he hadn’t been able to do that.

I know… and I’m grateful for that, it gave me something to look forward to.

Anything for you, my dear.

I can tell by the look on his face that he’s trying to be cute… and it’s working, but at the same time I know there’s truth to his words. It seems like ever since he’s known me there is no limit to his kindness and generosity. I feel truly blessed to have him in my life and to now be able to call him my husband. It’s a feeling that hasn’t faded since we got married… and if anything I feel more in love with him now than ever before.

So, Spencer says, I know you just got home… but how would you feel about going away tomorrow?

What do you mean?

Well, I don’t want too much time to pass… I thought now would be a good time for us to go on our honeymoon.

The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind… my entire focus the last few weeks had still been on Found Hope and trying to get my scenes done.

Whatever you think.

I just don’t want time to go by and we don’t go because life got busy. Neither of us has anything lined up right now and that can change so quickly if we’re here and we get a call. At least if we go away there’s a little bit of a buffer.

That makes sense.

You’re good if we leave tomorrow? he says.

Sure… I don’t see why not.

Good because I already booked the plane and everything else.

My eyes grow wide and I just give my head a slight shake.

You look surprised, Spencer says.

I was actually thinking that it’s kind of funny that you asked me what I thought about going away, even though you already arranged it all.

Spencer shrugs and stands up from the couch.

I know that you find me irresistibly handsome and that I can do no wrong.

I’m glad he has a playful tone to his voice because if he was being serious it would be totally annoying and not cute at all.

The doorbell rings and we both turn our heads.

Are you expecting company? I say.

No… are you?

No….

Maybe if we ignore it they’ll go away… it’s probably just someone trying to sell something.

The culprit rings the bell a second time. Spencer sighs, stands up from the couch and starts to walk toward the front door.

I’ll be right back.

He walks to the front door and looks through the peephole. Spencer pauses for a few seconds and turns back around without answering the door. His face is white… almost like he’s seen a ghost. I jump up from the couch and walk toward him.

Who is it? I say.

He just shakes his head and points at the door. I frown as I walk by him. I put my face up to the door and look through the peephole. I recoil just as he did. It’s hard to breathe. Is it really her?

She rings the doorbell again. I turn to Spencer and blink a few times.

What do we do? I say.

I… I’m not sure.

I mean… why the heck is she here?

I have no idea. Did you ever text her back when she said she had some news?

No, I say, I never heard from her again after that… I thought she'd given up.

Yeah… and now she’s standing on our doorstep.

My mind races as I try to think of a way to get rid of my mom.

Do you want me to deal with her? Spencer says.

No… I’ll do it.

Are you sure?

Yes… she’s my mom. It’s sweet of you to offer, though.

Spencer nods and takes a couple of steps back. I’m not exactly sure what he’s thinking, but I’m not going to invite her inside. I place my hand on the door handle and take a deep breath. Is this really happening? Why couldn’t she just live her own life and stay out of mine? Apparently that was too much to ask of someone like her. I pull the door open, step outside and slam it closed behind me.

Amy!

She drops her suitcase and wraps her arms around me. My arms hang limply at my sides… I don’t owe her a hug, not after everything she’s done. She eventually lets go and takes a step back so she can look me up and down.

You look great, she says.

Why are you here?

Now I need a reason to visit my only daughter? You didn’t even tell me you were getting married!

I frown. Why does she seem excited for me? She really is crazy. This is one of those times that it’s really hard for me to believe I’m actually related to her.

I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think you’d care.

Of course I care!

My eyes narrow as I try to figure out what kind of angle she’s working. She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t need something from me. Ugh… maybe I should’ve responded to her texts. If I did, then maybe she wouldn’t be here right now.

Aren’t you going to invite me in?

Sorry… I can’t.

What do you mean? I’m your mother.

It’s not a good time.

Oh… I hope everything is OK between the two of you.

I’m not sure why she chose this moment to actually care about me and what’s going on in my life… it's almost too hard to believe. There’s a part of me that wants it to be true, but I can’t help thinking she has some other motivation for being here.

Everything is fine between us, I say.

Right… well….

It’s not a good time because… we're leaving in a couple of hours to go on our honeymoon.

She nods and picks up her suitcase. We aren’t leaving until tomorrow, but it seemed like telling her it was today would help to get her out of here.

Well, sorry to intrude.

My mom turns and starts to walk toward the road. I wonder if I’m a bad person for watching my only parent walk out of my life for what might be the last time. I feel like it should bother me more, but I just can’t help it after everything she’s done to me.

I open my mouth as she reaches the curb… curiosity has gotten the best of me.

What was the news you wanted to tell me? I say.

She turns around and shakes her head.

Nothing.

What do you mean?

I put my hands in my pockets and walk over to her.

I had good news… but everything fell apart these last couple weeks.

I frown and swallow. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s obvious by the look on her face that something happened and it ultimately led her here.

What was it?

It was about David.

The guy from across the hall? I say.

Yeah.

What about him?

Well, I got kicked out of the apartment because I couldn’t afford to stay… and David let me move in with him.

I nod in response. I’m not at all surprised she got kicked out, but it’s kind of strange that David let her move into his apartment.

You didn’t want to go back to Greenville?

I couldn’t, she says, shaking her head. The bank took the house a couple of weeks after you left.

I never had any intention of going back to Greenville, but for some reason it still makes me a little sad that the home I grew up in is going to belong to someone else now.

Oh… that sucks.

It does… but I don’t really care. That house constantly reminded me of your father… so it’s good to move on.

I’m not sure why she thinks of that as being such a bad thing… she’s the one who ran off and left us there while she spent as much of Dex’s money as possible.

What happened with David?

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret saying them… I don’t really care and I can already tell it’s going to turn into a sob story where she somehow manages to make me feel sorry for her.

