Bear Meets Girl
Page 29
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Yeah ... that never ended well.
Cella pulled away from the curb, and headed to the pharmacy. Her daughter, yawning, rested her head against the window.
You know, baby, you can always take one of the cars yourself if you need to go somewhere.
Fine! her daughter suddenly exploded. Im sorry I woke you up! And Im sorry Im bothering you to help me out! Next time I wont!
Cella hit the brakes, stopping the car at the end of their street. She let the silence percolate for a bit before she asked, Something amiss, my love?
Well, she hadnt meant to do that. No, no. Of course not, Meghan lied, hoping her mother would let it go.
Then again, her mother didnt let anything go. That was what made Cella Malone a great hockey player and killer cat.
But, at the very least, she started driving again.
Look, Meg, I know you dont like deep, meaningful conversations, but you cant yell at me and not tell me whats going on. What Im doing wrong.
Youre not doing anything wrong. Im just under a lot of stress right now.
The last thing you should have, kid, is stress.
Theres just a lot going on, okay? Ive got school, Daddys wedding, or weddings. Ive never actually left the country before and now Im going all the way to flippin Israel.
Its gorgeous there. Youll love it. And youll have all of KZS watching your ass while youre there. You couldnt be more safe if I vacuum-sealed you in a puncture-resistant bag, which Ive thought about.
Im not worried about my safety, Ma.
You should always be worried about your safety anytime you leave the ... front yard.
Megs eyes crossed and she stared out the window.
Is this about college?
Meghan cringed, not ready for this conversation. She might never be ready.
I dont know what youre worried about. Youre going to do great at Boston U.
Uh-huh.
Youre smart, youre gorgeousbecause youve got my genesand youll have the Boston Malones watching out for you.
Uh-huh.
If you want, we can go up there and spend time with the family one of these upcoming weekends. Go check out the campus, look around ...
Get her off the subject! Get her off the subject!
Its not school. Its ... its ...
Its what?
Its ... you.
Me?
And the aunts.
Her mother sighed and Meg could hear the frustration in her voice. What did Deirdre say to you?
Ma.
That old bitch isreally getting on my last goddamn nerve.
Ma! This is what Im talking about. And she wasnt making this part up. All you do is fight with the aunts. Especially Deirdre.
Because shes evil.
Shes not evil. Shes blood. Meg turned in the seat and looked at her mother. What is it about Aunt Deirdre that bothers you?
Bothers me? That woman hates me, and shes been trying to turn you against me since your birth. The placenta hadnt even come out yet when she started in.
Ma.
Dont Ma me.
You know what I want for my birthday? Meghan snapped. For you not to fight with Deirdre.
Why dont you just ask for the sun?
See? Thats what Im talking about. She crossed her arms over her chest. Thatll be my birthday all day today. Getting between you and Deirdre.
No one asks you to get between us.
I cant have you fighting an old woman!
Dont let her age fool you. She-tigers who manage to live that long are naturally mean and those disfigured knuckles of hers are not from an accident but brawls that she usually started.
Like you?
I dont start brawls, baby, I finish them.
Fed up with the conversation, Meg blew out a breath and focused her gaze straight ahead. The silence lasted until they pulled into the parking lot and thats when her mother said, You dont want me to fight with Deirdre? I wont fight with Deirdre. I wont fight with her.
What does that mean?
It means that no matter how hard she pushes, I will not let her goad me into a fight.
Ma, youre not physically capable of doing that.
I can do anything.
Gliding around on ice while beating up guys ten times your sizethis is what you can physically manage. Not fighting with your elderly aunt? Not so much.
But I will. For you. Not only that, Im not going to fight with Deirdre until after you leave for the second wedding.
Ma.
Ive made up my mind.
But why would you do that?
Because I love you. And no matter what that old bitch told you, I did not desert you.
Startled, Meg looked at her mother. I know.
Do you?
Of course, I do. Its not like you ran off to Times Square to be a hooker. You joined the Marines. Besides, theres no way to desert a Malone cub when youve got ten thousand aunts, uncles, and cousins in North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico alone.
