Under the Lights
Page 60

“Why are you here?” I asked, not waiting for her to get to the point. I didn’t like her looking down her nose at Nonna’s house. It was my home.
“To see you,” Mother finally replied. She put her hand on her stomach, and I glanced down for the first time to see the small bump starting to show.
“Chance told me you were expecting another one. Congrats on that.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
I hadn’t actually been sincere, but she didn’t catch that. Whatever.
“I came to tell you that myself and to discuss your future. I can’t expect Mother to continue to take care of you.”
I hadn’t planned on staying here after senior year. “Senior year is almost half over. I’ll be going to college after that.”
Mom nodded. “About that . . .” She motioned toward the living room. “Why don’t we sit down. My feet are tired, and my lower back is killing me.”
I wasn’t surprised she was a dramatic pregnant woman. I doubted she had gotten to be that dramatic with me at fifteen. Now she had a husband to dote on her. She had to be eating that up. I felt sorry for Chance having to witness that daily.
I followed her into the living room, and we each took a place at opposite ends of the sofa. I tucked one leg underneath me as I turned toward her.
“Okay. Talk,” I said, wanting to get on with this. Suddenly my schoolwork was looking promising.
“I know you are expecting the savings account that Nonna helped me set up when you were born for your college. However, that’s not going to be available. Times got tight over the years, and I wasn’t always able to put money away. Then, with the new baby, I need extra money for a nursery. You’re almost eighteen, Willa. It’s time you make a life on your own without my help or your nonna’s. Get a job and pay bills. We can’t be expected to let you freeload. That won’t make you a hard worker.”
Nonna had put twenty thousand dollars from my grandfather’s life insurance settlement into a savings account when I was born, for my college. It was supposed to have been accruing interest over the years. My mother had claimed a few times to be adding money to it, but I hadn’t heard her say anything about it in years. I hadn’t expected money from her, but that money Nonna had saved was going to get me through my first year while I worked and saved up for my next year. I was also going to apply for financial aid. I had this all figured out.
“Nonna put twenty grand into that account,” I said, not sure what she was saying.
Mother straightened her shoulders. “That was my father’s life insurance money. You needed things over the years, and money was tight often.”
Wait? What? “Are you saying you spent my money?”
She glared at me. “It wasn’t your money. It was my father’s. He’d have wanted me to use it if I needed it. He didn’t even know you.”
She had spent my college money. I sat there and repeated that over and over in my head. If this was a nightmare, I’d really like to wake up now. Thank you very much.
“You need to stop living off my mother and get a real job. Make money and find your own two feet. Mom has coddled you. You’ve had it too easy with her, and you were spoiled and selfish and made stupid decisions that lost a little girl her life.”
If she had taken a knife from the kitchen and shoved it through my chest, it wouldn’t have hurt any worse right now. Being accused of Quinn’s death was the most painful thing I’d ever face. Especially from my mother. I’d have never touched a drink or taken one smoke if I’d known Quinn was upstairs.
“That’s not fair,” I managed to choke out through the tightness in my throat. Making it hard to breathe.
“Tell that to Quinn and Poppy’s parents. To that town. Tell them it’s not fair, Willa. What isn’t fair is that since you came into this world you’ve been a problem. Just like your father. Useless.”
She stood up and again placed her hand on her stomach, as if protecting herself.
“I’m just glad I’m not like you,” I said as she walked toward the door.
“You never were,” she spit. “You even look like him.”
Anger was slowly replacing my pain, and I stood up with my gaze locked on hers. “Good. Guess I got lucky then,” I retorted.
She jerked her head back like I’d slapped her. “Don’t you dare talk to me in such a way. I’m going to tell Mother to pack you up and send you on your way. Figure out what the real world is like. It’s time you grew up, Willa.”
“The only person leaving this house will be you.” Nonna’s voice filled the room in a loud commanding tone, and I had never been happier to hear anything in my life.
“Momma,” my mother began, but Nonna held up her hand to stop her.
“Get out of my house with that evil heart and mouth of yours. That girl don’t deserve this from you. Go spew your venom elsewhere. If you come back, I’ll call the cops. You hear me? Leave!” Nonna pointed to the door, just in case my mother wasn’t sure on the exit.
She opened her mouth to speak again, and Nonna shook her head. “I’ve heard enough.”
“I’m pregnant! I came to tell you!” she yelled.
“I can see that. And you want money from me to support that baby. I know that, too. Leave my house now!”
My mother balled her hands into fists and stormed out of the house. Nonna slammed the door behind her. I watched as she touched the door with one hand and took a deep breath. That had to be hard on her. Nonna loved my mother. She wasn’t a mother like mine was. She was loving. She wanted the best.