Two Steps Behind

Part 4

 Elizabeth was just popping the garlic bread in the oven. She had the sauce simmering, the noodles boiling, and she had opened a bottle of red wine that she had splurged on at the store. She had missed her mom terribly, and she felt guilty at their lack of time and communication over the last five years. She wanted to make her mom a nice dinner. Elizabeth at least owed her that much after everything her mom had done for her.

Her mom, at seventeen, had a seven month old baby. Elizabeth's father had bailed, deciding he wasn't ready for the responsibility. Her mother didn't get a choice in the matter, but why should he care. His parents sent him off to college and never looked back. Her paternal grandparents had never shown any interest in getting to know their granddaughter. Her mom had tried to reach out to them, but they told her that the baby was no grandchild of theirs.

Her mom could have gone after him for child support, but she didn't, adamant she would do this on her own. She quit high school and got a job as a waitress, supporting both her and Elizabeth. Her parents helped as much as they could, taking care of her when her mom had to work. She worked long hours, but she eventually moved up to manager and saved enough to buy this house.

They hadn't had much when Elizabeth was growing up, but she never remembered feeling like she was missing out on anything. Her mom found a way to make the mundane magical. When they needed a new washing machine, she helped her paint the box like a rocketship and they pretended they were astronauts for the afternoon, exploring the universe. They would build pillow forts and have movie nights snuggled up inside. They would pack picnic lunches and explore the woods and the lake.

Her mom had sacrificed for Elizabeth all of her life, to make sure she wanted for nothing. As far as Elizabeth was concerned, she deserved the world, but for now, a nice dinner would have to do because that was all she could offer. She was just getting the salad mixed when she heard the key in the lock and then the front door opened.

"Elizabeth?"

"Yeah mom, I'm in here," she called out.

Her mom walked in, looking tired but still beautiful. Her mom and her definitely looked like mother and daughter. Both of them had curly hair, but where hers was dark brown, her moms was dark blonde. They both had hazel eyes that were predominantly green with flecks of gold speckled throughout. Her nose was not from her mom. She assumed it came from her dad, but her mom didn't keep any pictures of him around so she wasn't sure.

"You had the door locked?" her mom asked, holding her keys up. "You do remember you're in Hawkins, right? And it's only six."

"Sorry," Elizabeth laughed nervously, quickly turning back to the sauce and giving it a stir. "It's a habit from living in the city. David always reminds me to lock the door after I come into the house."

The truth was, she felt safer with the door locked. She had run, but he knew where she would go. She didn't have anywhere else but here. It wouldn't take much detective work to find her if he wanted to and he didn't like losing things that he felt belonged to him. She didn't want any surprises. She'd had enough of those throughout their marriage. Keeping the door locked was probably not going to stop him, but it was a small measure she could take that made her feel like she had a little bit of control, something she'd been sorely lacking for five years.

"Wow, dinner looks great," her mom commented, breaking her from her thoughts as she walked up next to her. "I am so hungry. It was a long day at the store. Delivery day so tons of hauling and restocking. I'm beat and my back is killing me."

Her mom had eventually left waitressing when she was offered a managerial position at the local clothing boutique in town. The owner of the store had been a regular patron at the restaurant her mom worked at. Her mom had not been in charge but she was good at taking charge, ensuring that everything ran like clockwork during her shifts. After a few months, the owner of the store had been impressed with how efficiently she ran the restaurant and how personable she was with all of her customers.