Queenpin Of Wales

Chapter 6

My laundry was finally complete. The whole lot. I packed away the rest of my luggage packing some very special items. A couple of dresses, a few books and one set of lingerie... You never know. Catherine said at first it was going to be dinner. Then emailed me back saying to scratch that. We're going to a party. An all-white party for that matter. I've never been to a party nor trusted myself wearing white. I'm too clumsy. Knowing me, someone gives me red wine and my new dress becomes tie-dye. I had to run to the local boutique yesterday after work just to find a white dress I would fit into. Why did it have to be white? Why not black? Black made me look slim. White showed all of my curves. The wrong ones that is.

Sandy let me have the weekend off after I give her more details about Catherine. She wouldn't let us take this much time off, but she said I deserve it because I worked at the bookshop as long as she almost did without taking any time off. I think she just didn't want to pay me overtime. Now, it was the hard part. I had to sit down at the dinner table and tell my parents I'm leaving again. My dad may be concerned, my mom will get involved. Asking a million questions. She doesn't do it to be caring. She's just nosy. Someone gets to leave this house for once and she plays bad cop. It's typical. Though, I'm not Kelly. I'm not a child. I should have moved out by now. That just isn't in my cards at the moment. I knew if I explained why I was going I would get asked a million questions about Catherine. A lot of those questions I wish not to answer. Though I knew I couldn't just stroll out the door without saying a word.

"Sissy! Supper!" My sister's shrill voice yelled from the bottom of the stairs. It was like a lamb to the slaughterhouse. I had to face the music. It would've been so much easier if I just lived with my dad. He was more understanding. He didn't yell at me to get his point across. I sped down the stairs praying I'd just fall. That would be a lot easier.

"Alright. Kelly put out the salad. What would you like to drink Myla?" My mom stood in front of the stove mixing a meat-rice combo. "Umm...water please mom." I sat down seeing my father come down the stairs in his lounging clothes. He works with farmers and the Amish. So that means the smell of manure and stress. He always changes after work. "I'll have water too Kelly-bear. What were doing today babe?"

"Nothing much. I finished my laundry and...packed my suitcase...again." My sister went around the table with our drinks and plates. My mother turned to look directly at me with a puzzled look. "Why did you pack again? Or did you finally pack it away after I kept getting after you about putting it away?" She whisked the pot off the burner with a ladle scooping the mystery meat rice onto our plates. I bet it's chicken. Looks like chicken. I hope. I choked my words. My tongue fumbled trying to figure out what it wants to do. "No...I'm leaving again. On another short trip." I picked up my fork watching my handshake. I shook as though it was cold, though to be honest, it was really hot down here. "What do you mean you're going on a trip again? You just got back from your little vacation in Miami. You can't just leave again. How in the hell are you affording this little trip of yours? Does Sandy know about you taking time off? Where are you even going? Why is it so bad to stay here?" She served everyone before placing the pot back on the stove and sitting herself down. My father stayed quiet until I spoke. He and my sister began to eat their food. I was right, it was chicken.

"Yes. Sandy is well aware, she's letting me have Friday to Sunday off. I always get Monday and Tuesday off so I don't have to work till Wednesday. I met someone in Miami. She invited me to an...event in New York." I kept looking down at my plate and back at my dad. He smiled. "You? Meeting someone? That's awesome Myla and all, but how are you affording the ticket? Hotel?"

"Awesome? That's what we're calling it? She met some stranger in god knows where in Miami and now she's gallivanting off to be with this stranger in New York? No. No Myla. I don't like the sound of this. Who is stranger hm?"