𝐖𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐒 ¹ || 𝒋𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒂𝒉 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓

𝟏𝟖

[𝐭𝐰: 𝐄𝐃, 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚]

𝑲𝑬𝑵𝑫𝑨𝑳𝑳

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞. Cora and I are sitting on the couch in the main living room doing summer reading with green smoothies that were Adeline approved. Both of us are wearing sundresses and heels, the way we would be for the next week.

"They're here C," I said as I got a notification from the cameras.

Both of us took a deep breath and plastered soft smiles on our faces as they walked in.

"Hello kids," Christopher said, checking his watch.

"Hey dad," both of us replied in unison before our mother walked through the door.

Cora and I both got off the couch to give her a hug.

"Hey mom," I said as I pulled her into a hug.

She pinched my side, "Oh Kendall you must've put on some weight."

That's her opener. No, hey Kendall how have you been? No I missed you. Just this.

"I don't think I have and I'm sure it would be no problem if I had, right," I asked with a sickly sweet voice.

She laughed, "Well I can't have my daughters getting fat now can I?"

I let out a fake laugh and Cora sent me a sympathetic look from next to me.

"Oh Cora, I'm glad one of my daughters is keeping their physique," Adeline said and Cora escaped the hug as soon as she could.

My mother's words have always gotten to me no matter how much I fight it. It doesn't matter how distant and neglecting she is, the power her words have over me are fueled by a longing to want a real mother. I've never been overweight, actually most of the time I'm underweight in my checkups. It concerns doctors, but to my mother it's music to her ears. After doctors appointments she used to have us all do a celebratory juice cleanse.

It's all absolute bullshit. I know how fucked up she is, but there's nothing I can do. I would leave if I didn't have to leave Cora behind. It's not like I don't have ways out, when my grandparents passed they left all of their fortune and estates to Cora and I, completely untouchable until I turn 18. The way they wrote it, there's no arguing against it. Trust me, my parents have tried.

That's another reason for my mother's resentment towards me and Cora. She thinks that we were somehow involved in the deal even though it was clear that they wanted us to be able to leave. My grandparents have always been appalled by my mothers behavior towards us. They were Cora and my confidents when nobody else would listen.

"We're going out to a nice dinner tonight at 7. I expect you both to be dressed and ready to go by then," Adeline stated and the two of us nodded.

"Can I bring a date," I asked and my mother seemed to contemplate for a moment before nodding.

"Are you still dating that Jeremiah," she asked and I nodded. "He's a good choice. I wonder if he'll leave you once he finds out you've put on some pounds," she added with a smile and I returned a fake one.

"I don't think he ever would," I said quietly enough so she didn't hear me. "I've gotta go take a necklace I borrowed over to Belly. Do you mind if I leave," I asked and she nodded once more.

"If you should run there," Adeline replied and I smiled, grabbing my keys off the tv stand and slipping out the door behind them.

I got in my car and drove a block away before I immediately broke down. I pulled off on the side of the road and looked up at the roof of my car to stop the tears from ruining my mascara. But it was inevitable at this point. I'd already put a makeup bag in my car with makeup remover for these occasions and decided to let the mascara run down.