Page 52 of Until

"Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?” I ask.

She sits back in the chair and looks around the small apartment.

"You don't seem to have much here of any worth,” she says.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I just think for someone who is dating someone with his kind of money, you'd have some better stuff. You know, gifts.”

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm just stating the obvious. You know, as your mom, I'm the only person you can ever really trust in the world."

I look at her and briefly wonder if she's high as well as drunk. She is the last person I would ever count on in my life.

"Come here, honey," she says as she pats the seat next to her. "I need to talk to you."

I take the toast that I just finished buttering and place it between us on the table.

"You know all we have is each other, right?” she says.

"If you're including Grandma in that, then yes, I agree."

We can leave my mother out of this discussion," she says.

"I need to ask you for a little favor, Carina. I’m in a bad situation, Carina. And I need you to help me."

“Help you? How?”

“With money,” she says.

And there it is; Grandma was right. Mom is only here because she wants something.

"I don't have any money to lend you."

"What about a credit card? You can apply for a new one and put it in my name."

"No, Mom, I'm sorry. I'm not going to do that. I don't even have a job right now. I don't know how I would even get approved for a credit card."

"Well look at you all sweet and innocent. You know what they say--the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I can recognize a scheme when I see one. You’re not as innocent as you seem."

"Again, Mom, I don't know what you're talking about."

"You sure play a good game. You might be even better than me. It looks like you've got them both eating from the palm of your hand. I knew if I left you, you’d manage to figure something out. So, are you grifting them? Or is this some kind of long game?”

"I think you should leave," I said.

"Are you kidding me? I just got here, and you haven't told me anything yet. All I need is a little money, and then you’ll never hear from me again. I know that’s what you really want. You and your grandmother. Plus, I still haven’t gotten what I want. Maybe I should tell Alex and Ryan the truth about you. Let's see how quickly you lose both those boyfriends of yours.”

“The truth about me? Like you even know me at all. And not that it’s any of your business, but Alex and Ryan aren’t my boyfriends. What do you think? This is some kind of trashy novel? This is my life! Now, if you would please leave. I don’t want to deal with this, especially not so early.”

“He's a liar, you know. I know who he really is,” she says. “You might be too stupid to realize that, but you’re in way over your head."

"That's enough, Mom!” I yell at her. “Now, please leave. Otherwise, I’ll have to call the cops.”

“Fine. I see how it is. Picking your boyfriends over your poor mom. Let’s see how long that lasts.”

“Bye, Mom.”

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