Page 118 of Perfect Three

This morning when Allison had gotten up something went off inside her head.Maybe all along she’d been trying to pretend she was right.But this morning it was as if someone forced her to look at herself in a mirror.

It shocked her to suddenly face the ugly truth—she alone had wrecked her mother’s chance of happiness because she’d only been thinking of herself.It was as if someone had hit her with a hammer.She’d seen the whole awful truth of what she had done and howled.She’d destroyed her mother’s chance of happiness because she was too selfish to accept that her mother had every right to live whatever life she chose.

At last, she realized she had no right to expect people to conform to her desires.She’d held her mother to ransom using the grandchildren.But all she’d achieved was her mother’s unhappiness, and their horrid estrangement.As she faced the truth, she also knew that her mother and the two men had done nothing to ever hurt anyone.Her children loved both men, and the two men had treated her children as if they were their own grandchildren.

Now, determined to apologize, she made a decision.It was probably too late to repair her relationship with her mother, but it was the least Allison could do.

Somehow, she would try to repair the terrible rift between them that she’d caused.She just prayed her mother would give her the chance.Racing to her next-door neighbor, she asked her to mind the three children because of an emergency.Geoffrey was on day shift at the station.

Driving to her mother’s house, she planned what she would say, how she would apologize.As she pulled up near the front door it was just after eleven in the morning, then she walked around the side toward the conservatory door.Extremely loud music blared out.

Hell, that’s not like Mum.She liked music but not so loud that she couldn’t hear herself think.

Allison opened the door and went inside.She walked through into the kitchen then into each room looking for Lucy.The music resounded through the house, and Allison wanted to block her ears.It came from the parlor, and Allison turned the deafening sound all the way down to low as she passed.

She found her mother in the front living room.

Drunk!

As Allison walked in, her mother took a swig from a wine bottle.She saw Allison and waved the bottle.“Ooh, look who’s here!It’s Ms.Goody-two-shoes!”

“Mum!You’re drunk!”

Lucy tried putting a finger to her lips but missed.“Ssh.If you don’t tell, I won’t.”

Allison grabbed the bottle and tore it from her mother’s hands.It was practically empty and she put it on the cabinet behind her.

Lucy looked at her with anger.“That’s right, take something else from me.My fucking daughter wants everything her way,” Lucy yelled.“Why not take my house?My fucking clothes?”

With that, she went to pull off the dirty t-shirt she wore.

Allison grabbed it and pulled it back down.“Mum, what on earth are you doing?”

“Trying to have some fun before I die.You know what fun is, don’t you?Oops, I forgot, I’m not supposed to.I’m only supposed to do what my strait-laced daughter tells me.”

“Stop it, Mum.You’re being stupid.I don’t understand you.You don’t drink!”

“Well, now I do.You know what?It isn’t so bad after the first bottle.”Lucy swayed on her feet and peered through bloodshot eyes at her daughter.

Allison was completely confused.This wasn’t like her mother one iota.

Lucy took a stumbling step toward her and almost fell.Allison grabbed her with both hands, but Lucy shook her off.

She grunted at Allison, “Why are you here?”

“I came to apologize.I was so wrong to make you choose between the kids and your partners.”

“Fucking right you were!”

“Mum!”

“You made me break my heart.You took away two men who loved me and who I loved so much.”She gave a loud sob.“I still love them.I...”

Lucy began crying, and Allison reached out to touch her arm but her mother shrugged her off again.It was as if she couldn’t bear to have Allison touch her.

Lucy’s heartbreak almost tore Allison in two as her voice quivered with pain.“I love them still and you took them away!You ruined my one chance at happiness because you couldn’t see the love we had.”

“Mum, I’m so sorry!I really am!”Tears ran down Allison’s cheeks, dripping onto the floor.It was horrible watching her mother.She seemed to be trying to self-destruct.

---