Read Deep Surrendering: Episode Seven for Free Online Page B

your daughter.” What bullshit. He was laying it on real thick.
    Mom just kept staring at him, and then she regained her senses.
    “Oh, well. It’s nice to finally meet you as well.”
    “Do you have a few minutes? We should go inside where it’s cooler,” Dad said, pushing Mom and I forward into the house. Stepping inside was like walking into a refrigerator. It didn’t generally get too hot here, but my mother had this obsession with air conditioning.
    “Um, I really need to get back,” I protested, but the words fell on deaf ears. My mother took Fin’s arm and started leading him into the den saying, “Can I get you anything?”
    “We should really get going,” he said, but that didn’t stop my mother.
    “Nonsense, you can spare a moment,” she said, glaring at me.
    I tried to protest, but that might just make it worse. We would go in, sit down, exchange a few words and be on our way.

A fter reiterating, again, that I needed to get going, I sat down next to Fin as my mother hurried around and tried to fix everyone drinks even though we’d all said we didn’t want anything.
    “You have a lovely home,” Fin said, looking around. He was probably used to houses like this. Sometimes it felt like we were worlds apart, but times like these reminded me that our upbringings (at least in terms of money) had been quite similar.
    “Camille, come sit down,” my dad said. She was muttering to herself and just sort of wandering around. My parents were the type of people who kept a table with glass bottles full of alcohol on it, in case anyone who stopped by wanted a drink.
    She looked at my father as if he’d said something in a foreign language. This could not be getting any worse.
    Then she looked at Fin, and the glass she was holding slipped out of her hand and shattered on the floor.
    “Oh, sweetheart,” Dad said, rushing to help her. His tone was resigned, as if this happened a lot. What was going on with her?
    I shot Fin a look and he sent me one back, a question in his eyes. I got up to help my father, but he pushed me away.
    “I’ve got this. I think you should go,” he whispered so only I could hear.
    “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to upset her.” My mother was staring at the broken glass as if she was in a trance.
    “It’s okay, Marisol. Just take the check and go. We’re fine here.” No, they definitely weren’t fine. I would be calling tonight to check on the both of them. But for now, I needed to go and take Fin with me.
    I went back over to him and said loudly, “Well, I really need to get back. I’m going to be very late.” Fin stood and took my hand.
    “It was nice to meet you both,” Fin said as my dad pulled my mother upright. He looked tired and she still looked confused and far away.
    “Come back anytime,” my dad said, but he didn’t mean it.
    “Bye, Dad. Bye, Mom.” At the sound of my voice, she stirred a little, but I dragged Fin out with me as quickly as I could.
    I didn't remember about the check until we’d already started driving.
     

     
    “There was a reason I didn’t want you to come in with me, and it wasn’t just because it would be awkward to have you meet my parents. Something is going on with my mom.” My voice trembled, and I really wanted to cry. Fin still had my hand in his as Carl sped back toward the city as fast as he could.
    “I’m so sorry, Marisol. I didn’t know.” He wasn’t blaming me, just stating a fact.
    “I know. It’s my fault. I just . . . you have so much to deal with when it comes to your family, and I didn’t want to seem like I was being whiny.” Saying it out loud made it sound childish. I should have told him. He confided in me all the time, and it was only fair to do that to him.
    “I’m sorry,” I said, and he squeezed my hand so hard it hurt.
    “You can tell me anything, Marisol. Anything. Do you understand me?” Now he was angry, but I wasn’t sure if he was angry specifically at me. I peeked at