Chapter 29

Aubrey:

I hadn't heard from Alexis in almost three weeks. The last time we talked, she was packing up her things and getting ready to leave California to go live with her mother somewhere in the north. My mom still hadn't given me my cell phone back, so there was no way I could get in contact with Alexis.

Also, I hadn't heard from my mother. Whenever she asked to speak to me, I'd grab the phone, wait for my grandmother to leave the room, and then hit her with the dial tone. The fact that my mother was still choosing to marry Hank after everything that had gone down was baffling, and I couldn't respect her decision.

The wedding was in two days. I wasn't sure how I felt yet. Alexis most likely wouldn't even be there. And I'd have to see Hank, a man I'd grown to despise. And supposedly, Mike was going to walk with me down the aisle. This was not going to be fun.

My grandmother kept running around the house, grabbing things to throw inside her suitcase. She'd never been to Los Angeles, let alone anywhere near California. She was so excited she couldn't even think straight.

"Grandma, I don't think you need all of these things," I repeated once again, looking inside the triple XL suitcase she had laying in the middle of the living room floor. There were four bottles of sunscreen, a dozen pairs of sunglasses, a series of colorful beach hats, at least ten pairs of flip flops, and well over a dozen bathing suits. "Yes, I do. It's been so long since I've been on a vacation," she exclaimed excitedly. "We'll only be there for two days," I replied, giggling.

The doorbell rang, and because my grandmother was distracted, I went to answer the door.

In front of me stood my mother. Her hair sat in a nest at the top of her head. She was sobbing uncontrollably and wore a beat-up sweatsuit. Something was wrong. My mother wouldn't be caught dead in public wearing sweatsuits. She said they were tacky and didn't provide any shaping for her body.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" I questioned, still examining her appearance. Instead of answering me, she pushed me aside and ran crying to my grandmother. "Hush now, sweetheart. Tell me what happened," I heard my grandmother say. Knowing how dramatic and sensitive my mother was, I chose not to immediately speak to her or sit with them. I decided to stand in the doorway and listen.

"It's all the girls' fault. His damned lesbian daughter corrupting Aubrey, and now he doesn't want to go through with the wedding. All because his ex-wife says he doesn't know how to be a father, and now he's moping around. He didn't even go to his suit fitting with his groomsmen!" she cried.

"I thought maybe because Alexis had left, and since Aubrey was here with you, that I could finally be happy for once. Get married and run off into the sunset with my rich husband. I haven't worked since I moved in with Hank." My mother sobbed. I watched my grandmother gently rub my mother's back in an effort to comfort her.

"Well, Michelle. I don't know what kind of life you were expecting with a man who emotionally neglects his child. And ignores his ex-wife out of spite. This is a sign. You'll find a better man," my grandmother spoke softly. My mom quickly slid out of my grandmother's arms and squinted her eyes at her as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"Hank is an amazing man. He treated me like a queen. Don't talk about him like that," my mother snapped.

"He's not that amazing if he willingly let you send Aubrey away. He's weak. He's a weak womanizer," my grandmother snapped back at her.

"Aubrey is my daughter. I did what I felt was best for her. And do you see what good has come of this? She and Mike are back together, and she's back with her old friends," my mother announced proudly.

My grandmother scoffed. "If that's what you honestly think." My grandmother got up from the couch and headed towards the kitchen. "Do as you please, Michelle," she exclaimed. My mother sat quietly on the couch in deep thought. She stared off into space for a few minutes before she wiped away her tears and grabbed her purse.

"Aubrey, get your things. We are leaving," she yelled. I raised my eyebrows and peeked my head into the living room.

"What?" I asked, very confused. My mother stood up and stared down at me.

"I said get your things. I won't say it again," she stated seriously.

"Why?" I said.

"Don't question me. Go get your things," she said again, going against her previous statement. My grandmother slowly crept into the doorway. "Oh, please, Michelle. Don't do this," my grandmother exclaimed, crossing her arms. "This doesn't concern you," my mother shot back at my grandmother.

"She's happy here. She doesn't need to go back with you and be exposed to another one of your psychotic breakdowns!" My grandmother was angry now. Her peachy skin was now red. Really, she was heated. "You can stay here too until you get back on your feet. Don't do this to Aubrey," my grandmother pleaded.

"Aubrey, get your things, please. This is the last time I'll say this," my mother said sweetly. I knew there was no fighting her. I hung my head down low and headed towards my bedroom to get my things, but my grandmother stopped me. "Not just yet. Give your mother and I some alone time," my grandmother whispered into my ear. I grabbed my jean jacket and walked out the front door, taking a seat on the porch swing.

How could my mother just barge in here, demanding that I leave with her when we have nowhere to go? I loved being with my grandmother. There was no drama. There was only acceptance and stability.

A few tears escaped my eyes, but I wiped them quickly away when an unknown car pulled up in front of the house. I assumed maybe it was a cab here to pick up my mother and I, so I kept my head down.

"Hey, Princess. What's wrong?" I heard a familiar voice say.

It couldn't be.