“Don’t say stuff like that. He’s been wonderful to us.”
“You’re an addict, Mom, and I’m blind. He’s torn us apart.”
She heard her mother sob. In the past whenever her mother was hurt, she’d press a hand to her lips, gasping. Feeling like a total bitch, she apologized. Her mother was completely oblivious to the problems Kenneth caused. If Sasha didn’t love her mother and remember all the times they were together with fondness, she’s have been long gone by now. The drink and drugs had turned the woman she knew into something unrecognizable.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I hate having to go through this.” She reached up to touch her face.
“Oh, honey. It’s no trouble. I love being able to take care of you when other mothers are fretting about what their kids are getting up to.”
The bed dipped, and Sasha’s senses were flooded by the extreme scent of perfume, another of Kenneth’s demands from her mother.
“Why was he shouting?” she asked, trying to distract her mother.
“I was stupid and put too much pepper in the mashed potatoes. It was a simple mistake. I messed up.”
Seriously,Mom,over-peppered mashed potatoes. Don’t you see what’s wrong with that? Please, see how bad he is and realize it’s only going to get worse.
Sasha had no choice in her situation. The people believed she was clumsy and had fallen down the stairs, banging her head. Her mother, however, could change all that if only she had the courage to do so.
“Try them. Please let me know what you think.”
Her mother was an amazing cook. Before Kenneth turned up, Sasha would sit in the kitchen for hours at a time trying food she concocted. Her mother had a knack in the kitchen, and it was where her mother got the most comfort. The only food she was allowed to cook now was of the gourmet kind, and Sasha hated it.
Tasting the potatoes, she tried not to wince at the blandness of them. They were heavily peppered and salted.
“They’re nice, Mom.”
“You’re an awful liar.”
Chuckling, Sasha ate her food relishing every second her mother sat with her. Most of the time, her mother was trying to please Kenneth and staying far away from her, only spending rare moments with her. When she got chance to talk with her mother, she did try to get her to go to the cops or someone who’d listen. After four years, Sasha still hadn’t given up hope that the mother she used to know was still in there.
Sasha was twenty years old and yet felt more like a child than ever before.
There was so much she couldn’t do. Whenever she started to get confident with moving around, Kenneth would order the maid to make changes, causing her to bang into stuff.
“Mom, what do you know about the Chaos Bleeds crew? Youknow,the biker group in town.”
Her mother tensed at her side. She was sitting close enough for Sasha to feel the sudden change within her. Eating some of her food, Sasha took each bite carefully so as not to make a mess of herself. She’d learned early not to be greedy or she’d be wearing her food rather than enjoying it.
“They’re ruffians, all of them. Don’t let your father hear you talk about them.”
He’s not my father.
“I won’t. I just overheard some people in the library giggling about them. I just wondered who they were. I’ve never seen them before.”
She wasn’t lying. The rumors were rife about the biker group in town. She’d been reading Braille while women had been giggling over the men who were part of the club. A couple of times she’d heard Pussy’s name mentioned, and now that she knew it was Shane, she found herself listening more and more.
“You really shouldn’t concern yourself with them, honey, for your own sake. They’re a curse to the world and one I hope to see gone from our lovely town.”
The next moment her mother stopped talking, and the silence unnerved Sasha. Seconds later, she heard the reason why.
“What’s going on in here?” Kenneth asked.
“I’m just talking with Sasha while she eats.”
“You served her those shit mashed potatoes?Really?I thought you said you could cook.” The way his voice dropped Sasha knew he was sneering, and it angered her more than anything.
“I like them,” Sasha said.