Read Break Your Heart for Free Online

good. Just a little . . . slow. Winter months are always like that though. Nothing to worry about.” She waved her hand at me to keep eating.
    My parents hadn’t struggled with money in quite a while. They’d bought this house when I was in elementary school, and it had seemed like their business was steady. Still, I was sure it was a relief to have a big project lined up. I felt a little bad for my earlier discomfort. It wasn’t like they were going to be up my ass, checking on me every five minutes to make sure I was doing homework or whatever. My parents were supportive and pushed me hard to do my best, but they’d never been controlling. Surely they’d respect my space, right?
    “How are classes going?” Dad asked in between bites.
    I filled them in on what I was taking this semester and some of the people I’d met so far. Of course, I carefully regulated my voice when it came to discussing cryptography . . . and my intriguing teacher.
    “I think my hardest class is going to be psychology of stress,” I admitted. “Which sounds crazy, I know, but it’s just so much theory being thrown at you. About how this psychologist or that theorist thinks stress originates, manifests and so on. It’s not the most engaging subject matter to me.”
    Dad laughed. “I didn’t go to college, but I’d find that stuff boring too. A little too woo-woo for my tastes.”
    “Exactly.” I nodded.
    Mom dabbed her napkin over her mouth and sighed. Her smile turned gentle and soft, her eyes a touch hazy. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was buzzed. But she’d been drinking only water since I’d gotten here.
    “Your back still hurting?” I asked.
    She blinked and looked at me, and I swore it took a second for her eyes to focus. “Oh, just a touch. But I think it’s getting better.”
    I could practically feel Dad’s frown aimed toward her. Obviously she hadn’t told him about the recurring pain. And obviously when she’d gotten up before dinner, she’d taken another pain pill. “Mom,” I said evenly, careful to keep my voice neutral, “the doctor said there was a possibility of pain returning, due to nerve damage, but there were options. Like going to the pain clinic. You should really give him a call, even if you feel like the pain is lessening.” Mom was strong and independent, and she didn’t like being told what to do, but I remembered all too vividly what kind of agony she was in while healing.
    She hadn’t complained to us, but I’d hear her quiet cries in the night as she tried to fight off the pain. Her tears had gutted me. I hated to think of her going through that again.
    The sincerity in my eyes must have reached her, because she nodded. “Okay. I promise I’ll talk to him. Now stop nagging me about it.” The last sentence was said with a joking tone.
    Dad still hadn’t spoken up, had just silently watched us converse. I could tell he was bothered though; there was a big frown line between his eyebrows, and he’d stopped inhaling his dinner. I knew he wasn’t going to let this go, which helped me feel a little better.
    Dinner conversation flowed on after that. Mom caught me up on what my aunts and uncles were up to, who was feuding, who had gotten fired. Apparently, it had been a busy couple of weeks.
    My extended family was rather large. My mom had four sisters, who each had several kids. Our small family of three was the odd one out. But reunions and get-togethers were always a blast. I loved my cousins.
    We finished off dinner. Mom kept smothering yawns—obviously the meds were hitting her hard now. My heart pinched as I watched her tired eyes scan over the table. Before she could protest, I gathered up the plates, scraped them off and popped them in the dishwasher.
    “I think I’m going to bed,” Mom said on a low sigh. She gave me a hug, then shuffled down the hallway.
    My dad and I watched her go. He put away the leftovers while I wiped down the counters.
    “So, when are you