Page 62 of Damnation
“I’ve been doing it for a few days. Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. You disappeared, Vanessa. What did you expect me to do? Sit quietly in the corner while my daughter was most likely blowing up her future hanging out in a shady frat house with bad company?”
I cannot believe this. This is why she’s here now? She just wants to give me one of her lectures? I look around irritably and mutter, “Do you realize how insane it is to hear you talk about blowing up my future when that’s exactly whatyoudid?”
Her eyes narrow, and she sets her lips in a hard line.
I know her well enough to know that right now she’s trying her hardest not to lose control. She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear and stares steadily at me. Chin high. Shoulders straight. She parts her lips and takes a deep breath. “I didn’t come here to fight.”
No, of course not.
“Then what do you want?” I put my hands on my hips.
“I want to talk to you. I haven’t heard from you in almost two weeks!”
I grimace. “That’s not my fault!”
“Listen, the situation got out of hand that night for the both of us. I never wanted to strike you or to kick you out, but I was hurt by what you said, and I acted on impulse. However, as you are too stubborn to understand that my warnings and rules are for your own good, it’s clear to me that it’s time for us to make up.”
I stare at her, amazed. “Now you want to make up? After you put me out on the street? If you really cared about me, you would have done something before I was forced to find a solution myself!” I argue, pressing a hand to my chest.
“You never gave me the chance! You did everything you could to keep from being found. You even sent your friends to get your things so you wouldn’t have to see me!” Her face reddens with anger, and her icy blue eyes pierce me with a stern look.
“Oh, I’m so sorry if I was a little bit hurt and upset after my mother kicked me out of my house!” I hiss. Some of the customers are starting to give us concerned looks. My God, how embarrassing. I’m airing all my personal and family problems here at work.
Just when I think this situation couldn’t get any more humiliating, I hear the heavy tread of footsteps on the stairs. Derek, my boss, walks into the room and gives the customers a fixed smile. A smile that clearlysays,Please excuse the scene my waitress is subjecting you to. My soon-to-be-fired waitress.
He joins me behind the bar, and I am too ashamed to even look him in the face. I’m sure he’s about to read me the riot act, but he surprises me by placing his hand somewhat hesitantly on my shoulder and turning to face my mother.
“Mrs. Clark, pleased to meet you,” he says, holding out his hand.
“White. I’m Ms. White,” she insists, returning the handshake haughtily.
“Oh, yes, of course. Pardon me, Ms. White,” he corrects himself politely.
I just stare at the bar, willing myself to sink into the floor.
“Unfortunately, I’m going to have to ask you to discuss your personal matters outside. Vanessa, you can take your break if necessary; I can take care of things here.”
I don’t dare look up at him. I know my cheeks are burning. I have never been more mortified in my life. A mother-daughter fight in my workplace… God, not even in the worst soap operas. My mother snatches her purse and steps back.
“That’s not necessary,” she says. “I’ll talk to my daughter when her shift is over.”
She’s not planning on staying here until then, is she? I don’t want her hanging around.
“My shift finishes at two p.m. I still have two hours left,” I answer as calmly as I can, even as inside I’m melting down.
“Perfect. In that case, I would like a martini while I wait.” She grins. She sits down on a stool and taps her light-pink-polished nail on the wood.
I look at her, narrowing my eyes, before giving up. It’s no use. She’s not going anywhere. Derek tightens his grip on my shoulder, almost as if to give me courage. “I have some work to do upstairs; are we good here?” he asks me.
I nod. “Yes, definitely. I’m so sorry; it won’t happen again.”
“Great.” He releases his grip on my shoulder and steps back. “Ms.White, although I would have liked to meet you under better circumstances, it was still a pleasure.” He excuses himself politely and goes back to his office.
I glare at my mother, who doesn’t bat an eye, before turning around and grabbing a cocktail glass. I make her a martini. To top it off, I toss in a green olive. My feeling of humiliation is once again giving way to a mounting anger even more explosive than before.
“Are you really sure you want to wait here until the end of my shift? Because if you do, you’ll be forced to see Thomas when he comes to get me.” I grin wickedly, her cocktail in my hand.
“Oh, really? I should have known they’d let anyone into this bar,” she says calmly.
