Chapter 12 #2
I went back to work, enjoying the quiet. Outside, the streets were probably full of happy couples and families. But in here, it was just me. I'd enjoyed a few good years with the Sterling family. But now they were paired off. They'd have less time for me.
It would be a good idea to see my mother if only to remind myself of the life that I was destined to have. It wasn't finding someone I could love forever.
When it was evening, I cleaned up and ventured outside. The parking lot was emptying. I got in my truck and headed for the trailer park that I grew up in.
Mom said many times over the years if she moved, Dad wouldn't be able to find her. She needed to move on from Dad and build a new life, but she didn't want to.
A voice in my head reminded me that I hadn't done that either. I was still stuck in the past. I liked to remind myself of where I came from so that I wouldn't get ideas about a different future.
I parked in her driveway, noting the lack of flowers and bushes. There were never any holiday lights. What was the point when the magic of the season never visited your house?
I knocked on the door, never sure what I would find. Then opened it when I heard the weak, "Come in."
Lately, I worried that Mom was depressed.
I pushed opened the door. "It's Cooper."
"I'm in the living room watching my shows."
I think she liked imagining her life was different, not that she'd ever do anything about that. She worked as a grocery store clerk, worried that the new self-checkout lanes would eventually take out her job, and she'd have no way to make a living.
She'd tried working for the delivery services, but her car wasn't reliable, and she wouldn't let me buy her a new one.
The kitchen was cluttered, as if Mom was too tired to clear the surfaces. I didn't blame her. I had a feeling she felt beat down by her circumstances. The constant roller coaster of hoping Dad would come home, and then when he did, it was only to take her money.
I'd hated that she was so weak when I was a teenager, but now I wanted better for her. I wanted her to provide for herself.
I opened the fridge, pleased that she had milk, eggs, and other things.
I went into the living room. I'd gifted her a new TV at some point, but there were the same threadbare carpet and worn chairs that we'd had when Emery and I were kids. "How are you doing?"
Mom sat in the recliner, the one that dad preferred when he bothered to stay for any length of time. "The store is reducing my hours again."
I sighed. "What are you going to do?"
"Who's going to hire me at this age? The only skill I have is scanning groceries."
"It's more than that. You deal with customers." I'd seen her work, and she was always chatting with the locals, catching up with them.
"You know customer service is being outsourced everywhere. There's nothing that I can do."
I hated this for her. "Do you need anything from me?"
She waved a hand at me. "You already do enough."
If I gave her cash, Dad would find out about it. So I only provided things: a new furnace, roof, groceries. "You want me to get you new carpet? Furniture?"
She shook her head. "Save your money. One day you'll find yourself a nice woman to take care of."
I scoffed at that. "Not interested in settling down. You know that."
"Everyone falls for someone at one time or another. Whether you want to or not."
I wanted to tell her that she could fall for another someone. A man who treated her right. But she was hung up on Dad, kidding herself that it was love.
I sat on the edge of one of the chairs, the one covered in stains. "I'm happy working."
Mom nodded. "You aligned yourself with the Sterlings. You were always a smart boy."
I ignored that comment. She'd brought up my association with the Sterlings a lot over the years, and I'd carefully avoided talking about them. The Sterlings were mine, and I wouldn't let Dad ruin my relationship with them. "Emery's in her element at college."
Mom pursed her lips. "She's wasting her money, putting herself in debt. And for what?"
"She's getting an education. It will help her get a higher-paying job."
"You do just fine for yourself, and you didn't go to no college," Mom said with disgust in her tone.
"Emery doesn't want to work with her hands." She enjoyed creating art and videos. She'd probably end up with a degree in graphic design. But I'd support her in whatever she wanted to do.
"You mark my words. She'll graduate with a mountain of debt."
I didn't tell Mom that I'd opened a college savings account for Emery when I started working.
That it had grown fairly large by the time she'd applied to schools, and that I was helping her out with the rest. It felt good to know that I could support my sister in this way.
It wasn't like I would ever need to pay for my own education or even that of my nonexistent kids.
I only had myself to support, and I had more than enough money.
I'd just bought a house. What else did I need?
"You were smart. You went right to work."
"I didn't have a choice though. She does. What if she can turn around our family's legacy? Be the first to graduate from college?"
"I just hope she's not making a big mistake."
I understood where she was coming from. When you never saw anything better, you assumed that kind of life wasn't for you. But Emery was exposed to different opportunities, and I hoped that she'd have a better life than Mom or Dad.
I'd make sure of it.