Page 39 of Raised On It (Between the Pines #1)

Mason

D ear Journal,

It’s our third day back home, and we leave for the airport in six hours, but I don’t see any sleep happening for me.

To say these past few days have been a whirlwind of emotions would be an understatement.

Showing Miles my hometown, introducing him to my friends and having a run-in with my ex, who was trying to screw over the man I love, was already a lot. And as if all of this along with wondering what’s going to happen when the next few weeks are over wasn’t enough…there’s more.

My mom.

She messaged me and said a lot of things. Unexpected things. And I don’t know what to do with it.

I know, it’s a lot, Journal.

It’s been three years.

What did she say you ask?

Well, in a nutshell, she said she heard about what happened with Grant, and she was happy to hear what kind of man Miles was.

She didn’t like his name-calling but understood it.

She said she’s been watching my page and was glad to see me looking so happy and hoped I was getting the inspiration I was looking for in Eastlyn.

I was blown away by her words but never as much as I was with her last statement.

She said she was sorry for the way things went with Grant, and she’s glad things turned out the way they did, and that if all goes well, I'll spend my life with a man who not only loves me but is loyal and treats me like a princess.

Because. I. Deserve. It.

YES!!!!

She said that.

My mother.

No, I haven’t written her back. I have no idea what to say. All I can think of is thank you.

When I told Miles, he just smiled and pulled me into his arms and didn’t let go until I pulled away. He didn’t try to say the right thing or tell me what to do. He just held me and left me with my thoughts.

My thoughts haven’t stopped and are still going a million miles an hour.

A part of me is appreciative for her message, but another part of me is also leery and wondering when the other shoe is going to drop. After all, this is the woman who had the nanny read me my bedtime stories and was also the same woman who took Grant’s side when we broke up.

I know I’m a grown woman in my thirties, but she’s still my mom and somewhat of a mystery to me.

I’ll reply eventually, but I’m not really ready to risk all the good I’ve been feeling lately when she is so good at making me feel the exact opposite.

I think I’ll let it sit for a bit .

On another note…

Miles read most of the book on the way here, and he’s going to finish it on the ride home. He refuses to discuss it with me and insists on a book club date. He’s preparing his talking points as he goes, and when we get home, we have a date night planned to discuss his thoughts.

He couldn’t be sweeter, and I love that he’s doing this for me, but it’s killing me not to hear what he thinks or talk to him about it. I may not sleep until date night.