I let the call go to voicemail then start to worry a moment later when it begins to ring again. Chaz, my stepdad, has a history of heart problems, and I would hate myself if my mom was trying to call me to tell me he’s in the hospital and I didn’t answer.

I slide my finger across the screen and put it to my ear. “Mom.”

“What the heck is going on there?” she cries dramatically, and my head falls back to my shoulders. “I just talked to your sister when she was on her break, and she told me that Mike let some woman come to dinner with the girls. And then when she had him served with divorce papers, he came to her job and made a big scene.”

Well, I guess that answers why he showed up at the bar tonight. “Mom—”

“I thought you guys were okay. Then I find out she’s behind on bills and would probably be losing the house if you weren’t there.”

Okay, that is news to me. “Mom—”

“I just do not understand why you girls refuse to ask for help until it’s too late. I just do not know why you’re both so secretive.”

“Mom!” I shout.

“What?” she shouts back.

“Can you please calm down?”

“Calm down? How can I calm down when you and your sister are always stressing me out?”

“We are not stressing you out.”

“You’re not? You’re not? If I went and checked my blood pressure right now, it would be through the roof.”

“Mom—”

“Chaz was so upset that he couldn’t even stay in the house. He went out to his shop, where I’m sure he will be for the rest of the night, probably building another birdhouse. How many birdhouses do we need? At this point, we have more birdhouses than birds.”

I press my lips together to keep from laughing. Growing up, anytime Chaz got upset, he would disappear to his shop for hours, and a few days later, you’d see a new birdhouse in the yard.

“Mom—”

“We’re coming to Tennessee.”

Oh, Lord. “Mom, I don’t—”

“We leave the day after tomorrow,” she cuts me off once again. “We’re driving so we don’t have to worry about a car while we’re there, and we can stay as long as we’re needed, since Chaz can work from anywhere, and I work for him.”

“Umm… did you talk to Cece about this?”

“Do you think there is room for us at the house, or should we look for a place to rent?” she asks, ignoring my question.

“Mom, does Cece know you’re coming?” I repeat, unwilling to give up, because I already have things I’m not looking forward to talking to Cece about, so there is no way I want to tell her that our mom and Chaz are coming for God only knows how long.

“I mentioned us coming for a visit when we talked.” So that would be a no.

“I think you should wait to talk to Cece before you come, Mom.”

“Mia honey, I love you. I love that you always think you can take care of everything on your own and that you never need help. I’m sorry, but you can’t, and neither can your sister.” My lungs seem to freeze, and it feels painful to even take a breath as the truth of her words sink in. Her voice softens. “Chaz and I will be there in a few days.”

“Okay, Mom. The couch in the entertainment room pulls out. I’m sure you and Chaz can sleep there.”

“Okay,” she says, sounding like she is on the verge of tears. “I love you, honey.”

“I love you too.” I rest my forehead on the top of the island. “I know it might not seem like it, but I’m happy you’re coming. I miss you and Chaz.”

She sniffles then clears her throat. “We miss you too, and we can’t wait to meet your guy. Cece says he’s very nice.”

Good to know my sister has no issues telling people my business when she can’t even tell me hers. “I haven’t even gone on a date with him, Mom, so he’s not really my guy.”

“Hmm,” she hums, and I sigh. “I love you, honey. We’ll talk soon, and kiss my grandbabies but don’t tell them that Grandma and Grandpa are coming, we want to surprise them.”

“I wont tell them,” I agree then listen to her say she loves me once more before she hangs up. I lift my head off the counter and grab my Coke to take it with me to the living room. I grab the remote then look for something to watch while I wait for my sister to get home.

“Mia.” I blink my eyes open to find Cece standing over me. “I was just waking you up, because I didn’t think you’d want to spend the night down here,” she says quietly.

“I was waiting up for you.” I sit up and notice the TV has gone to a hold screen. “What time is it?”

“A little after midnight.”

“Oh.” My nose scrunches. “I thought you got off at eleven.”

“I did, but I ended up talking to Winston and kind of lost track of time.”

“It’s good you’re talking to someone.” I don’t even try to hide my frustration.

“What is that supposed to mean?” She frowns.

“What happened tonight?” I ask, and she wrings her hands together. “Cece, I love you. You know I love you. But honest to God, if you don’t start talking, sharing, and being honest about shit, I’m going to lose my mind.”

“I—”

“Do you realize that when I moved here, I left my whole life behind? I had an apartment, friends, a boyfriend, and a life in Montana. I gave that all up, because you needed me. I think I deserve to know what is going on.”

“You said Shep was a jerk, and that you were glad he showed who he is and that you weren’t with him anymore,” she rambles.

“He was a jerk, but that’s not the point,” I groan. “The point is that I deserve to know what the hell is going on.”

“You’re right. I… I got the money together and asked Mike for a divorce.”

“I know that.” I shake my head when she looks confused. “Mom told me. She also told me that you’re behind on bills and would probably be losing the house if I weren’t here. So I’ll ask you again, what is going on?”

Her bottom lip wobbles. “The money Mike gives me doesn’t cover everything, not even close.” She rests her elbows on her knees and drops her face to her hands. “I was so set on not wanting to take anything from him and wanting to do this on my own that I maxed out my credit cards, which was stupid. I’ve been so stupid.” She lifts her head to look at me. “I realize now that I can’t do this alone and provide for my girls.”

She clears her throat. “Tonight, he came into the bar, because I had him served with divorce papers, and the lawyer put in how much I’m requesting he pay me each month, which is about four times what he’s been giving me.” Tears fill her eyes. “He didn’t have a problem with giving me the divorce; he had a problem with the money and wanted to let me know that he’s going to fight me for custody rather than pay and that he wants us to sell the house.”

Tears stream down her cheeks, and my heart aches for her. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were going to file?” I grab her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were getting behind on bills? I would have helped.”