I Was Meant for More novel · Chapter 7 of 16

Chapter 7: Choose

My mother didn't even blink.

"That's easy," she said.

Marianne lifted her chin, waiting.

"I choose the girl whose future your son tried to throw in the trash."

Marianne's mouth opened.

"June."

"You clapped," my mother said.

"Courtney told three hundred people my daughter wasn't built for pressure, and you nodded. I watched you."

"I didn't know."

"You knew she was going to Cedar and you thought it was funny."

"You said so, right in my ear. 'Well, somebody has to stay behind.'"

A couple of the parents around us turned to look at Marianne.

She pulled her blazer straight.

"Fine," she said.

She looked at me for the first time.

"You know, I always told Trent to be kind to you," she said. "Because of your situation."

"What situation?" I asked.

"No father. Your mother on nights. Always eating at our table."

Her lip curled.

"You were a charity case at my table for eighteen years, Erica. And this is how you thank us."

My mother stepped between us.

"Get out of my way, Marianne."

"Gladly."

Marianne turned on her heel.

She went up the stage steps, took Trent by the elbow and marched him out the side door.

He looked back at me once.

I didn't look away.

My mother drove us home with both hands on the wheel.

Halfway there, she pulled into the empty lot behind the Dollar General and turned off the engine.

She sat for a minute.

Then she started to cry.

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