When it ends

Chapter 3

                       "That's the last of my bags." Rosie said hopping in the back seat with Zyler. We'd all had a big breakfast and were now ready to hit the road. I had the car gassed up and cleaned. I knew Zyler would fall right back asleep as soon as we started driving. It was early and i figured without Zyler keeping Rosie company she'd fall asleep soon too.

                        Thirty minutes into the trip they were both out. The car was quiet. "Are you nervous?" Carter asked. "Maybe a little, but I'm more aggravated then anything. You know i was perfectly fine going my whole life never talking to either one of my parents again?" "You shouldn't have to be though." "It's okay, i know what you mean that i shouldn't of had crappy parents but it is what it is. And i don't regret it. People always say they feel for me because i didn't have my parents. Well my grandparents did a heckuva lot better job then either of my parents ever did." I said.

                    I had memories of my mom. Not good or bad ones. Just memories. Her singing at all hours of the night. Trying to hit certain notes. Watching videos on how to dance. Putting together the perfect performance outfit. She'd even say "hey Mac listen to this. I want to thank the academy and all my fans. I'd be nowhere without you...Did that sound to fake?" I was five what did i know? I didn't even know who the academy was.

                    "You're such an amazing and strong person, you know you're gonna make it don't you?" He said. I took his hand and squeezed it. "Well i don't know about that but i sure as heck aint going down without a fight." I said letting his hand go. He just chuckled. "Do you remember that one time when Mister Whiskers got stuck in the tree and you didn't know how to climb it? But he was so scared that you just knew you had to save him?" "Yes and i also remember you giving me a boost." I said.

               "Two scraped elbows and a knee later, Mister Whiskers was safely back on the ground." He said. "You always helped me." "It's what best friends are for. I'd do anything for you." He said. "I'm so lucky to have you guys. You're better than any family." I said said nodding matter of factly. He didn't say anything. "You okay?" I asked. "Yea, just is it weird that I'm already hungry?" He asked. "You? No. That's actually normal." I pulled a bag of chips from behind me and handed them to him. "Oh Rosie, you know me so well." He said ripping into the bag.

                A few hours later Rosie and Zyler stirred around in the back seat. "Is it lunchtime yet?" Zyler asked rubbing his eyes. "It can be." I said pulling off the interstate where all the food locations where. "Where to?" I asked. We settled on burgers and fries. It was a good chance to stretch our legs and use the bathroom. Carter offered to drive a leg of the drive. We were coming from Mississippi so it wouldn't be an overly long drive. I think the GPS said about seven hours.

               We had about four and a half hours to go. We'd make it to Nashville that night and get a hotel room. Then get up early in the morning to head to my moms house. We had agreed that I'd go alone. But Carter being the protector he was said he at least wanted to come with me. Rosie and Zyler agreed to hang back. Which ended up being at the diner next to the hotel where we had stopped for breakfast.

                  I was shaking so Carter Drove to my mother's house. I was shaking from anger not nervousness. I tried to play out what I'd say to her but the more things i realized i wanted to say the more i realized i was mad. So mad i could spit. Carter pulled up in front of a run down apartment building. "Well looks like this is it." He said. "3A." I said reading from the paper in my hand.

                 I walked up and just knocked on the door before i could chicken out. My mom answered the door. She was wearing a purple night gown that was falling off of her shoulder. Her still dyed red hair was falling from a messy bun on top of her head. She had a drink in one hand and cigarette in the other. "I paid the rent just this morning." My mom slurred. "Um, no it's me. Mom. Mac, you're daughter." I shouldn't of been surprised that she didn't recognize me. It had been a really long time and I'm not sure my grandmother ever sent pictures because I'm not sure she ever cared to see them.

                    "Oh, well what are you doing here?" She asked. "Did you come to pay your old mom a visit? Cause if it's money you want i aint got none." She said. "Can i just come in?" I asked. "Sure, bring your boyfriend too. He's cute." "He's not my boyfriend." I said. "Okay, he's still cute." She said shrugging. We walked into her apartment. I was immediately hit in the face with several different unpleasant smells. "Jeez what died in here?" I muttered under my breath.

                             "You can sit next to me." My mom said winking at Carter. "I'm good here thanks." I didn't bother to introduce the two of them there was no need. "So okay, you don't want money. Let me guess you want me to tell you why i left or something?" She asked confused. "No, i can put that puzzle together myself." "Good girl, it's just having children when i was trying to make it big was just such a hassle." "So how's that working out for you anyways?" I asked sarcastically. "Well i play at this club a hand full of nights. Mostly old men but the tips are pretty good so i can't complain." She said ashing her cigarette and spilling some of her drink in the process. She put one leg on top of the coffee table and winked at Carter. He was clearly mortified and i don't blame him.

                          "So you don't want money, or an explanation what do you want?" "Well, I'm in early stages of kidney failure." I said. "Oh baby girl no i need both of my kidneys to sing." She said. My mouth fell open. "Uh you know that's not how...that works right?" I questioned. "Whatever, you don't want my kidneys." She said holding up her drink.

                    "The thing is!!" I said talking loudly over her. "You're most likely not a match." "Oh, so then what do you need?" She said still sounding so confused. "They think dad's a match." Her mouth formed an O. "So if you can just tell me where he is I'll go find him and be out of your hair." I said. "I don't know where he is i haven't spoken to him in years." She said "Well okay do you at least have a name?" I asked. "Yep, Jack Odonald." "I don't know that name." I said. "Only Jack Odonald i know is America's favorite tv and movie dad. He's so great. My sister wished he was her dad at one point actually...." Carter said. "Yep that's the one." My mom nodded matter of factly. "Oh come on mom Jack Odonald is not my dad. You've lost it. Completely fallen off your rocker." She got up and walked to a table. She opened the drawer and pulled out a photo album.

                  "Here you go." She said tossing it in my lap. I opened it up. And sure enough there was baby me in my moms arms next to Jack Odonald. "But how?" I asked. "Well we met in high school fell in love quickly. Jack told me he was gonna go to hollywood to make it big. I wanted to go to Nashville but he told me i wasn't gonna make it. So when i had you i thought he'd stay. He said he wouldn't stay because i had one kid with him that was stupid. So i got pregnant with your sister. Thinking he'd stick around after that. But then he still said he was leaving. So i wasn't about to raise two kids by myself. Besides your father never really believed i could do anything."

                 "Wow." I said shaking my head. "No it's fine. I don't think he ever intended to be with me anyways. He always wanted to leave." She sighed standing up. "But it has been so long since I've been with a man." She sat down next to Carter practically on him. "Well I'm sure one of those old men at the club wouldn't mind helping you out. Carter and i should really get going." I said standing up. "It's okay baby girl you just go wait in the car." She started taking his shirt off as he's pulling it back on and backing up. "you're so muscular you must play sports." She said rubbing his abs. All the while her nightgown is falling lower and lower. I wanted to cover my eyes but Carter needed me.

              "Mac get me out of here." he said trying to get her hands off of him. My mom had a grip like glue. "Really mom, some other time. We have to go." I took Carter's hand and pulled as hard as i could. My mom fell backwards on her butt. But all she did was laugh. That woman was something else i swear. We ran for the door before my mom could chase us down. "Go go."