Chapter 46 #2
“Argumentative. Sorry,” Brenna said. “I wouldn’t normally be so blunt but knowing how she treated you last time and as a child along with some of the things she says . . . well, I honestly don’t want you to get hurt.”
Caren grimaced. “I get it.”
“The reason we’re here is because Mr. Peterson called and practically bullied Caren into coming.”
Right. Like Travis would allow that.
“He used guilt as a motivator. And I don’t like that,” Travis said. “He needs to stop calling and I’m prepared to have a chat with him. Maybe you’d sit with Caren while I do.”
“You don’t want me to go with you?” Caren asked with dread.
“It’s best you don’t.” He shot her a warning look.
Caren nodded. “I still feel like I need some sort of closure. A reason for why she treated me so badly. But if it will upset her, we can go.”
Maybe she’d just have to live with never having that closure.
Brenna eyed her. “All right, well, she is having a clear day today.”
“Are you sure I won’t make things worse?”
Brenna shrugged. “Not sure you can do that.”
She wasn’t sure she was meant to hear that. But Caren followed her into her mother’s room with Travis standing protectively behind her.
Maybe she was being foolish and a bit selfish coming here. As her mother looked up, the anger on her face when she saw Caren made her stumble. Travis reached out to wrap an arm around her waist.
She can’t hurt you anymore.
The problem was until she learned to stop caring, she could hurt her.
Caren had to find a way not to care. But that was difficult for her.
“It’s about time you came for a visit, Caren!” her mother snapped. “After putting me in a home. Shame on you. Is this so you can control the money?”
Caren sighed. “I don’t have control of the money, mother. Your lawyer does. And he’s the one who had you admitted.”
“Blood-sucking leeches. All of them should be annihilated. Don’t know why I’m here, but you can take me with you. I’ll need you to drive me. And cook me dinner. You can move in with me. Least you can do. I’ll need someone to bring the piano as well.”
For a moment she thought that her mother wasn’t thinking properly when she said that. That maybe she thought Caren was still young. But there was a cruel glint in her eyes and Caren braced herself.
Travis seemed to sense her distress as he moved forward and wrapped his arm gently around her waist. She leaned against him.
“But you never did learn the piano, did you? Always so useless, weren’t you, Caren?”
“That’s enough!” Travis barked.
Her mother glared at him. “Tell the help to be quiet.”
The help? Dear Lord.
“Please, Travis, shh,” she said. “I need to do this. On my own.”
He tensed but didn’t say anything so she took that as acquiescence.
“I’m not useless, Mother. No, I wasn’t a genius or a musical prodigy, but I’m smart and kind and successful. I’m an award-winning photographer.”
“Photographer?” her mother said scornfully.
“That’s a hobby not a career. Hardly something to boast about with my colleagues, is it?
Their children were prodigies. Smart. Something to be proud of.
One went on to become a judge, another was a renowned scientist. A photographer.
You were always a huge disappointment to your father and I.
It was actually a relief when his mother took you away.
We weren’t sure how to explain it to the people who knew about you, but then we realized no one cared. ”
“Get what you need, baby,” Travis warned. “Because I’m about to explode.”
Right. He was practically shaking.
Only she didn’t know what she needed. Maybe for her mother to be so vile that she broke that last connection between them. Or maybe she just needed her say.
“I was glad Grammy took me too. Because she took care of me, she loved me, she healed the injuries that you inflicted on a child. I was a shadow in that house. Forgotten and abused. Starved of food and affection and love. Grammy saved me before you could completely destroy me. I’ve come to say goodbye, Mother.
I didn’t get a chance to with Father and I’ve realized that’s why I’m here. So goodbye, Martha.”
She deliberately used her mother’s name. Because that connection was gone.
“Good, we’re going,” Travis said, leading her away.
“I never wanted you!” she yelled. “You shouldn’t have been born. I never intended to have a child.”
“Then why did you?” Caren turned back to her. “Why have me?”
“An accident. And then . . . well, your father didn’t think we should get rid of you. So I raised you the only way I knew how.”
“You didn’t raise me.”
Her mother shrugged. “I did better by you than my mother did by me.” She shuddered. “Every time I looked at you, I’d see her and it would make me feel ill. It would bring all those memories back of how she’d hurt and berate me.”
So she hadn’t thought to break the cycle? To do something different?
“I went easy on you. Barely touched you. I tried everything to help you and you were always ungrateful. If your father had wanted you, then he should have taken care of you. Always a regret, a burden.”
Awesome.
Well, she wasn’t sure if this was closure or just more pain. But she was certain she could walk away this time, knowing she’d have no regrets if she never saw this woman again.
“Goodbye, Martha,” she said again.
Martha started screeching and Travis turned back.
“Just so you know, daughter is amazing. Her life is filled with love and laughter, not sour bitterness and abuse. I’m going to take care of her for the rest of her life and give her the affection and care you never did. Her life will be bright and happy, which is just what she deserves.”
They ignored Martha’s yells for her to come back and she grimaced at Brenna as they left the room. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. This isn’t your responsibility anymore. Live your life like you deserve. And please take this the right way, but I hope I don’t see you again.” Brenna smiled at her as she led her to the waiting area. They sat and Brenna pointed at a door. “That’s where Mr. Peterson’s office is.”
“Good.” Travis smiled savagely. “I’ll be back soon.”
They lay in bed in a cute bed-and-breakfast on the outskirts of Albany. She was half-reclined against a mound of pillows which was the only comfortable position for her to sleep in.
Travis was playing with her fingers.
“What did you say to him?” she asked. “To Mr. Peterson?”
“I just made some things very clear to him. That he’s not to bother you again or I will make his life a living hell.”
“Travis! What if you get into trouble?”
“Then I’ll make his life a living hell.” He grinned up at her before his face grew sober. “You are not to worry about him. Or her. From now on, she doesn’t exist for you. Understand?”
He moved so he was sitting facing her.
“Are you sure you’re okay dealing with anything that might come up?” she asked worriedly.
He cupped her face. “The lawyer should do most of it. But, baby, I want to take every burden, every worry you have. All I want is for you to be happy, and safe, and loved. Forever.”
“With you, I know I will be.”