Deep Dark Blues

Chapter 3 - Crab Mother

//Disclaimer!!!!!- Depiction of trauma and abuse///

The house stood dark, with only a blurred glimpse of light somewhere in the house disturbing the dark stillness. Reed didn't need to be a detective to know that the dinner was most likely over, having missed it entirely. There was a part of her that wanted to turn back, leave the run-down porch and disappear in the rustling leaves of the forest around her... And yet she persisted, standing her ground and reaching for the doorbell with a practised ease. No matter how much she would want to leave, a tiny, if not a bit naïve part of her insisted on showing up...

No turning back now...

She jumped, right hand tightening on her bag as the door swung open even before she could press the ringer.

The elderly woman answered the door, her greying auburn hair tied in a ponytail. Cold green eyes looked up at Reed, her thin lips stretching in a sneer.

"Do you know how to use a phone? I called you..." her voice hushed.

"Sorry, I didn't see it... Everyone asleep already?" Reed looked behind her mother and into the house. Just as she suspected the kitchen light was on, bathing the end of the hallway in a yellowish hue.

"Ruth had to put Harvey to sleep... He was being really fussy, so we cut it short..." the woman readjusted her sleeping gown before turning around, and marching tiredly into the house. Reed followed, pushing the old wooden door wider.

The house looked just like she remembered it. A long hallway leading to the kitchen lined with all sorts of drawers and shelves her mother had accumulated over the years, old trinkets glistening in the moonlight. The stairs on the right, tucked into the wall were blocked by an old stroller, confirming that indeed Reed's sister had dragged both her baby with her. Reed had a crippling suspicion it wasn't good for a young mother to stay in the house under the scrutiny of Diane, but she wasn't close enough with her sister to even begin to lecture her why she shouldn't be in this house in the first place.

She took off her jacket, hanging it by the mirror, eyes wondering along the green paint on the walls. She took off her shoes, letting the duffle bag rest on the floor as she wrestled with her shoelaces, taking the heavy boots off as quietly as she could. It was visible that her mother was already on the edge and a screaming baby would most likely worsen her mood.

Reed proceeded to walk towards the kitchen, her stomach grumbling at the smell of meat being heated up. It didn't matter how hungry she was, however, as she couldn't help but pause by the photos neatly hanging on the wall. Some old, some newer, but all depicting The Reed family through all of their lives together. There was a picture of young Diane, standing in the white dress along with Reed's father, David Reed, both smiling at the camera. Reed couldn't help but feel her stomach twist, meeting young Diane's eyes. To say she was a carbon copy of her mother was an understatement...

You are just like your mother...

There were some baby pictures of Reed, her parents and baby Ruth, with the addition of the newer ones, like Ruth's graduation party or her eighteenth birthday and of course the baby pictures of Harvey, the newest addition to the Reed-McKinley family. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of hurt, all of the newer pictures missing just one person...

I miss you...

"You coming?" a hushed hiss came from the kitchen, Diane clearly having run out of patience.

She didn't wait long, stomach growling and mouth salivating at the smells of the leftovers.

It was very evident a dinner had taken place, dishes still littering the counter and the sink while Diane busied herself in front of the stove, plating Reed's late lunch rather aggressively.