My Stepmom's Boyfriend

Chapter 2

Caitlin

My chest tightens. This can’t be happening. Fiona wouldn’t kick me out! I lived here with Daddy before he married Fiona, so technically, this house should be mine too, right? But Fiona got herself put on the deed right before my dad passed. I think she was such a bitch about it that he gave in just to have some peace. But now, the shit has hit the fan. Fiona wants me out, but where will I go? What will I do Immediately, I begin to apologize at sixty miles an hour. “Fiona, I’m sorry. I’ll get a job and help with our financial situation. I know things are tight and that your job as a bank teller doesn’t pay much but ....” She cuts me off.

“You should’ve offered that long ago. Besides, it doesn’t matter. Beg if you want, but it won’t change anything.” “Please, Fiona. I have nowhere to go.” She merely sniffs and studies her nails. “Caitlin, I wanted to kick you out the day you finished high school but I was generous and let you stick around. But now, my generosity has come to an end. You’ve had some time to figure things out and instead, you sat around this room like a fucking couch potato. Maybe if you’d put your energy into finding a job instead of creating these awful drawings, things would be different.”

I can’t help but stare at the woman standing before me. How could my father have married Fiona? Did he have any idea she’d be like this? After all, ten years ago, I was an innocent eight-year-old girl who thought this woman was going to change our lives for the better. When my dad first brought her around, I thought it would be exciting to have another woman in our lives. But now, look what’s happened! I’m stuck with a witch, and even worse, the witch is evicting me from my own home. How crazy is that?

“Fiona, just give me a chance,” I beg again. I’m trembling now, and I’m sure she notices the tears in my eyes. Unfortunately, my stepmom is heartless. She merely shrugs and says, “Your dad would want you to be productive. He wouldn’t want you to be lazy, so actually, I think this is a good kick in the ass for you, Caitlin.” I stare at her. Her visage is calm, but I can sense the malice beneath her smooth expression. But should I really be surprised? After all, things were bad from practically the start. As soon as the knot was tied, Fiona wanted to send me off to boarding school. When Dad wouldn’t let her, she threw
a fit and began to give me the cold shoulder. That was bad enough, but then my dad died. He and Fiona hadn’t even been married a year when a drunk driver struck his car head on.

He passed away instantly, and the paramedics told us there was no pain. I couldn’t even understand what happened at first. Where was Daddy? When was he coming back? When Fiona and I got back from the hospital, the house felt empty. Too empty because all of a sudden, it was just me and my stepmother. And even worse, my father deeded the house to my new stepmom, in exchange for her promise to take care of me. So, for the last ten years, I’ve been a guest in my childhood home. In hindsight, I’m surprised the arrangement has even lasted this long because my father had a decent life insurance policy. Fiona could have used it to send me away to school like she had wanted when Dad was alive. But like a fool, she dumped the money into her design business, and sure enough, the funds disappeared like smoke.

Fiona’s been a bank teller ever since, although she still talks like she’s a fashion designer. Such is life. It’s been a tough ten years, but I’ve gotten used to it. Yes, I’m lonely, but whenever I feel particularly alone, I take out a picture I have of me and Daddy. My father’s smile always makes me smile, although sometimes tears come to my eyes. “Why are you still sitting there? I told you to get out of my house!” Fiona’s voice screeches and I jump. “Please, can we talk about this? I promise I’ll pay half of the living expenses as soon as I get a job. I just need a little time.” Fiona merely yawns and stares at her nails again, picking at a small chip. Then she looks at me and sniggers. “Sure, that sounds good … not. Shut up, Caitlin. I said I want you out of my house, and that’s final.”

“Give me a week, at least, to find a place to go.” I hate the pleading tone in my voice, but things are getting desperate. Unfortunately, my stepmom just looks bored. “No, I told you to get out of my house and I meant it. What are you still doing here?” “Right this minute?” I gasp. “Not even later tonight? At least give me a chance to pack. Fiona, come on!” She merely bends over and hisses, spittle flying in my face. “Get. Out. Now!” How did this escalate so quickly? It’s clear my stepmother means what she’s saying, and I jump up from my desk and scurry around the room in a panic. My backpack from school is leaning against my closet, so I grab it and throw a few random things inside. I don’t even know what I’m doing, to be honest, but I manage to remember my phone charger and the ancient laptop my friend gave me when her parents bought her a new one.

“Your time is up,” Fiona hisses. “Get the hell out of here and don’t you dare think of coming back.” Without glancing over my shoulder, I scurry out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front door. Tears fill my eyes, but in truth, I’m so shocked that they don’t fall. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what’s happened, and to figure out what comes next. After all, where am I going to go? What am I going to do? Should I give Fiona some time to calm down? Maybe if I wander the neighborhood for an hour or two, she’ll have changed her mind and I can come back. I begin by purposefully striding down the street, trying to look confident. For the first time ever, I’m angry with my father for putting me in this position. If he hadn’t married Fiona, this never would have happened.

Maybe I would have ended up in a group home, but surely that’s better than this. Once I’m about five blocks away, the desperation of my situation hits me. I’m all alone with nothing but the clothes on my back and a bag full of random things. I’m not even sure I have my driver’s license with me. How will I find a place to stay? Tears spill from my eyes and I lean forward, letting out a huge sob. I always knew that Fiona had it out for me, but I had no idea another human being could be so cruel. Evidently, evil stepmothers really do exist, but I’m no Cinderella. There’s no Prince Charming waiting for me, nor is there a pumpkin chariot ready to squire me to a fancy ball. Instead, I’m broke, alone, and homeless, with no idea what to do next.

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