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“Who? Wyatt?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “Your father. This just came as a shock. We had no idea you two weren’t doing well. I know the trouble you’ve been having with starting a family, but for Wyatt to do this?” She lets out a long, disappointed sigh. “We honestly thought you were happy.”

“I don’t think I was ever truly happy with Wyatt.”

The words slip free almost on their own. But I can’t deny the truth in them. Being able to give voice to these feelings I’ve suppressed feels strangely…freeing.

Like I’ve been holding my breath for years without realizing it.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Mom rests a hand on my arm.

“I don’t know. I just…”

“Didn’t want to disappoint your father,” Mom finishes.

“Yeah.”

“Give him a little grace.” She squeezes me before letting go. “Wyatt’s always been like a son to him.”

“But I’m his daughter. He should have my back.”

“He does.”

“He has a funny way of showing it,” I mutter under my breath.

“He needs some time to come to terms with the fact that Wyatt isn’t the man he thought he was.”

“That’s no excuse for him to question me like he did.”

“I’m not trying to make excuses for him.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “It sounds like you are.”

“I’m just trying to buy him a short reprieve while he pulls his head out of his ass.”

I cough, my eyes going wide. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my mother say the word ass before.

Hell, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard my mother swear, even a relatively innocent curse.

“Mom, did you just⁠—”

“He’ll come around,” she says breezily, brushing a nonexistent speck of dust from her shirt. “It typically takes men a little longer. Compared to women, they truly are primitive creatures with inferior reasoning capabilities. And they say we’re too emotional,” she scoffs. “Men are far more sensitive than women, if you ask me.”

I bark out a laugh, loving this side of my mother I’ve never seen.

Or maybe I was so desperate for my father’s approval I failed to notice what was right in front of me all along.

“They definitely are.”

She pulls me close again. “Are you okay?”

I open my mouth, then hesitate, actually considering her question instead of giving her the answer I think she wants to hear. For most of my life, that’s exactly what I’ve done. Hidden my true emotions so I wouldn’t cause anyone distress or concern.

But the more I think about it, the more I realize the truth.

“Actually, I am.” A small smile tugs at my lips. “Better than okay, if I’m being honest.”

Her brows lift. “Really?”