Chapter 12 #2
“I didn’t kill her! It was a drunk driver! Did you even watch the news today?”
The slaps didn’t stop and finally Gen had had enough. She screamed, which startled her mother into stopping. Gen then shoved her mother back and headed for the stairs.
Her mother chose to—of course—dramatize the situation. “You hit me! You ungrateful, spoiled child!”
Henrietta tried to grab her, but she pushed her back too.
“Mother! She hit me!”
Their mother hugged Henrietta. “Oh my poor baby. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her.”
More chilling words had never been spoken in the house.
Gen watched the scene from the stairs, knowing her life had been in danger last night, that she’d watched two people essentially die in front of her, she was still bruised, and yet her mother had not once asked her how she was doing.
Not when she’d called from the hospital, and not now.
Yet, here was Henrietta not hurt at all being coddled like a child.
Was Gen jealous of it? Did she want to be held like that and told everything would be okay?
Yes. Yes, she did. But she knew she’d never get it, not from her mother, not anymore.
Whoever her mother had been had died with their father, and this narcissistic, abusive trash that had also just threatened her was all that was left.
“I’ll be expected at the funeral.”
Her mother’s eyes—no, Helen’s eyes; she didn’t deserve the title of mother anymore in her mind, so she’d only use that title in public if she were forced to—darted up to Gen. “You will not attend that funeral. You killed their daughter! They’ll hate you on sight!”
“I was with them at the hospital for hours while we waited for news, and they don’t hate me. If I don’t show up for the funeral, there will be talk and you will be at the center of it. So, I’m going.”
Helen paused a moment, considering. “Of course you’re going! I never suggested otherwise. You’d better be dressed appropriately too! I don’t have money for another dress, so you’ll have to make do with what you have.”
Gen had already planned on that. So she nodded once, turned, and continued up the stairs to her room. As soon as she entered and shut the door, Diana threw her arms around her.
“Gen!”
Gen winced. “Easy, Diana. I’m injured.”
She jumped back. “Oh fuck, I’m so sorry!”
Gen smiled, then gently hugged Diana. “It’s not too bad. Did you hear the yelling?”
Diana nodded against Gen’s shoulder, then pulled back. “I’m sorry about Samira. I know how close you two were.”
Gen nodded. “Thank you.” She sighed and sat on the bed. “It’s been a long fucking night…day…whatever.”
Diana sat down next to her. “Mother was apoplectic when you didn’t show up last night.
First, she kept going on and on about how great the prince was, and how this picnic will be a turning point.
Then she gets a call that you’ll need to stay at the palace and she kept hoping you’d have sex with the prince and trap him with a baby.
Then when you don’t come back, she somehow found out you left the palace. ”
“She would be more upset I left the prince instead of the fact I was injured in a massive car accident that killed my best friend. What a fucking bitch.”
Diana nodded. “I’m sorry. I wanted to go to the hospital, but mother wouldn’t let me.”
Gen grasped Diana’s hand and squeezed it. “Thank you. I do appreciate it, even if you couldn’t come. But you’ll be off to college soon and you won’t have to worry about her anymore.”
Diana glanced at the door, then back to Gen and dropped her voice. “I’m not going to university in Valentia. I’ve gotten into the Vallerian Assistance Corps.”
Gen’s jaw dropped. “Wow. That’s amazing!
I heard it’s really competitive and they’ve only just started letting in women.
” The VAC was an organization that helped communities and promoted understanding of other cultures around the globe.
It was a minimum four-year commitment and was very prestigious.
“It’ll be tough but after dealing with mother, I can deal with some misogynistic assholes.
They’ll sometimes sponsor people or give scholarships to help further studies and I want to become a doctor.
I’m hoping I’ll get one of the scholarships at the end of it.
I’ll at least be trained as a nurse when I finish, so I can easily get a job. ”
“And you won’t be here, which is the most important thing. You’ll be safe.”
A worried look crossed Diana’s face. “But what about you? I heard mother threaten you.”
Gen lowered her voice. “I’m not staying.”
She hadn’t thought seriously about Gabriel’s offer to move in with him, and maybe she was just reacting to her mother’s abuse or Sam’s death—she would do some serious contemplation about her motivations—but she knew wanted to feel safe, and she knew she felt safe with him.
“The day of the funeral, I’m going to sneak out early, come back here and grab my things, and leave for good.”
Diana seemed relieved to hear it. “Where will you go?”
“I’m going to move in with Gabriel.”
Diana’s jaw dropped. “Gen!”
“Shhh!”
“Gen,” Diana said more quietly. “That’s incredible.”
“I don’t know if it’s a forever thing, but…he came to the hospital last night and he helped me and…it meant a lot. He told me he loved me.”
Diana held back a squeal but the broad smile on her face couldn’t be hidden. “Oh, I’m so happy for you.” Then a mischievous expression crossed her face. “I can’t wait until you outrank our mother and she’s forced to kneel at your feet.”
Despite herself, Gen giggled. “That’s not how you curtsy, Diana.”
“No, but you know what I mean.” Suddenly serious, Diana asked, “Do you need any help from me to make this happen? Leaving I mean.”
“I’ll let you know but I think I’ll be okay. Will you be all right? You’ll still have some time before you leave for VAC.”
“Actually, I think I’ll follow your lead. Maybe it’s best I leave then too. I have friends I can stay with; it’s only a few weeks anyway.”
“You could come to the palace with me,” Gen said suddenly. Then, “Well, I’d need to check with Gabriel, but he has lots of rooms.”
“Of course he does, it’s a fucking palace.”
Gen rolled her eyes. “I meant in his personal apartments.”
“And how do you know about those?”
Gen blushed even though nothing like that had happened between them. “I stayed with him last night. Not like that! But he took care of me, both him and his sister.”
“I’m glad that if I couldn’t be there, you had people you could depend on.”
She could depend on them, couldn’t she? For so long, she’d thought the palace couldn’t possibly give her what she needed. And maybe some of her freedoms would be gone if she was with Gabriel, but maybe she’d get other things too.
Maybe she’d find more people like Diana, a real family that actually gave a shit about her.