Victoria sighed, watching the landscape shift through the taxi window. All she could think about was getting home, jumping into a hot shower, and collapsing into bed.
Travel always drained her. She had a lingering fear of flying, but the demands of the business required speed. She had sacrificed much for the prosperity of the company—a company she'd given half her life to. The moment she stepped through the front door, she realized her son was home.
"Justin! I'm back!"
"Hey, Mom." The twenty-year-old stepped out and gave Victoria a hug, but he seemed flustered, glancing nervously toward the hallway.
"You're not alone, are you?" his mother guessed.
"No."
"I see. And how is Chloe doing?"
"It's not Chloe, Mom. I'm seeing someone else. Her name is Skylar."
Victoria sank into an armchair and studied her son.
"Do you realize what you're saying? Chloe comes from a good family. Being with her opens doors for you. Who is this Skylar? Since I've never heard the name in our circles, I assume she's from... modest means?"
"Yes. And she grew up in a small rural town."
"It just gets better and better. What do you want with some country girl? Is this just a fling? You know how these things end, don't you? Girls like her look for guys like you specifically to trap them with a pregnancy."
"Mom, you don't even know her."
"And I don't care to. I'm going upstairs to rest. You are going to see her out, or wherever she's staying. And don't say a word, understood? I'm not listening to this nonsense. Marriages between different classes never work. You're a med student with a brilliant career ahead of you. Do you really want to tie a millstone around your neck? I've said my piece."
Justin turned on his heel and walked out. As Victoria headed to her room, she heard hushed whispers; Justin and Skylar were arguing about something. Victoria smiled to herself.
You won't get anywhere, little girl, she thought. You won't see my son again if I have anything to say about it.
***
She woke up late that evening and went downstairs to grab a bite and talk to her son again. But he wasn't there. She shrugged; he was probably out at a club. Better that than spending time with his "country girl."
However, Justin didn't return the next day, or the day after. His phone was off. Victoria finally realized things weren't as simple as she had assumed. The following morning, she drove to the medical school and pulled him out of his lecture.
"What is the meaning of this stunt?" she began.
"Mom, I'm in the middle of a class. I don't want to miss it, even for you."
"Oh, really? Well, I'm afraid you'll have to. Why haven't you been home?"
"Because I moved out. You kicked Skylar out, so I left with her."
"I see. So she's the calculating type after all," Victoria snapped. "I didn't expect that. Where are you living?"
"At her place."
"With her parents? Who I'm sure are deadbeats?"
"Mom, she doesn't have parents. Skylar grew up in foster care. She's living in a house she inherited."
Now Victoria was truly alarmed.
"Foster care! Good grief, Justin! Are you completely blind? How long have you even known her?"
"Almost a year. We met when she was working at a car wash."
"Disgraceful! How embarrassing."
"There's nothing embarrassing about it. She did what she had to do to survive."
"Is that right? And is that how you want to live? Barely surviving? Fine. I'll make sure of it. As of today, I'm freezing your accounts. You can both go wash cars. Where are you living? In some backwoods town? Perfect! I'll let you keep the car, but here's a secret: it needs gas, and gas is expensive. Going to take the bus? Go right ahead. Let's see how long you last. I'm serious, Justin—your cards are dead."
"Fine by me. And one more thing: Skylar is pregnant. She's keeping the baby. And we've already applied for a marriage license."
Stunned, Victoria tried to find words, but Justin simply walked back into the lecture hall and closed the door. She stood there for a moment before heading for the exit.
For the first time in her life, she was at a loss. She felt crushed by the news. An overwhelming weakness washed over her, and she sank onto a nearby bench. Were all her plans ruined? Destroyed by the ambitions of some girl?
But what about Justin? She had raised him herself, taught him to have standards. How could this happen? Her phone rang. She saw the caller ID and answered.
"Hello, Chloe. How are you?"
"Not great, Mrs. Vance. Justin has completely forgotten about me, and I still love him so much." Chloe's voice broke into a sob.
"Chloe, dear, don't cry. It's going to be okay."
"What's happening? I don't understand."
"Oh, Chloe, neither do I. He's gotten involved with this girl, Skylar. She's from the system, so she's a clever opportunist. They know exactly how to play on someone's pity. I lost my temper with him, and he actually moved in with her. I don't know what to do, Chloe. For the first time, I just don't know."
They talked a bit longer before Victoria headed to the office. Work helped distract her, but as soon as evening fell, the weight returned. The days became dull and joyless. She felt bitter that her son had traded her for some girl, never calling or visiting.
Over the next three months, she cried so many times, her heart breaking over and over. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She found Skylar's address and decided to drive out there to confront them.
***
The bright sun was blinding. The car hummed over the gravel road. The path was empty, and Victoria drifted back into her thoughts. Suddenly, the steering wheel jerked out of her hands. The car spun, and before she could regain control, she veered off the shoulder and slammed into a tree.
Victoria hit her head and blacked out. She came to when she felt strong arms pulling her from the car and laying her on the ground. She opened her eyes to see a man in work clothes. He was sitting on the grass, and her head was resting in his lap.
She tried to sit up, but the world spun and a wave of nausea hit her. She slumped back down.
"Are you alright? Where does it hurt? Anything feel broken?" the stranger asked with genuine concern.
"No, just my head..." her voice was barely a whisper. "Do you have a phone? We should call an ambulance. I'd use mine, but I left it at home."
"Don't worry about the ambulance just yet..."
The man walked to the wrecked car, retrieved Victoria's bag and documents, and set them aside. Then he returned, lifted her effortlessly, and tucked her into his old, beat-up truck.