I left… we broke up.

You broke up?

Yeah… I went out to look for work and when I came home he was with another woman.

Oh.

When she said David let her move in I didn’t realize it was in a romantic way. I remember her being all googly-eyed over David, saying that he was the kind of guy she always wanted me to end up with… so it makes it even stranger that she was the one that ended up with him.

I wanted to kill him… I was so pissed.

I imagine.

So, it made me think about everything that happened. I finally realized what I did to you was wrong… I should have just talked to you and explained to you what was happening. Instead… I lied to you. There’s no excuse for it.

I’m glad she’s actually admitting that what she did was wrong… maybe she has changed.

I decided I should come here, she says. It’s as good a place as any to make a fresh start. I was hoping that… that maybe you could put me up for a few days until I can find a job.

I’m not going to even bother asking Spencer if she can stay at his house while we go on the honeymoon… I don’t want her there. I’m sure he would probably agree to let her stay, if that’s what I wanted. She might have apologized, and admitted what she did was wrong, but I’m certainly not ready to forgive her for it.

Well, I say, we’re leaving… but I can put you up in a hotel… until you can find some work.

Did I really just offer to pay for a hotel? It’s not that I can’t afford it, but I’m still not sure if her reason for being here is sincere… she could be trying to trick me into giving her money… which is exactly what I just offered.

No… I can’t do that, she says. I just thought maybe you had a couch, or room, I could use for a few days… I don’t want you to have to spend any money on me.

She didn’t seem to have a problem taking my money when I thought she had cancer. I look into her eyes and I can see the desperation. She’s really got nowhere to go… and I’m pretty sure that her suitcase and purse hold everything she owns. It’s kind of sad really… she didn’t have some grand life in Greenville, but she had a family that loved her and a home to call her own—I wonder if she even regrets what she did. I kind of don’t care anymore just because I’ve been trying to move on… and I realize that what she did led me to this life I now have.

I want to do it.

Are you sure?

Yes… let me go get my purse.

I glance over my shoulder as I walk toward the house. I really hope this isn’t a decision I’m going to regret. Spencer opens the door as I reach it.

What’s happening? he says.

He closes the door and follows me into the living room. I grab my purse from the kitchen counter and turn to him.

I think she has nowhere to go.

Really? What about her house in Greenville?

The bank took it.

Dang.

Yeah… I knew she was behind on payments… but I thought maybe when I left Salem she would get her act together… like it was going to be a wake-up call or something.

What did she do when you left?

She moved in with the guy across the hall… who wasn’t that much older than me.

OK… that’s kind of weird.

I know, I say, but I think she’s desperate. I doubt she would have ever apologized to me if I wasn’t her last hope.

She can stay here… if you want, Spencer says.

No, thanks… but I think it would be better if she didn’t. She apologized… sort of, but I haven’t forgiven her yet. I can’t imagine leaving her here and going away. I would spend our whole honeymoon wondering if she had burned the house down or stolen everything and disappeared into the night.

What are you thinking?

I told her I would pay for a hotel room. She said it would be just until she got back on her feet… but I have a feeling it'll be for a while.

I get it… I know it’s not easy, but she’s your mom—even if you’re still mad at her, there’s probably a part of you that somehow feels like you need to make sure she’s taken care of.

Yeah….

Let me get my keys.

No, it’s OK… I was just going to call a taxi.

You sure?

Yeah.

Well, Spencer says, if you want me to come pick you up once she’s settled… just call.

Sounds good.

He puts his arm around my waist and gives me a quick kiss. I smile up at him. It’s still hard to believe we’re married… I guess maybe it hasn’t fully sunk in since I had to run back to Chicago the day after the wedding. I’m sure once we go on the honeymoon… and spend some time together at home, it will start to feel normal.

I take my phone out of my purse and open the taxi app I downloaded last week. It worked well in Chicago, but I haven’t had a chance to try it out here. I press the Call Taxi button and I get a notification that the closest driver has been notified.

My mom is sitting on the curb, so I walk over and sit down next to her.

What’s happening? she says.

I called a taxi… it should be here in a couple of minutes.

Are you sure about this?

Yes… I am. I want you to have somewhere to stay while I’m gone… and then when I come back when can talk.

Sounds good.

How did you find me?

Oh… I just looked Spencer up on the Internet… and there was a picture of his house.

That makes sense. I guess there’s really no hiding for people like me and Spencer… one of the bad things about being in the public eye, but something I don’t think either of us really minds all that much.

I look over at my mom. She’s looking at the ground and doesn’t notice me. I wonder why I feel obligated to take care of her… it’s so strange. I know she raised me, but I feel like the day she walked out on us that kind of all went out the window. I wonder if I’ll ever be rid of this feeling of obligation… I really hope so.

2

S pencer ?

Hey… are you ready for me to come get you?

"Yeah… I’m out front of the Beverly Hills Hotel and Spa."

OK… I’ll be right there.

Love you, I say.

Love you, too.

I hang up the phone and sit down on the bench next to me. It shouldn’t take him that long… the taxi ride was only about ten minutes. It was the getting her settled part that took the past hour. She desperately wanted me to hang out and get something to eat with her, but I kept telling her I needed to get home and pack because our plane was leaving in a couple of hours. It didn’t seem to matter—she just kept talking, about nothing… and I finally had to just put my foot down and tell her I was leaving. I walked out of the room before she could respond and thankfully she didn’t follow me.

My phone chirps and I look down. It’s a message from Jess. A smile crosses my face. We’ve only had one conversation since the wedding and I’ve been looking forward to hearing from her.

Amy, just wanted to see how you’re doing. Hope everything is good with you. I think you should be done shooting now. Text me back when you get a chance.

I type out a reply and hit send.

Hey, I did finish shooting. I actually just got to