Chapter 16

Priscilla

I t seems like Mia and I have been sitting on Rage’s sofa for ages. I think she’s still taking in what I told her about Rage possibly being her father. I worry that I told her too soon, that we need to do a paternity test first, but with all the other secrets in my life, I don’t want to keep that possibility from my daughter, and I think she’s old enough to understand.

I hear a horn blaring from outside and nearly jump out of my skin. In a panic, I gently grab Mia’s arm, “Your grandparents are here. There’s one more thing you need to know.”

“They’re here?” my daughter says as she hugs her toy cat, looking years younger.

“Yes. And they have never liked Rage. They’re probably going to say bad things about him but it’s because they don’t know him like we do. Sometimes, older people can be a little stubborn and set in their ways. Let’s just ignore them and try to change the subject if they say things we don’t like, okay?”

“You’re asking me not to stand up for him after everything he did for us?”

“I know, it sounds awful when you phrase it like that. Trust me, arguing with them will just make things worse right now. I just need to see what they wanted to talk to me about, and then we can come home.”

Home… I hope after today this will remain my home. As soon as we get back, I want to talk to Rage and tell him everything. I just hope that he understands and forgives me.

The horn blares again and I jump to my feet. My anxiety is through the roof. I’m only just now realizing how nervous my parents make me. I guess over the last few years of not seeing them, I’ve forgotten how demanding they can be. I grab my purse and tell Mia, “It’s time to go. Your grandparents don’t like to wait.”

Mia comes to her feet with a determined expression on her face and her stuffed cat tucked firmly under one arm. “Alright, I’ll try not to argue but I’m not making any promises.”

My sweet child has no idea what she’s getting herself into by arguing about Rage with my parents, my mother in particular. I’ll just have to run interference as best I can. I’m not going to let anyone, even my own mother, disrespect my child. Pain lances through my chest when I shut the door and activate the security system using the fingerprint scanner. The moment my hand lets go of the doorknob, I feel like my bond with Rage has been metaphorically severed. I know we have to talk, but the way he was earlier, I’m worried that he won’t understand. The disconnect feels profound and painful. It’s my own fault of course but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

When we step out the front door, I see my mother waving from the passenger side window. She has a dozen or so gold bangles on her wrist and looks like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine, the years have been kind to her and from her wrinkle-free complexion it looks like she had some work done. I’m not looking good by comparison, in my dress pants and sweater twinset. My mother frowns when she sees Mia is wearing jeans, a pink t-shirt, and a light jacket. I was never allowed to wear pants as a child, I always had to wear skirts or dresses.

I plaster a smile on my face as we walk up. I feel like I’m ten and have disappointed them somehow.