Page 204 of Hell Hath No Fury
She slams her fist onto the table, and I jolt up and down in my seat. “Don’t lie to me!” She points at me like I’m a criminal in need of punishment. “I see the tearstains on your face.”
She pauses, waiting for me to give her a reason, but I don’t want to give them to her.
“Tell me why,” she says through gritted teeth. “Is it because of that fucker Dean?”
I quickly shake my head.
“You know it’s thanks to him we have food on the table right now,” she adds, taking another bite with her spoon.
I clutch myself, staring at the food. “I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do. You’re crying your eyes up there, and for what? It’s not like he’s going to see those tears.” She takes another big bite. “What do you even want? You want a hug? You know they don’t fix anything.”
“I’m fine,” I say, rubbing my belly with my hand.
“I give you food. Clothes. A roof over your head,” she mutters. “It’s about time you showed a little g—”
Suddenly, she stops eating. Her eyes travel down to my hands.
And it’s as if the blood leaves her skin.
Oh God.
She stands.
I do too.
We stare at each other for a moment. Then she rushes upstairs before I can.
“No! Mom, wait!” I scream as I try to catch up with her.
Too late. She’s already opened the bathroom door and ran inside faster than I could chase her upstairs. Her hand clutches the stick, almost breaking it in two as she glares at me, her eyes almost spewing fire.
“You’re pregnant?!”
“I only just found out,” I mutter.
“I don’t fucking care!” she screams. “I told you not to get pregnant!” She throws the stick at me. “What are we supposed to do now, huh?”
“I don’t know,” I say, tears welling up in my eyes.
“You’re going to cost me everything I ever worked for!” Her face turns red from the screaming.
Redder than mine ever was, despite crying my eyes out only moments ago.
“A baby? Really?” she says. “You think I have the money to feed another one?”
“Can’t you help me?” I ask. “We can think of something, right?”
“Help?” she screeches, shaking her head. “I’ve helped you so goddamn much already.” She picks up a piece of my clothing and throws it at me. “Every fucking time you fuck up, I have to clean up the mess.”
“Mom…”
“No, I’m done,” she yells, picking up more dirty pieces and throwing them all at me. “I’m done helping you, I’m done with teaching you, I’m done witheverything!”
“Please.” My whole body is shaking. “Don’t do this.”
“Get out,” she says, her low tone completely devoid of any emotion.