Cella pulled away from the curb, and headed to the pharmacy. Her daughter, yawning, rested her head against the window.
You know, baby, you can always take one of the cars yourself if you need to go somewhere.
Fine! her daughter suddenly exploded. Im sorry I woke you up! And Im sorry Im bothering you to help me out! Next time I wont!
Cella hit the brakes, stopping the car at the end of their street. She let the silence percolate for a bit before she asked, Something amiss, my love?
Well, she hadnt meant to do that. No, no. Of course not, Meghan lied, hoping her mother would let it go.
Then again, her mother didnt let anything go. That was what made Cella Malone a great hockey player and killer cat.
But, at the very least, she started driving again.
Look, Meg, I know you dont like deep, meaningful conversations, but you cant yell at me and not tell me whats going on. What Im doing wrong.
Youre not doing anything wrong. Im just under a lot of stress right now.
The last thing you should have, kid, is stress.
Theres just a lot going on, okay? Ive got school, Daddys wedding, or weddings. Ive never actually left the country before and now Im going all the way to flippin Israel.
Its gorgeous there. Youll love it. And youll have all of KZS watching your ass while youre there. You couldnt be more safe if I vacuum-sealed you in a puncture-resistant bag, which Ive thought about.
Im not worried about my safety, Ma.
You should always be worried about your safety anytime you leave the ... front yard.
Megs eyes crossed and she stared out the window.
Is this about college?
Meghan cringed, not ready for this conversation. She might never be ready.
I dont know what youre worried about. Youre going to do great at Boston U.
Uh-huh.
Youre smart, youre gorgeousbecause youve got my genesand youll have the Boston Malones watching out for you.
Uh-huh.
If you want, we can go up there and spend time with the family one of these upcoming weekends. Go check out the campus, look around ...
Get her off the subject! Get her off the subject!
Its not school. Its ... its ...
Its what?
Its ... you.
Me?
And the aunts.
Her mother sighed and Meg could hear the frustration in her voice. What did Deirdre say to you?
Ma.
That old bitch isreally getting on my last goddamn nerve.
Ma! This is what Im talking about. And she wasnt making this part up. All you do is fight with the aunts. Especially Deirdre.
Because shes evil.
Shes not evil. Shes blood. Meg turned in the seat and looked at her mother. What is it about Aunt Deirdre that bothers you?
Bothers me? That woman hates me, and shes been trying to turn you against me since your birth. The placenta hadnt even come out yet when she started in.
Ma.
Dont Ma me.
You know what I want for my birthday? Meghan snapped. For you not to fight with Deirdre.
Why dont you just ask for the sun?
See? Thats what Im talking about. She crossed her arms over her chest. Thatll be my birthday all day today. Getting between you and Deirdre.
No one asks you to get between us.
I cant have you fighting an old woman!
Dont let her age fool you. She-tigers who manage to live that long are naturally mean and those disfigured knuckles of hers are not from an accident but brawls that she usually started.
Like you?
I dont start brawls, baby, I finish them.
Fed up with the conversation, Meg blew out a breath and focused her gaze straight ahead. The silence lasted until they pulled into the parking lot and thats when her mother said, You dont want me to fight with Deirdre? I wont fight with Deirdre. I wont fight with her.
What does that mean?
It means that no matter how hard she pushes, I will not let her goad me into a fight.
Ma, youre not physically capable of doing that.
I can do anything.
Gliding around on ice while beating up guys ten times your sizethis is what you can physically manage. Not fighting with your elderly aunt? Not so much.
But I will. For you. Not only that, Im not going to fight with Deirdre until after you leave for the second wedding.
Ma.
Ive made up my mind.
But why would you do that?
Because I love you. And no matter what that old bitch told you, I did not desert you.
Startled, Meg looked at her mother. I know.
Do you?
Of course, I do. Its not like you ran off to Times Square to be a hooker. You joined the Marines. Besides, theres no way to desert a Malone cub when youve got ten thousand aunts, uncles, and cousins in North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico alone.
