Page 57 of Sharkbait
“I would, but I have a lot of studying to do.”
“For ocean school? How’s it all going, sweetie?”
Ralph comes in then with a tray full of drinks and places them on the table.
“Hey, Lou. Good to see you,” he says with a crisp nod.
Wow.
So formal.
Seems Ralph might not be as cool and collected about this visit as he would like me to believe.
I turn to find Mom still staring at me, waiting for my answer. Is there tension between the three of them? First, she ignored Calliope. Now she’s barely looking at Ralph.
“Um. Themarine biologyprogram at UPenn is going great, thanks. We’re only three weeks in, but it’s already really intense.”
“Well, make sure you’re making time to rest, Wheezy. Youlook exhausted.” She strokes my hair. “You’re way too young to have those dark circles under your eyes.”
My fingers automatically rise to touch my face.
Calliope shakes her head, silently telling me my mom is full of crap.
“I’m getting plenty of rest,” I say, which isn‘t exactly the truth. “But even if I wasn’t, I don’t mind the intensity at school. It’s what I signed up for.”
Mom picks up a glass of chardonnay and takes a sip. “You were always an intense little girl. Always so passionate about things. You give your all to whatever is in front of you.”
Did my mother just give me a compliment?
“Must’ve gotten that from me,” she continues. “Because we all know you certainly didn’t get it from your father. I mean, really. What kind of a man—?”
She cuts herself off like she’s trying to restrain herself, but h
er breathing picks up, and
the anger rises in her like a volcano.
“The man had a beautiful family right in front of him, but did he give his all to us? Did he have passion for us? No. Apparently, he could take or leave us! I mean, what kind of a man—”
“Hey, Mom?” Ralph pulls up a chair and places a hand on her arm. “We haven’t been together like this in a long time. Maybe we can skip the Dad stuff tonight?”
Her breathing steadies. Her eyes focus on Ralph, like she went somewhere else entirely for a few seconds, and now she‘s back.
“Sure, baby. Sure. We can skip all that. You know, if I could go back in time, I’d skip that man entirely. But then I wouldn’t have my two beautiful blessings, now would I?” Her voice chokes up. “You two are the only good things that man ever gave me. I don’t know what I’d do without you. If you two ever left me, I’d—”
“I think I’m going to head out.” I’m on my feet and slinging my bag over my shoulder in a flash.
“You just got here, Louise. Sit back down!”
And just like that, her crocodile tears are gone, and the anger is back.
“Yeah, I know, but these books aren’t going to study themselves.”
I pat my bag and attempt a chuckle.
She takes a silent sip of her wine.
“Have a good night, Mom. I’ll see you at the party.”
