“You have a son.” This was Gloria’s original reason for bringing up that evening. Being a mother was a privilege.
Maybe sharing something woman-to-woman was the best way to get Jordan to stop defending herself and actually listen.
“You are a mother. I had a mother—have a mother,” Gloria quickly corrected. It wasn’t always easy to remember that her mother wasn’t dead. Her mom had been living with a random boyfriend in a shitty part of Chicago a few years ago, still on drugs, but then Gloria lost track of her. “Anyway. You’re a better mother than mine.”
Jordan’s agape mouth closed. Probably surprised at the unexpected compliment.
“My mother had…has problems,” Gloria continued. “Sometimes children take on those problems. Hawk has enough stacked against him without everyone bickering over him.”
“And what do you call this?” Jordan gestured between them, one hand still on her hip.
Okay. So none of this was sinking in. That was fine. Gloria had another tactic. Nice wasn’t working. Neither was reason. For Hawk’s sake, for Asher’s sake, someone needed to get through to Jordan—the woman who thought the most important part of this discussion was her being able to have sex with whomever she wanted. Keeping her voice low and doing her best not to loom over the petite brunette, Gloria came closer. Jordan was either being purposefully obtuse or just didn’t get it.
Glo’s money was on the latter.
“You’d better start acting like you care about him, Jordan. Or he’ll know. He’ll grow up knowing the only one you were looking out for was yourself. He’ll know your priority was to get laid and wield some power play over his dad. He’ll know you pushed him off on your mom and let her do the heavy lifting. And he’ll know,” Gloria finished, her voice stronger than ever, “that Asher tried to get involved, but you didn’t let him.”
As Gloria talked, Jordan’s face grew redder and redder. Now her fists were balled at the sides of her prim white dress.
“Asher doesn’t get to take over!” Jordan screeched. “I did the hard part. I carried Hawk for nine months, and I was the one who gave birth to him!”
“Yes, you were! And good for you!” Gloria said, unable to keep her temper in check any longer, or her own voice from rising. “You’re a mom and that is amazing. But your job doesn’t end after you push out a baby!” A charge like a shot rang through her limbs, but she kept on. If there was one thing she believed in her gut, it was that Hawk deserved a mother who cared about him. “You are responsible for Hawk and his happiness for the rest of your life. You can’t just shrug him off whenever he’s inconvenient!”
A small crowd had gathered. Elana came to stand at her side, but she didn’t tell her to be quiet. She slipped an arm around Gloria’s waist. Comforting her. Elana knew that Gloria’s outburst had a lot to do with her own past, her own mother.
“I think it’s time we all took a breath,” Elana stated calmly, rubbing Gloria’s back. At that soothing touch, Gloria blinked herself out of the rage-filled trance she’d been in.
Oh God.
What had she done? She jerked her eyes around to the crowd, Emily and Hawk, Jordan, Elana, and Faith off to the side. Gloria had made a scene. She’d let Jordan—and Elana, and Emily, and Hawk—see her ugly side. Her weak side.
“I’m sorry,” Gloria pressed her fingers to her mouth.
“You damn well will be,” Jordan snapped. At her outburst, Hawk started to cry. Jordan went to Emily and took her son into her arms. “Let’s get away from these people, sweetie. You don’t need any of them.”
“Yes, I believe that is for the best.” Emily glared at Elana. Elana elevated her chin. Whatever truce had been reached between them had just suffered an instant setback.
My fault. Gloria’s hands began to shake.
Emily, Jordan, and Hawk entered the house from the patio to let themselves out.
“What the hell?” Asher said as he climbed the patio stairs, finding his friends and family gathered and Gloria encircled in his mother’s arms. “Sarge, what happened? You okay?”
She nodded. She was okay, but the rest of this wasn’t going to be.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered to both Asher and Elana. To everyone. Fear and regret washed through her. She let Jordan get to her. Let herself lose control.
“Everything is fine,” Elana stated, her hand rubbing Gloria’s back. “Sweetie, why don’t you go lie down? There’s a spare bedroom across from the bathroom in the hall.”
“No. I’ll just go home.” She stepped away from Elana.
“You don’t have to do that.” Elana’s brows bent.
“I want to.” She needed to get out of here. “I’m sorry for ruining your party.”
For potentially ruining everything.
“You ruined nothing, doll. This is life. Shit happens.” Elana gave her arm an encouraging squeeze. “Ash, leave Tank with us. Our granddog can spend the night and you can get Gloria home.”
“I drove,” Gloria said. “I can take care of myself.”