"I'm taking you to my place. It's close, just a couple of miles away in the village. I'll call some guys to pick up your car. They work at a shop nearby and can get it fixed up. The damage isn't too bad."
Victoria felt too ill to argue and accepted the help with gratitude.
The man, Mark, drove her to his house and carried her inside to the sofa. All evening, he looked after her with such care that Victoria felt, for the first time in her life, small and protected. It was a strange, pleasant sensation.
Victoria had always considered herself a "woman of steel." Her own marriage had been one of convenience; she had never known real love. Her husband, Justin's father, had been a serial cheater who cared nothing for the business or the family. She had carried everything on her own shoulders. Eventually, he had died in a crash while out with one of his mistresses.
Mark interrupted her thoughts, bringing a bowl of hot soup and sitting by her side until she finished it.
"Mark, did you make this yourself? It's delicious."
"I did. I live alone."
"Never married?"
"I was. She left me. She's married to some businessman now, living abroad."
"Any children?"
"No, we didn't have any."
"You don't like talking about yourself much, do you?"
"Not much to tell. My life isn't exactly exciting. I drive a garbage truck and live a quiet life. Funny, isn't it?"
"No," Victoria said seriously. "My life is the one that's a joke." And suddenly, acting on impulse, she told Mark everything—about her husband, the business, and Justin.
"And that's what he did," she whispered, finishing the story.
"Victoria, you have to let him go. He's a man now, and he's acting like one. You should be proud of him."
"But what about me? What am I supposed to do?"
"That's simple." Mark took her hand, then pulled her close and kissed her. Victoria felt herself melting into feelings she had long since forgotten.
***
Victoria barely slept that night, but she woke up feeling wonderful. She got out of bed as a delicious aroma drifted into the room. She walked into the kitchen to find Mark making pancakes.
"Mark, you're a miracle worker!" He just smiled back at her.
The day flew by. Dusk fell, and they still couldn't get enough of each other's company. Who would have thought the "iron lady" would lose her head over a garbage truck driver?
Victoria spent the entire weekend at Mark's house. It wasn't until Monday, back at work, that she remembered she never actually made it to see her son. Not that it mattered anymore. Mark was right; she had to let Justin live his life. She wouldn't interfere anymore. But a month later, Justin showed up at her door.
"Mom, I'm back. Are you going to kick me out?" He gave a sad smile.
"What happened, honey? I unfroze your accounts weeks ago."
"Yeah, I saw. Thanks. But that doesn't matter."
"Where's Skylar?"
"Don't mention her name. She lied to me. The baby isn't mine."
"Oh, Justin..."
Victoria realized that being right about Skylar brought her no joy. Her son looked devastated; the light had gone out of his eyes.
"Mom, I'm going to my room."
"Of course, go ahead."
She hugged him, kissing him like she used to when he was a boy, and asked what he wanted for dinner.
"Doesn't matter..."
For a few days, Victoria tried to help Justin through his depression, but then she received news of her own that left her reeling. She hadn't been feeling well lately—she'd even missed work. When the morning nausea became a daily occurrence, she rushed to the pharmacy. The tests were positive. She was pregnant.
It wasn't just a surprise; it was a shock. She didn't know what to do. At her next meeting with Mark, burning with embarrassment, she told him.
"Victoria, honey!" Mark swept her up into his arms. "I love you, do you hear me? I love you!"
The next day, a glowing Victoria decided to host a family dinner to introduce her son to her future husband. She was busy in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. On the doorstep stood a beautiful young woman in a loose-fitting dress that didn't hide her bump.
"Skylar?" Victoria guessed. Suddenly, the girl burst into tears, sobbing that she loved Justin and didn't understand why he had left.
"Now, now, calm down and tell me everything," Victoria said, handing her a glass of water.
"I don't understand any of it," Skylar sighed. "Justin got a call from someone named Chloe, saying the baby wasn't his. She said she knew some guy I'd been with. But it's not true! Justin was my first and only. I'll take a DNA test right now, a hundred times if I have to." She started crying again.
"Then I went to the store, and this guy I don't even know approached me. He started hugging me and got down on his knees—it was like a staged scene. I turned to leave and saw Justin. He was just standing there watching us. He got in his car and drove off. The guy just laughed and walked away. I waited for Justin, I wanted to explain, but he never came back. I don't know what to do. I didn't do anything wrong. I love him so much."
Victoria calmed her down, took her upstairs, and let her rest in her room. Meanwhile, Justin arrived, followed shortly by Mark. Victoria introduced them and announced she had news.
"But first, we're waiting for one more guest. In the meantime, let me make a quick call."
"Hello? Chloe, dear. Tell me, was it thanks to you that Justin moved back home?"
"Yes!" Chloe said excitedly, not realizing Justin could hear her. "I had to pull a little stunt to set the stage, but he's done with that country girl for good."
"I see. Thank you," Victoria said, ending the call. She grabbed her son's arm as he tried to bolt for the door.
At that moment, Skylar slowly walked down the stairs. Everyone looked at her. Justin stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, and she broke down in tears again.
When the dust had settled, Victoria raised a toast to their big, unconventional family. Her face flushed a deep pink.
"Mom?" Justin smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Am I getting a son and a brother?"
She nodded and leaned shyly against Mark's shoulder.
"What about your feelings on 'different classes'? Have they changed?"
"Yes. And what's more, Mark and I are moving to his place in the country. We're leaving this house to you two."
"What about your job?"
"Family, Justin. From now on, it's all about family," Victoria said with a laugh. She finally knew what true happiness felt like.
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